Frequently Asked Questions about Wildfires
General FAQs | Public Adjuster FAQs | Auto FAQs (General | Coverage | Totaled Vehicles) Mobilowner/Mobile Home FAQs (General | Loss of Use | Coverage | Valued Policy) Homeowner FAQs (General | Loss of Use | Coverage | Valued Policy | Claim Payments | Who Pays?)
(September 2011)
Important note: Coverage under different insurance policies varies. Factors affecting coverage include the provisions of the specific policy and endorsements, and the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding your policy's coverages.
General FAQs
Q. I lost my insurance policy and I don’t know who my agent is. Can I get a copy of my policy? How can I find out who my insurance company is?
A. You may want to contact your lienholder to see to whom you make your insurance premium payments, or you may be able to obtain your payee/payment records from your bank. If you paid your premium with a credit card, your credit card company may have a record of the payment and payee. When you have identified your insurance company, you should contact them for a copy of your policy.
Q. What do I do if I don’t have any insurance on my property?
A. If your property is uninsured, you will not receive any claim payments from an insurance company. If a disaster has been declared, contact the Texas Division of Emergency Management by phone at 512-424-2138 or online at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/index.htm. You may contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1-800-621-3362, online at www.fema.gov, or on the new FEMA mobile website at m.fema.gov. You may need to rely upon your own resources and help from your community. The American Red Cross (1-800-733-2767 or www.redcross.org) may be able to assist you in your recovery.
Q: Our house was destroyed by the fire, should we continue to pay our insurance premiums?
A: Check with your lender before you stop paying premiums. Most homeowner policies have liability coverage that will pay if someone working on your property is injured, and you are sued and found legally responsible. Homeowner policies also cover personal property when it is away from your home. If you removed your personal property before the fire, it may still be covered. If you move to a rental property, you may wish to consider renters insurance. Discuss your insurance needs with your agent.
Q. I've received a check from the insurance company, but I’m not satisfied with the amount. I plan to file a complaint to request additional payment. Should I cash the check? If I cash the check, does it mean that I accept their decision and amount of payment?
A. Be careful about signing a check before discussing your concerns with the company. Call the adjuster or company first before cashing the check. Read both sides of the check carefully, as well as any accompanying documents. Some companies’ checks include a disclaimer printed on the back. The disclaimer often states that your endorsement of the check releases the insurance company from further liability. In some cases, particularly with regard to damaged real property, the check may be a partial payment to initiate repairs. Additional funds may be released when you submit proof that repairs have been completed. Please be sure that you understand what the check represents and how cashing it will affect you prior to taking any action regarding the check. If you need further explanation or information, you may wish to contact your agent or insurance company.
Q. If insured property (auto, home, or mobile home) is financed, how are claim checks issued? Do checks from insurance companies have to be endorsed by me and the lienholder? If checks are issued to both me and the lienholder, how do I collect?
A. The lienholder endorsement to the policy typically requires the insurance company to pay you and the lienholder as their interests appear. In most cases, insurance claim payments for damage to property that is security for a loan will be made payable to the you and the lienholder, and the checks would require endorsements from both parties. You and the lienholder would then agree on conditions for the release of funds. Please see the Homeowner FAQs for other questions regarding release of insurance payments held by a mortgage company.
Q. What is my recourse if the check made payable jointly to the lienholder and me is sent directly to the lienholder and cashed without my knowledge or endorsement on the check?
A. Disputes regarding the release of funds by the lienholder represent legal questions that the Texas Department of Insurance cannot answer. You must determine whether or not you think further discussion with the insurance company or your lienholder would be productive. If not, you might want to consider obtaining legal advice. You may also contact the Texas Department of Banking at 1-877-276-5554 or visit its website at www.banking.state.tx.us.
Public Adjuster FAQs
Q. Do I have to hire a public insurance adjuster to file and help in the settlement of my insurance claim?
A. No. Hiring a public insurance adjuster to assist you in filing a property insurance claim is optional. Public insurance adjusters charge fees to help negotiate claim settlements with insurance companies. Be aware that the public insurance adjuster fee is normally a percentage of the claim settlement and therefore is paid out of settlement money you receive from an insurance company.
Q. Are there any limitations on the compensation of a public insurance adjuster?
A. Yes, the following limitations apply:
If an insurance company commits to paying the policy limits of certain claims within 72 hours of the date on which you report the loss to the insurance company, the public insurance adjuster is entitled only to reasonable compensation for time and expenses and may not receive a commission consisting of a percentage of the total amount paid by the insurance company. The public insurance adjuster's total commission may not exceed 10 percent of the insurance claim settlement. A clear statement of the public insurance adjuster’s commission must appear in the public insurance adjuster’s written contract.
Q. May a public insurance adjuster be involved in the repair of damaged property for which the public adjuster negotiated settlement?
A. No. The public insurance adjuster may not participate, either directly or indirectly, in the reconstruction, repair, or restoration of damaged property that is the subject of a claim adjusted by the public insurance adjuster.
Q. Must public insurance adjusters be licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)?
A. Yes, a person may not act as a public insurance adjuster in this state or hold himself or herself out to be a public insurance adjuster in this state unless the person holds a license or certificate issued by the commissioner. You may verify the license status of a public insurance adjuster on the TDI website at www.tdi.texas.gov.
Auto FAQs
General
Q. I lost the title to my car. How can I get a replacement title?
A. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by phone at 888-368-4689 or online at www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/titles.htm to request a replacement for your lost title.
Q. How does replacement cost coverage work?
A. Replacement cost coverage replaces or repairs your damaged property with new material or items of like kind and quality.
Q. Is replacement cost coverage available for automobiles?
A. Replacement cost coverage is not available under many auto policies. Some insurance companies provide new car replacement for a limited number of years if the auto is insured when new or may offer replacement cost coverage by endorsement. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Coverage
Q. If my vehicle is damaged in a fire and my policy only provides liability coverage, is there any assistance available?
A. If your auto insurance policy provides liability coverage only, it will not pay for damage to your vehicle due to a fire. If a disaster has been declared, contact the Texas Division of Emergency Management by phone at 512-424-2138 or online at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/index.htm. You may contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1-800-621-3362, online at www.fema.gov, or on the new FEMA mobile website at m.fema.gov. You may need to rely upon your own resources and help from your community. The American Red Cross (1-800-733-2767 or www.redcross.org) may be able to assist you in your recovery.
Q. Is my vehicle covered for fire damage?
A. Fire damage to your vehicle may be covered if you carry other than collision coverage, also called comprehensive coverage, on your policy. This information can be found on your policy's declarations page. If you do not have a copy of your policy, you may wish to check with your agent or company.
Q. My car was damaged by a fire and I had to rent a vehicle. Does my auto policy cover the cost of renting a car?
A. An automobile policy generally provides coverage for renting another vehicle only if the policy provides the coverage or you have an endorsement on your policy for rental reimbursement coverage. Under this coverage, the insurance company will pay up to the limit shown on the endorsement for a reasonable amount of time to repair or replace your vehicle. However, coverage for rental reimbursement typically ceases when your vehicle is determined to be a total loss.
Q. If I evacuate due to a fire and my personal property in my vehicle is stolen, will my personal property be covered by my personal automobile policy? Will it be covered by my homeowners insurance policy?
A. Generally, a personal automobile policy does not cover personal property. Most homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for personal property in your vehicle. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Does my policy provide coverage for fire damage to my recreational vehicle, motorcycle, and off-road vehicles?
A. Recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and miscellaneous vehicles may be covered by various types of insurance policies. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Totaled Vehicles
Q. My car was damaged in a fire. How do I determine whether my car should be totaled?
A. As with any loss, whether your car will be totaled is determined on a case-by-case basis. Normally, when the cost of repair plus the salvage value equals or exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle prior to the loss, it will be considered a total loss.
Q. My car was totaled due to fire damage and I have full coverage on it. The insurance company is going to pay the Blue Book value but I still owe the lender substantially more than that. Doesn't the company have to pay what I owe on the auto?
A. Probably not. Under most policies, the company is only obligated to pay in accordance with policy terms, which is typically the current market value, otherwise known as the actual cash value, or ACV, of your vehicle. You can request that the adjuster explain to you how the value was derived to ensure that all of the vehicle's equipment, features, upgrades and recent work was considered in determining the value. To cover the difference between the market value of your vehicle and what you actually owe, you would need an endorsement or separate policy, to provide guaranteed asset protection (GAP) coverage. Depending on your specific policy, it is possible that you may have purchased replacement cost coverage on your vehicle. Replacement cost coverage replaces or repairs your damaged property with new material or items of like kind and quality. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Do I have to agree to have my vehicle totaled if I am "upside down" on the loan (will I owe the lienholder more than the actual cash value of the vehicle)?
A. The policy contract states how the loss will be paid. The insurance company decides whether or not to total a vehicle. A vehicle is typically totaled if it will cost more to repair the vehicle than the vehicle is worth. Insurance coverage for the difference between the actual cash value of a vehicle and the outstanding loan amount can be covered by a GAP endorsement or a separate GAP policy. Absent a GAP policy or another provision that includes replacement cost coverage, if the cost to repair exceeds the actual cash value (also known as a “total loss” or “totaled vehicle”), the company will pay the actual cash value of the vehicle. If the vehicle is subject to an outstanding lien, you are responsible for the balance.
Q. What if my vehicle is determined to be a total loss, but I want to keep it?
A. In the case of a total loss, if you wish to keep the vehicle, you and the insurance company may negotiate a settlement in which you may retain the salvaged vehicle. However, you would then be responsible for the cost of repairs and would be subject to the laws regarding owner-retained salvage. For questions regarding owner-retained salvage, please contact the DMV by phone at 888-368-4689 or online at www.txdmv.gov. Additionally, you may wish to contact the lienholder to find out whether retaining the salvaged vehicle would affect the lien.
Q. What will happen to the vehicle's title if my car is totaled? How is the title on a totaled insured vehicle processed?
A. If you own the vehicle outright, you may have to sign the title over to the insurance company. In exchange, the insurance company may give you a check for the market value of the vehicle, depending on the terms of your policy. If your vehicle is still subject to a loan, the insurance company may coordinate with you and your lender to have the title transferred to the insurance company. In that situation, the insurance company may establish contact with the lender to find out the amount still owed on the loan. Example: If the insurance company determines that the market value of the vehicle is $10,000 and the amount owed the lender is $8,000, the insurance company will issue a check for $8,000 to the lender to release the lien on the car. The insurance company will then issue a $2,000 check to you after you sign over the title. For specific information about how titles are processed, please contact the DMV by phone at 888-368-4689 or online at www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/titles.htm.
Q. What if I do not agree with the settlement offered by the insurance company, particularly as it concerns the market value determination for my totaled vehicle?
A. Ask the adjuster to explain how the settlement amount was derived. If you still disagree, you may request an appraisal of the loss. Many policies contain specific provisions that describe the responsibilities of both parties if an appraisal is necessary or desired.
Mobilowner/Mobile Home FAQs
General
Q. Are there different types of policies that provide coverage for mobile homes?
A. Yes, mobile homes are insured under various types of policies, including a homeowners policy. Currently, the majority of mobile homes are insured under a mobilowners policy. Check with your agent or company to see what type of policy you have. If you have a homeowners insurance policy, refer to the Homeowner FAQs.
Q. I lost the title to my mobile home. How can I get a replacement title?
A. Contact the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Manufactured Housing Division, to request a Statement of Ownership and Location (SOL) to your mobile or manufactured home. Contact numbers and additional information are online at www.tdhca.state.tx.us/mh/faqs-sol.htm.
Loss of Use
Q. Does my mobilowners policy provide additional living expense reimbursement?
A. To determine specific coverage under your policy, please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company. Most mobilowners policies provide some additional living expense reimbursement if the mobile home is destroyed or not fit to live in due to damage by a peril the policy covers. Some companies may provide an option to increase this coverage.
Coverage
Q. My mobile home was damaged in a fire. Will my mobilowners policy pay for my damage?
A. Yes, subject to the limitations of your particular policy. Fire is a covered peril.
Q. Is smoke damage from a fire covered?
A. Most mobilowners policies provide coverage for damage to property caused by smoke. Please read your policy or check with your agent or insurance company for further information.
Q. Will my mobilowners policy reimburse me for service charges assessed by the fire department for responding to the fire at my property?
A. Depending on the policy, you may have some limited coverage for fire department service charges. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information about your policy's coverages.
Q. Fire caused my tree to fall on my mobile home and damage my roof. Does my mobilowners policy cover the damages to my home and would the company pay to remove the tree from my property?
A. Fire is a covered peril and your policy would most likely pay for the damage to your roof. The tree itself may be covered, depending on policy language. In addition, most mobilowners policies provide a limited amount of debris removal coverage. Some insurance companies may provide an option to increase coverage. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Valued Policy
Q. My mobile home was completely destroyed in a fire. Does my insurance company have to pay me the full amount of my policy?
A. Read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company to determine whether your policy is a valued policy (also known as liquidated demand), meaning that the insurance company must pay the limit of liability shown in your policy if the property is determined to be a total loss due to fire damage.
Homeowner FAQs
General
Q. Can I make repairs to my property immediately?
A. Generally, you should make temporary repairs if necessary to protect your property from further damage. Do not make permanent repairs until an adjuster has inspected the damage. Most policies cover the cost of necessary temporary repairs, so save your receipts for materials and labor. You may wish to take pictures of the damage before making temporary repairs. Please read your policy or check with your agent or insurance company for further information.
Q. What's the difference between the different types of homeowners policies? How does a dwelling policy differ from a homeowners policy?
A. Homeowners policies may either provide "all risk" or "named peril" coverage. All risk is used to describe policies that typically cover all perils unless specifically excluded in the policy. Named peril means the damage must be caused by a peril that is specifically named or listed in the policy. A homeowners policy provides coverage for the dwelling, personal property, and personal liability. A dwelling policy provides coverage for the dwelling or personal property.
Q. How does replacement cost coverage work on policy types such as homeowners, dwelling, and mobile home?
A. Replacement cost coverage replaces/repairs your damaged dwelling or personal property with new material or items of like kind and quality. In most cases, if your policy includes replacement cost coverage, and your insured property is damaged by a covered peril, you should only be responsible for paying the deductible. Please see the Claim Payments subsection in this FAQ for a fuller explanation of the replacement cost claim process. Some homeowners and dwelling policies automatically include replacement cost coverage for the dwelling; others add the coverage by endorsement for an additional premium; and some may only provide actual cash value. Insurance companies may offer replacement cost coverage for mobile home policies. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for further information regarding your policy.
Loss of Use
Q. Does a homeowners insurance policy provide loss of use coverage if I can’t stay in my house due to an evacuation ordered by a civil authority?
A. It depends on the policy. Some policies may provide coverage for additional living expenses if a civil authority prohibits you from using the residence premises as a result of direct damage to neighboring premises caused by a covered peril. This coverage is generally limited to a period of up to two weeks. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Will my homeowners policy provide loss of use coverage on my rental property during an evacuation ordered by civil authority?
A. Your homeowners policy may provide coverage for loss of fair rents or fair rental value if an evacuation is ordered by a civil authority. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Does a homeowners insurance policy provide loss of use coverage if my house is damaged in the fire and I cannot stay there?
A. If you can't remain in your home because of loss from a covered peril, as defined in your homeowners or renter policy, you may receive payments for additional living expenses (ALE). ALE coverage typically includes the cost of staying in a hotel, motel or other temporary shelter; however, you must read your policy carefully or contact your agent or insurance company for ALE coverage limitations. If the damage forces you to move, be sure to tell your insurance company where you are and how to reach you by phone.
Q. Does a homeowners insurance policy provide loss of use coverage on my rental property that was lost or damaged by a fire?
A. Most homeowners policies provide coverage for loss of fair rents or fair rental value if the part of the residence premises rented to others or held for rent to others is not fit to live in due to fire damage. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. There is a power outage in my area and we have no utilities in our home. Will my policy pay for a hotel until power is restored?
A. Probably not. A homeowners policy generally provides ALE only if your home is damaged by a peril covered in your policy and, as a result of the covered damage, the residence is unfit to live in. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. When does my loss of use coverage begin to cover my expenses?
A. Generally, for policies that include coverage ALE and loss of fair rents or fair rental value, coverage begins once a covered peril makes the residence premises wholly or partially unfit to live in. However, even if your policy does include ALE coverage, it may be some time before you are reimbursed for these expenses. You may wish to keep detailed records and receipts of all potentially reimbursable expenses. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q: Do I have to provide receipts to the insurance company to receive ALE? Does the insurance company have to advance me money for ALE?
A: Yes, you must submit receipts to the insurance company. The company is not required to advance you money, but many insurance companies will give you an advance prior to receiving receipts. Review the section of your policy that addresses ALE.
Q: If I received payment for a total loss but want to relocate and not rebuild my house, will I still receive ALE?
A: Yes, most homeowners policies say “if you permanently relocate, payment will be for the reasonable time required for your household to become settled.” Please review your policy.
Coverage
Q. Is smoke damage from a fire covered?
A. Most homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for damage to property caused by smoke. Please read your policy or check with your agent or insurance company for further information.
Q. Will my homeowners policy pay for fire damage to my fence?
A. Most homeowners policies provide some coverage for fences under the other structures coverage. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Does my homeowners policy cover my detached garage or storage shed?
A. It depends on the policy. Generally, coverage for other structures, such as a detached garage or storage shed, that are set apart from the dwelling by a clear space is included in the coverage for your insured dwelling. The total amount of coverage for other structures is usually 10 percent of the dwelling coverage. Some policies may not provide coverage for other structures, such as portable buildings or buildings that are used for business purposes. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Will my homeowners insurance policy reimburse me for service charges assessed by the fire department for responding to the fire at my property?
A. Depending on the policy, you may have some coverage for fire department service charges. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Fire caused my tree to fall on my house, which caused damage to my roof. Does my homeowners policy cover the damage to my house and pay for the removal of the tree from my property?
A. Homeowners policies provide coverage for fire damage; therefore, the roof damage caused by the tree is covered. Most policies also pay to remove a tree if a covered peril caused it to fall on and damage covered property. Some policies limit the coverage for removal to $500 per tree and $1,000 per loss. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. Fire damaged some trees on my property. Will my homeowners insurance policy pay for the loss to and removal of the trees?
A. Yes. Fire is a covered peril for trees, shrubs, plants and lawns and most policies pay $250 to $500 per tree, shrub, or plant damaged in a fire, up to a maximum amount stated in the policy. Check your policy for the amount of coverage.
Q. The food in my refrigerator spoiled because of loss of power in my area. Will my homeowners policy pay for the loss?
A. Most homeowners policies will provide up to $500 for spoilage of refrigerated or frozen food caused by an off premises power failure, if the power failure is a direct result from a peril covered in your policy. If the power failure is a result of physical damage to the dwelling or any equipment contained in the dwelling and is caused by a peril covered in your policy coverage is not limited to $500. Other policies may not provide the $500 for a loss resulting from a power failure off premises unless added by an endorsement.
Q. Is there coverage for loss avoidance measures?
A. Most homeowners insurance policies provide some coverage for expenses and damage to covered property that you remove to ensure it doesn't receive more damage.
Q: Is clothing covered under personal property coverage?
A: Yes, clothing is part of your personal property.
Valued Policy
Q. My home and all of my outbuildings and fences were totally destroyed in the fire. Does my insurance company have to pay me the full amount of my policy?
A. Under most property policies in Texas, if the insured property, other than personal property, is a total loss due to fire damage, the insurance company must pay the full amount under the policy for each destroyed item covered by the policy. This is known as “liquidated demand.” For some property, like your home, the policy will include a dollar amount for the limit of liability. For other property, like other structures and fences, the coverage is often a percentage of the limit of liability for the dwelling. For example if your home is insured for $100,000 and the policy covers other structures for 10 percent of the dwelling limit, you would have $10,000 available for other structures. Please read your policy or check with your agent or insurance company for further information.
If you have a mobilowners policy, or if you have insurance with a farm mutual or surplus lines insurance company, please read your policy or consult with your agent or insurance company to determine whether it includes coverage for liquidated demand.
Q. What if only my home is destroyed and not my outbuildings. Will the liquidated demand provision in my policy apply?
A. Please read your policy or check with your agent or insurance company to determine specific coverage. Under most policies, you will only be paid for the damage to your home and to your trees, shrubs, and lawn in accordance with the limits of liability in your policy. Liquidated demand does not apply to personal property.
Claim Payments
Q. I've received a check from my company for damages to my home. It is going to cost more to repair than the amount received. Did they pay me enough for damages?
A. That depends on several things, including your policy and the facts and circumstances surrounding the damage and proposed repairs. If you have replacement cost coverage, your claim may be paid in two stages. Your first claim check may be for the actual cash value (ACV) of the damaged property. ACV is determined by taking the replacement cost for the covered loss and deducting for depreciation. Once you repair or replace your damaged property, replacement cost coverage generally entitles you to receive the amount that was previously withheld in your first check due to depreciation, up to the replacement cost of the damaged property. This amount will usually not exceed the actual amount spent or the total amount of insurance on the dwelling. Generally, to receive the difference between ACV and replacement cost, the policy contract requires you to complete repairs or replacements within a specific period of time, usually 180 to 365 days from the date of loss. Policies may also provide an option for you to extend that time frame if you request it in writing, as outlined in the actual policy. It is important to check your policy or contact your agent or insurance company regarding the specific requirements of your policy.
If your policy does not include replacement cost coverage, you will probably only recover the ACV of the damaged property.
In most cases, if you insured your to value, you should only be responsible for paying your deductible. If you believe your company is not offering an amount sufficient to repair or replace your damaged property, depending on the type of coverage you have, minus your deductible, you may want to request an appraisal in accordance with the provisions in the policy. Have your company explain the basis for its payment and clarify if additional funds are forthcoming. It is important to review your coverage regularly to ensure that your home is adequately insured. Please read your policy or contact your agent or insurance company for more information regarding coverage provided by your specific policy.
Q. What recourse do I have if the check was issued directly to the mortgage company? How long can a mortgage company hold money before releasing any to me? Can the mortgage company disperse the money in small increments? Can they withhold disbursements?
A. Your insurance company cannot make a check for a claim payable only to the mortgage company. If they do, you should not accept it and request that the check be re-issued to you and your mortgage company.
The Texas Insurance Code provides that the mortgage company must, within 10 days after it receives the insurance proceeds, tell you what its requirements are to release the money. Once you have provided sufficient evidence to show that you have met those requirements, the mortgage company has 10 days to release the funds.
If you have a concern about a private mortgage lender, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 877-382-4357. You may also visit its website at www.ftc.gov. Additionally, you may wish to contact the Office of Consumer Credit by phone at 800-538-1579 or online at www.occc.state.tx.us.
If the lender is a state-chartered savings and loan, or bank, contact the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending at 512-475-1350.
If the lender is a federal chartered lender, contact the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Customer Assistance Group at 1-800-613-6743.
In some instances, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can help. Call HUD at 800-225-5342.
Who Pays?
Q. If I evacuate due to a fire and my personal property is damaged or stolen while in another location, will my personal property be covered by my auto or homeowners policy?
A. Homeowners policies provide coverage for personal property while away from the insured location or premises. Most policies limit the amount of this coverage to either 10 or 20 percent of the total amount of coverage for personal property. Some policies limit theft coverage for personal property while away from the residence premises at any other residence owned by, rented or occupied by you, unless you are temporarily living there. Generally, a personal automobile policy will not cover personal property.
For more information contact:
Last updated: 09/27/2011
