Complaint Review: Southern Fidelity Property & Casualty

Based on strong sales techniques & advice from an agent at Alliance & Associates Financial Services, Inc. who under writes for SFI, I signed a new home owners inurance policy with SFI in good faith and trust. I wasn't unhappy with my former insurance agent or insurance company, but due to substantial rate increases over the past two years, I decided to shop around. 

The agent at A & A ensured me that SFI writes home owner insurance policies on homes with roofs 25 years and under without requiring an inspection. Granted, my roof is the original roof (23 years old), but we have no leaks, holes, or wind mitigation issues. SFI took my escrow payment for the new policy 30 days in advance of the policy being in effect.

Six days after the policy was in effect, SFI cancels my policy. I contact SFI and all they would tell me is that it was due to the age/condition of the roof, but wouldn't provide me any further details. I informed them of what the agent had told me that they were known for writing policies w/o requiring an inspection etc. The customer Service Rep stated they have 90 days to inspect the property & to cancel a policy. I advised this was not disclosed to me by the agent or by them. I stated I had been asking for a copy pf the policy for a month via my agent and they told me SFI would be sending it via mail, which never happened. The C/S rep ignored these issues and changed the subject. 

I asked the C/S rep why didn't anyone come out w/in 30-days before my old policy was to be canceled as this would have saved a lot of nightmares and stress. The C/S rep was rude stating that's just how it goes etc. I asked why I didn't recieve the courtesy of a 30-day cancellation notice and she tried to blame it on the agent at A & A.  The rep didn't even give me the option of trying to get a new roof, or at least more time to find another insurance co. The rep said she would look into this but never called me back. 

A couple of weeks later I called SFI and asked when they would br refunding my money to my escrow account with my mortgage co. I was informed it would be within 5-7 business days after my policy was cancelled. I pointed out that this didn't seem right as they couldn't legally keep my money other than the pro-rated 30 days of coverage that was owed to them. The rep was rude and stated if I wanted my money refunded now, I would have to cancel my policy today.  I told her that this was insane as if I did that I would't have any insurance coverage. She told me this was the policy and asked if I wanted to cancel my policy today. I told her no. 

Since being cancelled by SFI, I'm non-insurable w/o putting a new roof on my home. My mother who is 88.5 & I are co-owners of the home. My mother is facing some serious health issues  and we are unable to financially unable to get a new roof. This added stress could have been avoided if SFI would have ethically did their job and inspected our home in a timely manner, provided us w ith a copy of the policy etc., we wouldn't be in this position.