Watch out for the frauds and scam artists!

Blackcat99 · Sep 10, 2005

Unfortunatly, there are tons of new scam artists looking to benefit from Hurricane Katrina.
Internet scams are most prevelant. Do not respond to junk e-mail or spam soliciting funds!
The Red Cross, Salvation Army and most legitimiate organizations will NEVER send out bulk e-mails soliciting funds!
If you wish to donate to a charity, go directly to the website.. You safest bet is to type in the charity's url yourself. If you are unsure of a link, CLOSE IT. Trojan Horse have been reported
Make sure your money goes to the survivors of Katrina and not those looking to scam.
Give 'til it hurts!
Agape

Very good advice sunnyjohn. I have received 2-3 e-mails from organizations asking for donations that I have never heard of in my life. I am sure they are scammers.

Nat_gagui · Sep 10, 2005

I would like to add this one too from ScamBusters™

http://www.scambusters.org/homeownersinsurance.html

The #1 Publication on Internet Fraud

By Audri and Jim Lanford

Issue #143

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Everyone,

Today we focus on a common consumer complaint that is especially relevant, given all of the destruction from Hurricane Katrina: what to do when your homeowners insurance company denies your claim.

We've been planning to deal with this topic for a while. And with millions of homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, many people are going to be negotiating with their homeowners insurance companies to get their homes repaired or rebuilt in the not-too-distant future.

Plus, these tips are also useful when other types of insurance claims are denied.

Before we get going, if you haven't yet seen our article on Hurricane Katrina scams, we suggest you check it out. Many different types of Hurricane Katrina scams are already making the rounds -- find out what they are, how to protect yourself, and how you can help. Visit now.

OK, let's begin...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9 Tips for Winning When Your Homeowners Insurance Company Denies Your Claim

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you've made a claim on your homeowners insurance -- and it's been denied -- don't give up. There ARE some things you can do to keep the claim active and try to reverse the decision.

This will most likely be especially true for the next year or two as insurance adjusters and company representatives are especially busy.

Here are 9 useful tips for winning your homeowners insurance claim:

Tip 1 -- Don't assume NO is final

Did you know that less than 1% of claimants query the decision when a claim is denied? Yet, over 50% of those who do fight back get results.

So, you've got a good chance of winning if you fight back.

10% of claims are unjustly denied, so if you are aware your claim is legitimate, and you've not indulged in any creative claiming, you have a good chance -- even if they've said no.

It's also a fact that most claimants who query their claim end up with a better settlement... or having a denial reversed!

Tip 2 -- Get It In Writing

Insist on a review of the case, and a written comprehensive explanation of the reasons for rejecting the claim. It's surprising how many insurers don't give their "no" in writing, and it may be a legal requirement where you live.

Tip 3 -- Now Check Your Policy

Once you have it in writing, check the reason for denial against your policy. Look for ANYTHING that doesn't add up or make sense. Then query this in writing, referring to quotes from the policy where necessary.

Many claims come down to interpretation of the policy, so a good case explaining why you believe your claim is valid may lead to reconsideration.

Tip 4 -- Never Accept Claims Process Errors

The insurer will have a claims process or filing process. For example, you need to file the claim within a certain window of time. The insurance company may deny your claim (or try to) just because you filled in a form incorrectly, or didn't file within the designated time limit.

An insurance company cannot usually refuse to pay a claim that is otherwise valid just because of a claim filing error in most legal jurisdictions, unless it can show that your error either harmed the company, or prevented it from investigating adequately.

(BTW, each country and state has its own regulations about claims and responding to them, so do check your own location's rules and regulations before implementing the ideas on this list.)

Tip 5 -- Try Asking Your Agent For Assistance/Advice

This isn't frankly very likely to do any good, but you never know until you try. They may be able to help, or to direct you to the right people to contact for the following tips...

Tip 6 -- Call The Authorities

In the US, call the State Insurance Department or the Department of Insurance. In the UK, the Insurance Ombudsman. Wherever you are, check first with the legal authority that governs insurance about what your rights are.

Tip 7 - Secure An Agent

Actors and writers use agents to represent them in the marketplace. Insurance companies also use agents so they don't have to deal with you personally.

Consider hiring an agent to represent you in the claim. Good agents will pay for themselves in major claims.

Many people aren't aware that these agents exist. For example, in the US they may be called "Professional Loss Consultants" and charge a fee of about 10-15% of your claim. They know how to deal with insurers and claims, and may increase your claim for you if they are brought in early enough (which may cover their fees). If you've already made a claim and lost, they may still be able to help.

But beware of "no win no fee" arrangements: before signing, attractive though they may sound, check what the fee WILL be if you win -- and who will pay. Otherwise you may find your winning claim is eaten away by the agent's legal costs.

Tip 8 -- Consider A Lawyer

Now this tip is a two-edged sword. Insurance companies tend to sit up and take notice when lawyers are brought in. On the other hand, once a lawyer or attorney is hired, you may find that the insurance company and your own agent (if you have one) will only be able to communicate through the lawyer, which can be costly and time-consuming.

Tip 9 -- Be Persistent

Telephone the company regularly -- every 2-3 weeks. Be polite, but be persistent. Keep asking for the person's supervisor or manager if you don't get a suitable response.

Log all phone calls, with the date, time and names of the people you spoke with. Follow each call up with a letter explaining the conversation and the issue you have with it, and ask for a written response within 14 days. Then call again if/when you don't get a response.

It goes without saying to also keep copies of all letters you send, and send everything by certified mail with return receipt.

We obviously can't guarantee that these tips will get your claim paid out, but they certainly can help.

And remember, less than 1% of people query a rejected claim, yet over 50% of those who do get somewhere!

We hope these homeowners insurance tips were useful - :saint:

Nat

tntrn, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2005

You can't always be sure that funds donated to "charities" hosted by celebrities and with them to entertain ever get to those who need the help.

Even the well known charities might have a ghost or two in their closet.

Last year I watched a piece on "60 Minutes" and the guy who was the organizer is now in prison because he didn't have any money at the end of the event to actually give to the charity? Why? Because the stars and politicians (both sides of the political fence) and well-knowns required so much to appear he had nothing left and was therefore convicted of fraudand imprisoned.

They don't always want money, but he had to give them first-class plane tickets for vacations in the Carribean for 20 people; jewelry and not just little baubles, but from the finest stores, and whatever their little hearts desired. And some, even after getting what they originally asked for, came back asking for more. The list of names was lengthy, but some I remember are: Cher, Suzanne Sommers, Hillary Clinton (6-figure appearance fee); and a host of others. It really made me sick to think that these people, who supposedly were appearing to help get donations from the likes of us, not only expected to be well-paid for it, but were and continued to extort for more in some cases. Now there's a case of the rich getting richer at the expense of everybody else.

That's when we decided we would give only to Mercy Corps or the United Methodist Committee on Relief. We know that money goes where we want it to go.

Blackcat99 · Sep 10, 2005

I heard on CNN that people were having a lot of trouble with their insurance companies. I heard that some insurance companies were going to deny people their rightful claims because the insurance people are now calling the damages from Katrina to be due to flooding, not hurricanes!!!!! :angryfire :angryfire

sunnyjohn · Sep 10, 2005

I heard on CNN that people were having a lot of trouble with their insurance companies. I heard that some insurance companies were going to deny people their rightful claims because the insurance people are now calling the damages from Katrina to be due to flooding, not hurricanes!!!!! :angryfire :angryfire

Blackcat99,

That is pretty standard insurance practice in a disaster. I know from inside experience that the insurance bigwigs get giddy when damage is caused by flooding, be it natural or by a fire hyrdant because most people do not have flood insurance. It does not matter if the flood was a result of the hurricane, tornado or earthquake. It is a nasty legal loophole.

THAT is how they are going to wiggle out of many of the policies in the area.

EVERYONE should check to see if they have flood insurance. I think the findings will suprise many folks.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2005

Weve already recieved a dozen or so phone calls soliciting Katrina Disaster relief donations. I assume most were bogus of course. Amazing that people try to take advantage of something as terrible as this.

They are even worse than Lawyers, Journalists, and republican politicians.

laurakoko · Sep 20, 2005

And speaking from New Orleans....cause this is where I live. There are many scammers....mostly people considered "respected" individuals.

For example... check out this......

From NationalLedger.com

Breaking

Katrina Photos and Video Show Police Looting Wal-Mart

By Cris Bergman

Sep 3, 2005

At least two police officers in a Louisiana Wal-Mart were caught by an NBC news crew apparently stealing several items from the store. The news crew shows several different people grabbing different items from the store and the reporter notes that the police say that it is okay to steal.

"And we actually saw the police," veteran NBC reporter Martin Savidge says. "They're in aisle three."

The camera crew then catches two uniformed female police officers pushing a cart full of loot while perusing the store.

"Hi--what are you doing here," a person off camera asks one female police officer. "I'm doing my job," the officer says. "What taking shoes?" the reporter asks.

"No--looking for looters."

The officer then implies a threat to the reporter and his crew, and walks away. The video then shows the other officer pushing the shopping cart casually through the store.

Savidge wraps up the segment by saying that you can only laugh, even though stealing is "grossly against the law."

"When you have the police in there looting, that is a problem," Savidge concludes.

The video first aired on MSNBC on Tuesday night.

One note: Some outlets have identified the uniformed officers as "security guards." But the reporter on the scene clearly calls them "police."

--Cris Bergman

Send things to the Salvation Army, they take anything.. I am trying to find a local address for one in the NO surrounding area, so things can be sent directly...but most are still down.

Laura