Latest news with #VenkatGarikapati
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia roofer is out $12,000 after State Farm approved homeowner's claim — then refused to pay out in full
When Cumming, Georgia, homeowner Venkat Garikapati's roof sustained heavy wind damage in 2021, he filed a claim with his home insurance company, State Farm, to have it fixed. However, State Farm only approved the replacement of 38 shingles and estimated the cost at $1,422.15 — less than Garikapati's $2,500 deductible — and closed the claim without paying, according to Atlanta News First. But Garikapati's roofer, David Garner, disputed the insurance company's assessment. "It was torn all to pieces," Garner told the local broadcaster of the roof's condition. "More than 70 shingles were creased or missing." Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Garner, along with a public adjuster, spent years trying to prove to State Farm that Garikapati's roof needed a full replacement to avoid further damage and leaking, reports Atlanta News First. State Farm kept denying the claim before finally approving a full roof replacement on April 25, 2024 — more than three years after the original claim. "They are never shy on collecting the monthly premium at all, but to get this approved took quite a long time," Garikapati said. Garner went ahead and did the work. But after the initial "actual cash value" check cleared, State Farm refused to pay the replacement cost in full, citing a clause in Garikapati's insurance policy that stipulates a repair or replacement must be completed within two years of the date of loss to receive additional payments. As a result, Garner is out $12,000 — and he blames State Farm fully. When a contractor does work on a home and isn't paid for it, they may be able to place a lien on the home. However, Garner doesn't want to do that to Garikapati. "It's not the homeowner's fault that this is taking place," Garner said. Despite the clause in Garikapati's insurance policy, Atlanta News First reports an attachment to State Farm's approval estimate stated: "Replacement cost benefits will be issued contingent completed of roof replacement and submission of photos, submission of photos, certificate of completion and or signed contract agreement with service provider." But when Garner submitted the paperwork, he said State Farm wouldn't pay up. "What am I supposed to do?" Garner asked. "I've already built the roof. I paid for the materials. I paid for the labor. Everything's done." Garikapati filed a complaint with the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in January, per Atlanta First News, but that went nowhere. 'The whole reason this claim took a long time to get approved is because deny and delay, deny and delay,' Garner said. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Atlanta News First says it looked at recent complaints filed with the commissioner's office and found that State Farm, the state's biggest insurer, had 892 complaints in 2024, up 126% from 2022. It also found that Allstate had 770 complaints, up 77% from 2022, while Progressive had 557, up 49% from 2022. The office did not supply information about the results of complaints. Garner feels like he's out of options — he doesn't think it would be financially feasible to sue State Farm, and he's not interested in holding Garikapati responsible. "He was operating in good faith, just like I was," Garner said. A spokesperson for State Farm told Atlanta News First "we believe we have provided every benefit available to the customer within their policy." So, what can you do if your home insurance company comes up short on funds or doesn't pay? First, you should read the terms of your policy carefully. What happened to Garikapati above wasn't exactly his fault, but it seems the fine print of his policy provided the insurance company with an out. Familiarizing himself with those details may have prevented the situation above from occurring. One thing you'll want to check your policy for is exclusions. There are certain things your insurer may not pay for, which should be outlined in your policy agreement. It's also important to read the terms of your claim approval carefully to make sure you and your contractor are in compliance. But from there, if you believe an insurer isn't paying out like it's supposed to, you should collect evidence. Document all of the work that was done so you can show if it was in accordance with what your insurer approved. That means taking pictures and getting a write-up from your contractor detailing the work performed. Your insurer may have tools in place for claims and payment denials. Follow those once you've gathered your documentation. If that doesn't work, you can try to file a complaint with your state's insurance agency. If that doesn't work, you may want to seek legal guidance. To be clear, there's a difference between your insurance company denying a claim and refusing to pay following an approval. There should be no expectation your insurer will pay out on a claim that's been denied. Also keep in mind that any contractor you hire may not be as understanding as Garner, and you don't want yours to come after you for their money. So, you should do all that you can to ensure everything is above board. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia roofer is out $12,000 after State Farm approved homeowner's claim — then refused to pay out in full
When Cumming, Georgia, homeowner Venkat Garikapati's roof sustained heavy wind damage in 2021, he filed a claim with his home insurance company, State Farm, to have it fixed. However, State Farm only approved the replacement of 38 shingles and estimated the cost at $1,422.15 — less than Garikapati's $2,500 deductible — and closed the claim without paying, according to Atlanta News First. But Garikapati's roofer, David Garner, disputed the insurance company's assessment. "It was torn all to pieces," Garner told the local broadcaster of the roof's condition. "More than 70 shingles were creased or missing." Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Garner, along with a public adjuster, spent years trying to prove to State Farm that Garikapati's roof needed a full replacement to avoid further damage and leaking, reports Atlanta News First. State Farm kept denying the claim before finally approving a full roof replacement on April 25, 2024 — more than three years after the original claim. "They are never shy on collecting the monthly premium at all, but to get this approved took quite a long time," Garikapati said. Garner went ahead and did the work. But after the initial "actual cash value" check cleared, State Farm refused to pay the replacement cost in full, citing a clause in Garikapati's insurance policy that stipulates a repair or replacement must be completed within two years of the date of loss to receive additional payments. As a result, Garner is out $12,000 — and he blames State Farm fully. When a contractor does work on a home and isn't paid for it, they may be able to place a lien on the home. However, Garner doesn't want to do that to Garikapati. "It's not the homeowner's fault that this is taking place," Garner said. Despite the clause in Garikapati's insurance policy, Atlanta News First reports an attachment to State Farm's approval estimate stated: "Replacement cost benefits will be issued contingent completed of roof replacement and submission of photos, submission of photos, certificate of completion and or signed contract agreement with service provider." But when Garner submitted the paperwork, he said State Farm wouldn't pay up. "What am I supposed to do?" Garner asked. "I've already built the roof. I paid for the materials. I paid for the labor. Everything's done." Garikapati filed a complaint with the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in January, per Atlanta First News, but that went nowhere. 'The whole reason this claim took a long time to get approved is because deny and delay, deny and delay,' Garner said. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Atlanta News First says it looked at recent complaints filed with the commissioner's office and found that State Farm, the state's biggest insurer, had 892 complaints in 2024, up 126% from 2022. It also found that Allstate had 770 complaints, up 77% from 2022, while Progressive had 557, up 49% from 2022. The office did not supply information about the results of complaints. Garner feels like he's out of options — he doesn't think it would be financially feasible to sue State Farm, and he's not interested in holding Garikapati responsible. "He was operating in good faith, just like I was," Garner said. A spokesperson for State Farm told Atlanta News First "we believe we have provided every benefit available to the customer within their policy." So, what can you do if your home insurance company comes up short on funds or doesn't pay? First, you should read the terms of your policy carefully. What happened to Garikapati above wasn't exactly his fault, but it seems the fine print of his policy provided the insurance company with an out. Familiarizing himself with those details may have prevented the situation above from occurring. One thing you'll want to check your policy for is exclusions. There are certain things your insurer may not pay for, which should be outlined in your policy agreement. It's also important to read the terms of your claim approval carefully to make sure you and your contractor are in compliance. But from there, if you believe an insurer isn't paying out like it's supposed to, you should collect evidence. Document all of the work that was done so you can show if it was in accordance with what your insurer approved. That means taking pictures and getting a write-up from your contractor detailing the work performed. Your insurer may have tools in place for claims and payment denials. Follow those once you've gathered your documentation. If that doesn't work, you can try to file a complaint with your state's insurance agency. If that doesn't work, you may want to seek legal guidance. To be clear, there's a difference between your insurance company denying a claim and refusing to pay following an approval. There should be no expectation your insurer will pay out on a claim that's been denied. Also keep in mind that any contractor you hire may not be as understanding as Garner, and you don't want yours to come after you for their money. So, you should do all that you can to ensure everything is above board. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hans India
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
A banker steeped in music and spirituality
He is a successful banker who has also gained renown for his deep interest and expertise in classical music and spirituality, which have found expression in books on these topics. He is a respected commentator and columnist too, and has just turned lyricist. Venkat Sastry Garikapati, who is General Manager in India's largest public-sector bank and also Director, State Bank Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad, has just released his 23rd and 24th books respectively, with commentary on the sankeerthanas of saint-composer Tallapaka Annamacharya. He has also completed 40 years as a commentator on spiritual and music matters. We caught up with Venkat Garikapati just after he returned from Tirupathi, fresh from the ritual tonsure that devotees offer to the presiding deity, Lord Venkateswara—the god to whom vaggeyakara (meaning: lyricist and music composer) Annamacharya dedicated all his work, estimated at 32,000 sankeerthanas. There is something indefatigable about Venkat Garikapati and his passion for research and writing, even while doing a full-time job with much efficiency. Consider this: he has been functioning as a commentator on spiritual matters for 40 years now and contributing articles to newspapers and magazines. He has also been working at a very responsible job in the banking sector, while being a husband and father. Alongside, Venkat Garikapati has been quietly researching the works of Annamacharya, aka Annamayya, and discovering new insights into his music and philosophy of life and authoring books on the same. A few weeks ago, he released the latest books authored by him: Sri Ramabhiramam and Rajeeva Netraya, both in Telugu. As mentioned, these are his 23rd and 24th books respectively, and both focus on Annamacharya's Srirama Sankeerthanas, i.e., lyrics dedicated to Lord Rama. For the unversed, Annamayya's oeuvre is mostly dedicated to his ishtadaivam, Lord Venkateswara, though there are compositions on other deities like Lord Krishna, general philosophical matters, etc. Hundreds of articles in newspapers and magazines on various topics including motivational ones, and 24 books on Annamayya… that is a great deal of writing! So, did he ever suffer writer's block and how did he recover? Venkat Garikapati's answer is surprising: 'No, I never suffered that problem during my literary pursuit. I always have a flurry of ideas on which I try to improvise a little, every now and then.' The versatile Venkat Garikapati has come a long way in life to where he is now. Born in a humble village called Pedapadu, Andhra Pradesh, he began his elementary education in a Panchayat School. He graduated in commerce from Sir C.R. Reddy College, Eluru. He followed that with an MBA in Banking and Finance. Annamacharya appears to be his magnificent obsession. How did this fascination begin? 'I developed a passion for Annamayya Sankeerthanas even from my childhood. But once I started the commentary on his compositions, my own life became gradually closer to him and his work.' Soon, Venkat Garikapati found himself and his life deeply intertwined with the great saint-composer, his compositions, and the layers of meaning and profound philosophy therein. The more he delved into Annamayya's work, the more he found there was to discover. He adds: 'I like the works of all vaggeyakaras. Everyone is great in their own way. However, in Annamacharya's lyrics, I find a great deal of variety. He wrote Adhyatma Sankeerthanas, Shrungara Sankeerthanas, Prabodha, and Janapada Sankeerthanas. Annamayya's literature is an elixir.' How was his first experience as a commentator? How did that happen? And was he nervous, unsure…? He replies with the quiet confidence that is his characteristic: 'No, not at all. How can a college student have fear? One afternoon, during my college days, merely by chance, I had to present a vote of thanks at an Annamacharya concert in a Sri Anjaneya Temple in our village. What I spoke turned out to be a very good review of each Sankeerthana, according to the feedback I later received from elders. On completion of the speech, applause broke out.' The appreciation from the audience, including knowledgeable persons, not only delighted him but reinforced his confidence. From that day on, he felt that his life had acquired a new meaning and purpose. Today, 40 years later, how much does he think he has learnt? Any mistakes he corrected or tips learnt along the way? 'My attitude has always been: I know a little and have a great deal more to know… Every day is a learning experience for me, and I do correct my mistakes on an ongoing basis.' Venkat Garikapati successfully juggles many responsibilities. So, what are his time-management secrets? 'That is a good question, but there is really no secret. I do my banking job with dedication and concentration. After that, I allot one hour to 90 minutes a day for my literary and commentary interests. I am also a responsible family man.' The tireless banker and author has more works in the offing. He plans to write books on Annamacharya's Dashavatara Sankeerthanas and another on the Pouranika Samvada Sankeerthanalu. He also dreams of a book on saint-composer Tyagaraja's works at some point in the future. Well, we wish him all the best.
