Insurance companies want to make it hard on you so that they don’t have to pay out as much on your claim. Although they are asking for proof of purchase, this does not necessarily mean receipts. Many people toss out their receipts after purchasing furniture, appliances, and electronics. If you did this too, there may be other ways to show proof of purchase in a residential insurance claim. Some additional ways you can do this include:
- Look for photographs of the damaged or missing items – check the pictures on your camera, pictures you have downloaded to your computer, photographs you have taken on your smartphone, and ask others for pictures they have taken at your home. Sometimes other people may have captured the item you are trying to prove ownership of in a photograph during a holiday or other party.
- Look for owner’s manuals and product warranties – sometimes this can help prove ownership by supplying the insurer with a model number and your product information.
- Look at your email for old receipts – email is critical in this step. So many people have gone back through their emails to find receipts or even confirmations that can help establish proof. If you use PayPal, there is typically a history you can access to show your purchases.
- Look at past credit card statements or bank statements – by showing a line item purchase on your credit or bank statement, you can establish proof of ownership.
The more evidence you can supply the insurer about the damaged, missing, or stolen item, the better chance you will receive a larger claim check. For help filing a property damage claim, call the Voss Law Firm at 888-614-7730 today for a free case consultation and a free copy of Texas litigation lawyer Bill Voss’s book: Informed Consumers Have Greater Chances of Getting Just Compensation in Residential Insurance Claims.
