One of the things I’ve been thinking about a lot recently is how my own experiences affect how I think and how I treat others. As I think of these things this year, I’m going to do blog posts.
Last night I was thinking about some of the people Chad encounters on his job. Often he’s in an area that’s been hit by a storm and Chad is working with hundreds, if not thousands of people who have left their homes and families, and they often have no idea how long they’ll be gone – days, weeks or months. Sometimes it’s contract work and there has been no devastation but more often, they go into an area that may have been devastated by a hurricane; or may have had a terrible wind storm. The residents are often dealing with damages on multiple levels – homes and belongings damaged or destroyed and I do understand their frustration. I think back to the ice storm in Louisiana in 1997 and I didn’t have power for a week in January. I remember that the Sheriff’s Department was having to accompany some of the work crews because irate citizens were giving them such a hard time because they were tired of having no power.
Some people, no matter how long it takes, are appreciative of the help that has arrived and a simple “thank you” goes a long way to a tired worker who has just spent 12 hours working in the freezing cold or stifling heat. Some people, no matter how short of a period they’ve been without power, are angry that it isn’t being restored NOW and want to blame those there to help.
I want to be the person who is thankful for all things . . not just in an emergency.
I’ve always told Chad that you can’t change people but don’t let people change you but that isn’t really true because when I see someone being grump with sales people, or wait staff at restaurants, I always think . . I don’t want to be that grumpy, hateful person and that makes me try harder to be nice people.
When times get rough, that’s when you really see what people are made of. I have many friends and much family in southwest Louisiana who were suffered unbelievable devastation by the hurricanes. Some are thankful for the help they’ve received; some are grumbling and angry that things haven’t been fixed more quickly, and that restaurants are still not open. On the other hand, there are some who have yet to get the first dime from their insurance company. They have been displaced from their homes, and even though they have coverage for the cost of living somewhere else while their home is damaged, they aren’t getting it. Some are dealing with their 8th adjuster! So, there’s a time for frustration. I will say that if you have a chance to talk to someone in southwest Louisiana about insurance companies, I would do it. There are several very popular national insurance companies that I would have cancelled if that’s who we had our insurance with. Some of those folks have been treated horribly and no one should have to deal with that kind of treatment on top of what they’re already dealing with. I will say that we use Liberty Mutual and though I’m sure there are stories to tell about every company, those with Liberty Mutual are reporting good results.
I’m not saying I take everything with a smile. There are times to stand up for yourself, or make a call to management, but hopefully never in a hateful or rude manner and I always try to take into account the circumstances and ask myself if the person on the receiving end is actually the person who is responsible and that answer is almost always NO. I will often say “I know you aren’t the person responsible but you’re the only person I’m talking to about it.” That’s my way of saying I’m not blaming you but I’m not happy – and sometimes I do say just that.
I want to be a kinder, more understanding person in 2021.
Sara Fridley says
I try to set that same goal for myself every year. It’s a good goal. Like with everything else, I’m sure those insurance companies are only as good as the people running them. We’ve had a mix of good and bad experiences with insurance, but mostly good. Our worst experience came with trying to get our roof replaced after a huge hail storm. I can’t even imagine how frustrating folks must be when still not getting satisfaction from their insurance companies after months of trying.
Dottie Newkirk says
Thanks for the inspiration – it seems that the older we get, the harder it is to have patience. I have to remind myself every day to be kind when someone or something irritates me to no end.
Nelle Coursey says
So sorry to burst your bubble, but Liberty Mutual did not want to pay us what we deserved when their client set our field on fire, burned several trees, grass the cows ate and burned up 4 antique cars. They did not even accept their adjuster’s estimate on what the land and cars were worth. One of the cars was a 1967 Nova that my dad parked by the barn. A few more feet and it would have taken our barn which had all my brother’s hay in it and two more cars. They were very rude to my brother and finally told him to take what they were offering or get nothing! The people who had the insurance were mad too. It was an accident but they should have known better than to weld when there was a burn ban on and everything was just like a tinderbox. The Forest Service had to get involved and they had to push down several big trees. Trees that can’t be replaced. So we have no love for that company. Just hope you never have to have anything big replaced or pay for a neighbor’s property. Sorry if I am a Debbie Downer, but just wanted you to know they are not always great.
Judy Laquidara says
We’ve had a couple of car claims with them and they’ve been amazing. The only home claim we had was hail damage in MO and they paid without any issues. None of those were huge claims. I had an accident when we lived in MO. A woman who had, then didn’t have, then had insurance hit me. After about three days, Liberty Mutual said “You don’t need to deal with this. We’ll pay to get your car fixed and we’ll deal with her.” When we hit the first deer in MO in my car, they didn’t give us any problems and offered a rental car because we had that coverage but I was fixing to leave to go to MO and preferred to drive my own car. The body shop was able to fix the headlight so it was safe to drive it and then we got it fixed when I got back.
The reports out of Louisiana is that they are paying claims with no hassles. My parents have Shelter and they were 100% happy with them and mom and dad had a lot of damages.