In spite of complaints from Prosecutors, clients, and advocacies groups, Hartford continues to operates its criminal enterprise because it has learned the ropes of how to doge the law. As for us, unless you do your research, which my husband didn't do, you will only know the scam you have fallen into when you have a claim.

Here is my story, not different than thousands of other stories of anyone that had been scammed by The Hartford insurance company: I had them for 35 years, my husband assumed they were a legitimate business because they were recommended by the AARP (association for retired person)... through the Weather Modification Program many states have been affected by artificial storms and hurricanes.

I had a legitimate claim when my roof was lifted up. Hartford gave us about U$1,000.00 after 2 months of back and forth phone calls and so and so is traveling. As the storms were unpredictable we were concerned, another 3 months went by. Hartford offered a deal if we sign that we would accept half of the value of the roof replacement, by this time, we were concerned that the our house could suffer damages and accepted the deal but they never paid the half payment they have offered. I was puzzled, if they didn't want to pay, why going to the trouble of preparing a contract and having us signing up?

I contacted several attorneys and finally one was willing to explain why they refused the case and here is what they said "Hartford is doing this for years to their clients. Once you sign the half payment agreement, since an attorney can only charge 5% of the total value, the amount won't be enough even to file the case in court." Indeed the US9,000.00 cost for the roof had gone down to US$3,500.00 and 5% of this is U$125.00 and you can't get a maid to clean your house for this amount.

My neighbor also lost part of his roof but he had everything replaced, without any fuss. I learned a big lesson, when it comes to insurance, either do your research or consult with your neighbors and friends because the time you need an insurance you can't shift providers. He had liberty mutual and this is what I have now.

I contacted the public attorney who confirmed that Hartford has been in their radar for a long time and that unfortunately people can't sue them because they have developed a strategy that will make cost effective impossible to sue them.

As far as I am concerned AARP and Hartford as partners in crime, swindling the public and taking advantage of the trust we had deposited in them. At over US$2,000.00 per year(sometimes less but overall and in round figures) we paid the Hartford home and car insurance, multiplied over 35 years (even though there are minor changes in premium) it is roughly US$70,000.00, think of how much we could have done with that money.

Here is the lesson I've learned: a recommendation by a scammer is worthless. If we new how many scammers AARP had supported, we would never take them seriously. Do your own research, look at rip off posts, type "complaints against so and so". From our part we had cancelled our membership with AARP (it is not possible that they didn't know about 37 rip off reports loud and clear all over the internet, not to mention reports on the Governmental site) AARP are complicit with the scam. So Hartford took US$700,000.00 from us and caused us a tremendous amount of fear and stress, but hopefully it can save others from the scam (by the way, all the documentation is available, including their original contract and their agreement to pay half)