April 26th update (Part one...more to follow later)

April 26th update (Part one...more to follow later)

Hi folks, sorry it's been a bit but we have been struggling with all sorts of roadblocks...but today we are pleased that some of them are lifted.

Roadblock #1. Well Fargo and the Insurance check for the barn.

Farmers quickly sent out barn check (~$27,000) to replace out $90,000 barn. Then, since Well Fargo holds the mortgage we had to send it to them to disburse to us. Almost three months later, we finally get a customer service rep who is obviously the only person who does her job there. Our main point of contact "Jane" (name changed) had us go through many hoops such as:

1. Wanted the Insurance report of the fire - 14 plus pages of it. It was stapled to the report she had in her hand. Once we informed her it was part of the report she had in her hands "duh...."

2. Then she wanted us to have the contractor fill out out all sorts of forms to fix the burned HOUSE. We informed her it was a barn and not a HOUSE. After several iterations, she figured out it was the BARN and not the house

3. She wanted us and the contractor to fill out numerous forms. We and the contractor did and faxed 4 copies to her, all over 2 week span. We and the contractor left message but no call back.

4. No response from her. This is going on two months. Numerous phone messages and promises of we are working on it

5. Finally get a hold of another person who reviews the files and says "you didn't send the faxed forms" told her to look in the files as it was faxed 4 times....she did and apparently no one bothered to check a box or something on their end. They just stuffed the faxed forms in our files and didn't do the procedures they were supposed to do on their end. This rep, named "Betty" assured us that she would expedite our files and we would get a response with 24 hours and a check within 5 days.

6. Ten days later and no check. Called Well Fargo, almost three months and no money to rebuild the barn. get a hold of "Anna".

7. Anna goes the extra miles and notes that procedures were not done, that Well Fargo had our check for months, meets with a supervisor, does great follow up and *OUR CHECK* is making it's way to our house. well, at least 1/3 of the check. They pay 1/3 before the build, 1/3 at halfway and the reminder when the job is done. She is also getting an inspector in place so he can do the inspections so we don't have to wait on that.

8. Anna has gone the extra step when all the other Customer Rep have plain not done their jobs, ignores us or lied. But we are getting the check, which is good since the Barn is going to be going up in about 2 weeks.

9. To bad the first two rep could not do they jobs and held up our check for months. For some reason I though Well Fargo had a great reputation on Cusotmer Service


Did I mention this check will cover about half of the cost of the barn? The barn will be over $44,000 and the insurance check is a little over half of that. we had to pull $$ out of retirement to help pay for the barn. Oh well......

Warning: be sure to look at your policy for you outbuilding and make sure you do not have the standard 10% replacement policy if your outbuilding are worth more that 10% of your house. Talk to your agent and get the extra polisy. we thought we had it but we didn't and you can be sure we WILL have it when the barn is done!! I do want to say that Farmers was FAST in getting our replacement check out!!!

Part Two to follow later: Farmer Insurance saga on the Personal Contents (Sigh)
Part Three: Getting the Barn permit (double sign)
Part Four: New arrival- lambs (yeah!!)

Diane