When you are managing a property or running a business, damage to your building already puts pressure on your operations. But when your insurance claim drags on with no clear update, that pressure turns into frustration fast.
You are not just waiting for money; you are waiting to fix the damage, bring people back in and keep your income steady. If those delays feel less like paperwork and more like stonewalling — meaning the company keeps dodging or stalling without real answers — it is time to look closer.
Why some insurance delays are intentional
Sure, insurance companies are large and their processes can take time. But when a delay drags on with no meaningful progress or communication, you’re not simply dealing with inefficiency — you are facing a tactic meant to wear you down.
They understand that the longer they stall, the more pressure builds on your side and the more likely you are to accept a lowball offer just to move on, or worse, give up altogether — not because your claim lacks merit, but because they are counting on you to lose momentum before they lose money. That is not slow service — that’s bad faith.
What delay tactics look like in bad faith insurance claims
When you keep getting asked for the same documents you’ve already sent, or the adjuster disappears without returning your calls, or you hear vague phrases like “we’re still reviewing” without any real explanation or timeline, those are not simply signs of disorganization. They are signs of bad faith.
Maybe they say they reassigned your file but never introduce the new contact, or maybe they promise to follow up and nothing happens for days, then weeks — and suddenly, you’re stuck in a loop that leads nowhere because that is exactly where they want you.
How to respond when your claim keeps stalling
You don’t have to sit quietly while your claim gets buried under layers of red tape. Instead, take control by documenting everything — track every phone call, save every email and note every promise they fail to follow through on — because that paper trail will matter.
When you follow up, do it in writing, and don’t just ask for updates. Ask for clear answers and real deadlines, and if things still don’t move, do not hesitate to talk to someone who deals with these delay tactics every day and knows how to cut through the noise while you stay focused on your business.
Don’t let a delay cost you more than it already has
You’ve already dealt with the physical damage, and now you’re facing the slow bleed of a claim that won’t move, and that delay is costing you more than time. It is also costing you money, opportunity and peace of mind. But the more you understand these tactics, the faster you can step in before the stalling puts you further behind. And if your gut tells you something is off, don’t wait for another excuse — talk to someone who knows what bad faith looks like and how to stop it before it costs you even more.