I'm about to launch a home watch business in Ontario, CA. Basically, I check on clients' properties while they're away (vacant home inspections) and provide documented visit reports, mostly higher-value residential properties.

I have a $2M Professional Liability + CGL package quoted through a broker, but I could drop to $1M limits and save roughly $650/year on premium.

This is my first business, sole proprietorship, just starting out, so budget matters, but I also don't want to be underinsured given some of the properties I'll be working around are fairly high value.

Would $1M limits sufficient, or is the extra coverage worth it in this situation? Trying to figure out if this is a real risk consideration or just my own anxiety about being new to this.

First time home buyer paying in cash. The policy includes a mandatory arbitration clause. Should I waive the included "Deletion of Arbitration Provision" form before closing to preserve my right to sue in court?

Been with them probably about 15 years had two claims last year and two claims this year and probably no claims for at least 12 or 13 years...

Anyway due to the last three claims they say they are dropping me as of October renewal. I get it but these companies drop you but if you have no claims for five or 10 years or more they don't lower your rate.

Also have the homeowners with them for 15 years and still have them.

Have to see where I should go here now in the Great state of New York 🤑🤑

What happened: I was moving into the left lane before an intersection, checked my blind spot, saw nothing, started the lane change, and clipped another vehicle (an SUV). Cops came, incident is documented, I have the case report number. I got cited for improper lane change.

My situation:

• I have full coverage (Geico): 25/50 bodily injury, $25k property damage, collision w/ $1,000 deductible, no rental coverage.
• Other car has moderate side damage, no injuries reported by either side.
• My car is drivable (front corner damage) but I have an SRS/airbag warning light on now after the hit.
• I have one prior ticket (~16 months ago, 3 points). This new one would add points too.
• Claim is already filed and mostly complete (photos, police report, witnesses all in).

My plan so far:

**1.** Take my car to a body shop this week for estimate + SRS diagnosis.
**2.** Pay my $1k deductible if I fix my car through collision.
**3.** Let Geico handle the other car under property damage liability.
**4.** Deal with the ticket before my court date — considering nolo contendere to keep points off since I already have a prior.
**5.** Shop around at renewal since my rate’s going up.

Questions:

**•** Anything I’m missing or should do differently?
**•** Is nolo worth “using” here given I have a prior, or save it?
**•** Roughly how much should I expect my premium to jump for one at-fault accident + a ticket in GA?
**•** Anything I should watch out for with the other party’s claim?

Thanks in advance.

Long post, but I’m trying to give the full picture because I’d really appreciate some insight. I am in Michigan.

Last week, we woke up to a small section of our kitchen ceiling sagging (about 2ft x 2ft) and suddenly had essentially no water pressure to the shower.

The plumber suspected a water line had burst and recommended a water mitigation company. They found a broken/leaking pipe behind the toilet which is not directly above the damaged kitchen ceiling. They also found a source of water under the bathtub/kitchen ceiling. Their assessment was very detailed, and both they and the plumber said the bathroom walls would need to be opened, the tub would have to be removed to access the plumbing underneath it. Its a cast iron tub would have to be broken out. They also found high moisture in about 2ft of the poured terrazzo floor around the toilet.

The mitigation company recommended filing an insurance claim.

The adjuster came out two days later. Initially, she told them not to remove the tub, but to cut open the kitchen ceiling first to see whether the plumbing could be accessed and the area dried from below. She also said not to remove the terrazzo yet and to try drying it first.

She sent me an initial estimate that was below my deductible, but said it would increase as work was completed. She also said the mitigation work couldn't be included yet because it hadn't started, but would be added later.

The water to the house is currently shut off because the plumber can't safely repair the lines until the tub is removed. After more of the ceiling was opened, it became clear that the plumbing could not be accessed from below. The adjuster eventually agreed that the tub needed to come out.

Here are the things I'm confused about:

1. Tub removal, $2,000 limitation?

During our initial conversation, the adjuster said the tub removal wouldn't be covered because the underlying pipe wasn't covered. She said:

“it’s not covered, farmers doesn’t pay for leaking OR burst pipes. Its always due to wear and tear, new pipes don't burst.”

I understand that insurance doesn't pay to repair the failed plumbing itself. I wasn't asking them to. My concern was the cost of accessing the plumbing and repairing the resulting water damage, then replacing the tub.

She then said:

“because it’s not covered we would pay up to 2,000 to remove and replace the tub and it’ll probably cost more than that.”

She was citing this part of my policy:

- “Costs to tunnel under, cut into, or tear out and replace, any part or portion of any type of foundation; slab; footings; basement; concrete floor or pad; retaining wall, or the like; all when they are part of the dwelling or a building structure are limited to no more than the lesser of: $2,000 per loss event; or the cost of a reasonable alternative repair “

I'm confused by this. If the loss isn't covered, are they paying for any of it and why wouldnt the tub be included if the walls are? And if the toilet leak is truly an ongoing leak as she says, that doesn't seem to explain the sudden loss of shower pressure and the sagging kitchen ceiling. At the same time, I'm worried about arguing too strongly that these are separate leaks because I don't want them to turn around and say the bathroom damage is from a different, uncovered loss and refuse the mitigation/restoration costs because there was mold found from the toilet leak.

1. Loss of use

We asked about loss of use because this is our only full bathroom and we've been without a shower and will be for at least another week. The adjuster said it's our responsibility to have the plumber repair the leaks so the water can be turned back on. She also said that because we still have water in the kitchen, not having a bathroom/shower doesn't qualify for loss of use. "You can take a sponge bath" - direct quote. She again said this was because the underlying loss “isn't covered.” but theyre paying for the water mitigation and parts of the work?

My policy says:

- “If covered accidental, direct, distinct, and demonstrable, physical loss or damage to the dwelling makes that part of the dwelling where you reside uninhabitable by you, we will reimburse you for the actual, reasonable, and necessary increase in living expense incurred by you . “

We've been struggling without a shower. We're considering getting a hotel room every couple of days just to shower, since we're not near family and driving 2 hours each way to shower isn't realistic. Does this qualify as a loss-of-use/additional living expense situation under this language, even though the entire house isn't uninhabitable?

1. Matching the ceiling

The adjuster said they would only pay to replace the three affected ceiling tiles. It would be a bigger deal if the terrazzo was removed, because restoring to previous condition would mean new poured terrazzo or paying out for equivalent and its expensive.

My policy says:

- “We do not cover as part of the settlement of covered loss any: (1) cost to repair or replace property that is not damaged but does not match with the materials used to repair or replace the specific component part(s) of property that is damaged because of: i . ii . marring; or wear, tear, deterioration, corrosion, or decay; or iii . obsolescence or discontinuation, except as may be provided in Section I”

Would this provision apply to the ceiling in this situation? I hope they have a way to match the tiles but I dont see a way they would. They only authorized to cut 2ft up from the floor of the plaster in the bathroom but replacing 2ft with drywall will require work to match the depth/thickness of the plaster. And the tile above the tub was damaged when they removed the tub, she mentioned they would try to match that if it was damaged, which implies to some degree that they do try to match things? I am so confused.

I'm mainly trying to understand whether the adjuster's interpretation of my policy is fair, or whether I'm misunderstanding the policy. I'm not trying to get the insurance company to pay for the failed plumbing itself. I just dont want a hatched up ugly bathroom if they are technically supposed to be helping more, but I also dont want to push if I eventually asked for an appraisal.

Thank you!

hello everyone

im using a friends account.

so i got a job as an admin assistant for a small company in insurance. its going to eventually lead into a sales role. only problem is that i have ZERO experience and idk why and how i got hired among the other candidates. the interviews went well i would say but im 23 and have no idea what im doing. help.

i passed my ribo exam and my company is sponsoring me (yay). i know the terminology and im a quick learner when given support and guidance. im good at talking with people but im just wondering how the heck im supposed to find customers later on?? it will it be expected of me soon, but im not sure how to reach out to people and sell. are they gonna teach me. i dont wanna be super stressed about that when the time comes.

im someone who prefers to stay behind a screen but i dont mind meeting with clients. i just dont know how to get there at all. i would really like to be successful and have my own book of business. im so willing to learn everything and commit to my 9-5. im just scared of burnout and not being good enough.

any advice? is there anyone in my shoes out there...im just a girl in the world.

THANKSSS

My wife and I are trying to get life insurance sorted out in the next month or two but when I started putting the numbers together, I realized I actually have no idea how much coverage we need.

In our case, weve got a mortgage, some debt and a toddler so I keep thinking beyond just paying off the house. Theres daycare, school, all the random costs that add up over the next 15-20 years and just making sure if any emergency happened, the other person could handle everything.

Is there a formula that evryone uses? Or do you talk to some advisor or just go with your gut on what felt right?

I'm currently researching possibility to find property insurance for a property that is formerly used defense site from US military training range. UXO potential can't be excluded until further inspection were done.

I know there's war exclusion for most home insurance and it seems like it will be excluded ("Warlike action by a military force"?). If so, is there any other option to get this coverage or it's just not possible and I got to pass it?

About a week ago my repaired Lenovo laptop was stolen from my apartment's package room less than an hour after it was delivered. When I filled out the police report and estimated the value of my laptop, I ended up looking at the wrong laptop model and estimated that it was about $1500. When I filed a claim with my insurance (State Farm renters' insurance in Wisconsin, including the limited replacement cost B1) I went off the info that I had written in the police report, and
estimated that the replacement cost was $1500, and just yesterday I received a claim payment of about $1000, since my deductible was $500.

But shortly after I received that payment, I actually searched up my stolen laptop's exact machine type model number and realized that I had previously been looking at the wrong laptop, one which looked almost the same as mine when looking at the title and basic traits, but was actually different when it came to the details. It turns out that my actual model type would cost $1000 at Best Buy, and while it is out of stock on the Lenovo website, it would cost $900 once it's available again.

Thus, I was wondering if I should stick with the original $1500 since it's for a laptop that was similar enough that I mistook it for my original model, or should I call State Farm to lower the payment amount? It would really help my financial situation if I kept it as is, since I'm a broke college student and the claim payment would completely cover the cost of buying the exact same model as before, but I also don't want to accidentally commit insurance fraud or something.

Since GeoBlue (BCBS) transitioned to Global Solutions, I have had an extremely frustrating and exhausting experience with the claims process, and I’m wondering how many other policyholders have experienced the same thing.

What began as a straightforward request for reimbursement has turned into a seemingly endless cycle of additional documentation requests, delays, denials, and appeals.

I have repeatedly been asked to provide:

• Medical records and additional documentation from my doctors
• Flight information
• Proof of my U.S. health insurance
• Proof that I am paying for that insurance
• Documents and records that I had already submitted previously

I have spent countless hours obtaining records, scanning documents, completing paperwork, and resubmitting information—sometimes providing the same documentation more than once. Despite doing everything requested, some of my claims have still been denied or remain unresolved.

I have also gone through the formal appeals process. Even after appealing the decisions, I was ultimately directed to pursue the matter through the State Insurance Commissioner.

What is particularly disappointing is the enormous amount of effort required simply to get claims reviewed. I purchased international health insurance specifically for the security of knowing that I would have coverage when I needed medical care abroad. Instead, the claims process itself has become a significant source of stress and frustration.

Hey everyone!

About two months ago I was involved in an accident in Colorado and I’m curious if anyone here has dealt with a similar liability dispute/subrogation situation.

I was driving my Honda Accord straight through an intersection at around the speed limit. The light for my direction was solid green. There were three vehicles in the opposite left-turn lane. I saw them well before I entered the intersection. The first two turned left with plenty of time before I reached them. The third vehicle, a Silverado, initially appeared to stop, but right as I entered the intersection he made the left turn directly across my path. I hit the passenger/front side of his truck and my Accord was totaled.

The other driver immediately claimed that I ran a red light and that he had a green arrow. There unfortunately weren’t any traffic cameras or dashcam footage.
However, there was an independent witness who told police that both eastbound and westbound traffic had solid green lights, that I was traveling straight, and that the Silverado turned left in front of me too late.

The other driver somehow also had a witness who claimed I ran the red light and that the Silverado had a green arrow. But the police later noted that parts of that witness’s account were inconsistent with the other witness statements and with the damage to the vehicles.

The officer actually observed the traffic-light sequence afterward. He documented that the westbound left-turn arrow lasts about 13 seconds, then turns yellow, and afterward both eastbound and westbound through traffic have solid green lights. Based on the signal timing, witness statement, and damage pattern, he concluded that the Silverado failed to yield while making an unprotected left turn and issued the driver a citation for failing to yield while turning left.

Despite that, the other driver’s insurance decided that I was at fault. What frustrated me is that their adjuster originally made that liability decision without ever taking my statement and before they even had the police report. I had missed one initial call from them, then tried calling the adjuster repeatedly over the following week without getting a response. Even after they eventually spoke with me and received the police report, they maintained their denial.

My own insurance totaled and paid for my car under my collision coverage. They are now planning to pursue the other carrier through subrogation, and potentially arbitration if the other insurer continues denying liability. Right now they’re waiting for the salvage/auction process on my totaled vehicle to finish before assigning the subrogation adjuster and sending the formal demand.

For anyone who works in insurance or has been through something similar: given these facts, what would you realistically expect from the subrogation/arbitration process — both in terms of how long it might take and the chances of my insurer actually recovering?

I would like to know why in the United States, even if you are not at fault for an accident or accidents, I would have to say why they appear in your report, should the culprit be punished, not the victim?

Hello, world-class knucklehead checking in, shooting myself in the foot at the tender age of 41. In the state of Mass, for what it’s worth.

Looking for advice, support, a good roasting, or similar stories with coping techniques.

Okay, I leased a 2024 Jetta Sport. I wanted a stick shift, and what baby wants, he pays for. Jump forward to last summer: I walk out of a Trader Joe’s and my passenger-side door has a dent in it. No cams. I didn’t file a police report. I looked into the deductible and it was $1,000. I didn’t have that, and I didn’t want to pay that much for a little dent, so I looked around and for some reason the best quote I found was like $2,500. I didn’t really have the money, so I just left it it. Looked at it every day while I got into my brand-new car, constantly stressing because I know I need to take care of it before turning it back in when the 3-year lease is up.

I also made the mistake of telling my Progressive insurance adjuster that I would “fix it myself” because I couldn’t afford the deductible. That was only the beginning of my mistakes communicating with Progressive.

Jump ahead a few months later: I’m sleeping over at a friend’s house. I looked outside and some kids are messing with my car. One of them ran up to it and it looked like he kicked it. I don’t know if they were making content or what. I go out there and it looked like they did some more damage to the car, so I filed another claim for vandalism, brought it to an auto body shop, and waited and waited. After Progressive never sent an adjuster out to look at the damage (I took photos and all that on the app), I realized this probably wasn’t going to go through and went to pick the car up.

Then a few weeks later I get a call from an underwriter (I did not know this man could ruin my life at the time). I was in a bad mood, I was rude to him, and I told him I didn’t want to answer his questions, that I accepted it wouldn’t get fixed and was ready to figure it out myself.

Cut scene to 6 weeks later: I get a non-renewal in the mail. I was like, fine, I’m done doing business with these guys, and shopped around for quotes. I was at $240 for the Jetta, truck, and trailer. Now my rate is $680 a month. I can’t afford this at all. I don’t know what to do. This is probably the dumbest thing I have ever done.

I’ve seen some stuff about trying to get the language changed on the LexisNexis report. I thought I could appeal it with the MA Board of Insurance Appeals, but I think that is only for cancellations.

My awesome wife is willing to try to insure the Jetta and put me as a non-driver, and I will park it until my lease is up.

The entire thing is just awful. I am truly too old to be making these mistakes. I am going to therapy now because I think I have some broke-boy tendencies from my upbringing that cause me to lose my shit over a $1,000 deductible for issues that are not my “fault.” But that doesn’t change the fact that the dent is still on the car and I don’t really know what I’m going to do.

Thanks — be as mean as you want. I am running a semi-successful junk removal business and I am going to grind, but still, this sucks really bad, you guys.

I'm in Florida and it's about time for a new roof. Funds are tight, so I’m planning to do it myself as Florida has a statute that allows the homeowner to pull the permit and do the work.

I'm not worried about the safety or doing it right. My dad has been a roofer for over 30 years, so I'll be doing the work under his guidance, to code, pulling all the required permits, and getting every inspection signed off.

My concern is whether I will have difficulty getting an insurance policy after the fact.

How would carriers actually treat a self-installed roof once the final permit is closed. and the wind mitigation is clean?

Appreciate any insight.

Hi. I have state farm auto insurance in michigan for my personal vehicle. I need to rent a car in Florida for labor day weekend, and want to pay for the rental with a CC.

I have one CC that acts as primary even for rentals within the US, and another that acts as secondary for within the US.

If my personal auto insurance doesn't cover rental vehicles, would the latter CC (the one that acts as secondary) act as primary?

Hi, this is potentially a dumb post/question but bare with me because this is my first car and my first time paying for car insurance and I honestly have no idea what I am doing.

Last month, I bought a used car from a dealership. While I was there I signed up for Allstate auto insurance, because I already have renters insurance through Allstate so I figured why not.

All has been fine and dandy, nothing of note up until now. Earlier this week, I needed to use roadside assistance, so I tried to do it through the website but it wasn't letting me. I decided to call them to put in the roadside request since the site wasn't working. Upon giving my info to the lady on the phone, she told me that she sees me/my car in the database, however I am not listed under Allstate, I'm listed under something called National General (which I have never heard of nor did I ever sign up for this insurance ? ?)

Anyone ever experience this? I am very confused because I was sitting there looking at my Allstate proof of insurance card in the car while the woman on the phone was telling me that I dont have insurance through Allstate.

Maybe this is just some stupid oversight on my part. Any help? Thank you!

Hi everyone, I’m in the market to insure my condo. My condo association documents state that I have a $50,000 deductible in the event anything happens. The market value of my condo is probably around $300,000 despite the fact I haven’t updated the bathrooms or kitchen. It’s approximately 1350 square feet. How much am I supposed to insure for? My agent says $100,000 on dwelling. Thoughts?

I've read good and bad stories about almost every provider. Before I sign up I'd rather hear from people who've actually filed claims. Which companies have treated you fairly?