Having to file a claim against an insurance policy can be stressful. Whether it’s your homeowner’s insurance, car insurance, or health insurance, filing a claim means that something went wrong.
You hope that your claim will be handled quickly and professionally and you’ll get the desired outcome, compensation related to your claim. When our area was hit by an inland hurricane a few years back, our house took on a lot of damage. Our entire area was hit, so we made sure to call our insurance company immediately to make sure we were first on the list. Luckily, our insurance company was quick to respond, and we got everything taken care of promptly.
Table of Contents
Note: You can see my post on the storm that hit our area: How to be Ready for an Emergency.
However, sometimes things go wrong, and your agent or insurance agency mishandles your claim, or you don’t get the fair result you expected. In this case, you don’t have to just settle for what you get, you can report a bad insurance agent or agency through a claim with your state.
The first step when you get a decision that you don’t agree with is to try to negotiate a better settlement amount or claim amount with the agent. Suppose you can reach a satisfactory agreement; that is often better than the time and energy that will be invested in filing a claim against the agent. However, if your case was handled poorly or you just can’t reach an agreement, then filing a claim with the state is necessary.
Where to Start
Search the state Department of Insurance website to locate the name and address of who to contact in your state. Some states like NY and CT have consumer complaint forms available for you to use in conjunction with their formal insurance department claim center. You can print and complete these forms to get started. If your state doesn’t have forms available online, you can print one from a state that does and use it as a template for your complaint.
If you are having trouble figuring out who to contact in your state, you can look up the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and their site will direct you to the appropriate contact in your state.
Filing the Claim
You will want to complete the claim against your agent thoroughly and accurately. This means thinking with a clear head and detailing facts only. It is important to list all events and contacts in chronological order. Include any contact you had with the agent, police, insurance company, doctors, or anyone pertinent to your case.
Attach any necessary documents. This could be health records in terms of a health care claim or an accident report if it was a vehicle claim. It’s important to hold on to the original documents and just send in photocopies in case they get misplaced and you need to furnish additional copies.
Remember:
Follow Up
If you want to achieve satisfactory results, it is important to follow up. Usually, two weeks after you submit your claim is sufficient time for follow-up. Keep following up every week until your claim is handled.
Follow Up, Follow Up
A friend of mine who is in the industry read my post and wanted to add their two cents. I thought it was a good perspective, so I wanted to share…..
I saw your post a few days ago about insurance claims. Being in the business, it struck a chord with me. I could ramble on with many things but a few that stuck out to me about your article/post/whatever was that it assumed everyone who has an issue with the way their claim is handled had a covered loss. Admittedly, I didn’t research the context of your article but am assuming you’re trying to educate the public. Just wanted to ensure that it was objective! Naturally, email/written text doesn’t allow me to provide non-verbals and context to this message. It is all in good fun and nothing that I am losing any sleep over – or you either for that matter. Just some food for thought.
If you didn’t receive remarkable customer service or were denied coverage for a covered loss, then there are grounds to file complaints. If the top insurance companies mess up, although I know that with respect to the people I work with and what I believe in my company, it isn’t malicious. More so, human error or misinterpretations. I wouldn’t bat an eye to file a complaint myself as a consumer if I thought I was treated unjustly or unfairly, especially when I entered into a contract.
But, if you expect insurance to cover general maintenance on your property when your roofer uncovered rotted roof decking once they take hail-damaged shingles off your roof – there may not be anything a judge or the Department of Insurance can do to help you – maintenance isn’t covered. Also, there are areas in most insurance policies that outline alternative dispute resolutions – be it appraisal, arbitration, or filing suit. Oftentimes, these are measures sought outside of asking the DOI to step in which is often viewed as the final option when others don’t suffice (I think oftentimes the DOI would agree).
One other thing I thought was interesting was that you filed your claim quickly to get to the top of the list. Certainly can’t speak for all insurance companies, but can say based on my experience, this is a general misconception. Most companies assign claims based on severity. The people with more damage generally get inspected first. But there are a lot of subjective items that go into it as well – namely the schedule/location of the assigned adjuster. There are other factors but just because you file a claim quickly doesn’t mean you’re going to get inspected quicker – relatively speaking.
Anyway, that is my 2 cents – or a quarter based on the amount I’ve typed out here! I just sort of felt like reading it, that you were maybe supporting filing a compliant when you didn’t get what you thought you deserved when the general concept of insurance is confusing for many. I am by no means saying all insurance companies have unwavering ethics or morals. Since USAA is giving you some props – check out there article about myths in insurance. They list some common ones that any insurance company would agree are out there.
Wow – I thought this would be a few sentences and this turned into a book. Now I need to go back and read it again and make sure I’ve covered everything! Anyway, I seriously wanted to more so give you props for what you’re doing and jab at you a little and this turned heavy on the jab (in good fun) and less on the props.
Have you had a bad experience with an insurance agent? If so, share your experience in the comments below.
The Bottom Line – How to Report a Claim on a Bad Insurance Agent
Navigating the world of insurance can be challenging, especially when you face setbacks with your agent or agency. It’s crucial to remember that as a policyholder, you have the right to fair and professional treatment.
If you’re dissatisfied with the handling of your claim, it’s essential to be proactive—negotiate, understand your state’s resources, and thoroughly file your grievances. While there are nuances in every situation and insurance policies can be complex, being informed and persistent can make a significant difference.
Your efforts not only advocate for your own interests but also raise standards and accountability within the industry. Share your stories, and together, let’s ensure everyone gets the coverage they deserve.
I got a quote a while back from Farm bureau at the location at 635 Falconer drive. I didn’t think the quote was great so I simply left. I left a review August 15th stating just that. You can gladly go on Facebook and type Jerry Miller Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance, and look under reviews to see his psycho behavior towards me for yourself. He then started having himself and friends start harassing me to no end. Also, every single positive review on his page are all from personal friends. Not a single one was from a TRUE CUSTOMER other than my review. I am in the process of going to the police and file a police report, and also exploring what charges I can press against him.
TO AVOID HARASSMENT AND THREATS YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!!
My truck was hit two weeks ago by a driver that wasn’t paying attention in a apartment parking lot his insurance State Farm ya State Farm when State Farm finds out the accident is on private property you automatically loose the case that’s right they don’t have to pay a dime no tickets no money even though he hit you the fireworks haven’t started yet get a good lawyer you’ll need it I am let’s see who has the last laugh ????
I really like to know how the TDI & TWC can over look me asking them about an insurance co. who file a claim for me throw the trucking co. I was leased to. In which the trucking co. I was leased to & paying into a Group Insurance Policy on the job. This was a Trucker’ s Occupational Accident Group Insurance Policy on the job I had to have to work there to lease my truck & trailer there and they take the money from my payroll twice a month from April 2005 to Aug.2009. This company policy had change 3 time in the time I was there.
Now I had a stroke in July 28,2009 which cost me 17 days in the hospital and the job wouldn’t file a claim on me to let the group insurance know about me getting my benefits why I was out of work. The knew all about my illness on the job the very next day, and 7 days later I call the job when I could talk to see have they file a claim on me, cause they knew about my stroke on the job. I was told no because GOD had cause my stroke and they don’t pay for that, Cause that was an act of God.
So on Sept. 9,2009 I call the job back up and told them they need to do something ,because you’ll took my money to cover me why I’m on the job at work and now this is going on 40 days and no one done anything to help me. I said I am going to file a lawsuit because you’ll took my money and knowing I was on the job under the job dispatcher, So I then was set up with a phone number to call for help.
This was all on the 9.9.2009 when I mad the call to the job and the insurance co. I was set up to call. I had a claim filed the same day by SRS out of Dallas , Tx. now at the time I wasn’t thinking that well, cause of my stroke I was just real slow at the time. I didn’t know this was part of the Texas Worker’s Comp. who I had called up for help to file my claim by the job. This lady who I had talk to was Connie D. Ramirez and she file my claim and wanted to know just why the job didn’t call themselves.
Well at the state of mind I was in I didn’t know anything for awhile . I didn’t know until after I had the call back from the SRS who was part of TWC under this #FCo3734 (08/06}-YLL96601C. this agent call me and said the job don’t want to pay you, but there is also good news I could file a Worker’s Comp. Claim with the TWC for help for myself. I call the phone number she gave me and I call the office the same day and asked the lady do the take Trucker’s insurance claims where I had pain into a Group Insurance Policy on the job of a Trucking Co. I was told yes and I was sent out some form to fill out and return back to them.
I fill these forms out in Oct.2009 and the case was open and in Feb.2010 I had to go to they Insurance Doctor to be checked out. I show up when I were to at the Houston Office and check in on time ,so when the doctor call my name to see me she asked me for my file from the hospital and I told her I had sent them in to Austin, Tx so the doctor tell me she can’t see me cause I didn’t have the files. But the front desk lady told me to just have a set she will get them ,cause they were next door down the side walk.
She pick them up and gave them to the doctor and then the doctor seen me . I was call by the doctor to come in and I had a set and was told she had to tape us. She turn on the tape-player and she was reading them and asking me question how my stroke happen. Now she have 800 pages of the doctor report and she could read all of these pages in 10 mins. and tell me my stroke didn’t come from the job. I told her I had just had my DOT CHECK UP about 5 months back by the company doctor and everything was good.
So out of nowhere this doctor just jump up and ran over to the tape recorder and turn it off and them she tell me my stroke didn’t come from the job ,it had to come from somebody in my family . Then she had me to get on the table to check me and she hit my knee with the hammer and the right leg all most hit her in the face cause she was so close to it and she acted if she wanted to do something to me. She just looked at me for a why and did the other leg . Then I was told to go next door to sign the paper work which was 2-3 pcs. of paper so she can be paid. I later wrote the TWC Dept. and told them how I was treated by this doctor and 2 months later I was called and told they can’t help me because I had paid for insurance on the job .
I need to go back to the job for help cause I paid into a policy to cover me on the job. So the closed my case., her name was Rose A. Menchaca. She didn’t like the way I wrote in on the doctor who had checked me out. So now they closed my case. So from that time I waited up to Jan. of 2012 for help to fine someone to help my on this case. Which was a Power Of Attorney who I had to pay $500.00 to take my case , but I didn’t have the money so I had to make payments until they got all of they money and in April 2012 the claim was filed with Zurich North American Insurance and the case was reopen , but they had lied that they had closed the case, but they had no part in it .
So that’s why SRS filed the case for the Trucking Co of Turner Bros. Trucking Co. Zurich Insurance didn’t come in until my Power OF Atty. file the case on them, And they were Center Foe Injury Worker out of San Antonino, Tx. that was the only time they came into play. They made an office to my atty. and that was only what was in my policy to pay. That was 104 weeks of benefits at $500. for 104 weeks and 52 weeks of Med. but that didn’t happen because cause the job lided that
I was charged $455.87 broker fees for Fiesta auto insurance to find me a insurance company when I already had a insurance company. I sold my 2004 VW when my sister in law gave me a 2011 Toyota Camry. I went to fiesta to have them just changed insurance from one car to the other. Agent told me we have to cancel the policy on the VW first. Which I though she did. Turns out she never confirmed the cancellation and the insurance company was still taking out automatic payments for three months. Then I get in the mail a bill from a I different insurance company tell me I owe monthly payment and premiums. The agent didn’t use the same insurance company I already had and charged me $455.87 TO get a different insurance company. I checked with the company I already had and the brokers for were more then the policy. Fiesta auto insurance in national city ca is ripping people off. Don’t use there service I’m now fighting to get my money back and brokers fee back
I had a friend who is an insurance agent with Farmers Insurance. I was going to get Auto and Home Insurance. Well he quoted me a price. I signed the papers. Now it goes to Farmers Insurance Underwriters. I heard there decision and what they wanted to charge me was way to high. I said No Thanks will look elsewhere. Well Farmers’s Insurance Charges you a fine if you do not agree with their decision and want to go elsewhere. I could not believe their balls to charge me a fine because I decided on another company because they charge too much Farmer.
Farmers can really be corrupt.
Still emotional over this. If i only knew! I had an agent Chris with his Dad speeking to us several times about investing. We hired the Dad for investment advice for retirement, he was independent agent. He convinced us to buy 500 thousand whole life insurance policy for retirement form his son. It was way to much for us but he convenience us that it is what we needed sence we had not saved much in retirement. There is alot of detail i have not explained. Like convincing me to drop my 401k. I’m so ashamed of trusting blindly and not doing my own research on the program. Don’t let someone convenience you they have your best interests. I wish i could take it back. 60k lossed and now later paying highest premiums for grave policy. We complained to commissioner agent nothing much happened. Told me whole life is not an investment. That’s how it was sold to me and my wife. The state of Ga. Is very bad for the consumer with insurance. I feel like I’ve been scammed and stolen from.
Hi James – It’s hard to reverse that situation, particularly if the policy has been outstanding for several years. Many insurance agents sell whole life as an investment plan to justify the higher cost of the policy. If you’re getting no help from the insurance commissioner, you might want to discuss it with a attorney to see if there’s any legal remedy.
I purchased a policy from Fidelity Life about 7 years ago and the agent told me this is the best policy for me. I was stupid and did not read the policy until just recently is that the only way they would pay the claim is if I died accidentally. I needed a regular policy because I am a widow and disabled. I decided to cancel the policy and they would not return the money I put into it. Please don’t go with Fidelity Life they will rip you off
Hi Dale, Sorry to heat that you had such a bad experience. Sometimes agents try to fit you into whatever they have, even if it’s not the right fit for that individual. They absolutely can not fathom the thought of walking away from a potential sale. Chances are, Fidelity did not have a final Expense / Life policy that could accommodate your needs. You mention you are disabled, my hunch is that they did not have a product the agent could get you approved for, so they opted to write you a guaranteed issue accidental policy. Which, if explained and agreed to, is not without reason. However, the agent should have then worked to help you find the complete coverage you were seeking. Some key “tells” to look for when purchasing:
1, Price – If the policy being offered is significantly cheaper than its competitors, it’s not the same product. Accidental and term are both much cheaper than a whole life policy, There should never be an instance where one company is offering the same types of products / policies at a rate 2-3 times less.
2. Did you have to answer any health questions or have an exam? If not, this will be a guaranteed issue policy (which is typically a good be more expensive than a level one) or and accidental death policy (which as mentioned before will be drastically cheaper). If you would like to price some coverage options and possibly schedule a consultation, please visit: www.southernlifeagent.net
Here you will find some good resource information on differs types of coverage and benefits / problems one my have with each.
Sincerely,
Aaron Harris
GEICO Umbrella Policy does not protect veterans. Their ads are bogus. A number of veterans have complained they had problems with claims.
Anyone using Healthmarkets.com for medical insurance. they will do anything possible to get you to sign a policy with them (even miss lead you about deductibles). However when you need them to help with claims they are not reachable to help you. they just care about your money – Stay away from them.
Anybody looking into using Windsor Mount Joy Mutual Insurance Company for their Home Owners coverage be very careful. These folks will do anything they can to issue a denial of claim. I have been with them for the past decade and had only one claim which they hemmed and hawwed about specific terms like …driven wind and blowing wind..I mean give me a break. Now they denied a claim for frozen water pipe damage over semantics with the word “off” . They will hang you out to dry without getting kissed..and their cohort Mid-Atlantic Adjusters in my opinion is their cover and disclaimer eventhough they are supposed to be a subcontractor. The claims adjuster they dispatched to me had only 6 months experience and as far as I could tell didn’t know a floor from a wall.
Dear Mr. Jason L.Glenn – Since you did not answer my wife’s e-mail, I will try to see if you answer my e-mail. I was contacted by State Farm this morning and told that they are awaiting your findings on Claim policy ** Undisclosed driver . I received a letter from you yesterday stating the claim is being investigated. As I stated during our phone conversation, which was recorded, I am holding off repairing my vehicle until you contact me and/or my State Farm claims Rep. Harold Lewis. However, the fact that we are coming up on 2 weeks and you told me it will be at least 3 weeks and that you will (probably) deny this claim.
I will do not have an answer (or a driveable vehicle) while we wait. This is frustrating, unfair and poor customer service, I have State Farm Rep. Gordon Metzgar (Jonesboro) telling me that in his 40 year career, he has never heard of something like this happening, and that Alfa Insurance is well known for this type of stalling tactic, hoping the customer will become frustrated and simply pay themselves. Harold Lewis (whom you spoke with) told me that this was “ridiculous”, “unfair” and “he had never heard of anything like it”.
Mr. Smothers is so frustrated with your service that he contacted State Farm and filed a separate claim, but that claim cannot be accessed until your claim is either denied or confirmed. Please expedite that process so that I can get my car fixed and we can move on. In the mean time, I will be contacting local media, consumer protection agencies, along with social media sites, TV and radio stations, and telling this story to whoever will listen. I will be using your name and your company’s name. As you stated “just $500” may not be much to you, but it is to me, and most working Americans. As I have stated to you over the phone, All I want is to get my car fixed. I do not want to make you and Alpha Insurance, Mr Smothers, or State Farm famous, but I will. Please do the right thing and fix my car or tell me, my family, the local TV stations, Radio Stations , State Farm Reps, your customers and my Lawyer why you will not. Look forward to talking to you again really soon 🙂
I have launched an official complaint to the insurance company regarding on one of their agent. That particular agent had mislead my father to purchase an insurance policy under my name without my noticed and consent. She mislead my father to sign the application form on my behalf. I am 23 years old now. As an adult i understand that I’m the policy holder of the above policy contract. But how can that agent sold a policy to me without meeting or seeing me personally and i never know or see her before. Therefore, the contract was invalid and fraud. The insurance company further refer to my complaint saying “according to the agent, the above mentioned policy was purchased by your father as a GIFT to me where i am the life assured of the above mentioned policy. That agent further indicated that i had initially consented to the purchase of the policy and had executed your signature in the proposal forms dated October 2013. Lies after lies by the agent, i can’t believe such well known insurance organization can have such “trained” unprofessional agent.
I think a previous agent is part of a crime-ring that broke into my home in 2013 & 2014 and damaged most of my appliances. My condo was broken into & they damaged my HVAC, dishwasher, kitchen faucet, light switches, carpet & counter-top tiles. I had a home-warranty policy with this agent in 2012 (before any damages). This year, I emailed the agent again for a quote for a new home-warranty (not mentioning the break-ins yet). He sent me a fire-policy. I emailed him again stating he may have misunderstood me & to please send me a quote for a home-warranty, but he never replied after that. He looks a LOT like one of the people who follow me on a daily basis to harass me into moving out of the neighborhood, but my pictures are unclear. What should I do?
My agent’s secretary gave my claim & financial information to my boyfriend’s dad!! No I did not authorize this. Is there a law against this sort of thing if so what are my options. As a side note, we have split up over this and it has been basically devistateing as my BF said I lied. It was my business I don’t feel it was anyone elses.