Seniors
Related: About this forumHome insurance....
I think this may be the first time I've started a thread. I need to vent.
Background: I'm a widower and live alone in Tucson, kids are in Seattle and Phoenix. Seventy-one years old on a miserly SS plan. (That's what comes from living in a Right To Work state!) House is paid for. No debts. Mild physical disabilities...can't walk for long distances or stand for any great lengths of time.
I've had a homeowner's policy with one insurance company for over thirty years. Last year, they sent me a mildly threatening letter that informed me that my home was not up to their standards, and that it needed to be painted. They specified that the paint was peeling, and that the soffits were sun-damaged and peeling. Typical for Tucson. If I did not deal with these, my policy would be canceled.
Boom.
Never knew that insurance companies had arrogated themselves to the level of Home Owner's Associations!
To paint said soffits, I'd first have to replace them and repair the roof that was royally messed up by a fly by night contractor. Remember my comment about a pittance from Social Security? I was going to have to raise the money to pay for all of this, and do the work myself. While staying isolated.
By dint of some theatrical gig work, I scraped together the funds in October, helping a friend with the Halloween festivities in Atchison, Kansas. (Still managing to keep social distancing.) Back in Tucson, I turned on my old set-designer skills. Single-handedly cleaning all the old paint off my home and repainting the entire house in a truly spectacular manner. This took the latter half of November and all of December, because clambering on ladders is difficult and perilous for me. Not having the stamina that I had in my twenties and thirties, I had to work short hours then recover for a day or two.
To think: I used to do this regularly at theaters in my salad days. Not having a crew working with me makes for slow progress.
All this while, my Allstate agent would call to remind me that 1 February was the deadline, and the main office would motivate me with more ominously-worded letters.
As of today, 24 January, the painting is done. Somehow, in the next six days, I have to rebuild the soffits on one side of the house and get them painted. To that end, I've recruited an old friend from Burning Man. We may just be able to pull it off. Unfortunately, it's raining today, and will be tomorrow....so this might interfere.
I am not happy about having to do this. Especially aggravating was Allstate's policy of secretly sending photographers around to photograph client's houses without permission. Their arrogance in refusing even to discuss the matter with me has convinced me to find a new company, but I still need to get this huge task done before any other place would even talk to me.
Rant over.
Thank you for your patience.
OhNo-Really
(3,991 posts)Ive had good luck with Farmers.
But the costs of insurance & taxes eats too much of SS. Who knew you had to bemarried to one person for 10 years to qualify for hubbys SS. And we were paid so much less than men.
And no credit for employing many for years.
Women have an SS class action suit for A 13% increase.
The politicians allowed women to be paid less.
Skittles
(158,410 posts)What did you mean by 'no credit for employing'
OhNo-Really
(3,991 posts)And paid &10-12.50 hr for a few dozen employees who then paid fed/state taxes.
I drew a adequate wage to pay for business expenses. So I get lower SS and no SS credit for creating tax income employees paid from the wages I paid.
And because my marriage lasted less than 10 years, I have no deceased spouse SS. My cheating ex passed away before I retired.
lastlib
(24,787 posts)I absolutely loathe them, after one incident with my car insurance (too long a story to relate here). I will happily tell everyone I can what a shitty company they are to do business with.
3Hotdogs
(13,342 posts)get a quote for combining the home insurance with your auto insurance as a package deal.
ChazInAz
(2,767 posts)Never ad any claims with my vehicles, only two with the house.
3Hotdogs
(13,342 posts)I have been with them for years. They actually pay my claims without bullshit.
Also try Liberty Mutual.
mitch96
(14,606 posts)ChazInAz
(2,767 posts)But first, I have to get this done before any other company will cover the house.
mitch96
(14,606 posts)Canoe52
(2,963 posts)We just switched to them for our car and home. Much cheaper.
trof
(54,270 posts)You could qualify for USAA insurance.
Very good to deal with.
He was in the Hungarian Air Force during WWII.
The devious old man was somewhat cagey about that. Not exactly forthcoming on his war record.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(26,604 posts)I switched to AAA several years ago.