Claims FAQ

• Check the trees, shrubs, and plants around your house. If they are stripped of their foliage, there is a possibility your roof is damaged. You should also check for roof damage if patio covers, screens, or soft aluminum roof
  vents are dented.
• Check your car for dents and broken or cracked glass.
• If safe to do so…Cover any broken windows and holes in your roof so that no water can enter and damage your home’s interior.
• Your adjuster will contact you shortly. If the storm was wide spread we may have a large number of our policyholders who need assistance. We appreciate your patience.

Your Claim..

• Please take all reasonable measures to protect your property. Have your roof tarped in any area that is leaking to prevent additional water damage.
• Make only temporary repairs. Your adjuster need to look at the damage before permanent repairs can be authorized.
• Your adjuster will contact you shortly. If the storm was wide spread we may have a large number of our policyholders who need assistance. We appreciate your patience.

Your Repair Company…

• Allow only your insurance adjuster and the roofer you have selected to get up on your roof. Each time someone walks on it, more damage can occur.
• Be wary of out-of-town roofers who move into an area and set up shop following a storm. While most firms are reputable, some have collected money from homeowners and moved on to the next storm site without paying suppliers.
• Select a company with established credibility and local references.
• Be sure the roofers have workers compensation and liability insurance. If they don’t, you may be held liable if one of the workers is injured or if they damage a neighbor’s property.

As we work with you in the upcoming weeks, please feel free to ask questions and express all of your concerns. Thank you for insuring your property with Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company.

We look forward to helping you.

It will depend on a number of factors: what coverage you purchased in your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company policy, what caused the loss or damage, and what property was lost or damaged, to name a few. If you’re wondering if a particular loss or damage would be covered, contact your agent or our helpful claims staff at 1-800-236-3244.

Yes. Your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative will work with your choice of vendor or contractor.

• Talk with friends, neighbors and relatives who have hired contractors.
• Get references from any contractor you interview, and check them.
• Contact your local Better Business Bureau for information about the contractors you’re considering.
• Don’t sign a contract until you’ve reviewed it carefully and have agreed to payment terms.

Verify that the contractor has an active license in your state. In many cases, you’ll be able to check right on your state’s website.

By choosing your own contractor, you manage their work and ensure that the repairs meet your standards. If Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company sends a vendor to your property to do specific work (for example, emergency services after a house flood or fire), we assure you that their work is done to appropriate standards.

Yes. Reporting losses to the appropriate authorities is required by your policy.

Your deductible will be subtracted from the amount of your loss before we deliver your settlement payment. You will likely pay the amount of your deductible directly to your contractor once repairs are completed.

If you purchased dwelling coverage as part of your policy, the damage would be covered. To confirm this coverage, talk to your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company agent or your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative.

Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company policies do not cover flood damage. If you also purchased flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program, the damages may be covered. Please speak with your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company agent to obtain more details.

Your safety is priority number one! If you purchased additional living expenses coverage as part of your policy, and a covered loss makes your home uninhabitable, your policy will cover a reasonable increase in living costs to maintain your normal standard of living. Some restrictions and limitations apply, so please consult your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative.

No. File your claim as soon as possible after your loss. Then, if you come across additional information that would help your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative with the claim, provide it to him or her at that point. We can even reopen a claim after it’s closed if you obtain information that might result in an additional payment to you.

To prove that you owned property you are claiming as stolen, you may provide purchase receipts, owner’s manuals or product packaging, appraisals, or photographs of the items in your home.

You and your neighbor should both file a claim with your own insurers. We will investigate your claim and determine who might be responsible.

If you’ve suffered a major loss, you may be contacted by a public adjuster. These are independent claims adjusters who will charge you a fee for their services based on the total value of your claim. That fee is not a covered expense; you cannot seek reimbursement for that cost from Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company. We’re confident that your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative will investigate, evaluate and settle your claim fairly and efficiently, so that you do not need to hire a public adjuster, but the final decision is yours to make.

If you can, start preparing a room-by-room inventory of damages and lost property. If you have the information, or remember it, include manufacturers’ names, model numbers, and purchase dates.

We know you’re eager to start putting your home back together, but it’s best to wait until we’ve conducted our first on-site inspection. The only thing you should do is protect your property from further damage, by covering broken windows, or gaps in the roof or exterior walls. That way, we can identify all the damages that may be covered by your policy, ensuring that you receive everything you’re entitled to.

Feel free to contact your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative when you need a status update, and let that person know how often, or at which points in the process, you’d like to be updated. We’ll be in touch at other times, too – whenever there’s something we need to discuss.

Because estimating involves judgment, there can be differences of opinion about what work needs to be done and how much that work should cost. If you are concerned about the estimate we’ve provided, contact your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative to discuss the issue. We may be able to resolve any differences by phone; if not, we’ll meet with you to review your concerns and determine how to proceed.

Contact your Sugar Creek Mutual Insurance Company claims representative and report the additional damage; we’ll re-inspect and determine whether the damage is covered by your policy.

If you purchased personal property coverage in your policy and your loss involves personal property, we’ll need a detailed list and description of all damaged, lost or stolen personal property. Your claims representative will help you catalog all items, and will then evaluate that information to determine what is covered and to establish its value.

When you have a mortgage on your home, settlement checks typically are made payable to both you and your mortgagee, as required by the mortgagee. You’ll need to contact your mortgage company to find out how to obtain their endorsement on the check.