UPDATE 10/29/2024
I've noticed a State Farm formula for not paying:
1. Blank wall: don't answer phones; don't return calls, emails, or letters.
2. Push you to sign a release as fast as possible.
3. Delay delay delay: "We need____before"
4. Pretend to be on your side
5. Always demand more information (often documents or information you would never have)
State Farm auto and home insurance:
Auto insurance since 1992; current cost=790/yr
Condo insurance since 2015; current cost= 546/yr
Apartment insurance for years prior to buying the condo.
A lawyer told me State Farm is now one of the worst insurance companies. They have appeared in many news stories for dropping home owner insurance policies using drones and absurd excuses.
This makes me think my experience isn't uniquely bad.
I tried to make a claim because another owner beneath had water damage. I was on hold for 45 minutes and made the claim online while waiting. I waited for days for a call from a person who's job is to lie and generalize to convince me to withdraw my claim. I am dealing with a company who has lied to me constantly, but they said State Farm lied to them. Since they both seem to have a tenuous grasp on ethics, I'm not sure who to believe. When I finally talked to an agent who told me how to claim a reimbursement, I thought I had to process. I submitted via email, on their website, and by mail. I rarely received any response. When I was forced to repeat this lady seemed annoyed. (Lady annoyed does not begin to describe my mood right now.)
They said they work with Servpro, which I thought meant that they were legit, far from it. They are coming after me and keep sending bogus illegal add on bills in fits.
If I ever get out of this financial jail (Servpro has my bank account at negative 30k if I could pay) I will find another insurance company. But once one insurance company screws you nobody else will even sniff your request.
OUT OF POCKET AFTER REIMBURSEMENT
$*****.16-$9912.75 (State Farm paid) =$*****.41 (paid over reimbursement)
Servpro charges
8/22: demand letter and packet containing mostly fraudulent charges
$5003.89 (8/22)
$1709.97 (8/22)
+$*****.81 (8/22)
*+$1749.66 (8/22) to return to check a leak I had to fix before they came out
=$*****.46
**+$154.35 (8/22) to move 39 flat boxes and ½ bag of grey powder-2 hours
$*****.68
+****** (charged afterwards to submit documents to State Farm and the company's pain and
Suffering")
+$5000 Paid as deposit (might be included in total?)
= $*****.68 (Servpro total after 8/22/2024)
$8558.93 (paid) 2nd contractor to fix everything Servpro did
$1973.55 (paid)--Revised out of pocket: materials, fixtures, replacements
=$*****.16 (inc. $445 for electrician to install new donated light and $234.61 not reimbursed hotel bill)
RECEIVED FROM STATEFARM
$8252.21 + $1660.54 =$9912.75
Stuck with State Farm home; switched to Amica auto insurance