Better Business Bureau scam ripoff unprofessional bias lies backtracks false statements sucks complaints reviews unethecal West Palm Beach Florida

Everyone im sure, is familiar with the current popular beliefe that the BBB Better Business Bureau is a ripoff. As well, im sure majority have seen recent national news videos of reports of unethical practices by the BBB and how they are bias to the "paid" company members with regards to giving their paid business members the red carpet and sheltering them from complaints, so long as they continue to be a paid member with the BBB.

 Well here is my story and further proof of their unethical tactics.

 My complaint is regarding a recent renters insurance claim denial by my recent insurance carrier through Geico with the underwriters being American Bankers Insurance of Florida / Assurant. That is another company I have filed a report about on this same site which im sure if you search, you will find my complaint regarding that company. In esscence, this is a two part complaint but in this report, ill focus more on the BBB complaint.

 Brief summary:

March 2, 2013 we were victims of a burglary to our home while I was in the hospital. Late that night, burglar(s) came in via our attic from the vacant apartment and ripped us off over $17,000 worth of belongings. The police were called out, did a report etc etc.

The following day, we filed a claim with our insurance carrier American Bankers Insurance. After a couple of months, our insurance carrier denied the claim for the reason they claim, we failed to disclose in the application for renters insurance we had a previous insurance claim filed several years ago and they considered this concealing information.

The issue with that is this: When we took out renters insurance policy, we did so via Geico's website application and did in fact list a previous claim, date and amount of the claim. Geico passes the application/information to the underwriters, American Bankers Insurance.

When we disputed the claim of concealing that information on the application, I requested a true electronic copy of the application submitted and taken out via Geico website. As an ITT guy, i KNOW they have a backup system that keeps logs of all electronic application and forms. However, they did send me a pdf file of a "American Bankers Insurance of Florida / Assurant" application with our information. They claimed this was the exact same form the electronic application generates, and that it "mirrors" the information provided to Geico.

This was not true: examples: Geico application asks if you had any claims in the past 7 years, American Bankers applications asks if you had any claims in the past 3 years.. 2.It has the names of the insureds and lists only one, myself, where as the policy is in two peoples name. Additionally, at the bottom of the American Bankers application, it has a box field for the electronic signature and date of application, it had the date of application as being the date that PDF was sent to me and not the date it was supposedly electronically signed.

Their were SEVERAL other inconsistencies in the two applications. The American Bankers Application had about 15 questions and I recal the Geico application have so much more, and different questions at that.

Not to mention another important fact: On geico website, when filling out an application, they have several underwriters they go through, and depending on the information you provide, it will default you to the appropriate underwriter. "if we did NOT in fact, state we had any claims and entered, -0- claims" It would have given us a Travelers Insurance policy. [ I toyed around several days making dummy applications trying to duplicate the original application ]. and if you enter 1 or more claims, it of course puts you with American Bankers Insurance of Florida/ Assurant. So again, we DID in fact enter we had a previous claim.

 THEIR IS A LOT more information regarding the complaint with American Bankers / Assurant , including the illegal phone recording they did of me on the phone but again, thats filed in another complaint on this site.

 BBB BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU COMPLAINT

At the time of the denial, I filed a complaint with the BBB of West Palm Beach, the BBB over this division for the insurance carrier.

I submitted all evidence, documentation etc etc. Not sure if everyone is familiar with the BBB complaint process but here is the run down: you file a complaint, it is logged, forwarded to the company for their response. They respond, you respond, back and forth, repeat!!!!

Each time the company responds, you can log into the complaint and see the actual document(s) they have supplied BBB regarding their response in pdf or word form.

We , both parties, went back and forth for over a month now. A week ago, I logged into the complaint to see if their were any other updates provided by the company to the BBB. BOY DID I GET A SHOCK!

I seen and opened a pdf file that was out of the norm. It was not a typical business reply/letter, rather, it seemed to be an email thread between the BBB representative over the complaint and the Representative with American Bankers INsurance company of Florida. It consisted of emails between the two parties. And from the tones and communications, it would lead one to believe the two were great friends. They had a date they kept referencing about meeting each other in person and how they looked forward to meeting in person and talking with other employees of the company.

At first, I was thinking, "isnt it great to know, the bbb who is supposedly impartial, handling my complaint, is meeting with these folks for possibly lunch or whatever, you think I could get the BBB rep to come meet with me in person for lunch? - I think not".

I continued to read down the email thread of the pdf file and seen mention of my complaint:

This first paragraph was from Stephanie, the BBB rep to Nicole, the rep with AMerican Bankers Insurance. Take note at one statement within the paragraph "if these items cannot be supplied,we would have to deem this complaint as unresolved". ( keep that in the back of your mind please, ill explain further down ).

Hello Nicole,
I just left you a voice mail message. I have conferred with Bob on this particular case and he
advised it is a valid complaint and that the consumer is entitled to a copy of the recording as well
as the contract that he signed. If these items can not be supplied, we would have to deem this
complaint as Unresolved. If you need additional assistance or need to speak with me regarding
this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to meeting you May 8th as well.
Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.
Stephanie R.
Accreditation Service Specialist

Below is another email sent by American Bankers Insurance of Florida / Assurant. I have underlined and highlighted a defamation and slanderous statement from the insured.

Stephanie
Thank you for looking over the Bobby Boyer case. Please let me know how you would advise we
proceed. Mr Boyer has a long history, and we are only able to go so far to make him happy in a
case of insurance fraud.
I would love the opportunity to meet in person and would also like to pick Mike's and Bob's brain
on a couple of items. I'm hoping we can find a time in the next couple of weeks for me to visit
your offices.
Mike / Bob / Stephanie - Do you have any times available for a late morning meeting the week of
May 6 - 10 ? Please let me know how your schedules look.
Thank you !
Nicole VanderMey
Director | Federal & State Regulatory Administration

 Now, not only did the insurance company act in bad faith in denying my claim, 1. They have not proven any wilful attempt to conceal information on the application. Wilful being the operative word which must be proven but now, they are slandering me in straight out accusing me of fraud and saying I have a "Long History".

 Needless to say this had me burning with rage. I immediately emailed the representatives with BBB and American Bankers Insurance company of Florida / Assurant my disgust and my frustration.

American Bankers / Assurant NOT ONCE has replied to any of my complaints regarding this. I emailed probably every head person with this insurance company regarding this statement and no one felt the need to email , in the least, an apology or clarification. This is not surprising, American Bankers Insurance of Florida / Assurant had been this way throughout the entire claim process. never once emailing any sympathy, explanation or the likes.

 The representative from BBB did email me back stating that the pdf was uploaded in error and realy has no bearing on the complaint which is why they deleted that record from the filed complaint history ( yea right, was to cover their A's )..Had no bearing on the complaint? my name was referenced, my case was referenced, I was slandered and accused of "Fraud" and the subject of the conversation via emails? and it has no bearing to the complaint?? give me a break!.

 I did inform the BBB that I would hold them, as well as American Bankers Insurance of Florida / Assurant, both libel for the slander, transmittal, as well as defamation.

The BBB rep stated that they were going to consider the case "unresolved" if the company did not produce the requested information I orginally asked for.

After the expiration date sent to the Business for a follow up which was May 13, 2013, I logged in to see if it had been closed in my favor as it should have been. And it was not closed.

I emailed the BBB rep stating the company has not responded during the timeframe given and as promised, it should be closed as "unresolved" by the company. After a few hours, I logged back on to the BBB case claim and seen in bold red print a statement at the bottom that the current status of the claim has been put on hold. ( whatever that meant)..

I received an email from BBB informing me: "Our initial effort to reach a voluntary settlement on the above-mentioned complaint has not been successful. Arbitration is the last option BBB can offer to resolve a dispute."

I responded:

Thanks for the email. After researching arbitration via BBB upon reading reviews on various websites regarding public opinion, Im currently choosing not to go the route of arbitration which is conducted by BBB with respect to a paid member, that being American Bankers / Assurant.

As such, please, I wish you to please notate the complaint on record as unresolved. As in the Insurance policy stipulations, it states the insured must go the route of filing for arbitration with AAA arbitration which I will be commencing via the rules within the policy.

Thanks for trying to resolve this. It is unfortunate this insurance company, refuses to do the right thing, however, not surprising reading their reviews and ranking as a bad faith insurer.

Regards,
Bobby

BBB replied:

Subject: Re: BBB Complaint Case#90197959(Ref#106-92018475-90197959-23-31220)