Run around from PNC bank and InsuranceClaimCheck.com

The Coffee Shop
1

I think that I may need to get my bank’s attention. Background first.

I had a fairly large ($70k) hail claim on my house and out buildings. The insurance company wrote a check and included my mortgage company (PNC Bank) on the check, which is normal. They use a third party company InsuranceClaimCheck.com to handle the process.

They (ICC) sent me a check for $40k to get the work started. I had the work done and it was completed 5-6 weeks ago. Per instruction, I went online with ICC and requested they send an inspector to confirm that the work was completed. I provided my cell phone as the primary phone and as mobile phone, and they said that an inspector would contact me within 2 days.

I never heard from anyone. I was working on an addition to a tiny house for my daughter and let time slip by. Two weeks later I went online to ask why I hadn’t heard anything and they said that the inspector tried calling but my voicemail was full so they closed it. It turns out, that they only tried calling my home phone which is unplugged. Even though they had my cell phone number, they never tried calling it.

I raised a ruckus and they assigned someone else who came out about 5 days later. He said that he would note that the work was 100% completed and would send his report within 2-3 days.

I was still busy with the addition (finally almost finished) and didn’t need the money to pay off my contractor, so I didn’t follow up until yesterday - almost 3 weeks later.

I had to go online, and they told me that the exact same thing they did when I contacted them after the first inspector never called - that they closed it because the inspector couldn’t reach me. It took me telling them three times that there was already an inspection and that it was 3 weeks ago. They said that their records didn’t show that and they would try to update the records. No promise as to when it would be resolved.

I realized that they were giving me the runaround so I called my bank, PNC Bank. They were sympathetic and said that they would reach out to InsuranceClaimCheck.com to get a status, and that once received, would overnight a check. They said that they should know something within 48 hours (only 24 have passed) and they would call me.

I just did some research and found a lot of complaints about ICC. I expect them to give the bank the runaround and do not believe that it will be resolved in a timely manner. I am going to give PNC the 48 hours they requested, but will contact them tomorrow if I don’t hear anything.

I told them yesterday that I feel like I am being scammed out of $30k by my bank.

I think that the only thing I can do to get their attention is to file a complaint with BBB and federal/state agencies.

It seems that a number of banks use this company, so has anyone else had issues? Any advice on getting it resolved if, as expected, they don’t resolve it by tomorrow?

2

Hail damage…rightttttt. Man those insurance adjusters are so gullible.

Re: ICC, contact your state office of insurance. That is how one of my neighbors got his claim to move.

3

considering the business you’re in, I’m equally confident that you’ll get the 30k as I am dismayed for the legions of people who may not be as savvy or persistent. do you think shady shit like that is unofficially part of the business plan for ICC?

4

Sorry you’re having these issues. V frustrating and definitely seems like either gross incompetence or - worse - deliberate malfeasance. No advice really except trying to escalate within the insurance company or take other outside measures, which you seem to be trying or contemplating.

I’m in the middle of a small claim for a toilet pipe that leaked. I needed plumbers to fix the pipe/flange and a contractor to replace the toilet floor (which had become rotted) and the ceiling below. The insurance loss adjuster says that the pipe repair WON’T be covered because it’s classified as “wear and tear”, while the contractor work to repair the damage WILL be covered. Does that sound right? Seems a failed toilet down pipe is not something you expect to fail from “wear and tear.”

5

considering the business you’re in, I’m equally confident that you’ll get the 30k as I am dismayed for the legions of people who may not be as savvy or persistent. do you think shady shit like that is unofficially part of the business plan for ICC?

It sure seems to be. I did a little research earlier today and found a thread on reddit devoted to this company.

6

Sorry you’re having these issues. V frustrating and definitely seems like either gross incompetence or - worse - deliberate malfeasance. No advice really except trying to escalate within the insurance company or take other outside measures, which you seem to be trying or contemplating.

I’m in the middle of a small claim for a toilet pipe that leaked. I needed plumbers to fix the pipe/flange and a contractor to replace the toilet floor (which had become rotted) and the ceiling below. The insurance loss adjuster says that the pipe repair WON’T be covered because it’s classified as “wear and tear”, while the contractor work to repair the damage WILL be covered. Does that sound right? Seems a failed toilet down pipe is not something you expect to fail from “wear and tear.”

Yes, that is expected. Since it wasn’t a covered peril caused by a sudden and direct loss, they don’t pay for the actual pipe repair. But, as you said - they typically pay for everything else including gaining access to repair the pipe and restoring afterwards.

So, if you had a leak in your concrete slab and they had to tear out your hardwood floors and a wall to get to it - the insurance company would (typically) pay for tearing it out and then restoring it to pre-loss condition, while you would have to pay the plumber for repair.

If your plumber did some of the tear out, make sure that he breaks out his invoice so that the actual repair is separate and that he shows the charge for the tear out to gain access.

7

Why didn’t they just send you the 70K up front?

Why haven’t you called and bitched out your insurance company and/ or agent?

I’d call the FL insurance regulator and ask them how you file a complaint against the insurance company and the assholes.

I’d send an email to the Legal department of the the assholes explaining the situation and asking them why they are committing common law fraud and breach of contract? Give them 72 hours to resolve it.

I’d also send an email to the legal department of the insurer laying out the situation and mentioning you’re contacting the FL insurance commission.

I’d find out where the assholes are domiciled and call the attorney general’s office to see how to file a consumer complaint

If that doesn’t work then it’s time to get nasty

8

. do you think shady shit like that is unofficially part of the business plan for ICC?

Yes… I had to wage unrestricted warfare on one of these companies that wouldn’t pay for a car repair…took me four months total to get my car back (a month of being nice, a month of escalation and the only two weeks after I started being nasty then two weeks for the part to come in)…fuck them all…my wife’s uncle is a master mechanic and told them they were fucking lying and went line by line on their “report”…I went line by line down the contract with the assholes and then line by line what illinois code they were breaching…the blue collar white collar combo put the assholes in the corner and they had to perform their obligations…fuck them

9

Why didn’t they just send you the 70K up front?

Why haven’t you called and bitched out your insurance company and/ or agent?

I’d call the FL insurance regulator and ask them how you file a complaint against the insurance company and the assholes.

I’d send an email to the Legal department of the the assholes explaining the situation and asking them why they are committing common law fraud and breach of contract? Give them 72 hours to resolve it.

I’d also send an email to the legal department of the insurer laying out the situation and mentioning you’re contacting the FL insurance commission.

I’d find out where the assholes are domiciled and call the attorney general’s office to see how to file a consumer complaint

If that doesn’t work then it’s time to get nasty

My insurance company did pay out the $70k up front. But since my bank is listed on the policy as a lienholder - they included them on the check. That is pretty common when the claim exceeds a certain dollar amount and I tell that to all of the homeowners when I am talking with them after a loss inspection.

I have absolutely no fault with my insurance company - they have been fantastic through this claim and my Hurricane Michael claim.

My problem is with this company, and indirectly with my bank for allowing this third party company to delay the release of my funds.

10

do you think shady shit like that is unofficially part of the business plan for ICC?

When I got hit by a car whose driver valued looking at her phone over my life, I lawyered up immediately and was glad I did.

Turns out those insurance companies who cover everyone refuse to pay out claims. It took 17 months, but they would have saved money if they just treated me fairly. I guess they save money overall as many would have given up.

I think giving up is a part of the business strategy of many of these POS companies.

I wanted my lawyer to set up a class action lawsuit because the complaints were numerous. Not being a lawyer, I don’t know why he didn’t pursue it. I guess the return on the effort might not have been that good. He got a decent payday for the effort with my case.

11

Why didn’t they just send you the 70K up front?

Why haven’t you called and bitched out your insurance company and/ or agent?

I’d call the FL insurance regulator and ask them how you file a complaint against the insurance company and the assholes.

I’d send an email to the Legal department of the the assholes explaining the situation and asking them why they are committing common law fraud and breach of contract? Give them 72 hours to resolve it.

I’d also send an email to the legal department of the insurer laying out the situation and mentioning you’re contacting the FL insurance commission.

I’d find out where the assholes are domiciled and call the attorney general’s office to see how to file a consumer complaint

If that doesn’t work then it’s time to get nasty

My insurance company did pay out the $70k up front. But since my bank is listed on the policy as a lienholder - they included them on the check. That is pretty common when the claim exceeds a certain dollar amount and I tell that to all of the homeowners when I am talking with them after a loss inspection.

I have absolutely no fault with my insurance company - they have been fantastic through this claim and my Hurricane Michael claim.

My problem is with this company, and indirectly with my bank for allowing this third party company to delay the release of my funds.

Wait…so who has the money? Why the hell didn’t PNC just hold it

12

Wait…so who has the money? Why the hell didn’t PNC just hold it

I don’t know if it is PNC or ICC. Based on the way ICC is acting, they have it. They mentioned that it is in escrow, but they are behaving like they are making interest off of it - so probably them.

From what I can tell, a number of banks use ICC to handle the process. ICC has insurers upload adjuster estimates and they send out inspectors to determine how much of the work is completed. Once the amount of completed work hits a certain threshold - they are supposed to release the full amount.

If I don’t get some resolution tomorrow, I will be finding out who regulates ICC (if they are) and filing a complaint. If I get no joy there, I will be filing a complaint against PNC since they are the one that hired the company and are aware that they are withholding final payment.

13

Not gonna help your situation but I got to say this was the greatest headache relief when we paid off our mortgage. We had a different mortgage holder than our bank and had to mauil them the check (with our endorsement) and then wait for them to get an inspection, then cut us the check.

Our process for the first hail storm took 6 months due to contractors, mortgage company, insurance, etc. What a pain.

Now the house is paid in full we just get the check and get it fixed. No more screwing around with 3rd and 4th parties.

Only advice, be aggressive early. As some of the insurance or other companies in this space take advantage of statute of limitations to keep money.

14

do you think shady shit like that is unofficially part of the business plan for ICC?

When I got hit by a car whose driver valued looking at her phone over my life, I lawyered up immediately and was glad I did.

Turns out those insurance companies who cover everyone refuse to pay out claims. It took 17 months, but they would have saved money if they just treated me fairly. I guess they save money overall as many would have given up.

I think giving up is a part of the business strategy of many of these POS companies.

I wanted my lawyer to set up a class action lawsuit because the complaints were numerous. Not being a lawyer, I don’t know why he didn’t pursue it. I guess the return on the effort might not have been that good. He got a decent payday for the effort with my case.

Class action litigation requires considerable specialization, which your lawyer may have lacked. And it is high risk/high reward. Cases often require years of investment in time and money (paying for expert witnesses, depositions, etc.). Most lawyers are not able to make that sort of investment. The firms that are good at class actions make huge amounts of money, but they have the resources to spread risk across many cases and they have enough cases in the pipeline that each year some cases will yield a payoff.

15

Just wanted to put an update out there as I enjoy seeing updates when someone else posts an issue.

I found the number for the inspector and called him. He said that he uploaded his report on the same day that he inspected it. He said that he thought that the loss claim department of the bank probably lost it or something. But that doesn’t explain why ICC has an updated status.

I called PNC bank again today and they told me that they received the report today and will be overnighting a check to me in 3-5 business days.

I don’t know who is lying or incompetent. I’m leaning towards ICC.

The person at PNC said that the money is in an escrow account that does not earn interest, so they may not have incentive to delay things.

I put the bank/mortgage company name and ICC in the subject so anyone else having this problem can find this thread and know what to expect.

My advice is to stay on top of them the entire time, unlike what I did.