I’m sure if you ask Neil Sedaka he’ll probably tell you that his 1962 hit song,“Breaking Up is Hard to Do”, was inspired by one of those heart-wrenching, relationship-ending letters. You know, the kind that read “Due to underwriting reasons and your recent claims history, Old Faithful Insurance Company is exercising its right to end your policy.”
What? You gave them 25 years and thousands of dollars and they’re just kicking you to curb for a more attractive risk! This can’t be. Well, it is. But there are some things you can do to salvage your relationship with your insurer:
1) Decisions to Cancel or Not Renew a Policy Can Be Overruled. So Talk to Your Insurer. Years of dedicated payment aren’t easy to come by. Sometimes an insurance underwriter will consider the premiums paid and lack of claims to undo a policy termination. It’s worth an ask.
2) The Florida Division of Consumer Services Will Sometimes Help – This state office offers some support through their help line at 1-877-693-5236 but ultimately, they often say to break out that old Bonnie Raitt CD and start singing “I Can’t Make You Love Me if You Don’t.” They simply have limited powers to force an insurer to accept risk, but they can review to see if the insurer followed its cancelation requirements which can stave off an unhappy ending with your insurance company.
3) For Policy Cancelations an Attorney Can Battle Your Insurer if the Insurer Did Not Properly Cancel – Unlike most relationships, insurance policy cancelations have rules. An insurance company must have proper reasons and follow certain strict procedures if it wants to end your policy early. A good lawyer can help hold them to their end of the deal – if you want to stick with an insurer that doesn’t want to stick with you.
So remember, if all else fails know that there are plenty of other insurers in the sea fighting for your attention and dollars. Who knows, maybe your Old Faithful insurer might end singing a different Neil Sedaka song – “Should’ve Never Let You Go.”
Russel Lazega is an attorney and author of two of Florida’s most widely distributed legal textbooks on Florida Insurance Law. He also represents accident victims and consumers at war with their insurance companies and is based in North Miami, Dania Beach, Orlando and Tampa, Florida. Questions? Contact: Russ@fladvocates.com.
