Rip-Off
by AB on Apr 4, 2019
1 out of 5 stars
This company cancelled our home insurance over the Christmas holidays. The reason - after being a client who pays on time for over a year, we were away and missed a payment date by 3 business days. They cancelled our home insurance without notice. We only found out after the fact - 4 days afterwards via our broker. Good thing nothing happened to our house over that time. When we called them to rectify the situation, we were abruptly told that our insurance could not be re-activated. For an industry predicated on customer service, it is unbelievable how little they care about customers. They are cheaper for a reason. Buyer beware, stay away! Don't risk your house. 4 days without house insurance is stressful. Stay away!
Reading the above comments which are all negative made me write my experience (which was actually a good one) as I know we all forget to write good reviews when things go as expected. When our broker found us a deal with Economical for our home insurance, we weren't too sure as honestly, we hadn't heard about them at all. We accepted since they gave us the best quote. In June our basement was flooded. Right after our tenant found out at around 7 am, I called the customer service and the gentleman who answered was very friendly and understanding. Not long after that, the inspection agent arrived and they started their work that night. We brought our own contractor but the whole process from the beginning to end went really smoothly. The specialist assigned to us was very responsive, kind and professional and made the process so easy for us. Overall our experience with Economical was much better than we expected and I always recommend them to family and friends.
I had a window that started leaking back in May 2017, they sent a G.C. out he never even got a ladder out of his truck.... Flat out told me he knows nothing about windows and will subcontract this out... Said I had wood rot which I don't, I know a little about building and wood rot.... So I asked them to send out a window guy.... It's now the end of August 2017 and no one has been out to look, I have had no one follow up.... Except for my personal broker... This company is a joke... Unprofessional and just ridiculous to deal with. I have the correct coverage and even my broker had said I have the right coverage for this...
They cancelled my home insurance, I tried to contact them to explain that I didn't receive any calls and that I thought I was paying 1/2 at the beginning then half after 6 months. They didn't care, they cancelled my home insurance which made me a risk with other insurers, it was the first time this happened and they just didn't care. Needless to say I cancelled my car insurance with them which has never been in default for 6 years. In addition I had sent $200 before I knew they cancelled, because it was about that time, they sent me a letter saying they would send back the full $200 but then they sent back $64.74. Both the broker and insurance company are completely useless!!
Well - I went for the cheapest home insurance with the coverage that I wanted ... and now I am paying for it.
We had a break-in back in early March 2014. The theives pried the back window off - did not break the glass - entered and stole over $10,000 in items.
First - don't ever have a breakin outside the insurance company's business ours - or on a weekend ... Adjusters don't work weekends. Ask the theives to come back when it's convient for the insurance company. The breakin happend on a Friday evening ...
Had to call Economical Emergency Claim line to get a window board up ... of course having to sign a documents for the Restoration company saying that I will pay for everything if they don't get paid.
Got told by Economical rep on the Emergency line - that an adjuster and restoration estimator would be out likely within 24 hours.
When Economical finally contacted me almost 3 days later - found out that they hired a restoration company to come and restore the window damage. They in turn - sub-contracted the window repair out to another firm.
Great progress ... Window estimator comes in a week later - yup 1 week later ... estimates the window. Insurance company quickly approves window some $600 - and a week later the Window company arrives to install the window . But it's the wrong window type, the estimator quoted a straight double pane of glass panel - not one that actually opens. Installers measure everything up an new - take photos and the window the theives pried off - back to their office to get a new estimate together - new estimate submitted to insurance company for approval almost $2000 ... that was start of April. ( Yes bad April 1st )
When June roles around and I don't see a window in sight - I contact the Insurance company to ask what's going on ... told that they have paid out the restoration company .. ( hugh? - intersting getting paid before the work is actually done.. .... )
June rolls around - and they finally come to install the window.
The installers take no care to ensure a clean work area - damage the hosue stucco and trim getting the window in - don't seal the trim /window edge with calk . And with all that - they have no screen for the window ... nor a handle to crank the window open .. nor the right hardware on the window to match the rest in the house. And the wood trim is incomplete - and not finsihed.
Of course you wonder why I am blaming the Insurance company - and not the window company and restoration company .... problem is - when I email or called the insurance firm to ask that they call the restoration company to get things going and corrected .. I hear - dead silence .. nothing - not a word from the insurance company.
Economical's insurance adjuster that was handling my claim .. suddenly leaves the company June 6th ... and no one from Economical contacts me to see about the pending items still remaining on the claim - let alone the window restoration.
I eventually get contacted by a new adjuster - whom states that the claim is closed ... ( hugh ? that's news to me ... ) .. but they called the restoration company and they should be in contact. Oh - and the restoration company tries to forward me documents for me to sign saying the work is done.
Mid June - still no screen - no hardware - no trim - no stain or sealer - and still have items outstanding on the claim ...
And get this ... The police service - whom had only 3 easily traceable stolen items to look out for ... make an arrest . The suspsect gets scheduled for court ...
I now fully expect that the suspect will get their day in court - hopefully be found guilty - and sentenced ... and I will still have a half finished restoration and items still remaining to be settled on the claim.
I have since asked my insurance broker to find me alternative insurance ... but have been told - that insurance companies won't touch me until I have 0 outstanding claims ... ( which is kind of funny since according to Economical - my claim is closed ... )
I am also preparing Better Business Bureau complaints against the Insurance company, the restoration company, and the window company.
So - be warned people - you get what you pay for.
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I changed banks, so I called up my broker and give her the new info. She said to put to stop payment on next withdraw, just to be on the safe side. So I did. Well, Economical took it as a refusal of payment and cancelled my insurance. When I tried to reinstated, they gave me a price that was 30% higher than my original price, because I was a financial risk. That's after being with them for 6 years and never bouncing a payment