Dealing with Insurance Claim?

[BrendanLeahy]

Hello! Hopefully, someone can help here!

December 2013, I made a claim to my insurance agency (the middleman - they found the insurance quote, booked it, and pass off claims to the broker) regarding footage I permanently lost and had to reshoot.

January 2014, I hear back from the broker saying they've denied my claim because "data loss" wasn't covered under "negative loss" they sold to me separately (only magnetic tape and film stock...) I replied back, clearly upset that this broker had offered + accepted payment for "negative loss" even with the knowledge that I only worked in a digital format (and had insured my digital camera gear)

The middleman agency said they'd look into it, and after I nudged them every few weeks, they finally got back in May saying the broker reversed their decision and would pay out the claim.

I was told I'd receive payment no later than the beginning ofJuly, and have not yet received anything... I've contacted this middleman agency numerous times, only to be put off with "We'll look into it..", "We're trying!", and "The broker that signed off on this is on vacation now."

Of course, now my insurance policies need renewal next month, and this middleman agency doesn't bat an eye telling me that payment will be due soon.

Any tips for speeding this process along or getting some sort of more legitimate response?

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

That doesn't sound like a good insurance company. Who is it?

I think i'd call them every day for a while, but not sure where to go from there. I certainly wouldn't renew. Sorry, that sounds like a hard spot to be in.

 

[BrendanLeahy]

That doesn't sound like a good insurance company. Who is it?

I think i'd call them every day for a while, but not sure where to go from there. I certainly wouldn't renew. Sorry, that sounds like a hard spot to be in.

I'd like to hold back from calling both the broker and the agency out for now - hoping to get some sort of suggestions of resolution and try them first!

 

[Daniel Stilling]

Whatever the result is on the claim, I would not renew with these companies. They obviously are not respecting your business. And payment for a future policy shouldn't affect the policy in which the claim was done.

Good luck.

 

[Brian Merlen]

I like Kat Wong/Athos...RU seems to use her services a lot in general, majority of people here are with her...

 

[BrendanLeahy]

I have an update:

The broker has denied paying out the claim. On May 21st, they had stated:

"Our broker initially understood the policy to include digital data loss as the negative loss coverage. Since this is not the case with your policy, we and our broker will honor the claim after taking into consideration the deductible amount. You should receive a check approximately within the next month to honor the claim."

So, six months of being told the broker was unreachable passed, and when I finally emailed them last week threatening to report this to the Department of Insurance, this arts organization company came back and said they (unsurprisingly) immediately heard back from the broker:

(paraphrased) "We finally heard back from the broker and received all updated information today. The reason for the silence from our broker for the past few months (six, really) was that they asked your policy provider to reopen the case and look into it again. The provider did, looked at it, and determined your loss sounds like it was due to mechanical failure of your laptop manufacturer, so the claim has been denied a second time and won't be paid out."

Just so we're clear: the broker and arts organization stated they undoubtedly screwed up by getting me a policy that doesn't cover digital footage, and said they'd be mailing the check for that fault. In fact, on the website where I filed the claim, it says "check mailed". Then, the broker and arts organization tried to find a way to cover themselves... This is one of the biggest sleaze-ball tactics I've ever had to deal with in my short career as a filmmaker so far...

I've sent them back a request to honor what they said they would do. If not, I'll go ahead and file with the Department of Insurance, as well as a couple of other agencies to have them looked into. I'll also post who these two organizations / insurance companies are. The policy provider is not at fault here it sounds like - the broker and this arts organization are to blame.

 

[Dominik Muench]

Sorry to hear that but you are clearly with the wrong players in this game.

My broker is AON and my policy with Allianz.....my last claim with them, which involved my Epic was filed on a monday....I received a repair quote from RED within 24 hours, passed it on and 2 days later I had the money in my account.

Are there any consumer help organisations you can get in touch with or even a small claims tribunal ?

 

[BrendanLeahy]

Sorry to hear that but you are clearly with the wrong players in this game.

My broker is AON and my policy with Allianz.....my last claim with them, which involved my Epic was filed on a monday....I received a repair quote from RED within 24 hours, passed it on and 2 days later I had the money in my account.

Are there any consumer help organisations you can get in touch with or even a small claims tribunal ?

Oh yes, I know I'm not renewing any form of insurance with them, and am happy to warn anyone who wants to PM me in the meantime who they are.

Everyone keeps talking up Kat Wong over at Athos Insurance, so I'm keen on looking into her. Anyone have experience doing claims with her?

 

[Adam Johnson]

Yes, she and Athos rocks! Im with insuremyequipment now but only because I'm a cheap ass and couldn't afford Athos after a claim my premium went up too much but I'll be back with them some day as they are AMAZING!

 

[Tom Chase]

Great to see this post, I was suggested Kat Wong yesterday for insurance. I'm in the process of doing the quote as we speak. Does anyone know if they do payments or do you pay the premium up front in full? So glad to hear she has a great reputation on here.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

Great to see this post, I was suggested Kat Wong yesterday for insurance. I'm in the process of doing the quote as we speak. Does anyone know if they do payments or do you pay the premium up front in full? So glad to hear she has a great reputation on here.

I think its always up front. Thats how it's been for me anyways.

 

[Note Suwanchote]

I had an issue and took it up with Athos. They sent a rep and handled it during that process very well (in seeking out a solution) but overall my issue still has not been solved since there's a back and forth between the manufacturer and a distributor. Do I still have them? Yes since this is a special case but I'd prefer the process time to be faster than a couple of months.

 

[Michael J Brennan]

When asking for a quote put what you do and how you do it in writing.
For existing policies write to insurers with an update of your activities and your view of what your policy covers.

Be specific.
There is far too much wriggle room to rely on "neg insurance" to cover digital media.
Ask for the definition of well coined phrases such as "unattended" (you may think insurance will cover you in the event of a smash and grab from your vehicle whilst it is parked in view from your table outside the restaurant, but the definition of unattended by one uk insurer was/is the lack of prescence of someone adjacent the vehicle to deter a theft)


Mike Brennan