While I was on the cruise to Hawaii, I started renovations on my bathrooms so I had workers in and out of my condo. On March 29th, the workers found water on the floors from my upstairs neighbor’s water heater. I didn’t find out about it for a few days but the contractors contacted the neighbor which likely really limited the damage to my place. The contractors said the neighbor’s insurance should cover the damage and that I should be “restored” to the condition prior to the water leak. If only this were true and straightforward.
The contractors worked up an estimate. My floors are hardwood and while they are in reasonably good shape, they have been sanded and sealed before. The area of damage is not huge. I naively thought you could just remove the damaged wood and replace. The damage is in the hallway which is continuous with living room and dining room. It would all need to be sanded, stained and sealed or replaced. The contractors recommended replacement because once it is sanded, there may be grooves between the boards which will collect dirt.
It took about a month to get the estimate from the contractors. My neighbor submitted it to his insurance on his liability policy. It was denied by Travelers because he did nothing wrong. His maintained his water heater so there was no negligence on his part and therefore the liability would not pay. WHAT?????
I also have Travelers Home Owner insurance and after a conversation with my agent, I started the process to file a claim, but did not complete the filing because I have a $1600 deductible and my rates will go up and I DID NOT CAUSE THIS problem. I called my agent and said she needed to communicate with the people who did the denial and get this sorted out or send the the name and number of someone higher up to discuss this denial with. I consulted with a friend who has been in the insurance business for decades and he said my neighbor’s policy should cover it. Since we are both covered by Travelers and my policy has a deductible and his doesn’t, it is in their interest to have it on my policy.
My agent told me that she investigated and thought they had done everything they could to get it covered on my neighbor’s policy. She advised that I finish filing the claim but said I could take to the supervisor of the woman who made the denial and consider filing a grievance with the State of TN insurance office.
I am waiting for her to give me the name of the person to speak with. As much as I HATE this kind of complexity in my life, I am NOT “sucking this one up”.
Does anyone have any words of wisdom?
Tamara Unleashed 