VAN ALLEN INSURANCE

Description of Work: Van Allen insurance handles both my homeowner's and auto insurance and their lack of professionalism, rudeness and absence of integrity puts them in the category of DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM. Because of two tragic deaths, both my children, my daughter age 45 and my son age 43 died two months apart in 2009. My five grandchildren lost their mother and favorite uncle were traumatized, in shock and grieving. They needed me and I needed them. I decided to stay with them in Staten Island. Van Allen insurance was notified of my address in Staten Island and the telephone number there. I spoke to several of their agents, received mail at that address and conducted business with them over the telephone. Mail was being forwarded from FL but I did not receive the cancellation notice for my homeowners insurance payment . Van Allen informed me they telephoned my FL number which was on a hold status, did not call the Staten Island number, did not mail a cancellation notice to me nor because of the extenuating circumstances, make the payment and then bill me. Instead Van Allen let the homeowner's insurance lapse and notified my bank that the insurance was cancelled due to non-payment. Besides letting the insurance lapse, this insurance company set off a series of problems with my mortgage holder that has not been resolved a year later and cost me over $800 in fees and service charges. To get another company to insure my house turned into a three ring circus - faxed documents were never received by the agency, faxed documents could not be read, the new policy would cost me $350 more, the underwriter's lost the check and paperwork I mailed to Van Allen according to the Van Allen Agent. I telephoned the underwriter's myself and ascertained they had the check and paperwork. Why would Van Allen Insurance deliberately create problems that could have been avoided if they just did their job correctly? It does not end there, Van Allen found it necessary to further exacerbate my bank problems by notifying them the house was vacant. Since when does a homeowner in FL have to reside in the home 365 days a year? Why would people buy vacation homes to escape cold weather but go back up north during the hot summer here? There known as snowbirds. There's more, I received a letter from the auto insurer indicating they were dropping my coverage because my car was not garaged in FL. Van Allen had no tolerance for a grieving mother and the need for me to comfort my grandchildren. THEY DID NOT CARE. If I did not have the insured car garaged in FL, too bad. I drove 1200 miles from New York, went to the Van Allen office where I was told by the owner, "how do I know you are in FL?" My car was parked in their driveway, I was standing in front of her and she insisted I provide two month's electric bills to substantiate my presence. Once again, I telephoned the auto insurer myself explained my situation, they said they would not cancel the policy. Two days ago received a letter from the homeowner's underwriter saying they would cancel my insurance because my house was vacant and there was considerable risk. I telephoned the underwriter to find out how and why they had this information. This action was based on a letter dated February 2010 from the mortgage holder because of information supplied by Van Allen. The underwriter needs a notarized letter from me to prove I am in FL, two months of electric bills and then they will let me keep their policy. This problem was resolved in March, they issued a new policy and took my payment. What gives? If you are looking for quality service, responsible agents and most of all, a business run with honesty and integrity, DO NOT GO TO VAN ALLEN INSURANCE.