2 -2/3 cords too much for insurance? more Cdn BS

[DougA]

Just got a call from my insurance since I had submitted the 4 page questionnaire on our new stove. We must use wood heat for aux. heat only, so I had listed 2 2/3 cords of wood I burn per year.

The agent just told me that maybe I should lower that as it might be too much!! Has anyone else gone through this and what did you say? I thought 2 2/3 would have been a fairly low number and was concerned they might think I was not telling the truth.

 

[Osagebndr]

Not sure how bad Canadian winters are but that sounds like 50% wood use or close to me

 

[northwinds]

I would be honest and let the chips fly where they may. The last thing you want is to provide a "gotcha" in the event of a loss.

 

[begreen]

I'd listen to the agent.

 

[jatoxico]

Say face cord or Rick and confuse everything.

 

[drz1050]

How would they prove how much wood you've burned in the event of a claim? Sounds pretty impossible.

Listen to the agent, just say you burn 2ish.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Just renewed my insurance with a broker. Saved me $1600 a year on my house and car. I have two wood burners installed by w.e.t.t. Certified contractors with subsequent reports in the last year and have them do cleaning and inspection yearly and provide me with certifications. I provided them with this and agent told me to put 1.5 cords on questionaire. Ok no prob I guess lol. I think all insurers treat it a little different. Some wont even cover you with solid fuel appliances. That being said if you can provide them with current wett certs it helps for sure because I've found usually they will want that.

 

[northwinds]

I'm not shocked that agents tell insureds to lie in order to sell insurance. And maybe this never becomes an issue on a loss due to the difficulty of proving the misrepresentation. It's still depressing to me.

 

[Poindexter]

Yup, I would listen to the agent. It isn't a lie of commission to say "I will burn 1.0 to 1.5 cords next winter." If you are planning to burn 4 it is a lie of omission to not mention the other 2.5 cords you are also going to burn...

 

[danimal1968]

Yup, I would listen to the agent. It isn't a lie of commission to say "I will burn 1.0 to 1.5 cords next winter." If you are planning to burn 4 it is a lie of omission to not mention the other 2.5 cords you are also going to burn...

It's still a lie and would be viewed accordingly by the courts.

The agent's in a good position because he can tell the customer to lie and then deny it when the customer has a claim later on. I'd want him saying that in writing.

 

[branchburner]

I'm not shocked that agents tell insureds to lie in order to sell insurance.

It is not to sell insurance per se... it is to help clients lower the cost of the insurance, or even to get insured at all. (And if the policy was a lot more expensive, as it would be by telling the truth, wouldn't the agent potentially get a larger commission?)

I think it's pretty standard: if wood is listed as your primary heat source, rather than secondary, you pay more with some companies or get refused altogether by others. But the question remains: if you file a claim, is there a chance you will be denied because it can be factually proven that wood indeed WAS your primary heat source?

 

[drz1050]

Again, the burden of proof to deny a claim is on the insurance company, not you. Good luck proving you burned more than a cord, or however much you say.

That woodpile that disappeared? You sold it. Gave a bunch of it to a friend too.

I'm an honest man... but when dealing with an insurance company? I'll play their game. Ins companies aren't exactly known for their ethical business practices.

 

[Charles1981]

Do as your agent instructs.

I have electric baseboard heat. It technically is the primary permanent heating source for my house. We just never use it... They are set to 55.

Our stove is the supplemental heat source. Don't really consider it a lie. The primary heat source just doesn't have to turn on very often because the wood stove is so efficient.

 

[jb6l6gc]

I don't offer them any more information than they ask for and am very straight forward and matter of fact with my answers. Kinda like border guards or airport security long winded answers land you in a world of hurt. And yes I second the previous post insurance
Companies have about as much ethics as lawyers !

 

[jb6l6gc]

Pfft. Canadian bs is right broker just called me says they wanna charge me more now than I was paying with previous company because fire hall is over 8km away. It's 8.3km give me a break. Now no savings had to go back to old company and reinstate policy. Snake oil salesman I tell ya!

 

[rideau]

This is pretty amazing really. In Canada, with so much wood available, such safe chimneys available, such safe stoves available. The gov't has a great publication about heating your home with wood; they certainly have no concern about the safety. Maybe time to get in touch with your MP and get this addressed on a Federal level. The insurance companies should not be able to not insure a safe wood stove install.

Though, I have to admit that I can see where they cannot be certain that their customers will burn properly dried wood. So, much as I would hate it, I could understand a requirement that a chimney be swept every x # of cords burned, as opposed to annually or as required.

 

[Grimlock13]

There is now way possible your insurance company is going to know how much wood your burn a year. I would say it's recreational purposes and you burn half a cord at the most. All it will do is save you money in the long run. The more you say you use it, the higher risk you pose , the more you will pay. This is a case were honesty is not your best bet.

When the car insurance companies ask how many miles a year your drive , everyone fibs to get a lower rate. There are no negative consequences involved at all.

 

[DougA]

Wow, didn't expect that many replies. In the end, I feel better telling the truth (sort of) than a complete lie. We'll see what happens when it goes to the company.

What bothers me is that there are no questions that are the biggest problems with people burning wood. Such as:

A. What kind of wood do you burn (only important as it pertains to B).
B. How many months has your wood been cut, split and stacked.
C. How many years have you been using a wood stove.

To me, those would be more critical than how much wood do you burn.

 

[Offset]

Well I just went through the same experience. The one thing you must avoid at all cost is being cancelled by your insurance company without having another plan in place. Once this happens you will find it nearly impossible to get insurance on your home. The deck is literally stacked against you. Have an honest discussion with your broker, they are supposed to be on your side.

I recently changed insurance companies and with the help of my broker was able to get a much better rate. I was honest in terms of firewood used however we were required to get a WETT certificate. We passed that without issue.

The Government has allowed this to happen because outside of urban areas they simply do not care. Good luck complaining to your MPP to care about your lot in life with insurance. You need to be proactive with your broker and hope he/she is professional and knowledgeable.

Best of luck let us know how this all works out.

 

[northwinds]

Well I just went through the same experience. The one thing you must avoid at all cost is being cancelled by your insurance company without having another plan in place. Once this happens you will find it nearly impossible to get insurance on your home. The deck is literally stacked against you. Have an honest discussion with your broker, they are supposed to be on your side.

I recently changed insurance companies and with the help of my broker was able to get a much better rate. I was honest in terms of firewood used however we were required to get a WETT certificate. We passed that without issue.

The Government has allowed this to happen because outside of urban areas they simply do not care. Good luck complaining to your MPP about your lot in life with insurance. You need to be proactive with your broker and hope he/she is professional and knowledgeable.

Best of luck let us know how this all works out.

Some good advice. Your agent should be able to find out what number is the cut-off for being denied. If you are higher than that for an average winter, send your agent looking for another insurance company that will want to take money from an honest, clean-burning applicant. If your agent doesn't know what the cut-off is, he should be able to contact the company with a hypothetical to get the answer and without getting you cancelled.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Ya lol hear ya. Problem in Canada is we sulk and take it... To polite. It happens with gas prices, hydro rates... Never stops

 

[countybrown]

I want to know what's up with your company. I have NEVER had my company/agent ask for anything other than the info on brand of stove and the installer.

Agent came out, took pictures and measurements, filled out a form or two and left. I've never heard from them again about the stove. They charge me my $40 yearly rider and leave me alone.

 

[blueguy]

Just got a call from my insurance since I had submitted the 4 page questionnaire on our new stove. We must use wood heat for aux. heat only, so I had listed 2 2/3 cords of wood I burn per year.

The agent just told me that maybe I should lower that as it might be too much!! Has anyone else gone through this and what did you say? I thought 2 2/3 would have been a fairly low number and was concerned they might think I was not telling the truth.

What insurance company is this? Out here in NB, the majority of rural houses have wood stoves as their heat source. When we had our original stove installed, all the insurance company wanted to know if it was professionally installed by a WETT certified person and where in the house it was installed.

 

[brad wilton]

i told mine i have stove adjusted rate asked no questions at all gotta luv quebec

 

[jeffesonm]

Sounds to me like you might be overestimating your wood use.