Have a claim to report?
Managing Your Property Claim
Follow these steps when filing a property claim through your homeowners insurance:
You can report a claim directly to United Mutual by submitting a claim online or by calling 715-748-6040. You can also report a claim to your independent agent.
When filing a claim, let us know the best time and method to contact you (phone call, text or email).
In the event of a crime, ask for a copy of the police report or note the report number so that your claim representative can quickly obtain a copy of the report.
It is best to gather these photos or make a list of missing items while your memory is fresh. If you have receipts or previous photos of items that are missing or damaged, these may also assist the claim representative and can help substantiate your losses.
This would entail any measures you can take to prevent additional damage, such as placing a tarp over a hole in your roof or boarding up a broken window. If you purchase items for this purpose, keep receipts so they can be reviewed as part of your claim.
Managing Your Auto Claim
Report the claim immediately, even if you believe you are not at fault.
Make sure to gather the name, phone number, insurance company name, and policy number of the other party and contact information for witnesses. Having this information early on can help speed up the process.
Obtaining police reports is often a source of delay when processing an auto claim. Note which police department responds to the accident scene and ask for the report number so your claim representative can obtain a copy.
Avoid discussions of insurance policy coverage, limits and fault.
If you can do so safely, take photos or even a cellphone video at the accident scene. Include any damaged areas and license plates of all involved vehicles.
What to Expect After Submitting a Claim
Once your claim has been filed, your dedicated claim representative will review your submission and policy details. Within one business day, your claim representative will then reach out to you to go over the details of your loss and explain your policy coverage.
Please note that submitting a claim does not guarantee coverage. Your claim representative may need to gather additional information regarding the claim and fully review your policy before they can determine coverage of the loss.
The claims process may also include additional steps, such as:
Receiving Payment for Your Claim
Please note that if you have a mortgage, your loss payment may include the mortgage company as an additional payee. Please contact your mortgage company for specific details regarding endorsing the loss payment.
Property Claim FAQs
A deductible is the portion of the loss you will pay out of pocket. This amount is subtracted from any payment made by the insurance carrier for loss.
When it is safe to do so, you should take photos of the damage and cover any broken windows, doors, or skylights with plywood or tarps to prevent further damage.
The first thing you should do is stop the source of water and remove wet items to prevent further damage. Also remove and secure any valuable items. Then, make a detailed inventory of damaged contents and take photos of the damage.
Your homeowners insurance policy is not the same as flood insurance. Flood insurance is offered by the National Flood Insurance Program to pay losses from floods associated with heavy rains, hurricanes, tropical storms and other severe weather situations.
Property Repair FAQs
It is the homeowner’s responsibility to select a contractor for repairs.
It is up to your discretion when choosing a contractor or company to provide an estimate or do the repairs to your property. We recommend selecting an established, licensed or bonded contractor (note that not all jurisdictions require licensing). You may also ask for references as well as certificates of insurance.
For water damage, we recommend selecting a professional IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified company, such as SERVPRO or ServiceMaster. Water damage in particular may be hidden under carpets, behind walls or in unseen areas, which is why it is important to have a professional assess and respond to the damage.
Your claim representative will let you know when you can begin repairs on your home. It is important to wait to make any permanent repairs until you have approval from your claim representative.
Auto Claim FAQs
A deductible is the portion of the loss you will pay out of pocket. This amount is subtracted from any payment made by the insurance carrier for your vehicle.
This covers damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or object.
This covers damage to your vehicle not caused by collision. This would include damage sustained because of hail, a fire, vehicle theft, etc.
This coverage pays for a rental vehicle if your vehicle is out of service due to a loss covered by your policy. If you are unsure about whether you’re covered for a rental vehicle, you can check the Declarations Page of your policy or ask your agent.
We will work with the auto repair shop of your choice. We recommend selecting a certified repair shop and seeking references or reviews before making a final decision. Your independent agent may also have recommendations for a repair shop in your area, but the final decision is yours.
A preliminary estimate is written to show all damage visible without taking the vehicle apart. If additional loss-related damage is found during the repair process, we will request additional photos and a supplemental estimate from the repair shop. It is not uncommon to find additional damage.
If your vehicle is deemed a total loss, we will request photos and other information on your vehicle to determine the Actual Cash Value (ACV). ACV is the market value of the vehicle, considering factors such as mileage, options, age, prior damage and refurbishments. It is important to keep in mind that the ACV is not based on how much you paid for the vehicle or may still owe on an auto loan.
After a value is obtained, your claim representative will reach out to you to go over the vehicle value and next steps.