I have been with Erie for over 30 years. In that time, I had two small auto claims with no issue. Recently, I filed a claim under my homeowners for personal property loss from damage due to lightning. My agent was quick to put us in touch with claims department and the inside property adjuster. We were instructed to complete electrical inspections and begin the work of repairing or replacing damaged property. I specifically asked if there was a list of professionals we had to use or should we go ahead and use our regular vendors. We were told to go ahead and use whomever we wished and that we would have to submit a signed affidavit from a certified inspector along with all of our labor and purchase receipts. We were then told that under our policy, all would be covered. So off we went with the work of inspections, repair, and replacement work. We submitted all required paperwork and waited.
The adjuster then calls and tells me that since there "was so much property loss", she would issue a check for a few items, pay the inspectors, and labor charges, but the rest of the replaced property would have to go to a "vendor" for a price review. I explained that our replacement costs were just about the same as the cost we initially spent on our property (the property lost was less than 4 years old). The adjuster then asked if I could supply my original purchase receipts to "assist in evaluating the worth". I thought this was odd, but since I had my original purchase receipts, had the signed affidavit, and knew our replacement costs were nearly identical, I supplied them. Then, the "vendor" report came back. What a joke. They did not, in fact pay the replacement costs, but reimbursed based on a depreciation value determined by some unknown source for each item listed on the inventory sheet.
When we called and tried to work out a solution (I was out well over $5,000, including my deductible). I was told that we were "very clearly informed" about replacement value. I cannot stress enough how untrue this explanation was. Depreciation was never a part of the conversation. "Go ahead, do your repairs and replacements and submit your receipts." That was the direction.
I spoke to a manager, who actually told me I was "obnoxious and unreasonable" and that I better be "happy with the settlement because that is all you're getting". I reported this interaction to corporate, who, although polite, offered me no recourse to dispute the decision. When I needed this company, they hung me out to dry. They misdirected, misrepresented, LIED, and then added insult to injury with the classless remarks by the claims supervisor, who conducted himself in a manner reflective of a schoolyard bully. Very disgusted and totally let down by this company.