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View Full Version : You can Get Sinkhole insurance in the Villages I did


CSwofford147@comcast.net
10-11-2015, 10:56 AM
You can get Sinkhole Insurance in the Villages. I moved Here 3 yrs ago and bought a resale home Through the Villages Property and Villages Insurance. I thought I had Sinkhole Insurance but it turned out that all I had was Catastrophic Sinkhole Insurance. Which meant that my property had to be condemned by Sumter County Building Official in order for a Sinkhole claim to be paid. I was very uncomfortable with the possibility of a financial exposure to a sinkhole loss that I would have to pay if my home was not condemned which can easily run between $100,000 and $150,000 thousand our more. I asked for Comprehensive Sinkhole Insurance and was told that my property had to be inspected in order to get it. The Inspection was done and the property was perfect except for a notation on the sinkhole Inspection Form of [ SI 700]. This notation referred to the Sinkhole Index which Florida Property Insurance companies developed to rate properties in Florida for Proximity to Ground Subsidence activities IE Sinkholes. This index goes from 0 to 800 with 800 being the most impacted by Ground Subsidence Activity. Our property was rated 700 on the Sinkhole Index because it was a between a quarter and one half mile from Ground Subsidence Activity or a Sinkhole and we received a Denial of Insurance letter from the property insurance company for Comprehensive Sinkhole Insurance. After we received this letter for over 2 years we told by ever insurer that we talked to that we could not get Comprehensive sinkhole Insurance because of the rating on the Sinkhole Index of 700.
What was supposed to happen was when you were denied Comprehensive Sinkhole Insurance was your request was supposed to be referred to Citizens Insurance by your local agent which in this case for the current request for coverage was was the McDonald & Company Ins 11962 County Road 101 Suite 305 The Villages Fl 32162. Telephone 352-259-3825. The local agent was then to refer your request to Citizens Insurance where you would be put into the Citizens Clearinghouse where other Insurance companies cou pickup your application This was done and Cypress Insurance picked up our application but also denied it because of the inspection we had and Sinkhole index rating of 700. We were then told by Citizens Insurance and the McDonald Insurance that we could not obtain Comprehensive Sinkhole Insurance. This is where
Vicki A. Twogood, CPM Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate, Dept of Financial Services 850-413-2970. Vicki.twogood@fldfs.com stepped in and explained the laws concerning Insurance in the State of Florida to all parties involved. After Vicki Twogood got involved we were sent a application from Citizens Insurance which we submitted to Citizens Insurance and had another Sinkhole Inspection of the Property which the property passed because this time it was only a Physical Inspection of the Property which all houses in the villages would pass and did not use the Sinkhole Index which hardly any Villages Property would pass. You can do this by following these steps and contacting Vicki Twogood if there are any problems. The proof is in the policy. I have seen a policy from some who has lived in the Villages for 18 yrs who has the same coverage and id paying $1250.00 a yr. Our premium for same coverage for same coverage is $1529.00.


Citizens Property Insurance Self Service - My Policy Details Page 1 of 3
Policyholder Information I Policy#: 015168481
Policyholder CHARLES SWOFFO ...
Name
Co-
Applicant
Name
SHARON SWOFFORD

Mailing
Address
3354 RICHMOND DR
THE VILLAGES, FL 32162
Home Phone 352-633-8015
Work Phone
Cell/Other
Phone
E-mail
Address
Effective
Date
CSWOFFORD147@COMCAST.NETExpiration
Date
09/25/2015
09/25/2016
Contact your agent to update your email address or phone
numbers.
Agent Information
Agency McDonald & Company Ins.
Name
Agent
Address
11962 COUNTY ROAD 101 SUITE 305
THE VILLAGES, FL 32162
Agent Fax 352-259-7002
Number
Agent Name STEPHANIE WINFREY
Agent Phone 352-259-3825
Number
Agent
E-mail
Address
stephaniewinfrey@allstate.com
Coverage and Deductible Information
Insured
Property
Address
3354 RICHMOND DR
THE VILLAGES, FL 32162-7699
Base Coverages
Dwelling(A) $183,000
Other $3,660
Structures 2
(B)
Loss Of Use $18,300
(D)
Medical $2,000
Payments(F)
Policy Deductibles
Personal $91,500
Property(C)
Personal $100,000
Liability(E)
htips:llselfserve.citizensfla.comiselfserve-web/policydetailsImypolicyheader.cpic
10/10/2015

Citizens Property Insurance Self Service - My Policy Details


Page 2 of3



All Other
Perils


$1,000


Hurricane


2



Endorsements



2.
Personal Yes
Property
Replacement
Cost
Fungi (Mold) $10,000
Increased
Limit of
Liability
Section I
Property
(HO)
$18,300
Sinkhole
Loss
Coverage


Yes


Fungi $50,000
(Mold)
Increased
Limit of
Liability
Section II
Liability
(HO)
Optional
100/0
Sinkhole
Loss
Deductible



Loss $1,000
Assessment
Coverage
Dwelling No
Under
Construction
Ordinance or 25
Law
Increased
Limit of
Liability
Specific Rating Information



Year Built
Property
Type
Use


2001
Dwelling
Primary


Construction Frame
Type
Occupancy Owner Occupied
Distance 500 ft.
from Fire
Hydrant



Distance 3 mi.
from Fire
Station
Specific Discount Information
Burglar Prot None
Device Type
Automatic None
Sprinklers
Specific Mitigation Information


Fire Prot None
Device Type




Roof Shape Gable
Roof Deck Level A
Attachment
Secondary Unknown
Water
Resistance
Terrain B
Premium and Billing History Information


Roof Cover
Roof Wall
Connection
Opening
Protection


Non-FBC Equivalent
Clips
None



https:llselfserve.citizensfla.comlselfserve-web/policydetails/mypolicyheader.cpic


10/10/2015

Citizens Property Insurance Self Service - My Policy Details
Total Premium Information
Total Policy $1,529.00
Premium
Mortgagee Information


Page 3 of31



Policyholder
Payor of
Policy
Mortgagee N/ A
Name

Policy Totals
Total $0.00
Unbilled
Total $0.00
Currently
Due
Total Past $0.00
Due
Total $0.00
Outstanding


Billing
Address
3354 RICHMOND DR
THE VILLAGES, Florida 32162







Billing Activity History
*Note - If a payment plan is selected, the $3.00 installment fee(s) will display on the Billing
Invoice for that installment.

Description Invoice Due Paid Invoice Transactional Refund
Date Amount Amount Premium Amount Amount
Policy Issuance N/A $1,807.00
Invoice due 09/25/2015 $0.00
Invoice due 09/25/2015 $737.00
Payment
[Lockbox N/A ($1,807.00)
payment]
Policy Change N/A ($278.00)
Invoice planned 11/25/2015 ($278.00)
Invoice planned 12/28/2015 $361.00
Invoice planned 03/25/2016 $361.00
Invoice planned 06/27/2016 $361.00



Outstanding Issued and Upcoming Planned Invoices
Invoice Date Invoice Paid Invoice
Date Due Status Status Amount
No Invoice records found.


Amount
Due


Status



� Not Currently Eligible


Payment Processing


=$ ePayment Eligible



https:llselfserve.citizensfla.coml self serve- web/policydetails/mypolicyheader .cpic




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golfing eagles
10-11-2015, 11:04 AM
Looks interesting. Does Reader's Digest have a condensed version?:1rotfl:

Bogie Shooter
10-11-2015, 11:21 AM
Wow. A future scam waiting to happen.
So much info......where to begin?

Villageswimmer
10-11-2015, 11:22 AM
Are you sure you want all this personal info out there?

Ecuadog
10-11-2015, 11:23 AM
Thank you for the useful information, Charles.

CSwofford147@comcast.net
10-11-2015, 11:58 AM
The insurance companies have been lying to people

golfing eagles
10-11-2015, 12:28 PM
The insurance companies have been lying to people

Intentionally?
Doesn't make sense--
How does an insurance company make money---by selling policies
How do they set the premiums---by risk
They generally never lose, except in disasters like Katrina and Sandy--and then there is FEMA money out there
How often does an established insurance co go out of business?
The oldest in the world existing today was founded in Germany in 1642
In the US, CIGNA was founded in 1792
Now, an individual insurance company may decide not to venture into certain types of insurance or certain risk pools, but as you found out, there usually is insurance available if you hunt for it

villagetinker
10-11-2015, 01:07 PM
Look around, we have the same coverage for much less through AAA.

PS please go back and remove all of the personal info on the original post.

Bogie Shooter
10-11-2015, 01:39 PM
Too late.....already picked up in Nigeria.

rubicon
10-11-2015, 01:41 PM
What an insurance does offers, and in what manner and for what amount of premium depends on what their leading actuaries tell them can be a profitable line of business based on the applicable state laws

golfing eagles
10-11-2015, 01:46 PM
What an insurance does offers, and in what manner and for what amount of premium depends on what their leading actuaries tell them can be a profitable line of business based on the applicable state laws

Exactly! I just don't think they have a reason to "lie" about it

GatorFan
10-11-2015, 05:13 PM
Puts the agent and agency in the middle. They have no control over an insurance companies decision.

Topspinmo
10-11-2015, 05:16 PM
Look around, we have the same coverage for much less through AAA.

PS please go back and remove all of the personal info on the original post.

Agree AAA has good coverage providing you property passes an inspection.

Paper1
10-11-2015, 05:57 PM
Look around, we have the same coverage for much less through AAA.

PS please go back and remove all of the personal info on the original post.
We have AAA on our vehicle and get offers for home owners from them all the time but have never even considered looking at them. Do you go through a local office or a regional one? There has only been a few sinkholes open up in Villages during my four years here but I wondered when one opened up there has been a crew filling it in the next day. I'm curious, ok nosey, if the developer is stepping in or if home owners are responding that quickly? To have numerous truck of concrete brought in must be costly.
Thanks for info on AAA. If they can do it I wonder why Village Insurance I have cannot?

justjim
10-11-2015, 06:43 PM
The insurance companies have been lying to people

Question: Wasn't the POA studying/investigating the sinkhole insurance issue? Any report or results?

dbussone
10-11-2015, 06:49 PM
Agree AAA has good coverage providing you property passes an inspection.


You are correct for resales; however, owners of new homes will find no inspection is necessary.

dbussone
10-11-2015, 06:54 PM
Question: Wasn't the POA studying/investigating the sinkhole insurance issue? Any report or results?


Why would anyone expect the POA to successfully investigate anything? They are homeowners and an organization without portfolio when it comes to conducting a proper investigation. They certainly hold no sway over the insurance industry. (I think we are saying the same thing?)

villagetinker
10-11-2015, 07:39 PM
All, We used the local office on 441 near Spanish springs, and they had a walk around inspection as I recall, that was it.

CSwofford147@comcast.net
10-14-2015, 06:25 PM
The whole situation boils down to you being told you can purchase Sinkhole Insurance but no one will sell it to you

vinnie
10-14-2015, 06:52 PM
I chose NOT to get sinkhole insurance. yes I am taking a chance but i did not like how much I was spending for insurance that covers only a certain circumstance.
It will pay if part of my house is engulfed in a sinkhole
I do not need it if my house is condemned...you mentioned that ...if my house is condemned, it is covered under normal homeowners insurance
It will not pay if I have a sinkhole in my yard
It will not help me if my neighbor has a sinkhole...(who would want to buy a house next to a sinkhole
And the real kicker is the 10% deductible...so I have to spend the first $32,000 before this added sinkhole insurance kicks in.
So neighbor has sinkhole, I'm screwed, sinkhole in yard, I'm screwed, house demolished due to sinkhole, I'm covered anyway.
However partial damage means i am covered...however the first 10% is paid by you based on of value of home. if your home is worth 250,000, then you pay the first $25,000.
To each his own

CFrance
10-14-2015, 07:23 PM
Question: Wasn't the POA studying/investigating the sinkhole insurance issue? Any report or results?
What they were trying to do was explore the possibility of establishing a private pool for homeowners who couldn't get sinkhole insurance. So far they haven't gotten anywhere due to insurance laws in FL.

Paper1
10-14-2015, 07:39 PM
What they were trying to do was explore the possibility of establishing a private pool for homeowners who couldn't get sinkhole insurance. So far they haven't gotten anywhere due to insurance laws in FL.
Where are our state representative and senator?