TIPS FOR FIRE VICTIMS
Take care of yourself and
family. Get a roof over your head, talk to your employer and get your kids back in school when it’s possible to do so. Stay in touch with neighbors for information that could affect you. Seek out mental health care if you need it.
Contact your lenders. If you have a mortgage, you are still responsible for paying it, even if the only thing left standing is the chimney. Many lenders will give you a temporary reprieve. The specifics depend on which bank, investor or government agency owns or guarantees the loan.
If you have trouble paying other debts, contact your creditors. Many will work with disaster victims and even put a code on their credit reports so late or partial payments do not negatively impact their credit score.
Contact your insurance agent. Get a copy of your policy and start trying to understand it. As soon as you can, file a claim. Experts say it never hurts to be first in line. Getting a full payment could take years, but most companies will give you a check to cover urgent needs.
Start creating a list of everything that was in your house, down to aspirin in the medicine cabinet.
Understand that “a claim should be more of a business negotiation. It’s a vehicle to get you back where you were before, but it’s not going to drive itself,” said Amy Bach, executive director of San Francisco consumer group United Policyholders.
Document everything. As soon as possible, go to your house and take pictures of what’s left before the debris is carted away.
Keep records of every expense that could be covered by insurance. Most policies will pay for additional living expenses up to a certain time and dollar limit. This includes hotels or rent, storage and moving expenses. It could also include food or mileage above what you would normally spend. It generally does not cover unpaid time off work.
Also document all interactions with your insurance company and its claims adjusters, including names, dates and details of the conversations.
Don’t be victimized twice. Unfortunately, scam artists thrive on people desperate to rebuild after a disaster. Don’t give personal information to strangers and speak only with adjusters with whom you have a scheduled appointment.
Contractor fraud is not uncommon. Be wary of anyone soliciting work door-to-door. Take your time before making big financial decisions and work only with contractors who can prove they are licensed, bonded, insured and have positive references. Always ask for an end date for any project. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to check for any complaints against a contractor.
On Saturday, State Farm Insurance Co. reported that it was handling more than 2,400 homeowner claims and 900 auto claims due to the Wine Country fires. The company warned that customers should be wary of contractors who ask you to secure building permits, insist on cash payments or who promise discounts using leftover materials.