I need help with the NY/CT MTA Metro North Rail

[MyMomsBox]

To make a long story short...a tree that was on the property of the MNRR fell on my house 2 weeks ago. They arranged for someone to come clean up the tree, but since then have refused to answer calls about damage to the house I own. It's great considering it ripped a hole in my roof, destroyed my BBQ grill and other outdoor furniture.
Does anyone know a good contact at the MTA that is not an answering machine? I'm starting to think someone is listening to the message that my house is fucked up and they're just laughing as they hit the delete button.

[rustytrombone1]

Call "Help me Howard" from WB11. He's helped folks in need.

Sorry I can't help. Good luck.

[Bill]

Talk to your insurance agent. I would be willing to bet that you can make this work just like an auto insurance claim. Let your insurance company take care of you, while they go after the MTA to get reimbursed.

[MyMomsBox]

I would but just one problem...no homeowner insurance. Doh.

[frankjg]

Get a lawyer, there is no way they are going to answer your calls and pay this claim off.

[Mybigcans]

Yeah you're gonna need to sic the hounds on their asses... Good luck... BTW HOW THE FUCK COULD YOU NOT HAVE HOMEOWNERS INS???? I thought you had to have it while paying the mortgage....

[Bill]

If you have no insurance, then I agree with frankjg. You need to get a lawyer. My reason for recommending your insurance company was that they have lawyers on retainer. You may as well fight with lawyers that are already paid for rather than paying for him yourself.

Right after finding an attorney, call an insurance agent and get homeowners insurance. Not having homeowner's insurance is insane. If that tree had been on your own property, you would be paying for all of these repairs out of pocket.

[MyMomsBox]

Yeah you're gonna need to sic the hounds on their asses... Good luck... BTW HOW THE FUCK COULD YOU NOT HAVE HOMEOWNERS INS???? I thought you had to have it while paying the mortgage....

We got "lucky" and had the house willed to us...

[ChrisC_EIT]

We got "lucky" and had the house willed to us...

And if you don't mind my saying, there's plenty of property that is owned without mortages. Not that it wasn't a good idea go without the insurance - and my condolences - there's no way that you are going to get any public agency to pay for damages against you (er, your property) without a lawyer.

[MyMomsBox]

And if you don't mind my saying, there's plenty of property that is owned without mortages. Not that it wasn't a good idea go without the insurance - and my condolences - there's no way that you are going to get any public agency to pay for damages against you (er, your property) without a lawyer.

That may be...and I'm not too worried if it has to go there. It's just frustrating that an agency as large as the MTA only has voicemail and not an actual person that can take a call and tell me to fuck off.

In the end, I think they'll pay up. They already claimed responsibilty for the tree and had people out already to clean up that mess. Total damage to the house and general property came to about $3k by Home Depots estimates. It might take em awhile to pay, but it's not like I'm claiming hundreds of thousands in damages.

[MyMomsBox]

If that tree had been on your own property, you would be paying for all of these repairs out of pocket.

The house is already 250 years old. Since we've recieved this "blessing", we've already put more than enough money for repairs out of pocket.

You all got a point though...I guess it is time to cough up the loot for a lil insurance.

[Bill]

Homeowner's insurance covers more than just the physical home. It's your liability insurance in case something happens to somebody on your property. If the UPS guy slips on ice on your front walk and breaks a bone, that insurance is what prevents that UPS guy from becoming the new owner your house or your having to sell it in order to pay the lawsuit that you will invariably lose.

For people who rent, renter's insurance is something worth owning as well. It's inexpensive and it too covers liability.

[Mabe]

Some tips:
1) Keep calling, explore the system and find a person. When someone transfers you and you get voicemail call back to the person that transfered you and tell them you only got voicemail and need the actual person or their boss. After 6-7 calls they will get pissed and find you someone. It takes some time but you'll get to the top.


2) Write names down when you do talk to someone and get phone extentions.

3) When they transfer you to another person ask for that persons ext before they send you in case it doesnt go through.

4) If they say "can I call you right back", "let me check into this" or anything else that gets rid of you, the answer is "no, I'll wait, I have time".

I spend my day at work fighting with companies over invoice and shipping issues I can get anyone on the phone.

[ChrisC_EIT]

The house is already 250 years old. Since we've recieved this "blessing", we've already put more than enough money for repairs out of pocket.

You all got a point though...I guess it is time to cough up the loot for a lil insurance.

I'm sure you're just being sarcastic... but is the house really 250 years old?

And $3000 seems like such a small amount - wouldn't the deductible on insurance be greater than that, typically? Again, not that it's a bad idea to carry the insurance, but just sayin'.

[frankjg]

Homeowners insurance is cheap, it is not a huge expense. Do yourself a favor and get it. If your house burns down you are covered for the amount it will cost you to replace the house.

[Sinn Fein]

If you had homeowner's insurance you could get the insurance company involved on your behalf. My father had to do this in a similar situation. A tree fell on his property, wiped out his fence. The property is owned by the school district. They tried to deny it was their responsibility of course. It took a while, but it all got resolved.

Since you don't have homeowners, you might have to spend money upfront to get it resolved.