Shelter Insurance
Reviews and Complaints

I had an accident on October 16, 2023, one of shelter insurance policy holders, made a right hand turn from the left lane and hit me, the police report stated that the shelter policy holder made a improper right hand turn. The adjuster does not want to except that their policy holder is at fault, even thought the police said they are the one who made the improper turn. The adjuster and the supervisor over the adjuster is horrible, they have not paid towing bill or storage and my car is not drivable and needs to be towed to the shop to get it fixed. I would definitely not recommend shelter insurance

Hello:

I had a fire claim, and I was told one thing, and they did another. I was told that GCOP would be 10%, and then ANOTHER 10%. THEN I would also get my recoverable depreciation. This is not what happened at all, and I am out WAY more than my deductible. Also my deductible was taken out of my claim twice, and I can prove it. Please Shelter Insurance please help me resolve this as soon as possible. Thank you.

A water pipe burst in my house in the upstairs bathroom. It was Christmas day (12/25/2022) Being Christmas, I was not home when this happened. I was gone approximately 5 hours. When I got home, my downstairs had about 2-3 inches of water all over the floors. It was pouring from the ceilings. On December 26 I called Shelter Insurance and filed a claim. 3 or 4 days later the insurance adjuster came out. He said this was the 3rd house he had looked at that day but my house was the worst of the 3. He said to get estimates. I finally got an estimate (after having called several contractors) The insurance adjuster said to go with that one since I was having trouble getting estimates. I submitted that estimate, after submitting that one I did get another one, however it was for $10,000 appx. more. So I went with the lower estimate. Now the insurance adjuster has taken more off the 1st estimate, I feel like he pressured me into agreeing to his (insurance adjusters) estimate. He knocked down the 1st estimate by about $11,000. I am a single Mother and this is my first home. I had not even had it a year when all this happened. The insurance adjuster did not explain things to me as far as what to do with the first check he sent. He said it was "start up" money. So I paid to have the plumbing fixed and the furnace fixed. I am still in a hotel 8 weeks later, and the work has just started on my home and it wont be done for about 6 more weeks. The insurance adjuster is starting to get very nasty, adding things to his estimate that I feel the insurance company should pay, taking away from things, i.e. new appliances and cabinets. He never once looked into my cabinets to even tell if they were ruined or not, which inside they were. he says I could have still used them. The cabinets got alot of water damage, had he opened them he would have seen it. Same way with the furniture, He said it didnt look like it was wet, no, at the time he was there it had "surface" dried, but down in it was still wet. Now after all this time in the hotel, he is complaining about the price of the hotel and wanting the job to get done quickly yet he has been insufferable to deal with waiting 3-4 days to answer texts or calls. He is now telling me that they will only pay depreciation price for things. He is also now asking for reciept for everything because I asked him if they were going to reimburse me for my son and I having to eat out every day for the last 2 1/2 months. So now he is mad, asking for reciepts, telling me that I was supposed to use monies from the start up for certain things, but those certain things are things he has just added after all this time. This insurance adjuster is just very infuriating and causing me so much more stress ontop of what i have already been under the last 2 1/2 months.

My father passed away on 10/27/22. His agent was well aware of his passing. His auto insurance was cancelled in April of 2022 siting death as reason for cancellation along with his vehicle being sold. He also had a home policy which continued to draft out each month. Neither I nor my sibling received any written correspondence stating that action was needed on his homeowners policy. Because it was continuing to draft despite company being aware of his passing, we believed his home was fully covered. On 08/01/22, a hose to his hot water heater sprung a leak causing extensive damage to his home. When a claim was made, I was told that because he had passed away the home was not covered, and the claim was denied. I explained that the premium was still being drafted monthly, to which I was told well you may get that back, but that is all.

This is devastating to me and my family. Not only are we dealing with my fathers death, but now we are being told that the insurance policy that he has had with Shelter for well over 10 years is not going to cover the damage that occurred despite the fact that they were still taking out his monthly premium.

I believe that Shelter is negligent in their duty of correspondence and is not a company of integrity. To know that the policy holder is deceased, yet continue to draft out insurance and then turn around once a claim is made and say they wont cover the damage is just horrible. If my family had received written correspondence concerning the requirements of his policy upon his death (which they were notified of), then we would have taken the necessary measures to ensure we were covered. I will never recommend Shelter to anyone and will let everyone know how this company operates and takes care of their loyal customers.

I was in an auto collision on October 1, 2021 due to your insured failing to see a pedestrian who was waiting to cross the retail parking lot road. He drove past the stop sign and onto a speed bump. He then lost control of this truck and began to rapidly roll backward off of the speed bump and crash into my vehicle as I attempted to turn into an aisle to park.

Although your insured initially made fraudulent statements to your adjuster and the adjuster never bothered to investigate the fraud, which is contrary to C.R.S. [protected]) which states, "An allegation of a fraudulent insurance act shall not excuse an insurance company from its duty to promptly investigate a claim", he has apologized to me (several times) and has offered to pay for the damages that he caused in a hand written letter and several emails. Additionally, I received and submitted the security camera video that confirms that your insured violated a Colorado traffic ordinance by running the stop sign. His actions are the legal cause for the damages that I have suffered.

I have submitted a preponderance of evidence to the adjuster(s), but my claim has been denied several times and is apparently closed. The adjuster has made fraudulent statements to me regarding the insured's lack of liability and my most recent efforts to receive any response from the current adjuster has been ignored.

Shelter Insurance has denied my claim several times, but worst yet, the adjuster(s) have prevented the insured from privately paying for the damages that he has admitted to and offered to pay for. The abusive and discriminatory treatment that I have received from Shelter Insurance as a third party claimant is in bad faith, contrary to legally binding precedent and constitutes fraudulent insurance practices.

Shelter Insurance should act in good faith and correct the fraudulent actions of the adjuster and honor and pay based upon their insured's contract/policy, or stop preventing the insured from honoring his offer to pay for the damages that he has admitted to causing, so that I can move on with my life.

It is now almost eight months that I have been forced to deal with Shelter's abusive and discriminatory actions. If my claim and/or this complaint continues to be ignored by Shelter Insurance, I will file a complaint pursuant to C.R.S. 10-1-128 with the Colorado Division of Insurance and will be forced to seek relief for the damages in court.

After 5 months, Shelter finally made a low ball offer to settle an accident. The amount cannot even replace the vehicle that was 5 days old when hit. I want them to show how they came up with the value of my vehicle.

When I questioned them about their low ball offer, they said they can no longer speak to me because I have a lawyer. I do not. My company car that was hit has a lawyer available for consultation - which they knew all along.

Part of the delay in settling the claim was that my point person was changed, the new person went on vacation twice and referred me to someone out on leave who referred me to someone also on vacation.

They left 2 wrecked vehicles in front of my home for 2 months until I organized the accident cleanup - for which they do not want to reimburse nor treat a stress.

I have had shelter for years. Never made a claim at all. I had pipes to burst under my home and cause major damage to my foundation and hard wood flooring. Shelter refuses to pay 1 cent. Said I should have known there was a leak under my home. I contacted them as soon as I knew. I don't live in my crawl space. I'm tired of these insurance companies lying and not covering what they are being paid for.

Mar.6 2018. To April 7 filed claim car totaled talked with 3 adjusters still no settlement I'm 66 disabled live 6 miles from town I have to get a car PLEASE HELP ME Linda Roberts phone 417. 298. 9225, 2001 Nissan Altima I had ins. 10 years no accidents why won't the ins. Co. Pay me off I must have a car to get food, go to dr. Etc... I'm single, live alone, no family . Full coverage ins. 10 years, why don't the ins. Co. Have to settle my claim

Everyone just loves "insurance companies." On our way home last Sunday from Missouri, my Monte Carlo pooped out on me. My oil light came on, then my volts light. After the volts light came on - she was toast - I had no acceleration, nothing. I had to coast to the side of the road - - over the Chain of Rocks bridge and almost to the canal bridge. Thank goodness she didn't quit on the bridge. Don thought maybe a belt broke, but no. It was dark and creepy out there. Luckily we were under a light. I called Beyers Towing - Mike was there within 45 minutes to rescue us. Towed to Benny's house so he could look at it Monday. Well the news wasn't good. My Monte Carlo's engine is dead. I have towing insurance - so I called Shelter Insurance, my agent - Jamie Planitz to let her know what happened. Well my call went to another Shelter Insurance - I'm assuming the headquarters. Spoke to a guy on Monday, told him what happened. He told me to fax or email them the bill from the towing company and that a representative would call me back. I emailed on Tuesday morning, never heard back from them on Tuesday. Wednesday - no response either - so I called and spoke to another person. She told me that another person from claims would call me. Finally heard from her and she told me that I am not qualified to get reimbursed for the towing because I didn't call a special number to have them send a tow truck out. Well - whenever I spoke with Jamie Planitz about adding tow insurance - she said that all I had to do was call and send them the bill. I found out yesterday that Jamie Planitz no longer works at Shelter Insurance. How nice - - The lady that I spoke with on Wednesday said that in the past I would be able to make the call, but now, we have to call a roadside service and they send someone out. So - now I'm upset, really upset. They're telling me I won't be able to get back my $125 for towing, that I've been paying for - - I ask to speak to a manager over the claims department - well imagine this - that person is busy at the moment. I have not heard back from them yet - - We have our house with Shelter Insurance, and cars. Isn't it just convenient for them not to call back? I have paid extra for towing insurance for a while - this is just not right. If I would have been informed that my agent is no longer with them and known about this "tow call" - I sure in the heck would have called. Shelter Insurance - this is not right at all. Better Business Bureau will be informed about this.

I had shelter in 1992-94 and switched because my Shelter Agent was never in the office. In 2001 I moved and changed my insurance to Shelter in Liberal and had it for about 7 yrs. I changed to State Farm cause again I had problems with my agent never being in the office, answering the phone or returning my calls. Now I am dealing with Shelter again because of an accident and the other person involved has Shelter. Again, the agent is never in the office, won't answer the phone or return my calls.

I have been a shelter policy holder for 40 years. In that time I have paid around 50k! I have had guns (3) jewelry, radio, watch, money stolen from my vehicles in my garage, have had a couple of hail damage roofs replaced.(Only 1/2 of the roof once, since the adjuster said it only hailed on one side of the house! I have NEVER been paid a dime for the things stolen from my vehicles! 40 years and not a dime! Well speaking of dimes Shelter has received my LAST one! I am getting quotes from different companies as I am typing this letter. This treatment of a 40 year customer is not acceptable and would NOT recommend this company to anyone. The agent has never tried to help! It is even hard to get in touch with him as all he's concerned about is that premium he gets monthly. A company like this should not be in business and I wouldn't mind seeing them go under! I'm done!

hit by a vehicle that pulled out in front of my vehicle due to no fault of my own. my vehicle was totaled, and i had to go to the hospital with injuries. other party admitted fault, shelter was their insurance company. my company paid out a portion in a timely manner. shelter has yet to PAY ANYTHING toward my claim for compensation . this happened in 2012. i have to call shelter for any information on my claim status, and i HAVE NOT gotten a satisfactory answer yet. the adjuster is always nice, but never can tell me why it is taking so long for them to pay. i have submitted all documentation they requested, had my interview over the phone, submitted a request for them to get access to my medical records. to this day shelter has yet to pay anything for my claim.

I am the kind of person who seldom has complaint over anything, however, I felt like I had been ill-treated by Shelter Insurance Co. I left their Seymour Indiana office in tears!
I was so upset over their treatment and lack of regard for my problem that I took a first step and officially lodged a complaint with the Missouri Better Business Bureau in February 2010.
I didn't get very far with the complaint - but at least I did make a complaint...That feels empowering.
CASE#: 1399180
Filed on : February 16 2010
Filed against : Shelter Insurance Corp Office
1817 W Broadway
Columbia MO 65218
CONTACT: Sandy Henderson
ADDRESS: 1817 W Broadway
Columbia, MO 65218
PHONE: [protected]

SHELTER INSURANCE denied assistance to file a claim following Home damages. No adjuster came! Their promised 'packet' contained only 3Envelopes and no instructions!
Following wind damages (March 2009), (Tree down and on the sidewalk and city street - An outdoor Aerial Antenna was dangling from its Antenna Tower - when the Tower leaned it brought water lines up with it - and I had shingles off the roof, I phoned my Insurance Agent Jill Semenuk Agency, Jackson County, In [protected] (Agent# 13-D418-06) and was told they didn't handle claims at their office, I needed to call 1800SHELTER and they would assist in the filing of a claim. I phoned 1800SHELTER and was told sweetly not to worry about a thing-they would send a 'packet' out to me via US Mail. I assumed for me to fill out forms. (?) No one offered to come to my home. It was not offered by Shelter to send an adjuster.

In the meantime, I had quite a situation to handle of my own resources. I am a single disabled female. I bargained with neighbors, friends and family members to move/remove the tree branches out of the Street, and remove the antenna and tower. I had the water MAIN dug out by hand and 'temporarily' collared. I felt like I was just making temporary or sub-standard repairs. Begging for laborers was humiliating. Most people volunteered if I kept the coffee and bologna sandwiches coming.
I accepted donations of mismatched shingles from every neighbor that had leftovers in their garage to make patches.
When the packet arrived from Shelter it consisted of only three SASE envelopes back to Shelter Insurance. No Forms - No instructions. I got absolutely NO assist from Shelter - I really felt totally abandoned.

I phoned 1800SHELTER and made complaint that I felt like I wasn't getting adequate assistance and was told that they normally don't hold anyones hand in an emergency - if that's what I wanted, I was at the wrong insurance Company!

Then on September 15th I recieved a notice from from Jerimy Durcholz, Regional Underwritting Specialist [protected] West Broadway, Columbia Missouri - This notice stated that they have Field Reps that go out and survey properties, and that I had shingles that needed replaced! It also went on to say that if I did not make the repairs - they might offer alternative coverage or chose not to renew my policy!

I couldn't get anyone to come to my home when I had an emergency on my hands - or when I reported that I had home damages - but NOW they come to my home and inspect the damages I had called and reported to them I had!?
In my angst, on February 2010-I went to my local Shelter Agent, Jill Semenuk Agency to explain to her that I felt Shelter didn't treat me very well. I was told - There was never a claim. Furthermore - I would have to repair the shingles of my own resources.
My home damages occurred while I had Homeowners Insurance with their agency - Damages that I begged to get assistance for to file a claim from their agency. I have photos and phone logs of all my calls to Shelter Insurance.
If you are just looking for an inexpensive Insurance Binder to prove to your Home Mortgage Company that you have an insurance policy - by all means.
You get what you pay for - They offer no Customer Service
I tell everyone I know - if you have Shelter Insurance - you have nothing but a binder!
I did what they suggested I do on February 16th 2010 - I went with the Good Hands People...!
Thanks for listening...

Our vehicle was struck by a driver whom admitted to "not paying attention, and running a red light". A police officer witnessed the incident and the driver was honest for the police report statement. Myself, and my 2 children had to be cut out of the vehicle and hospitalized. We were almost 1000 miles from home as we were returning from a trip to Kansas City. After being released from the hospital we were put up in a hotel for 3 days courtesy of our own insurance, National Casualty, and told that Shelter would contact us there to set up our rental. They never contacted us so I contacted them. First I was told they were unaware of the accident, then I was told they would not be responsible for our rental. My insurance agent had to contact the assigned claims adjuster and insist they get us on our way home again. They then did so with much protest. It is now two full months after the accident and they have yet to even inspect the damaged vehicle. Today I received a letter from them that they will pay nothing on this claim. My insurance both health and auto as well as myself have had to pay every expense incurred from this accident which was through no fault of my own. Today I retained counsel. This company has been completely unprofessional in their handling of this claim.
I am thankful that my own insurance company has lived up to their committments and beyond!

it seems that shelter insurance co picks and chooses who to allow to remain insured with them when they are provided with false information in order to get reduced rates. it seems my husband has insured vehicles through them with his ex-wife claiming they are married when they are not. acording to their own terms, this calls for termination for false information yet for some reason they have not been dropped.

We purchased property in Tahlequah - set to close on May 20, 2011...was told by Trae Radcliffe all was fine for coverage. One day AFTER closing we were emailed that Shelter was denying coverage due to a loss I had on another insurance company (flood due to broken line on water softner). Shelter policy is to deny coverage to anyone that has had a loss other than "natural causes" within 5 years. We were left scrambling to get coverage after closing - now more than a month later, we are still waiting to be reimbursed for the premiums they were paid. First checks were mailed to an incorrect address (they had two different addresses for the property)...then we were told their policy was to wait 20 days to reissue (even though it was their fault)...finally today, I have been told by the underwriter - NOT the agent - that the replacement check would be mailed tomorrow...we shall see. The agent is very young and in my opinion, in way over his head...no customer service skills what so ever...and Shelter Insurance overall has been of no help. After reading other complaints, and our personal experience in this matter, I am truly glad they denied us!

Shelter Insurance is a ripoff company and I'm not your usual complainer. I have never complained about an insurance company but this one is terrible. I have rental houses and I asked all about their policies -- I've been in the business for 40 years -- I know what to look for. They out and out llied to me and then when I had a vandalism claim, they gave a very untrue and deceitful reason for denying my claim. NEVER HAVE I BEEN TREATED THIS WAY BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY SO BEWARE OF THEM. Attornies and other agents have looked at the denial and all say it is wrong and unfair.

i'm 56 year old have three car insur. just pay prem month later they cancel my insurance for there mistake and now they won't return my call a daybefore they keep passme around to one person to person they lie and lie know i have no insurance and they ripped me off i believe they need to be shut down by the u.s. govrment for screwing 1000s and1000s of people after too many years of problem you think til wood been shutdown by now but nope there still ripping people off with lies and rudness i think thay need to be SHUT DOWN