We sold our rental property up in South Carolina last October. I confirmed with our insurance company that they sent the balance of our premium to our local agent in Summerville about three weeks later.
Despite numerous phone calls, letters, and faxes, Dipshit Insurance Agent has yet to send us our refund. The last time Ivylad actually got him on the phone, in December, he claimed he was working on it “that day” and would send the money to us shortly.
We have given him until Jan 31 to get the money in our mailbox. I have bookmarked a PDF file to lodge a complaint with the state insurance commission that I will be sending off tomorrow. I called the insurance company, but their answer was, “Well, we sent him the check. There’s nothing else we can do.” I intend to call back and speak to a supervisor. I don’t know why they didn’t send the money directly to us, but apparently we are also due a refund of the agent’s commission, which is why they sent the money to him.
What else should I do? Should I involve our real estate agent or the closing attorney? This is our money and I WANT IT NOW!!!
I assume the amount is less than $7,500, but more than a couple of bucks. This seems like an open and shut case, in your favor, if pleaded before a small claims court. A certified letter to the insurance agent, politely explaining that you intend to file in small claims if the money is not released by a date you specify, should do the trick. If he still doesn’t cough it up, drag his sorry ass to court. Make sure you have written records of your contacts with the agent and the insurance company’s responses.
Is it practical for you to file in South Carolina and show up for the court date when it comes up?
Would a phone call have killed him? It turns out there was a discrepancy between what the company sent him and what his records stated. But he never called us back.
