Homeowner Suffering From House's Sinking Feeling

When Neysa Pereya talks about her sinking feeling, she isn't talking about her gut.

She is talking about her home.

The ceiling of the $600,000 Miami house as already fallen in the dining room, and there are significant cracks all about the home.

The pool won't hold water.

The family says it's all because of a sinkhole that has opened up and threatens to swallow the entire house.

"I was devastated," Pereya said. "That vision that I had is not possible."

When they bought the home five years ago, the Pereyas thought it was their dream home.

Now it's become even more of a nightmare because the insurance company refuses to pay the family's claim.

Every month they paid their insurance policy payment to Citizens, but when the damage took place, the company said the damage was not covered, Pereya said.

Citizens' postion: the damage came when the home settled and that's not covered.

"I was very shocked. You have your insurance and you have it for these kinds of things and you think of a insurance company that you can count on," Pereya said.

Since the insurance company won't pay, the family filed a lawsuit. The family's attorney says the company is trying to use a loophole to avoid paying.

"This is clearly a sinkhole and they are trying to fit their exclusion onto the Pereya so they don't have to pay the amount of money they are actually owed," attorney Jorge Carbonell said.

Citizens response to the lawsuit claims a sinkhole has not caused the damage. 

The company also alleges the damage is caused by items the policy doesn't cover, the loss took place outside the time the home was covered, and the family didn't act to limit the damage.

Insurance expert Daniel Odess said homeowners stuck in this sinking situation must act quickly to avoid being in a hole.

"Take your own photos," he said. "Report your loss immediately. Don't hold on to it too long. Allow them to investigate the claim and cooperate with them. Collect the proper documentation."

The Pereyas told said they feel trapped because they can't move with a hefty mortgage.

For more tips if you have to file an insurance claim go to http://www.ecpaclaims.com/

Leave Comments