From Devastation
to Defiance:
The Battle That Gave Birth to the UNFAIR Act
When you buy your first home, rent your first apartment, or AirBnB (Which was my case) its the most exciting and terrifying thing you can do, it’s a huge investment. Like most people in America, you’ve dreamed of having a place to call your own, somewhere you could raise kids, plant a garden, and build memories that would last a lifetime. And to protect those memories, you, as a smart consumer, obtain homeowners or renters insurance,
You know, just in case.
When it comes to personal property, the law provides an injured party should be put in the same position as they were before the injury producing event
Is this your story?
For years, you paid your premiums. On time, every month, like clockwork. It was a small price to pay for peace of mind, knowing that if something happened to your home—your sanctuary—that your insurance would step in and make things right, as mandated by regulations of the insurance industry:
When it comes to personal property, the law provides an injured party should be put in the same position as they were before the injury producing event
And then, something happens. It was one of those freak accidents you never expect. A storm rolled in, the kind that seemed to come out of nowhere, and your house takes a direct hit. The roof collapsed in parts, water poured in, and much of what you had built over the years was damaged or destroyed.
But you weren’t too worried. You have insurance, after all. I’d done everything right. This is what you’ve been paying for all these years, right?
That’s when you learn about the *unfairness* that so many before you have encountered. You call your insurance company, feeling optimistic, hopeful even. You’re met with polite representatives who reassured you that they were “here to help.” I thought, “Great, this won’t be too bad.”
Weeks passed. Then months.
What follows is a series of roadblocks, delays, and denials that leaves you stunned. Every time you feel you were making progress, something new would come up. A loophole in the policy. A technicality you didn’t understand. The constant back and forth between adjusters, each one seemingly more intent on minimizing the damage and reducing their payout than helping you rebuild your life.
You sit at your kitchen table—well, what was left of it—after yet another call where you’re told your claim would be delayed due to some obscure clause in the policy. Your wife is frustrated, kids were confused, and you feel helpless. The very insurance you had trusted to protect you was now making you feel like you are the enemy, like you are asking for something unreasonable.
That was the moment when you realized how broken the system was. And it’s not just you. You start hearing stories from neighbors, friends, even strangers who had gone through similar nightmares. People who had been faithful, paying customers for decades, only to be let down when they needed help the most.
Its not fair. Its not right.
You keep telling yourself.
My name is Travis Priest
and this is my story, and how the concept of the UNFAIR Act began.
The idea is simple: to ensure that when disaster strikes, people like you and me are treated fairly and with dignity, without the runaround and endless delays.
And to make sure insurance companies honor their commitments.
So, if you’re reading this and you’re dealing with the same frustrations, know that you’re not alone. And know that there are people fighting to make things better. Because no one should have to fight twice—once with the disaster and again with the very people who are supposed to help them recover.
Learn about some of the dirty tricks the Insurance Industry uses.
The UNFAIR Journal
Welcome to my journey of surviving toxic mold and battling an unfair insurance system. I’ve turned my personal struggles into actions to help others facing similar challenges, proposing The UNFAIR Insurance Act, and crowd-sourcing denial stories to train a new ClaimBot to help others with their claims. Through this blog, I’ll share my story, offer practical tools, and collect user-contributed experiences to fight back against insurance claim denials and diminishments.
Join me by signing up with your email to stay informed, share your own stories, and be part of a growing community seeking fairness through insurance reform.
The Genesis of the UNFAIR Act
Mold was found in a property we were leasing. The toxic variety. In an instant, the course of our lives changed.
The UNFAIR Insurance Act
It is time for a law to establish Insurance claims fairness and transparency
Death, Taxes, and Insurance Denials & Diminishments
A policyholder chatbot trained by community claims experiences
Evidence of Loss
My claim with Lemonade Insurance was my second rodeo, so I had an inkling of what I would need to provide to help them process the claim.
The Dirty
Tricks Series
Insurance companies often employ a range of dirty tricks to deny or delay claims, hoping policyholders will give up out of frustration or financial strain.
From using vague policy language to exploit loopholes, to repeatedly requesting unnecessary documentation, or offering lowball settlements that barely cover the damage, these tactics are designed to wear you down.
Learn about some of these Dirty Tricks insurance companies deploy to deny your claim.
The Genesis of the UNFAIR Act
Mold was found in a property we were leasing. The toxic variety. In an instant, the course of our lives changed.
The UNFAIR Insurance Act
It is time for a law to establish Insurance claims fairness and transparency
Death, Taxes, and Insurance Denials & Diminishments
A policyholder chatbot trained by community claims experiences
Evidence of Loss
My claim with Lemonade Insurance was my second rodeo, so I had an inkling of what I would need to provide to help them process the claim.
Claim Denial Due to Broad Interpretation of “Covered Peril”?
My claim with Lemonade Insurance was my second rodeo, so I had an inkling of what I would need to provide to help them process the claim.
Single Parents Face Higher Denial Rates: Limited Resources Make It Harder to Fight Back
Single parents already face unique challenges in managing their households, from balancing work and childcare to maintaining financial stability.
Confidential Insurance Settlements: Keeping Consumers in the Dark
When it comes to insurance, transparency is key. However, there’s a growing concern: confidential insurance settlements.
The Ripple Effect – The Hidden Cost of COBRA Coverage
Health insurance laws, like the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and COBRA regulations, are designed to safeguard consumers. By creating a separate risk pool, Rippling prioritizes corporate profits over legal compliance and participant welfare.