Here's a story....

[El Pirata]

Here I was trying to get some home owners insurance this afternoon and the insurance company said I was a higher risk because I kept boa constrictors so they would be unable to insure me. I will say it's a load of crap and it has me really pissed off. I already called my lawyer who said it was a loser and they were not violating any law by declining me insurance. I called the Bureau of Insurance and they said it was not against the law denying me insurance. All said I still think it's a load of crap and that literally they have discriminated against me simply for my choice of pets.

I can understand where the insurance company could be coming from if it certainly was something I would consider a dangerous pet, such as a venomous snake, a tiger or some such animal but a snake that will not grow big enough to cause human casualties is a load of crap. Tomorrow I am going to get in touch with PETA and see what they have to say.

It has really gone beyond the whole insurance issue and into an issue of my rights being violated. I'm not trying to get a few million or anything like that because I spilled hot coffee on my lap. I had something happen today that is morally and ethically wrong and I have been told that it's not against the law what happened to me. I really want to look into how I can get this kind decision overturned. Any ideas?

 

[wdavidhicks]

What's their specific issue? A boa might strangle a houseguest and you'd expect them to cover a claim for loss of life?

Or do your boas play with matches?

That sounds like a bunch of crap, EP.

I moved closer to work about five years ago and figured my auto insurance might go down. But the zip code I live in has a higher incident rate than my old one. The poopy thing is that I'm outta my zip code two minutes after I leave the house.

 

[Rolex]

Insurance companies write policies based on statistics and prior claims. In the past, it has been shown that boas, when left home alone, like to climb out of their tanks and smoke and drink, often resulting in house fires when they pass out drunk on the couch with a lit cigarette.
When they attempt to sober up by taking a cold shower, they never close the shower door and usually forget to turn the water off, resulting in major water damage.
Other than that, I can't imagine why you would be turned down for a policy.

 

[wdavidhicks]

lol! Good, Rolex!

 

[El Pirata]

Insurance companies write policies based on statistics and prior claims. In the past, it has been shown that boas, when left home alone, like to climb out of their tanks and smoke and drink, often resulting in house fires when they pass out drunk on the couch with a lit cigarette.
When they attempt to sober up by taking a cold shower, they never close the shower door and usually forget to turn the water off, resulting in major water damage.
Other than that, I can't imagine why you would be turned down for a policy.

You definately brought a smile to my face for that comment.

 

[ZANDOR]

i agree el it is morally and ethically wrong. you can't fight them..
i hade to change my ins.co. because they found out i had two boxers.and were cancleing my home owners if i didn't pay 135$more a months..
so i went to farmers ins.no problem there.....good luck..zandor

 

[El Pirata]

I already had found insurance at a higher rate which didn't bother me before I got this quote but it still seems wrong for them to do this. It's kind of like saying that you can't get gas at a gas station because the owner of the gas station does not like the brand of car you own.

 

[ZANDOR]

ya it does suck.i just hope they find out i have a oscar tank in my house...
or my bala shark tank. you know how fish can be destructive..

 

[nitroking]

I am glad i live on a farm we got farm insurence.If we didnt we would be paying a poop loa dof money just because we have a boxer/pit and a american staffer(pit family),and a pure dbread pit on the property..But that does suck that they denied you

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

yup I work as an IT manager for an Insurance Brokerage Firm and that is correct, I could not find home owner's insurance with my 2 pitbulls, so they are lab mixes, I say prove that poop I don't have papers lmao.

 

[Lessen]

Dude, I freakin hate insurance companies. I feel your aggravation bro. I was recently married and moved in with my wife. So until recently I've had my car on my mom's policy. Now granted.. I've had 2 incidents before the last (1 was an accident which was my fault) but they never had an issue until now... well anyways we had a bad storm here a while back and a big ass limb fell on my car ($2000 damage). So suddently they denied us a renewel on the policy. Well, I wasn't renewing anyways cuz I'm gonna be on my wifes plan now. Well not only did they deny me renewal (which I could care less about honestly) but they dropped my mom too. She's got a super super clean driving record with no incidents as long as I've been alive. Now I can understand totally if I was in another accident but it was a freakin tree! Well, it's all good in the end cuz I got coverage and my mom won't have a problem getting a new plan either but damnit. There just a pain in the ass to deal with.

 

[lykan]

Insurance companies have really changed since 9/11, but there has been a big change in they way they calculate risk/premiums coming down the pipe for some time.

I've had home owners insurance for some time now(nver made a claim), we went top buy a new house, and our rates are rediculous. They almost make owning a house un-affordable. Why you ask?

They started calculating risks/premium with statistics. Mine are so high because of my credit rating. When I went to get my knees fixed, and found Ithey couldn't be fixed, I had to change my career my credit suffeed with late payments for about a year until we got on our feet. The other reason? we're young homeowners. Statistcs say that if my credit is crap, and I am young I will claim on my insurance more often uhhgg.

You can bet if they won't give you insurance, or it's high based on your snakes, over 50% of snake owners claim more often, or they assume anyone wild enough to have a snake is going to take more risks. Is it right? oh no way..

Never having claimed on any insurance (other than people who hit me in a car), and being 33 you think I would get a break, Because of my credit, it's near $100 a month. Also because in this state, 33 is young for a homeowner being a young homeowner I'm a big risk..bleh I call BS.

The real reason rates are high, or you can't get insurance. Fraud. You would be surprised how many people increase, exagerate, or lie about damage just to get a check, it's crazy.

Anyways EP, I feel for you, but you can blame all the irresponsible snake owners before you who claimed. It would be nice if they took into account your profession, and reputation.

 

[FastEddy]

Very simple,
Don't tell them.
1-If the snakes set your house on fire or happens to kill someone its a risk you take trying to save some money.
2- If someone steels your snakes you wont be reimbursed. Plus side of that is they wont need to cancel your renewal if you don't make a claim.

99% of the time if you make any claim on h/o insurance they will not renew your policy. Tell them as little as possible and lie about the rest. Sad but true, with insurance companies you need to lie in order to get affordable coverage. They know this and have already built it into the price we all pay.

 

[Lessen]

yeah, my wifes family live in W. Virginia. She told me insurance is crazy high down there cuz people freakin claim anything and everything. Bottom line is insurance isn't always fair but there isn't a whole lot we can do about it except shop around.