Why am I doing this?

Years have now passed since I was involved in my disastrous claim with Fidelity National Title Insurance Company so even I am asking why do I continue to work on this blog.

Being involved in a claim with Fidelity National Title is in my opinion a route to disappointment and being treated like the enemy rather than the person insured - at least this was my experience.  And I continue to hear from individuals who feel the same way.

Even though I was the insured and the claim was opened by Fidelity on my behalf as soon as it became apparent that the error was completely theirs and the settlement would be substantial the claim was denied and I became the enemy rather than the insured.

I did prevail and got a meager settlement after I gave up the fight.  Two years of the equivalent of working full time not to mention investing thousands of dollars as a single mom needing to support my children being confronted with many more years and thousands of dollars needing to be invested (in deposing at very high rates their employees in Nebraska, the appraiser in Idaho and the local California "expert" witness at $500 an hour) or settle for approximately 10% of the loss which after paying the attorney and all of the expenses (not to mention my time which was thousands of hours) I was in my opinion literally forced to settle.

BUT THE ONE THING I TOLD MY ATTORNEY COULD NOT BE IN THE SETTLEMENT WAS A GAG ORDER.

Although since I have started this blog I have been told by others that they did get a better settlement than originally offered but had to agree to not discuss it (and two implied specifically not with me).

I recently sold my home and I took the tiny stand refusing to have the escrow handled by Fidelity.

So why do I continue to write this blog?  To warn people that insuring your property with Fidelity National Title Insurance Company that this is only to benefit the bottom line of their stockholders and may not (likely not in my opinion) insure your property in the event their is a title problem - especially if it involves an error made by Fidelity in their work.

Facebook page Complaints against Fidelity National Title Group

I will be documenting my story about this company. I urge others to read this. My goal is to inform the public and state law makers of how this company treats its policyholders when theres a claim. Stand by for the story.

·         Complaints against Fidelity National Title Group

Ann, I don't remember where we were in terms of correspondence but finally after seven years I've made significant progress. I believe what turned things in my favor was that after numerous complaints to the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS) they called a meeting in NYC and Fidelity was represented by two attorneys and I represented myself? The purpose was to address my numerous complaints in person. subsequent to the meeting, Fidelity withdrew the OSC to withdraw they attorneys and allowed me to select my own attorney ( which they agreed to pay). My new attorney prepared and established a trial date which none of the previous Fidelity appointed attorneys seemed to be able to do( or in my opinion did not want to do). As the court date came closer we managed to reach an equitable settlement ... Actually the settlement was reach in front of the trial judge as the case was about to start.

·         Tuesday

8/25, 6:18pm

Complaints against Fidelity National Title Group

Ann, after 8+ years my case was settled. However, I had to hire my own attorney, (the second one) which got my case on the court calendar for trial. On the first day of trial (which both my attorney and I were sure we were going to win, a settlement was reached ... In short, my title and survey were agreed were correct, my property returned, and I received a financial settlement. In my opinion, the keys to my success were my attorney (who was honest and competent), the fact that my formal complaints and subsequent meeting with the NYSDFS ( the Insurance Department ... Who chaired a meeting with myself and Fidelity attorneys at their offices) and the fact that we started the trial of the case before a judge.

8/25, 6:18pm

Complaints against Fidelity National Title Group

Good luck with your efforts

8/25, 6:39pm

Ann Zollinger

Wow - finally a success story. I wish I had been able to financially hold out for 8 years and have some satisfaction but alas my great satisfaction is by blog and I will enter all of this if not tonight tomorrow.

My own success ended up financially a disaster but I feel I have some compensation by now having reached over 25,000 people and have been able to help numerous people with their actions against Fidelity National Title.

I even heard that one person was able to settle but part of the agreement was to not communicate with me so that I would not be able to blog about it!!!

I am so thrilled to hear your news!

Ann

 

25,000 Visitors

Twenty-five thousand people have now read posts on my blog!!

My hope is that it has helped many in their own claims against Fidelity National Title Insurance Company get fair treatment and their claims handled in good faith.

And hopefully it may have had others who are looking for title insurance to consider insuring with someone other than Fidelity National Title Insurance Company.

Many thanks to my thousands of readers.