Auto Insurance Claims: Car theft being investigated, employment records, insurance commissioner


Question
My car was just stollen for the 2nd time In 60 days. A few days before it was stollen this last time I had put full coverage on it ( the stress of waking up from multiple nightmares and running outside in the middle of the night to see if my car was still there was just becoming to much.) I have been looking to move somewhere better so I was only going to have full coverage until I moved. Well when it was stollen I knew they would do an investigation and I'm fine with that, but what concerned me is after speaking with the investigator she asked for my phone records to see where my calls were made to verify my alibi. I crossed out all phone numbers showing only the origination of my calls. She said that wasn't good enough and needed all the phone numbers I called and received calls from the week before up to the week after my car was stollen. I told her those people have nothing to do with my car, and i don't have permission to give their numbers out. So about three days later I receive a letter requesting that I resubmit my phone records showing all numbers as well as an authorization form for me to sign allowing them to access my salary, assets, employment records, credit ratings, any police or criminal records, medical records, tax returns, any invoices, notes or payment records and more. My question is do I legally have to give her access to all that information for my claim to not be declined? Am I wrong for feeling victimized by my insurance company and violated by them? The investigator has also offended me by giving horrible relationship advise whe talking about my current situation. Should I be in contact with my states insurance commissioner?

Answer
The insurer has the right to the information they requested.  The policy allows them the right to information that is material to their investigation.  You could dispute whether or not the information is material, but generally courts have agreed with insurers on this type of information.  Investigating suspicious claims is much like a police investigation and you need to look in a lot of directions.

I understand you feel victimized.  It is not fun being investigated.  But try to understand where they are coming from.  They are victimized by fraud multiple times every day so they have an obligation to the honest customers to investigate when suspicious indicators exist.  Fraud cases high insurance rates.  

Assuming you are innocent and you cooperate fully, you should be fine.  If you do not cooperate, they can deny your claim for non-cooperation.  

They should cover your rental expenses while they investigate, because their investigation is causing delays.  

The relationship advice seems inappropriate.  I'd suggest talking to her supervisor about that.