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Business Profile

Insurance Companies

Appalachian Underwriters, Inc.

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 4 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:10/29/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Answered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding the unethical practices I have encountered with Appalachian Underwriters Company

    To begin, a policy was bound under my name without my authorization, which I find unacceptable. I was neither informed nor did I agree to proceed with the binding of this quote, and yet, I was charged a cancellation fee for a policy that I did not consent to.

    Furthermore, I was forced to provide personal accounting information for a premium audit by a third party, despite the fact that the policy was cancelled within the first month. I was not forewarned about this audit process at any point, making this an unexpected and intrusive request, especially given that the policy had already been terminated.

    These actions raise serious concerns about the transparency and ethics of your underwriting process, and I feel that I have been unfairly treated. I expect a full refund of the cancellation fee, as well as an explanation as to why this audit was conducted under such circumstances.
    I kindly request a prompt resolution to this matter and look forward to your response .

    Business Response

    Date: 11/19/2024

    Filing response to complaint.

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:06/17/2024

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On Feb 22, 2024 I purchased an insurance policy through Munro Insurance Services, LLC
    Phone: (760) 621-3844. 1155 Sportfisher Dr, Suite 140 – Oceanside, CA 92054 for a 2 year policy underwritten by Appalachian Underwriters.

    I cancelled the policy April 5th of 2024. A refund was promised by Munro. However, they now claim they need to be refunded by Appalachian first before they can refund me. I am attaching both the policy and the sign cancellation document.

    Munro claims that Appalachian needed to review my account before issuing the refund. I made no claims during the time I held the policy. I just no longer need it. I am a small upstart business and am paying credit card interest on the policy payment which is unsustainable especially since I cannot use it. I understand that I will be offered a prorated amount and that is fine. I just need it to be refund as soon as possible. It's been over 2.5 months at this point already. I also have a long chain of correspondence with Munro's representative if needed.

    Thank you

    Business Response

    Date: 06/27/2024

    *** ******** ********* ********* * ****** ******* ***

    In connection with consumer complaint #21861148 concerning ****** Hideout, LLC (“******), please accept the following response.

    On February 9, 2024, Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. (“AUI”), acting as a wholesaler, provided Munro Insurance Services, LLC (“Munro”) a quote for general liability coverage for ****** with Accredited Specialty Insurance Company (“ASIC”). The annual premium quoted was $1,550.00 with fees of $250.00, taxes of $51.00 and a blanket additional insured coverage added for $150.00 for a total annual premium of $2,001.00. The quote stated that twenty-five percent (25.00%) or monthly earned premium (MEP) would apply and that “additional insured charges are fully earned”. The quote also cautioned about no flat cancellations once coverage was bound and that minimum earned premiums would apply.

    On February 22, 2024, *** ******* ******** ***** *********** ***** ** ******, signed the application and Munro submitted the application to AUI with a request to bind coverage and a payment of $1,788.50. Policy #2ACPVT17S033827200 was issued by ASIC with a policy term of February 23, 2024, to February 23, 2025.

    On April 1, 2024, ****** ****** *** ********* *** *** ******* request. AUI submitted the cancellation request to the carrier, ASIC. Before AUI could issue a refund, ASIC would need to process the cancellation request and calculate the return premium amount. AUI would then issue a refund for the cancellation.

    ASIC calculated the return premium amount to be $1,314.28. After the commissions earned of $159.50 were deducted from the returned premium, the total refund due to ****** was $1,154.78. ASIC short rated the return premium, meaning ASIC considered both the time and risk to determine the refund due to the mid-term policy cancellation. Additionally, the $150.00 blanket waiver premium was fully earned and non-refunded.

    On June 3, 2024, the cancellation return was processed by AUI and check #25185 was issued for $1,154.78 to Munroe for ****** cancel refund. AUI mailed the check to Munroe on June 5, 2024, and has verified that the check has been cashed.

    AUI acknowledge and understands Ms. ******** frustrations concerning the cancellation of ****** policy and the refunded amount. Ms. ******** is correct in her statement that there were some non-refundable dollars involved in ****** cancellation calculation. AUI did not calculate the returned premium refund but did verify that ASIC returned the correct amount based on the quote that was originally provided by AUI to Munroe on behalf of Ms. ******** and ******. Should Ms. ******** have any further questions, AUI encourages her to contact Munroe, the servicing agent, or them at (888) 376-9633.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 06/28/2024



    Better Business Bureau:

    I received information of the amount I would be refunded on June 18th, exactly one day after I issued my BBB complaint. I received a check on June 27th which I have cashed. I did have to ask for a detailed breakdown of refunded amounts and charges because that was not supplied by Appalachian to me, but Munro was able to explain it. 


    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 21861148, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.




    Sincerely,



    ******* ********

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:12/12/2022

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    Answered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I was shopping around for a general liability policy with my farmers agent and he suggested this company but said that I would have to put down a down payment on the policy to open it. I submitted a payment of over $545 directly to appalachian underwriters, only after which i was asked to sign a contract with them to open the policy. After reading through the contract, I did not agree to the terms and send back an email saying as much. To my surprise a policy had already been opened and I had to sign a document to close the policy in attempt to not be charged for a service that I didnt want. In my email I explicitly said that I do not agree to the contract and want a refund. Months go by, still no refund. Every time I call or email I either get the runaround or told that "my agent" would have to resolve this issue, even though my agent has had nearly nothing to do with the process so far and has no obligation to resolve anything as there was no contract signed. Regardless he has been trying his best but from what my agent has told me, he's also getting the runaround from them. All in all, this company has stolen over $545 from me and has an extremely shady business structure regarding refunds.

    Business Response

    Date: 01/05/2023

    Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/12/22) */
    See the attached for AUI's response to Mr. *******'s complaint. This response includes a letter, as well as one attachment (Quote No. XXXXXXXXX).

    Thank you.

Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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