I feel you on the digital records thing—I thought I was being super organized keeping everything in emails and PDFs. But when my bike got stolen last year, the insurance rep acted like my digital receipts were sketchy or something. Ended up having to dig through old bank statements to prove I'd actually bought it. Honestly, I think insurers just want proof that's hard to fake, whether it's handwritten notes or physical receipts... anything that makes your claim look legit helps.
"Honestly, I think insurers just want proof that's hard to fake, whether it's handwritten notes or physical receipts..."
Yeah, totally agree with this. I had a similar situation when my laptop got swiped from a coffee shop. Thought I was golden with digital invoices and warranty PDFs, but nope—had to jump through hoops showing credit card statements and even sent them a photo I'd randomly taken of the box (luckily still had it in my phone). Seems like insurers just want something tangible or unexpected to make your claim harder to dispute... kinda frustrating though.
Had something similar happen with my car insurance a couple years back. Got rear-ended at a stoplight, clearly not my fault, and thought it would be straightforward. Sent them digital copies of the police report and photos of the damage—figured that'd be plenty, right? Nope. They kept asking for repair estimates from multiple places, handwritten mechanic notes, and even wanted proof I'd been regularly maintaining my brakes. Like, really? What does brake maintenance have to do with getting rear-ended?
Felt like they were just fishing for reasons to deny or reduce the claim. Makes me wonder if insurers intentionally ask for random extra "proof" just to see if you'll give up or miss something. Anyone else had to deal with weirdly specific or irrelevant requests like that? Seems kinda shady to me...
"Makes me wonder if insurers intentionally ask for random extra 'proof' just to see if you'll give up or miss something."
Honestly, I get why it feels shady, but usually it's less about tricking you and more about insurers covering their bases. A few things I've noticed from working in the industry:
- Requests for maintenance records (like your brakes) are often standard protocol—even if they seem totally irrelevant. They're basically checking off boxes to rule out any possible liability on your end.
- Multiple repair estimates are common practice to ensure the claim amount is reasonable. Annoying, yes...but not unusual.
- Sometimes adjusters get overly cautious or follow outdated checklists, which leads to weirdly specific requests.
That said, some companies definitely push it too far. If you ever feel they're crossing a line, politely push back and ask them to clarify exactly why they need that info. Usually, they'll back down or at least explain themselves better.
Insurance can be frustratingly bureaucratic at times, but most agents aren't out to get you—we're just stuck navigating the same red tape as everyone else.
That said, some companies definitely push it too far. If you ever feel they're crossing a line, politely push back and ask them to clarify exactly why they need that info.
I get your point, but honestly...it still feels like insurers sometimes bank on people getting overwhelmed and giving up. Sure, they're covering their bases, but when you're already stressed from an accident, jumping through hoops for random paperwork can feel pretty intentional. I've had adjusters ask for stuff that even my mechanic thought was pointless. Maybe it's not malicious exactly, but it definitely doesn't feel like they're on your side either.
