John K, stop looking at my paper!

Hello, Mr. Jones. My name is John Doe, and I represent the XYZ insurance agency here in Anytown. I know that some commercial insurance rates are very expensive, and business owners have to make decisions to save money any way they can. May I ask you when your policies expire?

I might be in a position to save you some money, and give you just as good or better coverage than you have now. You wouldn't have any objection to that, would you? Would you be open to receiving a SECOND OPINION on your commercial insurance? Good. Could I stop in and share a few minutes with you on Tuesday at 9:00am, or would Thursday at 11:00 be better? Good. Please have all your business insurance policies available at that time. I'll see you at ____ on _____.

This is an idea. You can reword it to fit the circumstance at the time.

Don't worry about it getting attention. Every Commish complaint I've had to answer became an instant priority.

I don't know what state you are in, but I would recommend filing the Ins Commish complaint on your own. Don't send anything to the Commish on the attorneys letterhead. In the vast majority of commish complaints that I have dealt with they seem to help people without lawyers more.

As far as the complaint, write it up in a professional manner, no name calling etc. Some of the best ones I have seen, listed a chronological order of all the important factors. The theft, communications with the company and in your case list any times that other people may have had access to your keys where a dup could have been made/ordered. If you have a loan on the car make sure to include proof that your payments were current at the time of the theft. That would show that you would have very little motive to have the car "stolen."

Then put in ANY info or arguments you have for your position that the theft was legit and why you think the company position is wrong.

Trust me the insurance company will get a copy of whatever you send to the Commish. The company will go through it with a fine tooth comb, so make sure everything in it is accurate or they will use it against you.

- Your insurance parameters are already set, but I was reminded, through my own house fire recovery process, I am the customer and it is up to me to ask for what I want or ask the questions I want.

- You may find it necessary to gently remind people that this is your home and you are the ONLY boss in this the process.

- My insurance covered all cost so the financial end was not as hard to deal with, but I did ask for help from the Red Cross who provided us with toiletries and $150 for clothing, very generous organization.

-The most important part of the recovery is you and your families emotional and physical recovery. I went through several month where I would want to cry for no reason and I became concerned I was loosing it, and honestly even writing this bring tears to my eyes. What this turn out to be was my body physical reaction to the emotional stress, so you are not going crazy. remember other people around you are feeling the same stress so now is the time to work harder at not taking out on others if you do the fire is beating you down and its time for a vacation, seriously.

Finally do not measure the fire recovery process in time, recovery is about finding a healthy way to get back what was taken from you while coming out with more than you loss.

And be careful