Devestating......

[FireDancer]

That is terrible and I'm sorry for your dad. I can only assume that when the new policy was written he read the thing and didn't take the Insurance companies word for it. If he did I would take the contract to a lawyer and get it figured out.

If he didn't I am not sure if he can have any proof since he signed the policy which is a binding contract. It was dishonest of the Insurance guy but I have learned in life that many times sales people will get creative with the truth to make a sale and that is all the insurance man was unfortunately. Of course I don't mean to imply all salespeople are dishonest, but enough are that Reagan's "trust but verify" quote gets applied by me.

 

[OhhBother]

I would suggest going to the media for a human interest story. Then, send the published story to the tool company's PR department. It's an opportunity for the company to do the right thing for a devoted customer.

 

[paysensmom]

I would suggest going to the media for a human interest story. Then, send the published story to the tool company's PR department. It's an opportunity for the company to do the right thing for a devoted customer.

How would I do that? What do I say and who do I contact?

The story was on the front page of their local paper yesterday.

http://www.svherald.com/print/82382 This is a link to the story in the paper. They didn't interview my parents or anything. They just talked to the fire department.

 

[pixiewings71]

OP I'm sorry for your Dad's losses. We had a house fire 3 years ago and lost 95% of our belongings. Fortunately for us our agent had written us an amazing policy. Your Dad needs to confirm what he was paying for and perhaps contact a lawyer for assistance. Good luck to him!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So sorry for you dad.

I guess the bright side is that he did not have anyone else's car in there. Getting sued with a loss would be worse.

 

[paysensmom]

So sorry for you dad.

I guess the bright side is that he did not have anyone else's car in there. Getting sued with a loss would be worse.

He actually DID have someone elses car in the garage. A corvette that he spent the last three years redoing for a guy in California. He had just finished the last buffing on it on Sunday!! He went in and lowered it off the hoist and drove it out of the garage
I told him that was a bad idea and all the things that could have happened. He said yeah, "I know, but wasn't thinking of that at the time!!" So he saved someone elses car but NOTHING of his. He got some bad smoke inhalation and is caughing a lot now because of it too.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

I feel so bad for your dad. My DH is also in the automotive industry and has lots of Snap On tools, both at home and at work. I know how expensive they are. Does your dad still have any receipts? Our garage was broken into a few years ago and quite a few tools were stolen, big items like a welder and plasma cutter, DH showed them the receipts and was able to replace everything. I hope it all works out for him. I know my DH would be lost without his tools.

 

[4nana]

I am so sorry and how very sad for your poor Dad and family . Thank goodness no one was injured! What a terrible nightmare to lose your whole business and life long collection of equipment, etc . Sending prayers and good luck you can go through the proper channels and the insurance company will come through and help set your Dad back up in business.

 

[paysensmom]

Thanks for all of your support. We are still waiting to see if the insurance company is going to cover what they initially told him.

I have the worst pit in my tummy and it isn't even my livelyhood, it was my dads

 

[KristaTX]

That picture of your parents just breaks my heart .

 

[pppiglet]

I am sorry for what happened to your fathers garage. I'm glad you posted though because my DH was suppose to be taking pictures of all the tools he has accumulated at work and home (and most are Snap On) for insurance purposes in case they get stolen and I know he hasn't done it yet. This is a good reminder of what can happen. I hope he is able to get what he needs from the insurance company and can get back to business soon.

 

[ZachnElli]

I'm so sorry about your dad's garage. Every time a policy renews the insurance company must, by law, send out a copy of the policy. Everyone NEEDS to go over their policy, line by line, every year (or 6 months for autos) and if you don't understand it or don't see something covered, call! I worked in an agent's office for almost 2 years, I was paid to explain policies (among other things), just call or stop by, that's what they are there for! Not everyone in the office is a salesperson, I wasn't!

 

[golfgal]

If the old policy had the tools SPECIFICALLY covered and the new policy does not, you may have a case. If the old policy did not SPECIFICALLY cover the tools, you may not have a case. Did your dad specifically tell the agent he had $100,000 of tools or did he tell them he had a lot of tools in the garage? This is a perfect example of WHY don't don't buy insurance just on price or even more specifically on the internet. Unless you KNOW that you need to list out these specific items, assume they are NOT covered. There is very little coverage in most homeowners policies for things that are easily "lost", i.e. claimed to be lost but really aren't--jewelry, guns, tools, etc.

Also, if your dad was being paid to restore/fix cars out of his house, it could be considered business use and then you have NO coverage unless he has a business policy to cover those things.

If you have a collection of ANYTHING, movies, figurines, tools, guns, whatever, get a RIDER on your policy to get them covered otherwise you could be out a LOT of money. If you run any kind of business out of your home, Mary Kay, travel agency, work at home from an office, get your BUSINESS related things covered under a business policy and get extra liability coverage on a business policy. If you have a Mary Kay business and have an open house at Christmas, for example, someone coming to your house for that event slips and falls on your sidewalk, you have NO COVERAGE on your homeowner's insurance for that. You could lose everything.

 

[OceanAnnie]

he should not just accept what the insurance company said. He should hire a lawyer who can look into the insurance coverage issues.

ita!

 

[paysensmom]

He did have a "rider" on the old policy. The new company said they were going to write the exact same policy and took a copy of it from my dad. The insurance adjuster comes out on Tuesday. My parents think their insurance should give them at least 45,000 for personal property. I don't know how that is going to work since it specifically states the amount for tools in the policy. I am still praying that it turns out okay for them. My dad is so lost, he told me yesterday, " I should have just got in the corvette and shut the door".
This is the car he ran into the smoke filled garage to save.

 

[agnes!]

Praying for your dad & mom and that everything will start turning out right.

agnes!