Cincinnati Financial

Please learn from my mistakes and avoid this company at all costs.

I have been insured with Cincinnati for 19 years and had zero claims until two hail storms hit our area, one in October 2023 and one in April 2024.

Before filing a homeowner's claim, we had three local, well-known roofing companies come out to inspect the roof. All agreed, in both hail claim situations, there was significant hail damage, so we filed the claims.

The April 2024 hailstorm made national news and dropped golf-ball-sized hail in our area.

All neighbors on all sides of me had no problems getting their insurance companies to replace their roofs. In fact, over 75% of our neighborhood got new roofs from the April 2024 storm. But not our home. According to Cincinnati, we had a little gutter damage, but the 19-year-old roof was in great shape, so they sent a check for about 20% of the gutter value to cover what they deemed as hail damage.

We have been fighting with Cincinnati for a year-and-a half and had to involve a lawyer just to get a response from Cincinnati and have additional inspections.

Approximately three months ago, we received a check from Cincinnati for the Actual Cash Value for our roof, after multiple denials. Big red flag, because we paid for, and have a policy that states, Guaranteed Replacement Value. I could go on and on about all the tactics Cincinnati has used to try to delay, diminish, deny, bully, and scare us so we would go away.

Three weeks ago, we replaced our roof out-of-pocket because no other homeowner's insurance company would insure a 20-year-old roof with hail damage. Our attorney notified Cincinnati of our plan to replace our roof in 30 days, allowing them time for any re-inspection, and Cincinnati advised our attorney that we could NOT replace our roof as it was 'destroying evidence'.

Crazy, right?

Cincinnati has inspected our roof six different times between the two storms, and of course, their first inspection is always by a "Roofing Engineer," not an adjuster, who they hire and deem an expert, and in turn, this 'engineer' writes a long report (more of a copy and paste) and puts his 'stamp' on it so it's supposed to be law.

Litigation continues, and time marches on by, a total win for the insurance company whose goal is to delay, defer, diminish, and deny. Cincinnati is a pro at delaying things.

Please learn from my mistakes; don't trust the paper the policy is written on; it means nothing if the insurance company doesn't want to pay and has a bag of tricks to try to wear you down so you'll give up.

If you do end up in my situation, don't give up, don't settle, and research everything because what I'm experiencing is quite common with Cincinnati Insurance regarding homeowner's claims.

Good luck to all who are learning the hard way. I have to count on the legal system, which understands contracts and can prove the weather by weather reports; however, no one should have to wait years and years for an insurance company to do the right thing based on the policy purchased and signed by both parties.