State Farm Homeowners Insurance Reviews

It is going to cost $7000 to get the basement repaired plus the cost to finish it again.

State Farm sent an initial adjuster, very young, named Jason I think, who just did a quick walk through, without asking me for any guidance, didn't want to look in the attic, and spent only about 30 minutes. But then he surprised me by calling me downstairs to say that he was finished with his adjustment work, and then pressured me to sign up for the preferred vendor program. When he said that I had to sign it right then, I got suspicious and said no thanks. I telephoned my agent to complain, and he offered to file something against the adjuster. I didn't want to get him in trouble.

For the next several weeks I kept getting hang ups on my voicemail, and caller ID would show that it had been State Farm calling. When I eventually called them to inquire, I discovered that the adjuster had logged me in as accepting the plan. They were calling to say that they still needed my signature on the preferred vendor program agreement!! When I told them that I had declined the plan, you could hear the phone drop to the desk in shock! They then paid $17k very quickly just based upon the fact that they did have an adjuster who had visited the property. If I recall this part of the events correctly, I believe that I also discovered over the phone that the adjuster hadn't even drawn up any adjuster's report at that point. Then when I received a drawing at my insistence, it became obvious that he hadn't truly adjusted the claim in the short period of time that he spent at the property.

I requested permission to move and they approved that I move to live elsewhere. They approved, but stated that they would not pay to move my home office furniture and phone line, saying that I didn't carry business insurance with them. That was true. I requested payment on a lease contract, and they were months in responding. It appeared that they began to play a game of plausible deniability - sometimes claiming that they didn't receive a fax or mail (even if you had a confirmed fax receipt). Eventually they handed the claim to a high-dollar adjuster, named Clark G. He finally came to the property, looked around, exclaimed that the original estimate was hugely underestimated, then started talking to me about a buddy who is a really good contractor, and does high dollar repairs. Clark advised that he would check on my requested $3,600/month amount for rent, i.e. excess living expenses. Before he left he made mention that the second you get an estimate from Scott McC, I am going to write you one really big check. He also told me that I needed to call Blackmon M to get all my stuff moved out, and that he would pay that bill.

In reviewing my notes, he listened as I complained about the initial adjuster not really looking at the damages, pressuring me to sign a contract for the preferred vendor program, wasting all this time, and not authorizing any dry-out procedure. He stated that this many months after the water event there was no need to now have any drying-out procedure done. Following Clark's walk-through, I was confused by Clark's continually pressing me to call this Scott McC, since I know that an adjuster can't require you to use any certain contractor. (I was especially leary in light of what previously appeared to have been a systematic pressure to use the preferred vendor plan). However, he quickly informed me by telephone that Todd had approved the $3,600/month.

I quickly got a letter in the mail, approving the $3,600/month for excess living expenses. I got paid around $35k for furniture repair (although these payments were based on a very informal writeup, and not the comprehensive estimate that Clark insisted upon). But, eventually I got a second letter, kind of nasty, asking why I hadn't called McC.

I called Clark and really quizzed him on his insistence that I call a certain contractor - namely his buddy McC. I asked very purposeful questions because Clark was making very conflicting statements: at the same time, he was calling McC an expert, yet referring to how he would give me a true estimate for which he would do the repairs, and referring to what a great job he would do on my repairs, since this was just the kind of job in which he specializes.

Continual damage of home...no additional money from State Farm.

I am now inches away from having a nervous breakdown, and my doctors have put me on various medications in order to try and keep that from happening. I have not been able to work and barely able to function out of fear that, as they said, my whole claim may be denied, which would leave my kids and myself without a place to live, or beds to sleep on. Its all I can do to try to keep my children in a normal enviroment without me crying and not being able to breathe. If I didn't have my children I would just go ahead and let myself have a nervous breakdown. I would love to be able to sue them for all that they have put myself and my children through, it has been a virtual hell.

On April 6 the guys came out to do the work and they took out old toliet, knocked out the tub...and discovered that the P-trap was not in sand as suspected but under the concrete foundation (the bill would be much larger due to this fact). When the trap was found it was a very old lead type drum trap and was it was mangled and knarled and obviously not capable of doing it's job. The plumber also told me that the pipe connecting to this drain was very loose and more repairs were needed. The job would also cost more because that pipe lead to the water closet and more excavation and tearing out of concrete was needed.

I was horrified at this point...the plumber could see this...he suggested that I contact my insurance company as this type work should be covered. I immediately called State Farm and entered a claim. Mr. Watenpaugh called me back and stated that all work should be stopped since State Farm needed their own plumbers to come out and perform leakage tests on my system and also needed engineers to come out and perform other tests regarding the foundation. I told him NO!!!...the work would not be stopped as my home is a one bathroom house and it is very important that the work get done an soon as possible.

After the work was finally completed on April 12....State Farm sent out two plumbers to perform leakage tests, then they sent two fellows from Bryant Consultants to perform a foundation study and now a month later the Bryant Consultants report was sent and I received word (through a message on my answering machine) from Mr Watenpaugh that State Farm has denied my claim because there was no leakage damage found.

The total bill was $4760.45 for the work. My insurance is $500 deductible. I did have an initial consultation with an attorney in this area and he has advised after review of my policy that in his opinion this claim should be covered.

The bill was for $9,483.74. Since I had already paid $1000 deductible to Quick Dry, the balance due was $8,483.74. However, the SF claim adjuster only paid $5049.76, since he felt the bill was too high. This left a balance of $3,433.98 that State Farm won't pay.

Quick Dry is threatening legal action against me since I am responsible for the bill. State Farm NEVER told me that they might only pay a partial payment if I didn't go through one of their recommended Flood Services. The only thing State Farm told me about their recommended list is that they would guarentee the quality of the work.

The first time I met with one of their agents was 5 months after Ivan. Furthermore, they cancelled my policy and continued to deduct premiuns from my checking account. In fact they charged me $236.80 on March 23,2005 and ONE MONTH LATERon April 29, 2005 charged me another $236.80.

First of all the place was not liveable for over one year and second I had sold my Condo on Feb. 25, 2005 and notified the Foley office of such...countless calls and still no refund. How can you charge someone for insurance that they had cancelled and at the same time charge me twice in 2 months. I missed work and didn't have a home and ms Holk and statefarm are "RAPING" what little money, in this time of need that I had left.

Since then, I have had damage from Katrina, however thank the lord that State Farm was not involved.

When I got my State Farm insurance, I was told my generator was covered, as long as it was part of the trailer. Well, someone broke into my trailer and stole my generator, but now SF is saying that it will not be covered cause it was not a permanent part of the trailor.

I spoke with a few state farm reps while I was away and I was told that the looting and the hurricaine should be handled as the same claim. Today my adjustor finally called ( one and a half months after the hurricaine). She cannot see me for another three weeks but she is stating that the claims must be handled seperately...so a hurricaine deductible of 3,000 and a theft deductible of 1,000 with two claims against my homeowners. I want to file a complaint. I know this is obviously up to the interruptation of whomever is assigned the claim. I hear different stories from everyone.

Also different stories about the 2,500 they gave us for loss of use of our homes for over a month....different stories about whether or not they will cover our refrigerators and freezers that were full of rotten food and bugs.

We paid insurance for a boiler replacement for 30 years and SFI tells me we now will have to pay this new premium! Our agent, Tom Nagel, is such a nice guy and I have dealt with him for 14 years. I asked him if he could intercede for us, which he did and was told, basically, tough luck. This rate increase is userous. What can I do to fight this?

I asked repeatedly for someone else to come out to inspect my property, especially from FEMA, since State Farm claims that it was FEMA who denied the claim. I could not see how FEMA could deny my claim when they NEVER came out to look at my property. One letter from State Farm stated that my policy "clearly states that my garage is to be used only to house vehicles". This language is found NOWHERE in my flood policy! I've had the Dept of Insurance look into this and they were of little help because of FEMA's involvement.

When I requested that FEMA look into this matter; State Farm calls me today to inform me that FEMA agrees with their decision. My claim in only for $2600.00 and that's just for the drywall that had bad mold and mildew from ground waters that came into the garage and caused the damage. I had an attorney look at my policy and he agreed that the policy is ambiguous when it comes to how a garage is a "residence".

I'm not an atty. but drywall and a drum set does not make a garage a "resident". State Farm even "lied" and said I told the adjuster that I converted my garage to a "music room". Since when does a set of 5 year old drums make a garage a "music room". I need help in finding out what is my next recourse.

Examples of my two wks of steam (humidity) and water damage are:

-- Double Pane window with water in it. -not covered

-- Water soaked warped doors/frames-clean and paint only

-- Shampoo carpets instead of replacing

-- Wooden Musical Instruments (Super sensitive to moisture) - not covered

-- Furniture swollen in spots from two wks of humidity/moisture damage-not covered

-- Cabinets swollen in spots from two wks of moisture/humidity- not covered

-- Ridge ventleaks- too minor-

-- Paint water marks - behind sheetrock, not a concern

-- Stereo equipment left in humid condition -not covered -

-- The remainder of my 30 yr seal tab roof has lost 15 yrs of life -not covered

-- Batting cage with tree on top of it- not covered

-- Roof on 8x10 shed (new) -not covered but the warped doors are.

-- Suspected electrical surge damage: -Ceiling fan- not covered -lexmark printer- not covered - dryer works on one cycle now- not covered

-- I havn't covered the odor and fridges.

Imagine your entire house a steam bath with blown open doors and exposed to the elements for two weeks what it would effect. I do not want to talk to Mr. Massey again. I paid insurance premiums for 9 yrs. faithfully on this dwelling. Thanks for your ears I'm tired.

State Farm has been unresponsive, providing nothing back to the communities they are paid to protect. I am waiting to see if they are going to raise our premiums for a claim they never paid out for.

What was especially frustrating about this is that we had an insurance review in the agent's office last fall and specifically asked if our kayaks were covered under our policy at replacement value and were told yes. We were also told that they were covered anywhere in the world. We often transport them on our car, and paddle and leave them periodically on beaches while we hike or camp. We were told no problem.

Now that we've made the claim we were told about the $1,000 limit and only at our residence. We did not read the policy, at the time we transferred our autos to this company and increased coverage and many things. We have four policies total with them and did not read them all carefully. Lesson learned. Anyway, I would like to bring suit against them because we relied on the agent's expertise but I believe it will be hard to find an attorney to represent us for this relatively small amount and because the limit was listed in our policy I don't know what our chances would be with winning.

My roof vents look like swiss cheese, (the storm came out of the southwest) I have 9 vents total on the south and west side of my home, all of which looked like swiss cheese. My husband had met with him, I'm really not sure which adjuster was first, I believe it was Mark Millerburg, but another one came out a week or two later and his name was Josh Mast. But anyway, the first adjuster told my husband that only the west side of the house substained damage and a few shingles here and there.

My roof is only 9 years old and I have a receipt signed and dated. The adjuster told my husband to take the money which was around 2200 and take his family on vacation and wait until the next storm to get the roof fixed because we had a few more years untill we needed a new one, I didn't find that funny. The second adjuster before he even set foot on my roof, his foot only on the first step on the ladder told my husband "If I don't find any hail damage on your roof your just going to have to dispute it".

I am stuck with an old roof, a pitted fence and no help.

The contractor said that State Farm owed them payment for the demolition phase; State Farm said that it didn't. State Farm never once offered to get us another contractor, or made any other attempt to get our house rebuilt. Eventually, they said we, and their contractor, were being kicked off the "premier service program". They gave us a small amount of money to get started and told us to get our own contractor.

We did. The new contractor is well-known in our town, and came highly recommended, having a reputation for both fine work and honesty. The repairs cost $15,000 more than State Farm had given us. We carefully and honestly documented every penny of cost. State Farm refused to pay. We had to borrow the $15,000 on credit cards to pay our contractor. We hired an attorney who cost us another $15,000, which we had to borrow on credit cards.

In July of this year, 2005, our case went to non-binding arbitration--a procedure the courts impose on hapless victims which accomplishes nothing more than wasting the unfortunate consumer's money and fattening all the attorneys involved. The arbiter, an attorney of more than 30 years experience in real estate law, ruled in our favor and awarded us 100% of everything that we asked for--100% of the repairs, 100% of our costs, and 100% of our attorney fees. But because it was a "non-binding" arbitration, State Farm thumbed its nose at us and simply refused to pay, and commenced to bargain with us.

The arbiter told State Farm, at the arbitration, right in front of us, that if they pushed this to a jury trial, they would probably lose even more. I suspect that's the only reason we got as much as we did. Rather than have to borrow another $20 or $30 thousand and wait another couple of years, we caved in and accepted $29,100, allowing them to steal $3500 from us.

Now think a moment, if you will: How many ordinary little homeowners can afford to come up with $17,000 in attorney's fees and costs to go after an insurance company? How many even have that kind of borrowing power? Not many, you say? Well then, those are the majority of State Farm's victims--the people without a voice, without the money to buy justice, the people who have no choice but to give up and go away. Which is, of course, exactly what State Farm expects, and why it is so profitable for them to automatically attempt to cheat every claimant at least a little bit, and some a lot.

I told him that because of the tree falling on one side of the roof, this should be in direct relationship and also be replaced. He disagrees, and said I saw an estimate on your refrigerator for a new roof so you will have to take care of it yourself. A guy went around our neighborhood and gave out several estimates to people and we put it on the fridge. This should have no bearing on the case. I believe we are entitled to have the whole roof repaired. Also there are purlins running through out house. Two of the were broken off. He wants to have dowels put in them, and not replace them in the original shape.

They illegally obtained bank statements from my boyfriend's BUSINESS account without his permission, costing him $85 in bank charges, which, though they filed as a claim against us, they have so far not reimbursed. Ms. Robinson has sent us no less than 5 letters stating that our tardiness in answering her letters and sending her the information she requests will cause our claim to be denied. I've told her more than once that I only pick up the mail at our mailbox 1-2 times per week, and that since we've moved into this house, our stuff is so disorganized we can't find most of the things she is asking for or it doesn't exist (i.e. business licenses for my boyfriends business that is no longer active.) (Not to mention that the moving company seems to have misplaced a good deal of our belongings, but that's another complaint, altogether!)

So far, no payment for $10,000- $15,000 worth of tools stolen and front door damage caused by this burglary. The really interesting thing about this is that the agent never sent us the policy, just the page of exclusions. She also never got our signitures, so we NEVER agreed to be treated in such a way, nor to be bound by their ideas of what they can demand we provide in terms of documentation. Will we have to go to court to get this resolved? It's been almost a year!

State Farm has requested me to do a statement under oath with their attorney. i have complied with all they have asked. I think its completely absurd that even on this date with all my belongings and furniture stolen they are not providing me with any level of satisfaction nor statute of time in which this claim will be handled. I know based on conversation and dialogue with State Farms Attorney that i am being depicted as the bad guy as opposed to the victim i have become in this lost. I have paid my homeowners insurance premium for 5 years with no problems and never has a claim been filed. Now i have been victimized in a burglary and i the insured cant get any satisfaction from State Farm.

The comments and statements from the State Farms' parties involved is such of a racially or demographically based insinuation. As if i am committing some type of fraud. I would like to have this issue addressed and researched to ensure that as an insured consumer i have been treated fairly and rationally without a biased or personal interest by representatives of State Farm Insurance Company.