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JEFFOH · 01-21-2014, 02:28 PM

I had a bad situation with my RV. It is a 1994 Holiday Rambler Imperial Diesel pusher. It was emaculate with under 60K. The wiring at the starter appears to have caught on fire for some unknown reason. I had a flame coming from the area and the wiring harness was fried. I put the fire out as soon as I saw it. The problem is what the insurance company claimed.
My insurance is Nationwide but they sell the policy as Allied Insurance. Bascially Allied falls back on the original policy stating that the damage was a result of Mfg defect and or wear and tear. This is a very well built unit by all measures and the harness literally caught on fire inbetween the wires not at any connection. As stated I put the fire out. The insurance company WILL pay for any damages after the fire but will NOT fix the wiring. This is not a cheap fix if done properly as the entire harness needs replaced. In addition Allied / Nationwide is absolutely the worst insurance company I have ever had to deal with in my 25 plus years of owning over 42 vehicles. I have not made any insurance claim that was my fault in those 25 years only from someone causing a collision with me. In fact the insurance company is so rude you feel like you are dealing with used car salesmen. I am not bitter and will fix the issue but the moral of this story is review your policies carefully in regards to wiring. I sat up many nights thinking of all the wiring in my RV and what could happen if it was damaged. By the way they also DO NOT cover any damage from animals so keep that in mind. Any input would be appreaciated as I feel I have a legitamate claim that while one wire may have had some age related damage, and or caused the fire the rest of the wires caught on fire from this unexplained as to now event. The do not want to hear it. I also pulled my rear door nearly off to get to the fire to put it out and they refuse to properly fix the door only the rivited slates I punched threw to try and get the door open in what I called a "at the time emergency event"
Anyway please read and understand your policies. I am not a bitter person and write this with hesitation. I just hope others are being treated better by their insurers. The damage and cost are really irrelivent to the poor attitude of Allied in the claims process. I was even told by the claims person I "did not see fire" and he called me a liar several times on a recorded call. Seriously....I am an extremely God fearing and moral person and was heart broken to be spoken in this way. I also had two other people with me at the scene that witnessed this FIRE. I am still reserving my rights on this claim and will be pursing this at all cost based on the way it was handled and how I was treated.

mikebreeze · 01-21-2014, 02:32 PM

Thanks for sharing. Word of mouth is the best (or worst) advertiser. I will put Nationwide/Allied on my 'no go' list. I wish you success in getting a just settlement out of this situation.

JEFFOH · 01-21-2014, 02:42 PM

mikebreeze thanks. It has been sometime since this happened and believe me I am still fumming from treatment by Allied. Funny Allied dissapears in the claim and it becomes Nationwide. It appears Allied has lost a very large settlement in the past on the way they conduct business. I am not hear to judge Allied / Nationwide as a whole only to say the way I was treated on several occasions even after asking him to show more respect and tone down the entagonistic attitude. I guess it was a claim they wanted to fight the entire way. In all fairness they did tow my motorhome to a dealer for review who was NOT qualified to fix it then paid for 1/2 of the tow bill back to my house which is where the RV still sits. I had a $25,000 trip interuption adder policy which believe it or not Allied refuses to tell me what is covered when asked. This company appears to be run by people who get money by denying your claim and making it so difficult to fight them that you give up. I did contact an Attorney and he advised me the policy is clear however my arguement is just BUT it would cost $5000 to get less... The moral of the story is still to be aware of what is covered and READ the policies you pay for carefully. This was sold as a PREMIUM policy by Camping World upon purchase which is a whole other story. Sign a policy day of purchase without seeing the policy then get a copy of it weeks latter. Really sucks I can tell you. Who is good because I want a good company. This is not the cheapest insurance and I got extras to cover what I thought was anything that could happen. Also look closely at your towing. Basically they will tow only to the CLOSEST repair facility that is on their "PREFERED" list. The prefered people are so scared of causing problems and getting not prefered they will not even advise you on the problems. This is more related to the door deal which is going to require a new door and repainting to match... The door is offset now by over 1/2" and does not close properly. It is racked.

Clayobx · 01-21-2014, 02:50 PM

Unfortunately, IMO, this is now the norm of the insurance industry. Just think CW most likely got a percentage of your premium. I would file a claim with your states insurance commissioner. Best of luck!

JEFFOH · 01-21-2014, 03:18 PM

Clayobx,
I believe their is a claim with GMAC or something in regards to this and I actually printed the Marketing Agreement an insurance company has with Camping World. I have to dig it back out. I am not at this time here to say anything bad about Camping World and am in fact also a business person but really, really do not like to be taken. Insurance is only to make you whole and I understand that. You are not to profit from a claim, but at the same time the process should not make you suffer from poor customer service, defimation, flat out mistreatment, etc. Sorry I did not spell check any of this or past posts...

Kpjp · 01-21-2014, 03:19 PM

So sorry for your loss. I suggest that you hire an attorney immediately to fight the insurance company on your behalf. I am a forensic engineer conducting electrical fire investigations for over 20 years. Your insurance company does not want to know that a fire occurred because of your policy coverage for fire. Many subrogation attorneys would handle the case with no cost to you. Good luck, Jim.

JEFFOH · 01-21-2014, 03:21 PM

Kpjp,
I would just like an appoligy from Allied first. They suck... That is the best English for the way I feel. The door I plan on getting 3 estimates from non "PREFERED" shops but need to get the beast running first.

JMonroe · 01-22-2014, 08:55 AM

Any attorney costs will come out of your pocket, you will not come out ahead.

From my 30 plus years experience in the industry...

Your policy, my policy, everyone's policy has an exclusion for mechanical failures and/or "wear and tear". Your rig is 20 years old. I suspect time and use caused one of more of the wires within the harness to fail, shorting out, resulting in the fire.

No collision/comprehensive insurance policy is going to pay to replace the failed part or assembly, in this case the wire harness. Yes, any incidental damage caused by the fire (which is different from the cause of the fire) will be covered under "comprehensive", in this case.

You can buy mechanical failure policies (every one of us has gotten solicited by multiple companies trying to get us to buy one of these). These are an entirely different product with different underwriting standards.

Mac99 · 01-22-2014, 09:08 AM

I've had Nationwide Ins. for 35 years, they have always been
fair, fast, and excellent in every way during many claims over
the years. I would never use anyone else. JMHO.

JEFFOH · 01-22-2014, 10:36 AM

I was very clear I DO AGREE the policy specifically excludes the wiring and an item they will NOT repair however some maybe missing the PERCEIVED MISTREATMENT and damage to the door as a result of a fire that was going on (wire caused issue now there is a fire so the claim is open by all accounts / policies) the fact that Nationwide / Allied have policies different from that in the RV industy (Is that true or not) and have horrible RV customer service. (Is that true or do they just want to single out me to be mean to) This was not just the claims person but his boss that chose to take the low road and get an attitude. Listen, I am a large, muscular man and no one will accuse me of being passive but I am respectful. Once you cross the line, I take the boxing ring gloves off and it is a street fight. Allied sucks. Anyone can post they never had a problem with Nationwide but ALL I ask is for everyone to look at their policies and see what they are getting. Look at the policies of other companies and see what you are getting. I DO NOT SELL INSURANCE AND AM NOT IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY so anyone that will say that can save breath. I AM SIMPLY A PISSED OFF CONSUMER PAYING ALLIED TO INSULT ME AND CALL ME A LIAR AND MINIPULATE THE FACTS TO DENY ANY CLAIM. The door is damaged, they refuse to address it. It is black and white or is it. Nationwide maybe good if you are in an accident I want others to look at the wiring aspect and also the animal damage aspect (not covered) and tell me I am blowing smoke. I can handle it.

JEFFOH · 01-22-2014, 10:46 AM

Jay,
I understand you are responding as an stectator and I appreaciate your input. I really do and again I agree. Since you have been so direct let me be direct as well. The insurance industry is running the consumer like a bull with a nose ring connected to a leash. I am sick of the big companies lawyering up and crushing the little man. DO NOT GET ME WRONG I am an entreprenear 100% and believe in the free market but as you said go ahead and spend more money then you will make. I am telling you I am willing to do that right now. The issues in my case are being hijacked by the real facts. If anyone could hear the calls that I had with my Allied / Nationwide none of you would even consider getting a quote from them. Honest to God. They are scum. My first request is to get those calls for review. Management at Allied should be absolutely embarased and ashamed at the conduct of two of their veteran employees or are they just happy to entirely deny a valid claim and sweep another consumer under the rug and still be allowed to sell their PREMIUM policy that covers nothing important to me. As far as the RV being a 1994 it maybe old but in respect it is mine, it is paid for and I love it. I was nearly 100% imacculate when purchased two years ago and I like older units NO OFFENSE. It also is pre computer and I like that. As far as wiring yes any Rig can have problems. A 2014 or 1994. An insurance company writes a policy taking all that into account do they not?>

Clubhouse · 02-07-2014, 11:56 PM

I find this very interesting because I'm an Allied policy holder for 10+ years. They insure my home, autos, RV and general liability umbrella. For me Allied has been the best insurance company I have had.

I do wish they didn't have a specific exclusion for animal/rodent damage. A friend recently had their 5er totaled from ground squirrels destroying the wiring and insulation. Once I learned I looked at my policy and noticed the exclusion.

ahicks · 02-08-2014, 07:33 AM

Insurance is a necessary evil in most of our worlds. The best you can do is to realize that going into it, and deal with it the best you can? Knowing your policy, what you're paying for, is a good first step.

Rude behavior does make that more challenging, but should encourage one to go higher in the food chain when things get to an unacceptable level? Just document the daylights out of every conversation.

If there's a disagreement regarding coverage, ask for (demand) proof of what they're telling you. Make them point at the section of the policy backing they're decision? Demand specifics?

It's like when somebody tells you "it's broke"? What, exactly, is broken is a more than fair question??

I get the fact they've denied coverage on the wire harness (and why), but I'm not clear on the rest of the problems? Are you saying there was damage done to the coach while trying to assess, access and put out the fire? They are denying coverage there?

As one that's done more than my fair share of electrical work on motorhomes (including fire and rodent damage), replacing an entire wiring harness is rarely justified. When you get started on it, solid repairs capable of lasting the remaining lifetime of the coach can be accomplished by any skilled tech (or owner).

This really isn't that much different than a burst pipe in a home. The insurance company will not pay the plumber to repair that pipe, but they will pay for all of the resulting water damage.

Last thought, if there's a "next time"? Weigh the potential of just letting it burn, especially if they're hassling you over any damage incurred while YOU were putting out the fire.... My 2c, FWIW, -Al

gemini5362 · 02-08-2014, 06:42 PM

First if you feel you have a legitimate claim go to the insurance commission in your state and file a claim. In Arkansas insurance companies were not wanting to pay off on house fire claims. The insurance commission passed regulations that say if a house is totaled the claim becomes liquid damages and the insurance company pays the face value of the claim. Most companies do not want to get in a battle with the insurance commission because they will just stop sales in that state.

I have not had to use them for my RV but I have Safeco on my houses and vehicles. I had someone hit the back of my truck. the position they hit it was not nocticeable and I did not see it for maybe a few weeks. I called Safeco and turned in a claim. They asked about a police report and I told them I was not sure when it happened. The representative told me that if I had a police report that it would be covered under another part of my policy and the deductible would go from 500 to 250 She asked me to hold for a minute and went offline. When she came back on she told me she had checked Arkansas regulations and there was no time limit on fileing a police report. She suggested I go file one and then call her back with the number so she could look up the report on line. I did that and saved me 250. 00

On a rental house a tenant caught it on fire and did damage equal to about 80 per cent of the face value. When she caught it on fire she was 2 months behind in rent so I went ahead and scheduled an eviction hearing. We had just finished gutting the inside and replaced the roof. My contractor called me early of the morning of the hearing and told me my house had been burned to the ground. I was pretty nervous about what Safeco was going to do about paying. They were the ones that told me the Arkansas law about liquid damages on total losses. They wound up paying 180 per cent of the value of the policy in about a month time. I still have Safeco they did not drop me or raise my rates.

Every time I have used them for a claim they have been courteous and helpful. I am sure other people may not have had that experience but I have