That’s so frustrating. I’ve actually wondered if it just depends on which adjuster you get or maybe even the mood they’re in that day. I had to do a whole spreadsheet for my last claim, and I still felt like they were looking for reasons not to pay out. Meanwhile, my cousin down the street got his check before he even finished cleaning up the yard debris.
Do you find it makes any difference if you call versus submit everything online? I always feel like talking to someone helps, but then again, it’s more time on hold. I totally agree about keeping every single receipt and photo, even if it feels like overkill. There’s always that little fear they’ll ask for something weird—like your shingle sample story—so I just stash it all in a folder.
Honestly, it gets exhausting, but I figure being a bit over-prepared can’t hurt. Have you ever pushed back when they asked for extra stuff, or is it just easier to give them what they want? Sometimes I wonder if standing my ground would help, or just make things worse.
I get what you’re saying about being over-prepared, but honestly, sometimes I think it can backfire a bit. Last year after that hailstorm, I tried to push back when the adjuster wanted extra photos—figured I’d already sent more than enough. It just dragged things out longer. In my experience, even if it feels like they’re asking for too much, giving them what they want (within reason) usually speeds things up. Calling in does seem to help sometimes, though... I’ve had better luck getting clear answers on the phone than waiting for emails to go through.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite happen a couple of times. If I just kept sending every extra thing they asked for, it sometimes opened up more questions—almost like they were looking for inconsistencies or reasons to delay. There’s a fine line between being cooperative and just giving them endless ammo to nitpick. I’ve found it helps to stay organized and only provide what’s directly relevant, with clear file names and dates. Phone calls do seem to cut through some of the back-and-forth, though... email chains can get ridiculous after a while.
Totally get what you mean about the “endless ammo” thing. I once sent over a stack of receipts and photos for a hail claim, thinking I was being super helpful, and it just turned into a game of 20 Questions. At this point, I label everything like it’s an exhibit in a court case—date, damage, even the weather that day. And yeah, sometimes just picking up the phone saves hours of email ping-pong. Insurance folks must have a secret contest for longest thread...
Yeah, the “endless ammo” thing is real. I’ve seen people send in every scrap of proof they can dig up, and somehow it still turns into a scavenger hunt for more details. I get why adjusters want to check every box, but sometimes it feels like they’re just dragging things out. Over-documenting is better than missing something, though—I’ve seen claims get denied over the tiniest missing detail, like not labeling a photo clearly enough.
That said, I’m with you on just calling. I’ve had cases where a five-minute phone call cut through weeks of back-and-forth. One tip: keep a running log of what you sent and when, because sometimes they “lose” attachments or say they never got them. Not saying it’s intentional, but it happens more than you’d think.
Funny thing, I’ve noticed the more organized someone is up front, the less hassle there is later. But yeah, there’s always another form or question waiting... it’s almost like they want you to give up.