Getting insurance companies to pay up

PROSPECT, Conn. (WTNH) -- If you're having trouble getting an insurance company to pay a claim, Connecticut has a resource that is getting millions for residents frustrated by insurance company foot dragging.

A three bedroom cape on a street corner in Prospect has finally been sold, but the owner had a terrible time because of an insurance company that would not pay a claim.

It had been the home of Peter Masone's parents for 50 years, when his mother died in 2009 he decided the house needed to be modernized before he could sell it. However, when it was almost re-done a flooring contractor had an accident setting the place on fire. Masone had to start all over again, but the flooring contractor's insurance company balked.

"The insurance company was just stalling forever," said Masone, "no matter how many times I called them, they had one excuse after another."

Masone kept all his paperwork through the frustrating journey. He had contractors fixing the place up a second time and demanding he pay up.

"They were sending me notices that my insurance company wouldn't pay and they wanted to be paid," said Masone.

After months and months of insurance company foot dragging Masone made a complaint to the State Insurance Department, and to his great relief the company finally paid up $113,000. It's a resource a lot of people don't know about.

"For the second quarter of this year, we recovered over $900,000 that went directly back to consumers of Connecticut...(consumers) of insurance in Connecticut," said Barbara Spear, CT Insurance Department.

"This is all kinds of insurance," asked News 8's Mark Davis.

"All kinds, auto, home, life, health, annuity, the whole gamut," Spear said.

"They have the power that no one else has," Masone said, "they can take their license away and they can't sell insurance and that, I believe, is the major hammer that they have to hit these folks with."

You can find out more by visiting the State Insurance Department's website or calling the consumer helpline at 800-203-3447.