When the letter says no, or says too little
A denial letter is one side's reading of the policy. So is a low offer. We read the policy first, then the letter, then the estimate, and lay the three side by side.
Often the insurer's own words are the best evidence: the exclusion it quotes may not fit, the damage it calls wear may have been sudden, and the items it skips may be on its own estimate.
We take
Denials
Low or partial payments
Files closed without a decision
Coverage cut after an inspection
Each phrase in the letter, and our answer
The same few phrases appear in most denial letters. Each one has something we look for.
Blamed on wear
We look for a sudden cause, a dated event and what the policy says it covers.
Not covered
We read the exclusion in full, exceptions included, and test it against what happened.
Filed too late
We check when you knew, when you told them and what the policy requires.
Damage from before
We build a timeline from photos, repair records and weather data.
Cosmetic only
We ask for the test the insurer used and the photos behind it.
Not enough proof
We assemble the estimate, receipts and expert letters the insurer says are missing.
Before you write back to the insurer
Should I argue with the adjuster myself?
You can, but what you say becomes part of the file. Send us the letter first, and ask the insurer to put anything further in writing.
Can I keep repairing while this is open?
Usually yes, and a leaking roof or a wet wall should be dried or covered now. Keep the photos, the old materials where you can, and every receipt.
What if I already signed something?
Bring it with the letter. Some signatures only confirm a payment; others release the claim. We read it the same day and tell you which it is.
Put the letter on the table
Bring the denial and the policy. We will tell you what we see before you decide anything.
We charge no fee unless we recover more than the insurer had offered. The firm advances case costs, such as an engineer's report, and is repaid from a recovery. If there is none, you owe neither the fee nor the costs.