Struggling Couple Cry Out After Getting Slammed With A $377k Insurance Bill For An Accidental Apartment Fire

“State Farm says my boyfriend owes them $337k. We are both poor, please help!”

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• October 30, 2023

One chilly November night, a harrowing event shook the life of our narrator (Original Poster) and her boyfriend.

OP’s boyfriend was toiling away at his night shift when the sound of his ringtone jolted him away from his duties - it was his friend and roommate. 

His friend's frantic voice crackled through the line, delivering a gut-wrenching message – their apartment was on fire. 

The flames consumed their home, burning everything to a crisp. He came back to meet a horrifying sight, and a sense of helplessness hung in the air; he would’ve never guessed the worst was far from over.

Unfortunately, the roommate, who was tasked with securing their renters’ insurance, never got to it, so they had no protection against this fiery destruction.

When the local fire department blamed a leaky pipe for the fire, it seemed like the end of the story. But hold on! A mysterious insurance company representing their landlord suddenly slammed OP’s boyfriend with a staggering $377,000 bill. They claimed cigarettes left in an ashtray ignited the fire.

Her boyfriend wasn’t even home during the fire, nor was he the only one on the lease - why was he stuck with this monstrous bill? Not to mention, the firefighters had already delivered their verdict, so what on earth was actually happening?

No court charges or inquiries, just an astronomical bill and a nudge to dispute for a lower amount. Something was clearly amiss, and OP was determined to fight back and uncover the truth.

How does she handle this perplexing situation?

Let’s dig into the details

A little background

OP’s boyfriend has been slammed with an insurance claim from his landlord to the tune of $377k

The couple are in desperate need of help on how to maneuver this

Here’s how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

More clarity on this bizarre claim

“First thing in the morning you need to lawyer up. An attorney can get the fire Marshall’s report and then give you next steps.“

“He doesn’t really need a lawyer until he gets sued and receives a summons.“

A little insight from a firefighter with 25 years experience

“Get a lawyer. Don’t respond or call this company until you've spoken with them and shown them any paperwork.”

“If they call you again—beyond address verification, sue them…for a lot.“

“Even if he did owe that money, State Farm would have to sue him for it. liability disputes are settled in court.“

“The local fire dept has a report on the fire. Contact them again and get their report.”

It appeared that the apartment complex was attempting to shift liability to OP's boyfriend to avoid covering damages caused by their leaky pipe. 

Well, Redditors came to the rescue, shedding light on the situation. They recommended that OP’s boyfriend secure a lawyer, obtain the fire report, and hold the apartment complex accountable. 

It seems like a straightforward case, and despite the hurdles, OP's boyfriend is likely to emerge unscathed.

What do you think about this story? Let us know in the comments.

Jesse