Something You Should Know....
By CatsandDogs
@CatsandDogs (13963)
United States
February 25, 2010 3:05pm CST
It's about legal paper that we all write on from time to time. It's yellow and a bit longer than white paper. Anyway, years ago when my parents had insurance agents come to their house to go over their policies or to buy one, the agent writes on this yellow paper called the Legal Pad. When they're ready to leave, they always ball up the yellow paper to throw away or to take with them. DO NOT let them do that! You get that paper from the agent and store it for safe keeping! The reason is because, they show you this and that about your policy and when you go to use the insurance and find that it doesn't cover like the agent said it does, get that yellow paper out because it's considered a legal document of exactly what the agent told you and they HAVE to cover your bill exactly as it was written on the yellow paper/Legal Pad! If you don't have that paper then you're screwed but if you do, then it's considered a legal document and they have to pay out accordingly! This was told to my parents many years ago and it just stuck to my mind and for some reason, it came back to my mind so I had to let you all in on the secret. Anytime I remember something, I'll pass it on to you my friends in hopes to save you the heartache.
Did you know this already?
6 people like this
10 responses
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Feb 10
Thanks cats, i didn't know that. thanks for sharing the info. I'm not planning on taking out any insurance, am insurance poor now, lol but i'll certainly remember your good advice. Hope all is well w/u.
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
25 Feb 10
You're very welcome Jo! Any time I remember something, I'll post it on here in hopes it'll help somebody. No, things aren't so good here and you'll see that on my next discussion that I already made but we'll make it. Life goes on and on, doesn't it? All the good along with the bad....
3 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Feb 10
I just answered your other discussion. Hope things get better for u & yours.
2 people like this
@redhotpogo (4398)
• United States
26 Feb 10
It all depends on how far they want to take it really. Doesn't have to be the yellow legal paper. Any term discussed, and written down can be used as a legal agreement. Even if its on toilet paper. If you were to threaten to take it to court, a large company would just go ahead with the agreement, so they don't waste time, and money, but a smaller company might fight it, and they could say because there are no signatures it is not a binding contract.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
26 Feb 10
I beg to differ with you redhotpogo. This info was given to my parents by someone who knows. If you want to be otherwise, so be it but I'm only trying to help and if you don't believe me, so be it. Discussed can be argued for it could be he said she said type of thing. Toilet paper isn't binding however, legal pad is. One doesn't need a signature on legal paper. Compare writing samples can show that the same agent who wrote the policy is the same agent that wrote on the legal pad.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
1 Mar 10
Hey redhotpogo, it's ok. Yeah, you did hit me wrong but it's all good now. No hard feelings at all, Ok? I still rated you a positive regardless. Anyway, I'm just trying to help, I'm not the type to lead anyone the wrong way. Just thought you'd like to know, no pun intended.
@redhotpogo (4398)
• United States
26 Feb 10
I'm sorry if I offended you. I'm not saying you are wrong. You are only saying what you were told. I'm just adding a caution to it. Just some xtra info. In the legal world nothing is that simple. Its a good idea though to keep the things that are written down, as you said.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
26 Feb 10
Hi Cats
Here in the UK they have to give you a copy of everything they are not aloud to sell you a false policy it is more important here that we read the small Print as that is always where the catch is which I found out the hard way
It is good though that you are making People aware of this as this way they know about it 
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
1 Mar 10
That's not what I mean sweetie, maybe I typed it up wrong. The insurance sales person has to give you a copy of the policy however, while they're explaining it to you, they usually write on a yellow pad called "Legal Pad" and most times the sales person will lie and make the policy look good so the customer will buy the policy. They use the legal pad to write out the policy to show what it covers and what it doesn't cover before writing up the policy itself. Say it's a hospital insurance and the sales person writes 80% coverage for this and that. The policy might be written up to say 50% coverage for this and that. If you have the yellow piece of paper that the sales person wrote on explaining the policy, the insurance company HAS to pay according to the yellow paper because it's legal and binding because it shows what exactly he sold the customer. Now I'm not sure how it works in the UK however, this is how it is in the States. Did that make any sense?
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
26 Feb 10
I did not know that. Then again, I haven't had much to deal with in the way of insurance. I wonder if they do the same thing in Canada. If it comes up (that is to say if we get anything insured), I will look out for this. For now we live in an apartment, do not own a car, do not have life insurance, etc. so we really haven't had occasion to notice this.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
26 Feb 10
I would imagine it to be for Canada too but I'm not sure. I do hope you have renters insurance....? It's so dirt cheap and well worth the money in case something does happen in your apartment complex. Living around so many other people, you never know what could happen but to lose your things too at someone else's wrong doing, ugh, I can't imagine. Hubby and I had it and we had a tornado come through our area and it took our shed that was bolted to the ground and threw it across two fields including all our things and it took a neighbors GMC Jimmy truck top right off of his truck and it too landed a couple of fields away. Luckily we had renters insurance which covered every bit of it.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
26 Feb 10
The policy does help, huh? lol Also I forgot to mention, a fire proof box to go with it to put the policy in in case of a fire should one happen. Anyway, that's why it's called "Legal Pad" because it's binding and legal. I thought for a long time that it was just called a legal pad but there's a hidden reason for it's name and hopefully knowing it, helped someone. Take care!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
26 Feb 10
I'm glad to know you knew this already! Not many people do. Hopefully it helps someone out there. Take care of yourself....
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
25 Jan 12
Wow!! This is some interesting information, and I am sure many people could learn from, especially since many times you are told something that ends up not being True and then because you no longer have the proof in writing it means you are responsible and they are not. This is some Good advice, and I know I am learning this life lesson for many other things as well.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
18 Mar 10
That was good to know, but the last insurance man that I had at my house, used a computer. I will have to remember that, I am sure it goes for other things too.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
25 Feb 10
No I certainly did not know that. Thanks for the tip!
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
25 Feb 10
Hi whiteheather! You're very welcome!
1 person likes this
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
27 Feb 10
Hey Mary Beth,
That is really good info to know. I had no idea. Learn something new every day. I think we should all pass along info that we know to be true. Learning everything the hard way is way too difficult and as long as we trust the person giving it, then we'd be foolish not to pay attention. Thanks Sweetie.
Love Ya
Leenie
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
1 Mar 10
I can't agree more Leenie! Some of us have learned the hard way and some of us are lucky enough to know people who know the insiders secrets and are willing to share with the rest of us. I love passing on information like this and love getting information like this. lol There again, who doesn't? Love you too!
