Insurance claimant living in tent
>> Sunday, June 26, 2011
Photograph by: Dax Melmer, The Windsor Star
WINDSOR, Ont. -- Adam McIntyre and his dog Miko live in a tent.
Nearly three months after an explosion destroyed his Pillette Road home, McIntyre’s insurance company has yet to settle the claim. He’s unwilling to give up his pet to live with family, so the tent, he says, is his only alternative.
“I lost everything,” the 23-year-old said. “I lost my clothes, my baseball gear. You name it, I don’t have it.”
The cause of the March 31 explosion has not yet been determined. McIntrye was watching the Detroit Tigers’ opening day game at a friend’s place when he got a call that his house was on fire.
Immediately after the explosion, McIntyre went to live with his aunt. But after a month of taking care of Miko while McIntrye was at work, his aunt gave him an ultimatum.
“She asked me to get rid of the dog,” McIntyre said. “I did have one person volunteer to take Miko to stay at a barn by himself in the county but I don’t want him to be alone and I need to be around him.”
McIntyre and his husky-shepherd mix have been sleeping in the backyard of his hollowed-out home since June 1. He pitched a tent in the towering grass, squeezing it between the above-ground pool and the back fence. Other than a few hot nights and some wet weather, McIntyre said it hasn’t been bad sleeping outside and it’s worth it to be with Miko.
After the incident, Allstate Insurance Company gave McIntyre and his mom $2,000. They bought food, clothes and other essentials. Then the money ran out.
“I bought toiletries and a few shirts and jeans but I don’t even have shorts yet and the rest of the money went toward food,” McIntyre said.
His mom Janice has had to move in with her ex-husband, McIntyre’s father. But there’s no space for their son and his dog.
“He has a bunch of cats so it wouldn’t be fair for me to bring my dog there,” McIntyre said.
“It’s tough because I don’t get to see my mom much and I miss her a bunch, but there’s just no room.”
He said other than the initial $2,000, Allstate hasn’t come through to help.
“They say they’re waiting on either this report, or that report. But the weeks keep passing and we haven’t heard anything,” he said.
Allstate Insurance spokesman Tony Irwin said the main factor contributing to the delay is the ongoing investigation by police and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.
He said each claim has its unique characteristics but if the investigation is drawn out then insurance will provide immediate relief, like the $2,000, to help them in the interim.
“We’re constantly revisiting (the claim) and if it’s something that hasn’t been concluded in a timely fashion because of circumstances then we would look at other ways to support our policy holder,” Irwin said.
“There is an ongoing investigation and once it concludes we’ll be able to move forward on that and resolve the claim.”
But for McIntyre, the ordeal has become less about rebuilding his home and more about repairing his family.
“I just want my family to be together again,” he said. “That’s all.”
Nearly three months after an explosion destroyed his Pillette Road home, McIntyre’s insurance company has yet to settle the claim. He’s unwilling to give up his pet to live with family, so the tent, he says, is his only alternative.
“I lost everything,” the 23-year-old said. “I lost my clothes, my baseball gear. You name it, I don’t have it.”
The cause of the March 31 explosion has not yet been determined. McIntrye was watching the Detroit Tigers’ opening day game at a friend’s place when he got a call that his house was on fire.
Immediately after the explosion, McIntyre went to live with his aunt. But after a month of taking care of Miko while McIntrye was at work, his aunt gave him an ultimatum.
“She asked me to get rid of the dog,” McIntyre said. “I did have one person volunteer to take Miko to stay at a barn by himself in the county but I don’t want him to be alone and I need to be around him.”
McIntyre and his husky-shepherd mix have been sleeping in the backyard of his hollowed-out home since June 1. He pitched a tent in the towering grass, squeezing it between the above-ground pool and the back fence. Other than a few hot nights and some wet weather, McIntyre said it hasn’t been bad sleeping outside and it’s worth it to be with Miko.
After the incident, Allstate Insurance Company gave McIntyre and his mom $2,000. They bought food, clothes and other essentials. Then the money ran out.
“I bought toiletries and a few shirts and jeans but I don’t even have shorts yet and the rest of the money went toward food,” McIntyre said.
His mom Janice has had to move in with her ex-husband, McIntyre’s father. But there’s no space for their son and his dog.
“He has a bunch of cats so it wouldn’t be fair for me to bring my dog there,” McIntyre said.
“It’s tough because I don’t get to see my mom much and I miss her a bunch, but there’s just no room.”
He said other than the initial $2,000, Allstate hasn’t come through to help.
“They say they’re waiting on either this report, or that report. But the weeks keep passing and we haven’t heard anything,” he said.
Allstate Insurance spokesman Tony Irwin said the main factor contributing to the delay is the ongoing investigation by police and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office.
He said each claim has its unique characteristics but if the investigation is drawn out then insurance will provide immediate relief, like the $2,000, to help them in the interim.
“We’re constantly revisiting (the claim) and if it’s something that hasn’t been concluded in a timely fashion because of circumstances then we would look at other ways to support our policy holder,” Irwin said.
“There is an ongoing investigation and once it concludes we’ll be able to move forward on that and resolve the claim.”
But for McIntyre, the ordeal has become less about rebuilding his home and more about repairing his family.
“I just want my family to be together again,” he said. “That’s all.”
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