Claimstar Incorporated

Review: they have held my insurance claim money since March and refuse to release it to me.Citing cash flow problems, health issues and office mismanagement.Now I have a construction lien put on me by the company claimstar used to restore the water damage because they cannot get paid as well.Desired Settlement: I want the full dollar amount coming to me.

Business

Response:

We have an attorney working on this issue

Review: On September 18th 2012 I entered into a contract with Claimstar Inc. because of damage my house sustained from a tree fall. The contract stipulated that Claimstar would be paid 25% of any moneys provided by my insurance company for the repair of my home and required that I sign a limited power of attorney.In October 26th 2012, I received a claim check from my insurance company in the amount of $25887.03. This check was promptly handed over to Claimstar and cashed through the limited power-of-attorney. Following the deposit of the check by Claimstar Inc, I engage in numerous phone calls and emails to determine when the money would be released so that I could begin repairing my home. Phone calls and emails were either not returned or I was told that the company was working on my behalf to get more money, that more inspections of the home may be required and repairs could not commence until that transpired. I continued to contact the claims adjuster [redacted] and the owner [redacted] every month from October 2013 through August 2013 to have the moneys owed me released. Claimstar did release 5000.00 dollars to me in March 2013, but has since not released the additional 16K that is needed to complete the repairs of my home.Desired Settlement: I would like the additional 16K dollars released. In addition, I want the 25% fee that I was charged to be refunded for breach of contract. I would also like the name and contact information of the attorney representing Claimstar Inc. so that I may contact them in this matter and to get updates regarding the resolution.

Review: On 10-24-2011 I entered into a contract with Claim Star for the purpose of the company assessing water damages to my property caused by a hurricane in August 2011 and based on that assessment to assist me in submitting a claim to my home owner's insurance company. That portion of the contract was fulfilled. By January 2012, the first of two checks from my insurance company, [redacted], was sent to Claim Star who per a letter dated January 17, 2012, forwarded this check to my bank, [redacted] for endorsement. An additional claim was submitted to my insurance company and they issued a second check for damages. By March 2012, this second of two checks was forwarded for the same purpose as before. Between January 2012 & May 2012, I received no further correspondence.

On 6-1-12, I confirmed with [redacted] that they had received, endorsed & returned both checks. This had been done by April 2012. I called Claim Star the same day to speak with the adjuster with whom I had been working with to confirm if they had received both checks back from the mortgage company. I also sent e-mails requesting the same. After several weeks I was told that I was being assigned a new adjuster who introduced himself and asked me to forward previous correspondence & to explain the claim that was submitted. I complied but explained everything had been completed, I was just waiting to be paid by Claim Star. Shortly thereafter the adjuster stated he need to speak with the insurance company to give him time to assess what the status of my account was & that he would be calling me when he had updated information.

This went on for next few months with minimal effort from the adjuster or any employee of Claim Star. I made 1-2 phone calls a month, leaving messages, asking for status updates & was given the same explanation; they were working on it. In October 2012, I received a call from yet another adjuster stating that he was newly assigned to my case & he was trying to figure out where my case stood. Needless to say I was completely aggravated that I had to explain things all over again & was still being told they were working on it.

Finally, by the beginning of December of 2012, 8 months after the checks had been returned to Claim Star & it was confirmed by my adjuster that the checks were received, I was told that the company would be sending me a check for the funds due to me. At this time I requested that not only should I get a check for the amount due to me, but also a check for the fee the company was to charge me. I requested this because I felt that they did not honor their contract or the promised services. I was out of pocket $8,000 that had been paid to company to work on my house, not including the work inside my house that I did myself. The adjuster said that he would ask the owner. By the end of December 2012, I had not received my check as promised nor a phone call or a letter with any explanation. I made yet another phone call to the company demanding to speak to a manager. I was told I would have to speak to my adjuster & that a message would be given to him.

This continued for several more months until in April 2013 when I was told that the company would be sending me a check for $1,000 along with a Claim Break Down by the end of the week. Two weeks later I did receive both, but still without a phone call to verify receipt and to discuss the breakdown as promised. I called back to request an estimated time to receive the remaining $3,670.60 as per the breakdown & a refund of the fee $824.22 due to lack of service & the fact that it took a year from the time they received & cashed my insurance checks for me to receive any of the money due to me. It is now July 2, 2013. I have received zero correspondence of any sort from the company. I have received no further monies due to me. I was given information in writing that my claim would be processed & completed in typically 90 days and that once the insurance checks were processed, within 21 business days, my funds would become available to me. Its been almost 21 months & this is still ongoing.Desired Settlement: I would like to receive the money due to me as per my loss claim submitted to [redacted] Insurance who issued checks for that loss & to which [redacted] endorsed in good faith that I should receive compensation for the repair of my home. The total being $3,670.60.

I would also like to request that the fee Claim Star was to receive for the completion of their service $824.22-the service that has taken 21 months so far-be refunded to me.

Business

Response:

There has been communication about this claim from our company . We will attend to this so our client is satisfied

Review: I am having no luck in having the company disburse a check for my claim. They acknolwledge having received a check from my insurance company, [redacted], on December 21. Here are the excuses: new at the job and organizing the files, check will be out at the end of the week (several times), out sick and will take care of your case in a day or two, we disburse 30 days after receipt of insurance company check, we disburse 30 working days after receipt of insurance check, I will look into it, the president has to ok payments. I have even said I would come to the office and get the check, but I was told the president was not around at that time. You get the situation. Can you intercede?Desired Settlement: I would like to receive my check.

Business

Response:

Review: http://www.claimstarinc.com/services/RE: Claimstar Public Adjusters, [redacted], PA [redacted]July 25, 2013Claim #[redacted]: This company "Claim Star Public Adjusters" negotiated a settlement for a flood April 5, 2013 claim with [redacted] representing me with a limited power of attorney. [redacted] paid the $12,176.59 claim May 6/2013 and Claimstar cashed the check signing my name using the limited power of attorney. I called & called [redacted] from the company in the PA office and finally got a statement the end of June. They are charging 20% of the $12,176.59 settlement [redacted] paid plus an additional 20% of a $2176.59 bill [redacted] paid in the same settlement (charging me $435.32 extra) for a fan blower company their Florida representative [redacted] ordered. I have called and [redacted] has called repeatedly over this past month but [redacted] in PA does not return our calls. I have not yet received any of my funds nor have the fan company [redacted] here in FL. After a lot of search I have found numerous similar complaints where this company will take your money and run. I highly recommend that you do not use this company and above all do not sign their Limited Power of Attorney form.[redacted] Lauderdale, FL 33068Desired Settlement: $12,176.59 paid to Claimstar by [redacted]Less $2,176.59 due to [redacted] of S FLBalance $10,000.00Less $2,000.00 20% commission due to ClaimstarBalance $8,000.00 Claim money owed to [redacted] Claimant.

Review: Water damage to my home on 10/17/2012. I personally contacted [redacted]. immediately. [redacted] came within 2 hours, began the process of water removal. [redacted] billed my insurance co. ([redacted]) directly! I then contacted ClaimStar. I signed a contract with them on 10/19/2012 !!! The work by [redacted] was essentially completed at that time. [redacted] sent 2 checks to ClaimStar totaling $14,176.12, of which ClaimStar's fee was $3544.03. ClaimStar also charged an Emergency Service fee of $742.00 for the work that [redacted] had done!! Since this work was done before I contracted with ClaimStar, I feel that the $742.00 was IMPROPERLY kept by ClaimStar.After repeated and numerous attempts to have ClaimStar pay me what I was owed, I received a check for $9890.09, instead 0f the $10,632.09 due me. This check came on 03/15/2013 - this is 5 months after the initial damage to my home!!!

Business

Response:

Will respond to you immediately.Thank you

Business

Response:

To whom it may concern:

Review: Claimstar, a public adjustment firm in Pa was hired to represent me in an insurance claim due to home damage resulting from Hurricane Sandy.

The insurance company agreed to the claims and to issue funds to me in order to complete repairs to my property. The insurance companies mailed the funds to Claimstar directly in Jan 2013. Claimstar failed to notify me that they had received the funds and once I contacted them to discuss, they will not return calls or will say that my check will be mailed within a week. This has been taking place over the past 90 days and I have yet to receive $1.Desired Settlement: I am seeking the release of my funds by Claimstar.

Business

Response:

We are talking to an attorney who is representing his client.We will apprise you of results

Business

Response:

Review: We hired Claimstar to assist us with our insurance claim relating to storm damage on our home. The claim was completed and the check was sent to us by our insurance company in January so that would could get the repairs done to our home. Because the check was made out to both my husband, myself, and to Claimstar, we were instructed by Claimstar to sign the back of the check and mail it to them. Claimstar was then supposed to deposit the check, take the 25% that they were due and cut us a check back for the balance we were due. Four months have passed and they will not send us our check. Now they have become unresponsive and will not return any of our calls.Desired Settlement: We're hoping this complaint will result in Claimstar issueing our claim check.

Business

Response:

We will settle this matter this week.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: My primary residence sustained damage on October 29, 2012 as a result of Superstorm Sandy. On the first day that I was permitted to view my home, a neighbor introduced me to a representative from Claimstar, a public adjusting company. The adjuster, **. [redacted], explained that he would provide the assistance I would need to negotiate with my insurance companies to maximize the benefits I could get to repair my home. From the beginning, **. [redacted] struggled in his attempts to contact my insurance companies. Meetings with insurance representatives (adjusters and engineers) were set up by me. When **. [redacted] was unavailable to meet with a representative from my flood insurance company, he sent another Claimstar employee instead. This man, an adjuster with extensive experience, made false and misleading statements to the flood adjuster when asked about the presence of flood water inside my home. Claimstar referred a disaster services company, [redacted], to remove water-damaged carpeting and some of the low level drywall/insulation. [redacted] did not return to complete the job of removing the remaining lower level floor coverings and drywall. **. [redacted] told me it was due to personal extenuating circumstances on the part of the company's owner. The owner himself told me at a later date that he declined to return because he was unsure if insurance would pay for his services. I repeatedly expressed my concern to **. [redacted] that leaving the wet flooring in place would lead to the formation and spread of mold throughout my home. **. [redacted] and Claimstar failed to initiate contact with another remediation company to finish the project. **. [redacted] was unsuccessful in gaining the attention and respect of my insurance companies' representatives. He was frustrated that I was able to communicate with them while his phone messages were ignored. At one point, **. [redacted] specifically asked me to call my homeowners insurance company in his behalf. At a critical meeting with a field engineer from my flood insurance company, **. [redacted] failed to point out significant damage to the foundation and supporting structures of my home. I showed the engineer the damaged beams so he could include this in his loss report.

I made the decision to terminate my relationship with Claimstar the beginning of February. I sent certified letters to Claimstar as well as my homeowners and flood insurance companies. In my letter to Claimstar, I included a personal check in the amount of $1500 to compensate **. [redacted] for his time and travel. I explained to him in a follow-up phone call my dissatisfaction with his inability deal effectively with my situation. This decision was made prior to any communications from my insurance companies about benefits that I would receive to repair my home. At the time, I had only received an "advance" payment of $4000 from my flood insurance company.

After receiving my termination letter, I have received calls from Claimstar's attorney, comptroller, and president. In each of these phone conversations I have reiterated my dissatisfaction with the services that were both performed and ignored. Making false statements to the flood insurance adjuster borders on insurance fraud and has had, in my opinion, an adverse impact on my relationship with my insurance company.

The president of Claimstar states that my claim is worth $10,000 to his company so he is unwilling to accept my check for $1500. He contends that **. [redacted] devoted much effort to my case. I have asked their attorney, their comptroller, and even the president to provide me with copies of all correspondence -- in the form of letters or e-mails to my insurance companies' representatives -- to support their claim. They have failed to produce any documentation outside of **. [redacted]'s crib notes.

Since receiving my termination letter, Claimstar has not generated any efforts on my behalf. Most recently, my homeowners insurance company contacted Claimstar to obtain a statement releasing them from my claim. They refused to release themselves from my claim. This decision is preventing me from receiving insurance benefits to begin the repairs on my home. When I questioned the president of Claimstar about their lack of cooperation, he offered to "settle the matter for $7500". This is an unsubstantiated and totally self-serving demand on Claimstar's part. It is becoming apparent to me that Claimstar is more concerned about their bottom line than helping people who have suffered losses return to their homes.Desired Settlement: I request that Claimstar release themselves from my case so that I can proceed with my plans to rebuild and return to my home.

Business

Response:

We are engaged in a law suit with this client

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

I have not been notified that Claimstar intends to pursue legal action. They have no basis for a lawsuit because they failed to perform their duties as my representative and I have incurred additional remediation costs for services that they failed to complete.

Regards,