We have been insured with USAA since 1978. I have worked on the claims side of the insurance industry for over 20 years and have been with the same well-known property and casualty insurer for that entire time. I don't have any of our personal insurance with the company I work for, even though I would get it for a discounted premium. That is an endorsement for the finest insurance company in the world, no joke, claims are my world and USAA is the best one out there.
Having said that, if you purchased a broadening endorsement that extends the $2,000 basic coverage for firearms, there should have been an endorsement added to your policy along with a specific premium charged for that additional coverage. If you have a record of the date you spoke with the underwriting representative (like a cell phone bill/record showing the date and time you called) then USAA should have a record of the transaction in your underwriting file. Write them a letter stating the date and time of the call, the name of the employee you spoke to, outlining the nature of the conversation and, if you have any other evidence, put it in the letter. Saying "I talked to 'some guy' in March or April" probably isn't going to be enough for you.
If that doesn't get the ball rolling, each state has a department of insurance that maintains a consumer complaint division. You should contact the department of insurance of the state in which you live. I think you said Texas, so start here:
http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/complfrm.html is a link to the Texas DOI. They will ask you to fill out a form and will notify USAA of your formal complaint. USAA has a period of time to respond to the complaint with their supporting documents, and then you should have an opportunity to respond to them again.
If you don't have any records to support your case, you might find yourself in a bad spot. The bottom line is that unless there is some type of evidence that you requested coverage, regardless of whether or not they charged you a premium, you have an uphill battle.
Everyone here should pay attention:
1) go into your file drawer and pull out the copy of your insurance policies. If you can't find it, call USAA and have them send it to you ASAP.
2) everyone should READ their policy, make sure YOUR name is on there, spelled correctly and, if it's a homeowner's or renter's policy, that the physical location of the home/apt is correct.
3) pay attention to the limits of coverage for liability and for contents. Is it enough? If you have assets, and you get sued, you want to be sure you have enough coverage to satisfy the people suing you. If you don't, the injured party and his/her attorney will do an asset check (anyone worth their salt does) and will start rubbing their hands together if they find you've got $30,000 in the bank. If you do, and they are badly injured, they will go after it. MB, they might try to take away your 'tin can' if you've got nothing else. (just kidding, they usually leave your house alone)
Also check the basic limits on "unscheduled items" like jewelry, (includes class rings, the wife's diamonds, firearms, fine art etc.) If you have something that is an heirloom, or is difficult to estimate the value, get it appraised and, for a nominal fee, you can have it scheduled.
4) Most policies cover personal property only when something happens to it on the premises by a named peril, like theft, fire, windstorm etc.
5) to get "all risk" coverage for certain items, depending upon the type of policy you have, you usually need an endorsement which will extend the coverage limits and radius. A diamond falling out of a ring at a baseball game would more than likely be covered, up to the limit you stated, if it was scheduled.
6) Get a digital camera and take pictures (with the date function turned on) of all your good stuff. Line up the jewels, electronics, the guns, the china, etc. and take pictures of it all. Burn the pics onto on a CD and give a copy to your parents and put one in a safe place where it can't get damaged or lost. Video is a new technology for insurance companies (we're old school) and it isn't always supported or appreciated by a claims rep who would have to watch 30 minutes of video to see a 2 second image of uncle walter's heirloom brandy snifter. Go with the still pics.
7) Anytime you talk to an insurance company about anything, get the person's name and e-mail address and follow up with them in writing (snail mail and e-mail) to confirm your conversation. In this case a quick e-mail saying "thanks for the advice on the firearms coverage, this is to confirm you've added the coverage with a limit of $25,000", add yourself as a "cc" to the e-mail and print it and put it in your file. Even if they forget to do it, and never charge you the premium, the dept of insurance would probably take your side.
So, start digging through your drawer for you cell phone bills, or any record of your conversations. Write to USAA with your supporting docs, get online with the DOI for Texas. You will have to push back at USAA. Good luck.
OK, I'm off the soap box...
