Minnesota Family Gets a Hand from Farmers Insurance(R) HelpPoint Service

Farmers' Claims Rep Fights Fire, Files Claim in Same Night

LOS ANGELES, April 2 -- Farmers Insurance Group(R) has received considerable praise for its new HelpPoint(SM) service from customers who have been through a crisis and desperately needed the speedy claims process and immediate assistance that HelpPoint provides. Few, however, have received the kind of extraordinary service Mike and Dianne Daly of Roseville, Minnesota did recently.

David Breen, a property claims adjuster for Farmers(R) and a volunteer firefighter in Roseville, responded to a fire at the Daly's home in the middle of the night. The firemen extinguished the blaze, which apparently was started by a lit candle in the basement, within two hours.

Back at the station, the fire inspector informed Breen that the homeowners, coincidentally, were Farmers customers. So at 5:30 a.m., instead of going home for some well-deserved rest, Breen returned to the Daly's home to begin the claims process.

"I introduced myself to Mike, who was a little surprised since he hadn't called anyone from Farmers," Breen said. "So we climbed into his car, called the Farmers HelpPoint office in Oklahoma City from his driveway and got things rolling."

According to Breen, HelpPoint was able to open the necessary claims units during that phone call. By 6 a.m., a repair company was on its way to the house to board up six broken windows and to install temporary heat and electricity so that pipes wouldn't freeze and the Dalys could retrieve some clothing.

"I sat there in the car with him, kind of in a state of shock," Mike Daly said. "What he did, in my estimation, was over and above taking care of a client."

The Dalys politely declined Breen's offer to arrange a hotel room for them, opting instead to stay with their daughter who lived nearby. Shortly thereafter, a local large-claims adjuster -- whom HelpPoint had notified -- contacted the Dalys, found an apartment for them in the same complex as their daughter's and within days provided them with funds under the Additional Living Expenses coverage of their Homeowners policy.

"Right off the bat they sent us a check for $2,500 to get our feet back on the ground and to buy some clothes," Daly said. "You don't realize what you have until you lose it.

"I guess I picked the right insurance company," he added. "All the people I've dealt with at Farmers have been real helpful and supportive, and that's what you hope for and expect out of your insurance company."

For his extraordinary effort in handling the claim, Breen, who said he is in contact with HelpPoint personnel several times a week, received the Claims Superior Service Award from Farmers Insurance Group.

Fires, accidents and other tragedies are distressful. Farmers' new HelpPoint service provides a toll-free number for customers to reach a claims representative who can immediately start the claims process and assist them with their needs, such as a tow-truck, rental car or a hotel room.

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies(R) is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Headquartered in Los Angeles and doing business in 41 states, the insurers comprising the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households through 17,000 exclusive and independent agents and district managers. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com .

For more information about Farmers' HelpPoint program, see your local Farmers agent.