Bank allows Florida man to cash hurricane insurance check after multiple denials, bringing a glimmer of hope amid the challenges of recovery. St. Petersburg’s Reza Razavi is finally seeing progress in his two-bedroom rental unit on the picturesque shores of St. Pete Beach. After grappling with extensive damage caused by Hurricane Milton, he has resumed repairs, a small yet significant step toward restoring normalcy.
“We were able to complete some of our baseboards,” he shared during a recent tour of the renovated unit in Pass-A-Grille, revealing the determination that fuels his efforts.
Not too long ago, Razavi found himself wrestling with a frustrating situation: his mortgage lender, TD Bank, had initially refused to cash a $20,000 insurance check intended to address hurricane-related damages. The check represented an advance, meant to enable immediate repairs while his full insurance claim remains under review.
“It’s terrible because you have the funds, but you can’t access them,” he reflected, capturing the essence of the struggle faced by many homeowners in similar predicaments.
While it’s not uncommon for mortgage or lien holders to request proof of work before endorsing an insurance check, Razavi’s situation proved to be particularly convoluted. Despite providing a notarized document alongside his contractor’s estimate, he found that TD Bank required a copy of his claims adjuster’s report—a document delayed by significant backlogs due to Florida’s relentless storm activity this summer.
This bureaucratic hurdle forced Razavi into a corner, necessitating an additional line of credit to proceed with repairs on his rental property, which had suffered notable water damage following Hurricane Milton.
Miraculously, within mere hours of Investigative Reporter Katie LaGrone reaching out to TD Bank on Razavi’s behalf, he received the long-awaited call. “One of the managers contacted me and said they have endorsed the check and we can deposit it. So we got the money,” he said, relief washing over him as he acknowledged his fortune.
In a statement issued, a TD Bank spokesperson provided little clarity on the initial delays but expressed satisfaction in resolving what they described as an “isolated situation.” They emphasized their commitment to assist customers facing hardships, inviting anyone needing help to reach out directly.
Alongside the endorsement of his check, Razavi received an apology letter from TD Bank. “I was grateful for the apology,” he noted, appreciating the acknowledgment of his frustrations as he strives to rebuild for his tenants, and ultimately for himself.
“If it wasn’t for you guys, our voice would have never been heard. That’s just the plain truth,” Razavi remarked, underscoring the collective power of community and media advocacy in navigating a convoluted recovery process.
As he moves forward, the cash from the insurance check paves the way for Razavi to continue mending the wounds left by the storm, allowing his tenants the chance to return home and restore a sense of stability. In times like these, every small victory matters—a testament to resilience amid adversity.
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Update: Bank finally endorses Florida man’s hurricane insurance check after we shared his story
Hurricane Milton inflicted substantial damage to a St. Pete man’s property, leaving him struggling to cash his insurance check. Investigative Reporter Katie LaGrone brings you the latest developments.
Bank finally endorses Florida man’s hurricane insurance check after we shared his story
