43 replies to this topic

[scubamarli]

This should be moved to the Insurance thread.

[Timmoranuk]

If a UK insurer treated their clients in the manner which DEPP clearly has, they would be called to account by the finiancial ombudsman ( http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/ ). Is their not a similar industry regulator in the US?

[handlerphoto]

Dear All
On Dec 2011 filled with DEPP a damage claim for $600.
It took almost 6months of back and forths... mostly all my one way emails to them.
They finally paid up last month!. I have been with them for many many years but cancelled my account.
They are most definitely a fraudulent company and I would advise any and all who is reading this forum to cancel your policy with them immediately.
At the very least get coverage with DAN or other so you are safe in case of a disaster. DO NOT RELY ON DEPP.
I have, over the years, referred hundreds of people to DEPP - So I feel responsible to al least speak my mind here.
I currently have good clients and friends who I referred to DEPP fighting for claims...
DEPP's response is complete silence and at best very unprofessional one line responses.

YOU HAVE BEEN FOREWARNED. DEEP IS A FRAUD AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED.

Mauricio Handler

[handlerphoto]

One more contact to try at DEPP is Deane Lehrmitt - DWL@IPGInsurance.com
He handles the accounts/ payments. He and Dixie are related.
I think it is time to send all this info to the Attorney Generals office in Kentucky.
They are running a carefully coordinated scam- as they continue to request for your renewals without
any intention of honoring claims.

M Handler

[Steve Douglas]

You're one of the lucky ones. At least you were eventually paid.
Steve

[scubamarli]

When some of my photo gear did not arrive this past July when I went to Bonaire, my heart sunk knowing what has been going on with DEPP. I emailed them and within minutes received a response...I was flabbergasted, especially now considering United took 47 days to respond. My bag eventually showed up. Shortly thereafter, I received a renewal notice, which I ignored as it was issued several months in advance. I looked up their status once again on the Kentucky Attorney General's website, and they are listed as "pending dissolution" and in Bad status. The last time I noticed this I contacted them with references to the bad "press" that they were receiving on forums. They did a song and dance routine, blaming everything on the expiry of $15 licenses. This time, I asked for some references of clients that had successfully had claims paid in a timely fashion. Funny, no response. What's with Kentucky? They should arrest these folks for fraud.

Cheers,
Marli

[scubamarli]

Well, after posting this, I heard from DEPP. They admitted that they are in bad standing with the Attorney General's office. They admitted that their website doesn't work. They would not provide names of paid clients due to privacy concerns (not surprising). I received a long diatribe of excuses, talk about making major changes, etc. etc., just as they did one year ago. There was a lot of blaming certain former clients, and then they cancelled my policy, as they were sure that I had made up my mind about renewing.

Cheers,
Marli

[Marjo]

I am no longer a customer of Innovative Programs Group, but if I still was the question I would ask would be "who underwrites the policy?" and "can you show me the policy"?

[Steve Douglas]

While it may not be available in the UK or overseas, DAN equipment insurance is IMHO a great way to go. I highly recommend them for great and timely service.
Steve

[Marjo]

For those who can get DAN, it seems to be a great option. I called them and talked to them. They answered on the first ring, they had no problems me who their underwriter (whom they have the policy with) is. However, they told me that they can't sell me a policy since they are not licensed to do that in the Virgin Islands. I called our department of insurance and banking to find out what companies/brokers are licensed to sell insurance plans here. That call also yielded some other interesting results.

Edited by Marjo, 11 September 2012 - 10:21 AM.

[scubamarli]

That call also yielded some other interesting results.

Do tell, Marjo. Inquiring minds want to know about options....

Cheers,
Marli

[AllisonFinch]

I am doubly insured. I have DAN insurance. However, DAN does not cover loss overboard. That is a huge thing. If a camera gets dropped overboard or a dive guide misses it. DAN is no good. SO, I also have a policy with my homeowners. If I have an overboard loss, I am covered. On any other claim, I would go with DAN as it is quick and cash. The homewowners is a little more difficult.

[pezgrande]

don't bother go with Dan.

[S1mon]

Dear All,

I have just sent in my papers to the Kentucky Insurance Commissioners Office, I have a guy there who is investigating the fraudulanet behaviour of Dixie and Deanne Lehrmitt at DEPP.

I would be happy to have a SHORT(1 paragraph) summary of your experience with DEPP to send along as a follow up to mine. It will help me and it will help you.

Please PM me today, asap, now please... this is happening now and I could use your help in trying to get my $3500 out of these people.

In return I will send you details of the investigator I am using and the guy at the Insurance Commissioners office. I will keep you informed of how it all goes.

I intend to follow this up with the Attorney Generals office. I really hate DEPP, they rely on us all having claims that are just a little too small to warrant a legal case.

Regards
Simon

[glamourpuss]

Well still nothing resolved. Simon I sent you a PM... but in case anyone else is interested here's my story:

In April 2012, I flooded my camera on a dive trip in Honduras. As soon as I returned I filed my claim through DEPP's website. I didn't hear anything back for ages. Finally I started emailing and calling them daily till I got a response.

Eventually they sent me a form to fill out stating what happened, and I had it notarized and sent back. Again I heard nothing. After several weeks, and even more emails they told me to send my camera in for a repair estimate. I did this and the estimate came back as "Non-Repairable". I sent this to them, and again waited. Another month or so went by, all with me emailing them repeatedly trying to find out what the next steps were in the process of getting things resolved. I've never been able to determine how many steps are in this process or how close I am to having things resolved.

Eventually they told me they were "searching the availability and costs for comparable used, remanufactured or reconditioned items to satisfy your claim".

After another month of still hearing nothing I continued to pester them with emails. They then emailed me saying they were trying to ascertain what caused the flood. Which to me seemed like a step backwards. We'd already been through that and they had my signed and notarized statement. Anyway... I proceeded to give them more information, and now once again I am waiting.

My latest email was from Dixie saying "I will research and find the status of your claim."

All I can say is that it feels like they are stalling... trying to get out of paying. I'm at my whits end, I just don't know what to do anymore.

Steve... While I appreciate your glowing endorsement of DAN, unfortunately for people outside of the USA, DAN is not an option.

[glamourpuss]

I have just recieved an email from DEPP stating that they will no longer have any communication with me directly since I filed a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Kentucky Department of Insurance.

Is that legal?

Can they just ignore my claim now? Did I just screw myself out of any hope of ever getting this resloved?

[KirkD]

I would think that the insurance commision will take over and examine the claim and make a ruling.

[Timmoranuk]

PMFJI but has anyone identified and approached underwriter of DEPPs policies? Or does DEPP not reinsure their risk? Just a thought...

[Marjo]

Timmoranuk, you are asking a very valid question.

However, one of the things that really helps confuse things up is when people refer to the company as DEPP. We need to start calling them by their right name, that way when people are looking for information, they will have a shot at finding something. For example, if you were searching for information on a company online (for example the Better Business Bureau site, Secretary of State Fast track site or on the pacer.gov site (public access to court electronic records), you wouldn't get very far if you didn't use the right name.

The company is named Innovative Programs Group, Inc. They are a broker for an insurance policy that is underwritten by unknown insurance company. I have asked them via emailand they replied they don't need to tell me who it is.

The DEPP is the "product package" they sell.

Edited by Marjo, 14 October 2012 - 05:55 PM.

[glamourpuss]

So what is the difference between AWRY Inc, and Innovative Programs Group, Inc?