894 views
2 comments

I purchased a home in January of 2003 to which foundation work had already been completed prior to my home purchase. Nationwide agreed to insure the property after assessing the home and requesting the foundation repair documentation. I have been a customer for over a decade and over that time Nationwide has raised premiums without discussing the matter with me. Someone even entered my backyard without permission (trespassed) to check on the property, then sent me a list of items (remove tree, cut tree branches, replace gutter, etc.) threatening to drop my insurance if I did not comply.

The home had no further foundation issues until about 2008 when cracks started to appear and doors became difficult to open and close. Multiple water leaks were found and Nationwide covered the repair work (the only claim I have made). For the next five years, the house remained stable with no new shifting issues so various remodeling work was completed. Last year, severe cracks started appearing along with some brick and mortar problems in the front of the house.

In August 2013, a pipe burst immediately outside the exterior of the home. Through testing a water leak was found in the dining room/kitchen area, almost the same spot as previously repaired. We had a water leakage test conducted along with an engineerโ€™s report. Nationwide was contacted and repeated the water leakage test and had a different engineering company complete a report. My mother met with the Nationwide Insurance representative and the representative tape recorded everything my mother told her. My mom said it was more like an interrogation with the repetitious questioning.

The bedroom wall visibly moves, the front door and utility room door do not close making locking impossible, but the damages were stated as mostly cosmetic. What does Nationwide constitute as a structural foundation issue - when the house eventually becomes too uncomfortable and unsafe to live in? The home has structural damage which poses real safety issues, not mere cosmetic surface damage.

The Nationwide policy states Endorsement H-7074, Dwelling Foundation Endorsement: "Dwelling Foundation Coverage. We cover settling, cracking, bulging, shrinking, or expansion of foundations, floor slabs or footings that support the dwelling caused by seepage or leakage of water or steam from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire protective sprinkler system.โ€ The claim to Nationwide was denied, stating the plumbing leakage was/is minor and not related to the recent foundation disintegration. A letter of complaint was sent to Nationwide headquarters to appeal in which Nationwide immediately responded to. They called me to give an unequivocal โ€œNoโ€.

Nationwide is NOT on your side!

Monetary Loss: $7000.

Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Do You Have Something To Say ?
Write a review

Comments

chat-icon

Please avoid publishing any personal information and promotional content

You will be automatically registered on our site. Username and password will be sent to you via email.
Post Comment
Guest

You are absolutely correct! I am changing insurance companies, but definitely reading all the fine print and exclusions.

"Nationwide keeps costs down with claims" i.e. They don't pay claims.

Guest

Was your coverage dropped or did you do the required repairs they wanted when threatening to drop you. Same is happening to a friend of mine.

Insurance threatening to drop coverage if foundation is not repaired. There's no water coming into basement.

There is mild to moderate setteling. They gave her 30 days to make $28,000 repair!

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Reviews

  1. 55 reviews
  2. 10 reviews
  3. 12 reviews
  4. 3 reviews
  5. 1 review
Nationwide Mutual Insurance reviews