How to File an Insurance Claim - Early Bird Gets the Worm
How to File an Insurance Claim - Early Bird Gets the Worm
By George Halfkenny
Most homeowners want to know how to file an insurance claim successfully. Filing an Insurance Claim with minimum hassle is the goal of most property owners. Well to that end, it is important for everyone to be sure they cooperate with authorities (Police, Fire, Emergency Services, etc) and follow all policies and directions provided. During emergency situations, your main goal has to be the safety of you and your family, but this does not mean procrastinating on your Insurance Claim. You have to get your Insurance Claim Submitted as quickly as possible.
Emergency situations like tornadoes, hurricanes and fire damage claims make Insurance Companies cringe. Why? Because when the word "emergency" and "insured loss" are used in the same sentence, it usually means they will be spending money. Plus, they will have to hire additional Insurance Adjusters to handle claims and explain to homeowners how to file insurance claims.
When is the last time "smoke billowing out of the hood of your car" was a cheap or affordable repair? In my case, this would be never. Emergencies do not happen often, but when they do occur they are usually expensive. Emergencies make us all cringe because these are the times when we must increase our expenses to cover the unforeseen situation.
For a second, I want you to think about a tornado emergency like Christmas (In July). It sounds silly, but imagine the Insurance Company as 'Mom and Dad' and the homeowner as the 'Kids'. If you are having a difficult time with this example, just imagine 8 kids that all go to a nice private school, and 2, Mike and Missy, that are in an alternative Art School and are enrolled in the Finance Program for extra credits. Last semester they did a research paper on "How to File an Insurance Claim" and earned extra time to paint, which is their true passion.
So it is May 29th and Mom and Dad (the Insurance Company) are starting to think about the season. They know it is around the corner and want to make sure that on Christmas morning, everyone feels they were treated fairly, even Mike and Missy (who swore going to the Art School would count as all Birthday and Christmas gifts for the year.) So they start talking about the Christmas forecast and determine that it should be a calm season, everyone's expectations are in line with what they want...no big expenditures. With a nice, lean budget in mind they relax and look forward to a mellow and peaceful summer with the kids.
Mom and Dad work for a big Financial Firm and June is a busy month for them. As they deal with closing the books, they are unable to find time to go shopping for the kids. Mom has been working on a new best seller "How to File an Insurance Claim for Funny Folks". As the end of June approaches, they look forward to July and know they will be able to find time to get all the shop for the kids done.
June is done and July is here. Actually, it is not just July, it is July 10th and our Tornado Emergency has hit. Mom and Dad (Insurance Companies) are scrambling to figure out whats on everyone's Christmas Wish List (what damages were done) and settle (claims) what can be settled quickly.
Time is ticking and Mom is rushing out to the mall looking for a hockey stick for Joe. It is affordable, it will make him happy, and it is the only thing he wanted so she figured she would start there and get it out of the way fast. While at the mall, she calls Dad and proclaims that she has figured out gifts for 5 of the kids.
If she buys these gifts, they will exceed their budget. The upside is they will have 6 kids squared away and only have 4 more to buy for. Dad asks "Which kids? Who are the gifts for?" Mom runs through the list quickly "Missy, Jimmy, Joe, Joan, and Mark). Dad is concerned about spending so much on Missy and Mark because the other kids might feel jilted. Everyone knows they are paying double the tuition for the "Art School" and that is a big drain on the family account, but he says OK. (Important note: Mark, Missy and Joe know how to File Insurance Claims)
Mom buys the gifts and knows the kids will be happy. No complaints.
As she is strolling through the mall, Karin her youngest, calls and proclaims that a famous rock star will be coming to town next month. (Note: Karin also knows how to file insurance claims) The local radio station is giving away tickets to callers every hour. Karin and her friend are wondering when she will be home so they can use her phone. Mom says about an hour and they end their call.
Eureka! One more kid down! Karin is getting tickets to the concert, whether she likes it or not! In a hot mess, she heads down to the Concert Ticket Window to buy tickets for Karin and her friend. Mom does not bother calling Dad, she knows he will be stressed about sending their 13 year old to the concert, so she makes the decision herself.
Got kids? Got Tickets? $350 Poorer? That s how mom felt after draining the Charge Card. This was no rosy commercial. Christmas (The Tornado) is draining the family coffer and fast. Mom wonders if Karin took the chance to take advantage of the situation and trick her into buying the tickets. No time to think about it now, done is done.
When Mom got home, she showed Dad all the gifts she had bought. They looked at the receipts and gasped. Dad does not seem as upset about Karin going to the concert, but he is mad that mom spent so much. Thoughts of all the remaining stuff to be done this Season made their butt cheeks pucker.
- 3 More Kids to buy for
- A turkey
- The Office Holiday Party
Gifts (Settlements) for 7 of the 10 kids are complete. Hopefully those kids will remain happy. After much deliberation, they decided to better review and properly examine the gifts and expenses that remain. (Note: In our example: these kids do not know how to file insurance claims) Over the next 10 days they shop around and find, skates for Brenda ($25), a Painting Kit for Sally ($45) and a Royal Blue Fuzzy Hat for George ($3.) P.S. - George asked for the Fuzzy Hat in Black last year....so I am sure he will love it:-)
Moral of the Story: Early Bird Gets the Worm. Know how to file insurance claims and get your claim in early.
During an emergency, the large Insurance Companies, Emergency Services, and other Service Agencies are caught in a mad rush to get the situation under control quickly. All Homeowner are in need of insurance claims help and rushing to submit homeowner insurance claims. In the beginning, everyone is working to insure people are safe and the rebuilding is started immediately. As the situation unfolds, in our case a Tornado named Christmas, more processes and procedures are put in place that slow the flow of money. New rules for how to file an insurance claim are implemented. Systems are developed to minimize the insurance claim problems and possible insurance claim fraud that plagued the earlier days. The short story is...the Early Bird Gets the Worm, experiences less hassle, but the early bird needs to be informed, prepared and on top of their claim.
If homeowners start thinking about their Insurance Claims like the Holiday season, they will realize that getting things done as soon as possible is critical. It is important to get your claim in EARLY & PROMPTLY, but you must know the type of claim and nature of your loss before you submit your claim. Is your loss covered by YOUR Policy? What documentation will the Insurance Company need? When will you be paid? How do you make sure your claim is handled quickly?
The answer to these questions is very important and determines when and how your claim will be handled. Learn how to file insurance claims so you do things the right way. When filling out forms, make sure you have the details correct, as mistakes or inconsistencies may cause your claim to be denied or delayed. Confirm everything is correct before you submit your claim.
Before filing home insurance claims, you must understand the type of claim you are submitting. Homeowners insurance provides protection for you, but only for the losses described in your Insurance as a home owner insurance policy. Home Insurance can save you and your family from the monetary loss experienced with the damage or loss of your home, and your valuables inside it. There is a wide array of home insurance policies. Nonetheless, it is important to know that Insurance Policies vary from state-to-state and provider-to-provider.
As an Insurance Consumer it is important to understand the Insurance Claim Process. Know the different directions your claim can go from the moment you submit your claim will help save you time and maximize your settlement amount. If you are searching for answers on How to File Insurance Claims, Insurance Claim Advice or need Insurance Claim Help, the information you need is hear. Gain access to tools, resources, and information that will empower you to handle your claim successfully.
George (Georgina-Tina) Halfkenny [http://theinsuranceclaimspecialists.com/toolkit] is a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster in Florida, Colorado, Georgia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina and North Carolina. She is an active Insurance Consumer Advocate and regularly writes articles to help homeowners dealing with Insurance Claims. She designed The Insurance Claim Specialists [http://theinsuranceclaimspecialists.com/toolkit] site to share her experience and knowledge with Homeowners dealing with Insurance Claims. The Insurance Claim Specialists site showcases the best tools, forms, resources and information for those dealing with a Home Insurance Claims. Visit George's site to use the free Claim Analyzer, access valuable forms and learn how to file insurance claims. Gain the answers you need to take control of your Home Insurance Claim and settle your claim for it's maximum value.
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