Smith Peabody Stiles Agency does nothing to help homeowners claim get paid. I never considered the notion when my claim on homeowners insurance was denied that Smith Peabody Stiles Agency in Fenton, Michigan would not stand behind me. It took me over 40 years to realize how homeowners insurance claims do not work. I have paid in at least $170,000 as an insurance buyer, for car and homeowners  premiums. Other than a $5,000 claim for a break in occurring over 25 years ago, I have not filled any homeowners claims. Trusting the Stiles Peabody Smith Insurance Agency in Fenton to handle my coverage will cost me $50,000.

I have an insurance background for 35 years, buying my first house at the age of 21. It was always my belief that you bought insurance hoping you never needed it. I also believed that if something unfortunate happened your coverage would provide claim benefits to cover the loss. Its a Major item separating  health and life insurance from the car and homeowners insurance I purchased through the Smith Peabody Stiles, Agency. Your health and life are not replaceable. However your car and house, or any damage to them is.

YOU ARE CONSIDERED GUILTY UNTIL YOU PROVE YOURSELF INNOCENT 
IF YOU PROVE YOURSELF INNOCENT YOU ARE STILL CONSIDERED GUILTY

The culprits in my case are the owners of Smith Peabody Stiles Insurance Agency in Fenton, Michigan. The insurer and adjusters represent  one of Michigan’s largest auto and home insurance companies. In shopping for car insurance, I contacted a representative at Smith Peabody Stiles Agency, and she gave me a lower rate on all 3 cars. It  was the same company  I already had 3 houses insured with  for  years.. The lady at Smith Peabody Stiles Insurance Agency said if she became agent of record, I would get even a lower rate for combined coverage discount. As a result The Smith Peabody Stiles insurance agency acquired 3 auto insurance policies, 3 homeowners policies, coverage for 3 antique Corvettes, and a whole stack of premium/commission money.

I LET SMITH PEABODY STILES AGENCY SUCKER ME IN

In February my up north neighbor called me, letting me know my cottage/house was being flooded. He kicked in a window and shut off the water from a frozen pipe that burst. The house was a water disaster, with mold. The next morning I promptly called Smith Peabody Stiles Agency to report the damage. My agent said no problem and to find an emergency cleanup company. That morning I found one not far from my up north house. I called my Smith Peabody Stiles Agency representative, who said she would contact the claims adjuster so the damage control and cost of that could start.

I HAD A POLICY WITH HOLES LARGE ENOUGH TO RUN A FIRE TRUCK THRU

My policy states on a vacation home either the water supply must be shut off OR heat left on. Since my pump which I replaced twice 21/2  years ago stopped working then, I had no water supply. The policy never specified what type of heating, which could have meant space heaters. If I had left space heaters on the house would have surely lit up and burned down. Within the last couple of years, I had just put on a new roof, vinyl siding, a porch, and a beautiful deck, I sure didn't want a fire. For 30 years I concentrated on the OR of my policy. My Smith Peabody Stiles Agency rep called the claims lady who told the emergency crew to go ahead and get started.


I HAD NOT 1 BUT 2, TWO FACE CLAIMS PEOPLE WORKING AGAINST ME

I assumed everything was going smooth with ongoing blast heating the house, mold removal, and teardown where necessary.After a conversation with the cleanup manager, he told me they were yanked off the job. I called my rep from Smith Peabody Stiles Insurance Agency and she nervously told me to direct contact the up north office claims lady. The claims lady said she was too busy, so an outside adjuster was handling this. WHAT? WHY WAS APPROVED WORK STOPPED?  I called back the cleanup company and they told me the new claims adjuster stopped by and ordered them to stop working. How can you be told work on you claim is proceeding on schedule, then be told by two claim liars said I misinterpreted the facts.

TO SHOW THEIR ANGER THE 2 ADJUSTERS DENY MY CLAIM

What does winterizing or shutting off water supply mean? 2 1/2 years ago I had an expensive new pump and line replaced in my well. Almost immediately that failed, they blamed me, and wanting water I had another costly pump installed. This one also failed. They told me to amp up the breaker, so I put in a higher power breaker, which immediately clicked off and sparked. If I upped power any more, I  knew I could burn down the house, Instead its  2 years now that I have not had running water. I told my representative at Smith Peabody Stiles agency exactly that.

NO PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATION

The claims adjusters had proof I was winterizing. I had  spare full containers of antifreeze, used every winter to secure all sink and toilet pipes just in case. There were empty water bottles my wife used to wash her hair, a sign posted about how to winterize, and even a used outhouse. My proof meant nothing, they investigated nothing. I wanted to know what kicked the pump on, since my claim was denied. Was it lightning striking, a sudden power surge, or a sneaky hunter on my 90 acres, rigging the water to work for him? I still have no clue. After a few weeks, I called  the manager at Smith Stiles Peabody Agency,   one of the company’s largest producing agencies. He gave me a song and dance, saying he would do everything in his power. He even called the  manager at the claim’s office.

STALLED WORSE THAN A CAR IN A POND

After 12 weeks slipped by, I again called the Smith Stiles Peabody manager. He said my claim was reviewed and again flat out denied. When I asked why, he said it was a  policy exclusion. He told me “you sound like a broken record, and I’ll send the manager up there another note and mention you are willing to take a polygraph test ”If this has occurred to himself, relatives, friends, or office employees this claim would have been paid. Any person with considerable power holds an ace card they can use any time they choose. With the Smith Peabody Stiles Insurance Agency writing so much business with the insurer, they probably have more than one ace.  Meanwhile my up north house is rotting and spreading more mold every day. The agency has nearly $50,000,000 in annualized revenues.

FIGHT THE FLOOD BY CREATING A GREATER FLOOD BACK.  Any sales person knows that if you anger a customer, that customer knows 20 people they can influence against you. Not me, I have a $40,000 to $50,000 loss and need to keep more people from buying homeowners insurance there. My payback to the Smith Peabody Stiles Agency in Fenton, Michigan  for not pulling out their ace card will be more severe. Besides suing the house insurance company, the reverse flood is starting to be put into action.  

Don't rely on home claim assistance with the Smith Peabody Stiles Agency