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A new study has found that the satisfaction level of homeowners insurance claimants is much lower than that of auto insurance claimants. According to the study, released by J.D. Power and Associates, those who file home claims average a satisfaction score of 828 (out of 1,000 points) as opposed to 842 for auto insurance claims.

Why Homeowners Insurance Claimants are Less Satisfied

According to the study, home claimants are less satisfied with the claims process because it is much more complicated than the auto claims process. Additionally, homeowners insurance claimants typically have less knowledge of the specifics of their policy, whereas auto insurance policies are a little bit more straightforward.

What it Takes to Satisfy a Homeowners Claimant

The study found that those homeowners claimants who are happiest with their experience are those who have worked with insurers that go above and beyond to please the claimant throughout the process. Having a good experience tends to ensure that the customer will be loyal - and possibly even recommend - the insurance company to others.

What Makes You Happy?

The study showed that homeowner's filing a claim is rather rare - around six percent of the population files a claim each year. However, if you have filed a claim, why not share what made you feel satisfied with the process? Was the agent attentive? Were your questions answered thoroughly?

By sharing your experience as well as agents you found that worked well for you, you may be able to help other homeowners find a company that will satisfy them as well.

In October, we reported on a group of homeowners who had been dropped - or threatened - by their insurance companies because they'd submitted claims for faulty Chinese drywall in their homes. Seen as unfair treatment by the victims and many onlookers, a new advocacy group quickly organized to help the homeowners and begin steps toward resolving the issue.

Chinese Drywall Complaint Center

The new organization is called the Chinese Drywall Complaint Center. Currently, the center is looking for homeowners in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Virginia and Southeast Texas - the states with homes that may be affected by the faulty drywall.

Those homes that may have been affected by the drywall, which has corroded plumbing and made home dwellers ill, were built primarily from 2001 to 2008.

Was CPSC Doing Enough?

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) created a multi-agency task force to determine whether the drywall was the cause of the problems the homeowners faced in their homes. To date, more than 2,000 homeowners contacted the CPSC with their complaints of corrosion, as well as health symptoms like persistent cough, bloody and runny noses, headaches, difficulty breathing and more.

However, the Chinese Drywall Complaint Center says the CPSC isn't moving quickly enough to help the homeowners. So it plans to step in and get the homeowners the help keep them safe as class action lawsuits begin.

A new plan to has been released by FEMA that is said to hopefully rescue flood plain dwellers from high insurance premiums. However, the plan, which was discussed on Dec. 15 and 16, is said to move in a different direction than the federal legislation introduced in July.

The New Plan

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