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Letter: Pay close attention to your insurance bill


6/21/2012 1:03:00 PM

 Editor:

Early in June, I received the bill for my home insurance from the company that had insured my home since 1989.

Upon reading my new one-year cost, I was amazed to see that the cost had gone from $423 in 2011 to $786 in 2012. I phoned the company and was told that a separate company, in a new procedure, was rating the whole country and that my rate had risen from 05 to 10 and my premium group from 1.00 to 1.90. I was advised by the representative that I could visit my local firehouse and secure an affidavit from them stating that their rating truly had not been changed.

At the firehouse, the officers were amazed that a rater had downgraded their performance. They could ascertain no reason for this to be done. I continued my trip to a new insurance agent in Cottonwood. He wrote a one-year home insurance policy for $429, which was acceptable to me.

On the following day, I again phoned my original insurance provider to tell them that I was dropping them and seeking a pro-rata refund from them on both my home and auto insurance. The representative informed me that at that time the company hired to rate fire coverage said that the Verde Valley is protected by multi-fire departments, some of them full time units and others volunteer. I told her that I lived 1 minute, 40 seconds from my firehouse. Also, although Verde Village had no fire hydrants, it did have a lake. I also stated that I had 13,000 gallons of water in a yard pool. She then offered to renew my current home coverage for $429. I refused the offer as I had committed to a new company.

Due to the affront to my local firehouse, of which I have long been proud, by the rater, I decided to pursue this matter further. There are many other senior citizens, like myself, living in our valley. So I am writing this letter to the newspaper that insurance customers will be alerted to check the rating as well as the charged on your individual bill and don’t be afraid to challenge it.

I am also writing to the Insurance Commissioner for possible action on his part.     

John McDonald

Cottonwood


 

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