Freezer Meat ruined--Do we make insurance claim?

[yoopermom]

We have two chest freezers in the garage. Recent storms must have tripped fuses because all the meat is ruined. I'm guessing at least $500 worth. Is it worth trying to make an insurance claim?

I'm just sick over it so be gentle .
TIA

Terri

 

[bdcp]

If your deductible is $500 (and applicable) or more I'd say no, not worth it as you'd get nothing anyway. Even if it's $200-300, it might not be worth it depending on your policy and who it's with. Some insurance companies will raise your rates after any claim, while most won't. What does your policy say?

 

[ChristmasElf]

I wouldn't make a claim for just $500.
Your rates will end up higher, plus insurance companies are just looking for any reason to jack up rates or even drop you.

For $500, it might not be worth taking a chance.

 

[StitchFanZ]

If you might move in the next 5-7 years, don't turn it in. We moved a few years after turning in a lost ring and we were not able to get insurance with the main cariers as we had had one claim. It did not matter how small it was. I now carry a very high deductible as its not worth the hassle that can come from turning in a small claim.

 

[jsaem]

Back in October, when we were hit with a freak snowstorm that knocked out our power for a week, my insurance covered up to $1000 in lost food with no deductable. All I had to do was submit a list of the lost food with approximate prices. I received a check for $600 within a week of the claim. Call your insurance company and ask if food spoilage is covered under your policy.

 

[LuLuO]

We have two chest freezers in the garage. Recent storms must have tripped fuses because all the meat is ruined. I'm guessing at least $500 worth. Is it worth trying to make an insurance claim?

I'm just sick over it so be gentle .
TIA

Terri

No.

 

[emksmama]

I wouldn't turn it in because as others have said, it's likely to be a wash with your deductible, and you don't want a "frivolous" claim on your history. Not saying the loss is frivolous, because in and of itself, it isn't...but compared to a roof damage claim or something more substantial, it is.

 

[HsvTeacher]

We lost everything after last year's tornados. We didn't have power for a week, and I had just stocked up the day before! We didn't make a claim because I didn't want to risk a policy price increase.

 

[NikitaZee]

Back in October, when we were hit with a freak snowstorm that knocked out our power for a week, my insurance covered up to $1000 in lost food with no deductable. All I had to do was submit a list of the lost food with approximate prices. I received a check for $600 within a week of the claim. Call your insurance company and ask if food spoilage is covered under your policy.

We were hit by the same storm here in Mass. We filed a food spoilage claim and got a check for $500 right away. Last week, our new policy came and is now $134 higher per year - for the next 5 years. When I called to ask about it, they told me that we lost our $117 per year claims free discount, plus a rate hike of $17. So it will end up costing us more than we received for the claim. Not worth it.

 

[StephMK]

Oh I'm sorry, I'd feel sick over all that lost food too! I agree though, best not to file because you will end up paying for it over time with your insurance costs.

 

[TaraPA]

We were hit by the same storm here in Mass. We filed a food spoilage claim and got a check for $500 right away. Last week, our new policy came and is now $134 higher per year - for the next 5 years. When I called to ask about it, they told me that we lost our $117 per year claims free discount, plus a rate hike of $17. So it will end up costing us more than we received for the claim. Not worth it.

Yikes!

We lost all our chest freezer & fridge meats & foods in that storm too, it just made me sick. I feel your pain!

 

[GeorgeG]

Make a habit of checking every breaker/fuse after storms. As long as a freezer is left closed, it will still keep food safe for up to a few days after loss of power. If you know power to the house is out, the worst thing you can do is keep opening the freezers to check on the status of the food.

 

[mhsjax]

This is the reason I am terrified to stock my freezer with anything. Not worth the risk of losing it.

 

[Janepod]

This is the reason I am terrified to stock my freezer with anything. Not worth the risk of losing it.

I know. My friends are always buying a fraction of a cow and trying to get me to go in on it. All I can think is the risk of having that much frozen meat thaw.

 

[mhsjax]

I know. My friends are always buying a fraction of a cow and trying to get me to go in on it. All I can think is the risk of having that much frozen meat thaw.

I know, I would love to do that. We have a great meat market here and you can get a whole of half cow, but the thunder storms we have here in Florida, and being hurricane season, I just can't chance it.

 

[sbell111]

I wouldn't submit a claim. Of course, I wouldn't go out and replace the $500 worth of meat, either. I'd just build up teh backstock slowly as you likely did before.

I wouldn't be hesitant to fill my freezers, however. I would simply manage the odds of loss. If you live in an area where you are likely to lose your power for more than a day or so, buy a generator.

 

[Andtototoo]

I wouldn't make a claim for just $500.
Your rates will end up higher, plus insurance companies are just looking for any reason to jack up rates or even drop you.

For $500, it might not be worth taking a chance.

I agree, it's not worth taking a chance.

A few years ago, we had several major storms including one that caused flooding. The people I know who filed claims for minor damage from those storms either saw their premiums increase in an amount that cost them more than they received in their claims OR had their policies cancelled -- three dings and you're out.

Lesson learned -- only file for truly MAJOR claims.

 

[yoopermom]

OP here, thanks, everyone, for the good advice. Our garage is completely separate from our house, and one of us is usually in it most days, but not necessarily to use any electrical source so, you're right, we should have checked it after the thunder boomers. We never actually lost power (it flickered a few times is all), but something tripped the switches, obviously.

THANK GOD that my "new" quarter of a cow isn't coming for a few weeks, or I would have lost that, as well as everything else. Not much of a silver lining, but....

I told the boys we're going vegetarian for a few weeks ....

Thanks again!

Terri

 

[Hannathy]

OP here, thanks, everyone, for the good advice. Our garage is completely separate from our house, and one of us is usually in it most days, but not necessarily to use any electrical source so, you're right, we should have checked it after the thunder boomers. We never actually lost power (it flickered a few times is all), but something tripped the switches, obviously.



Terri

Go get a cheap digital clock/alarm clock and plug it in where you can see it as you pull in or walk into the house, etc you get the idea. Get in a habit of looking at it. If it is bliinking the time you will know the electricity went out and came back on or is out completely. If it has a battery back up just don't put a battery in it.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

What is the point of the insurance then if they are just going to get you when you file a claim