Just great......

ChicagoBlue2

ChicagoBlue2

Veteran Traveler
Premium Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2013
Messages
12,688
Reaction score
1
Well, Christmas is over, and it's soon gonna be THAT time of year again, when the bills start to arrive.

Now, I know I have phone, cable, rent, and medical bills to pay, and my cheapest bill is my medical bill, because my medicine is 10 years old, and the prices on them are very low.

My most expensive bill is the cable bill, and I need to check back with Comcast to see where I stand now; I'll probably need to pay it on-line instead of sending in a check, so I'll do that.

The weather for running my errands next week is going to be VERY COLD, as the high is supposed to be in the single digits, and I'll need to bundle up before heading out that door.
 
This is no special bill time for us. We don't charge any Christmas gifts, so no credit bills. It's just the regular monthly expenses like mortgage, cable, electric, water, and phone. No surprises there.

The only change for us was an increase in the house insurance premium. Our insurance has been increased by $2,400/yr for flood insurance. :(
 
Easy really. Don't allow yourself to get caught in the rat race. If you must buy something wait for the deals-
don't get caught in the maze
 
Reba said:
The only change for us was an increase in the house insurance premium. Our insurance has been increased by $2,400/yr for flood insurance. :(
Click to expand...

Ouch! $200/month increase? Did you decide you wanted/needed flood coverage, or is it something the insurance company has started to require?

Is that a typical price? Are you able to shop around and see if there's anything more competitive available?

I'm sure you've done all possible research. I'm just reeling a little. Ouch again and sorry to hear it.
 
Reba said:
This is no special bill time for us. We don't charge any Christmas gifts, so no credit bills. It's just the regular monthly expenses like mortgage, cable, electric, water, and phone. No surprises there.

The only change for us was an increase in the house insurance premium. Our insurance has been increased by $2,400/yr for flood insurance. :(
Click to expand...

That's some expensive flood insurance. I'd go broke paying for that. I hope you're able to find something more suitable for you.
 
amylynne said:
Ouch! $200/month increase? Did you decide you wanted/needed flood coverage, or is it something the insurance company has started to require?

Is that a typical price? Are you able to shop around and see if there's anything more competitive available?

I'm sure you've done all possible research. I'm just reeling a little. Ouch again and sorry to hear it.
Click to expand...
We didn't choose it; it was forced on us. After living in this house since 1990, FEMA has redrawn flood plain lines and decided our neighborhood is included. A little corner of our lot is included, so our entire property is deemed at risk. We've never had anything close to a flood in our area, even during the worst storm here, Hurricane Hugo.

We even hired a survey/elevation team to reassess our property but it didn't help.

The real reason this happened is because FEMA wants to cover its expenses from Sandy and other national flooding disasters by charging a larger base of homeowners in less risky areas.

This is the cheapest we could find. Apparently the cost is regulated by FEMA, so it's not flexible. It also includes a very high deductible. Believe me, Hubby researched, called around for quotes, put in disputes against it, etc. We didn't go down fighting!
 
markengland29 said:
That's some expensive flood insurance. I'd go broke paying for that. I hope you're able to find something more suitable for you.
Click to expand...
That was the best we could find.

It's hurting a lot of people. Some people can't sell their homes now because buyers don't want the extra expense. But the homeowners can't afford to keep their homes either because they can no longer afford the insurance.

This really does hurt since I'm no longer working, and Hubby was planning to retire in a few years. Now, I guess he'll have to work until his body gives up. As soon as I finish my schooling I'll be looking for work too, if my health holds up. I hate to say this but things aren't looking good for me, health wise. I'm very disappointed because I had intended to work many more years.
 
We have a Christmas budget that we stick to very closely. Knowing the money is there just for shopping helps a lot. No extra bills to shock us in January.
 
Reba said:
That was the best we could find.

It's hurting a lot of people. Some people can't sell their homes now because buyers don't want the extra expense. But the homeowners can't afford to keep their homes either because they can no longer afford the insurance.

This really does hurt since I'm no longer working, and Hubby was planning to retire in a few years. Now, I guess he'll have to work until his body gives up. As soon as I finish my schooling I'll be looking for work too, if my health holds up. I hate to say this but things aren't looking good for me, health wise. I'm very disappointed because I had intended to work many more years.
Click to expand...

That's awful. Strange that the impact of Sandy here in MD didn't increase our insurance. Probably because we aren't in a flood zone. :dunno:
 
Reba said:
That was the best we could find.

It's hurting a lot of people. Some people can't sell their homes now because buyers don't want the extra expense. But the homeowners can't afford to keep their homes either because they can no longer afford the insurance.

This really does hurt since I'm no longer working, and Hubby was planning to retire in a few years. Now, I guess he'll have to work until his body gives up. As soon as I finish my schooling I'll be looking for work too, if my health holds up. I hate to say this but things aren't looking good for me, health wise. I'm very disappointed because I had intended to work many more years.
Click to expand...

This is just plain wrong-- charging people like you nearly $2500 for a small portion of your yard? Sounds like the government is starting to become a bully in some places. Why not talk to your State Rep. and see if it can get lowered? I think FEMA needs to reevaluate their priorities.
 
I put away money one year for Christmas shopping expenses so I paid everything for cash except for $100 but I will pay that off with my next paycheck. I couldn't resist getting that one gift for my husband which was how I went $100 over budget.

Not bad considering how I used credit cards to do my Christmas shopping. I have only used cash in the last 2 years. A big improvement. In Jan, I will start putting away money for next year's Christmas.

Yep, I am still working on paying off the credit card debt I incurred from the past..getting better.
 
shel90 said:
That's awful. Strange that the impact of Sandy here in MD didn't increase our insurance. Probably because we aren't in a flood zone. :dunno:
Click to expand...
We weren't in a flood zone either until a few months ago. Nothing physical changed with our location or property. Apparently, FEMA is redrawing the lines for flood zones to include more low risk areas. Some insurance companies don't automatically make the change, or they wait until the new year, a house sale, changes in policies, or refinancing mortgages take affect.
 
markengland29 said:
This is just plain wrong-- charging people like you nearly $2500 for a small portion of your yard? Sounds like the government is starting to become a bully in some places. Why not talk to your State Rep. and see if it can get lowered? I think FEMA needs to reevaluate their priorities.
Click to expand...
If one little corner of property touches the flood zone, the whole property is considered in flood risk. They've been trying to do a class action against this but fighting the Feds isn't easy. We've been told they're "working on it" but I don't hold high hopes for it.
 
Reba said:
If one little corner of property touches the flood zone, the whole property is considered in flood risk. They've been trying to do a class action against this but fighting the Feds isn't easy. We've been told they're "working on it" but I don't hold high hopes for it.
Click to expand...

It's still wrong. They should've done a better job of evaluating the flood history of the property, and charge accordingly. You say your prioperty is at low risk of flooding; they should've charged you as such, not charging you $2500 for one tiny piece of property.

Class-action against the Feds ISN'T easy, you are right about that-- they almost always get what they want, and in any way possible. I have a feeling that those near the Des Plaines River are gonna be feeling a similar pinch next year.
 
Not that it is any consolation, Reba, but it seems all insurance policies worldwide are hiking up. They will give any reason at all to justify it. When it hurts the average person, something's not right.
 
This is why people get really good insurance, burn the place and walk away with nothing then start all over in a small shack somewhere else.
 
An example is Doe Run Smelter ( Lead Smelting ) is close to here, the land around it (schools, homes, parks ) were all contaminated. People didnt want, people couldnt sell, people didnt want to buy... SO, they fought, Doe Run decided to buy the properties and do clean ups.... Funny thing is, they bought everything that showed contamination, in some areas they bought everything to one side of the street and everyone on the other side of the streets had to keep their places because there was no sign of contaminations and all tests came back negative for their properties... Now you have a big plot of nothing ringed buy a few houses that were excluded, they cant sell and no one wants... few started just packing and leaving the loss, others did things to collect insurance but its a dangerous game since insurance companies know whats going through their minds already to try and recover.
 
sonocativo said:
This is why people get really good insurance, burn the place and walk away with nothing then start all over in a small shack somewhere else.
Click to expand...
No thanks. I enjoy my indoor plumbing. ;)
 
Reba said:
We didn't choose it; it was forced on us. After living in this house since 1990, FEMA has redrawn flood plain lines and decided our neighborhood is included. A little corner of our lot is included, so our entire property is deemed at risk. We've never had anything close to a flood in our area, even during the worst storm here, Hurricane Hugo.

We even hired a survey/elevation team to reassess our property but it didn't help.

The real reason this happened is because FEMA wants to cover its expenses from Sandy and other national flooding disasters by charging a larger base of homeowners in less risky areas.

This is the cheapest we could find. Apparently the cost is regulated by FEMA, so it's not flexible. It also includes a very high deductible. Believe me, Hubby researched, called around for quotes, put in disputes against it, etc. We didn't go down fighting!
Click to expand...

Wow Reba, I'm so sorry to hear about this. And even more about things not looking good healthwise:(
 
Back
Top