Generator/insurance question

[Mark]

Hi, I dont have much time as coffee bar closes soon and I dont have internet at home.  The power company was out today reading the meter and the guy told me about a guy in Tacoma that they sold a generator to.  Seems my power company has something to do with the sale of complete gen sets.  Anyway, as the story goes, this guy had a complete gen set install done, permits and all.  Last year a wind storm took down the power and his gen set would not start.  He decided to hook up his Chinese gen set he built with parts sourced off net.  His house caught fire and even though it was not directly caused by his gen set the insurance company would not pay because of no UL listing on the equipment.  It went to court and was upheld.  I could not find the document on line and been looking for half hour.  Has anyone heard of such a thing.  I just finished putting together a Changfa set but would be afraid to use if this were the case.  Any advise???

Mark

[bentcrafter]

I'm NOT an attorney, but... It needs to be determined 'exactly' what caused the fire.  If the installer (owner?) screwed up, then it's his problem, not the insurance co. It's one thing to DIY, and quite another to make sure it's done to code... and signed-off by the inspector to prove it. 

[LowGear]

If you're going to sue, play to win.  Hire the expensive attorney.

Casey

[Thob]

He should have sued the power company because the generator wouldn't start - 

"Insurance policy - a list of reasons why they won't pay" - my dad.

DIY - you're also the warranty and insurance department.

You can find stories on both sides of this issue - insurance companies that got out of paying legitimate claims, and fraudulent claims that got paid.  No easy solutions!

[XYZER]

My dad used to do fire jobs for an insurance company. He told him of the dumb people that would try to burn there house down for the insurance and they would get caught. DENIAL OF CLAIM! He told my dad all they have to do is be cleaning there paint brush next to the gas furnace and kick it over and poof! Insurance covers stupid not arson. I have heard these stories over and over but never from the guy it happened to. I have read no clause in my policy that would give legal cause for denial of coverage for that type of situation. But I must say I am not a laywer either!