Now Reading: Austin homeowner pays $3,000 to prune trees after insurer threat
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Austin homeowner pays $3,000 to prune trees after insurer threat
Austin homeowner pays $3,000 to prune trees after insurer threat
Tracy Gartenmann paid $3,000 to prune trees around her Austin home after Travelers Insurance threatened not to renew her policy based on aerial photographs. The company gave her two months to cut…
The Story in Brief
Tracy Gartenmann paid $3,000 to prune trees around her Austin home after Travelers Insurance threatened not to renew her policy based on aerial photographs. The company gave her two months to cut back the branches or lose coverage. She sent photos of the work and the policy was renewed days before expiry. Aerial imagery from satellites and aircraft is now widely used by Texas insurers. Records show hundreds of complaints from homeowners who say they were surprised by the monitoring, or that the images were outdated or inaccurate. Consumer groups warn the technology gives insurers a one-sided tool that homeowners cannot easily challenge.
The Indian Opinion
Insurers say aerial images help them inspect properties efficiently and deal with rising weather risks. But homeowners like Tracy Gartenmann are blindsided by threats of non-renewal based on pictures they cannot see or challenge. The real test is whether state regulators will force companies to share inspection reports before cutting coverage. Without that, the human touch in insurance disappears, and policyholders are left paying for unseen judgments.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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