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Maoism, formally known as Mao Zedong Thought (simplified Chinese: 毛泽东思想; traditional Chinese: 毛澤東思想; pinyin: Máozédōng sīxiǎng), is a political theory derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong (1893–1976). Its followers, known as Maoists, consider it as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxism-Leninism.[citation needed] Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding ideology of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Maoism sees the agrarian peasantry, rather than the working class, as the key revolutionary force which can fundamentally transform capitalist society towards socialism. Holding that "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun,"[1] Maoist organizations mainly draw upon Mao's ideology of the People's War, mobilizing large parts of rural populations to revolt against established institutions by engaging in guerrilla warfare. Maoism views the industrial-rural divide as a major division exploited by capitalism, identifying capitalism as involving industrial urban developed "First World" societies ruling over rural developing "Third World" societies.[2] Maoism identifies peasant insurgencies in particular national contexts were part of a context of world revolution, in which Maoism views the global countryside would overwhelm the global cities.[3] Due to this imperialism by the capitalist urban First World towards the rural Third World, Maoism has endorsed national liberation movements in the Third World.[3]
Although Maoism is critical of urban industrial capitalist powers, it views urban industrialization as a prerequisite to expand economic development and socialist reorganization to the countryside, with the goal being the achievement of rural industrialization that would abolish the distinction between town and countryside.[4]
Maoism can also refer to the socialist egalitarianism that was seen during Mao's era as opposed to the free-market capitalist ideology of Deng Xiaoping; some scholars additionally note personality cults and political sloganeering as "Maoist" practices.[5] Contemporary Maoists in China criticize the social inequalities created by what they view as a capitalist and "revisionist" Communist party. Some Maoists claim that Deng Xiaoping's Reform and Opening economic policies that introduced market principles were the end of Maoism in China, although Deng Xiaoping himself asserted that his reforms were upholding Mao Zedong Thought in accelerating the output of the country's productive forces.
Notable Maoist organizations and armed groups currently exist in several countries, particularly in the most impoverished sections of the third world.[citation needed] Examples of contemporary Maoist movements most notably include the Shining Path in Peru, the Naxalite insurgency in India, and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
- 1 Origins
- 2 Components
- 3 Post-revolution
- 4 Maoism after Mao
- 5 Maoism internationally
- 6 Criticisms and interpretations
- 7 See also
- 8 References
- 9 Further reading
- 10 External links
Although often described as an evolution of Marxism/Leninism, Maoism is defined more by its theoretical and ideological departures from orthodox Marxism or Leninism than by its similarities to the Western versions of modern socialism. The origins of Maoism stem not from Marxist writings alone, but also from the modern Chinese intellectual tradition in which Mao was raised.
The modern Chinese intellectual tradition[edit]
The modern Chinese intellectual tradition of the turn of the twentieth century is defined by two central concepts, iconoclasm and nationalism.[6]
Iconoclastic revolution/anti-Confucianism[edit]
By the turn of the twentieth century, a proportionately small yet socially significant cross-section of China's traditional elite (i.e. landlords and bureaucrats), found themselves increasingly skeptical of the efficacy and even the moral validity of Confucianism.[7] These skeptical iconoclasts formed a new segment of Chinese society, a modern intelligentsia, whose arrival, or as lauded historian of China Maurice Meisner would label it, their defection, heralded the beginning of the destruction of the gentry as a social class in China.[8] The fall of the last Chinese imperial dynasty in 1911 marked the final failure of the Confucian moral order, and did much to make Confucianism synonymous with political and social conservatism in the minds of Chinese intellectuals. It was this association of conservatism and Confucianism which lent to the iconoclastic nature of Chinese intellectual thought during the first decades of the Twentieth century.[9]
Chinese iconoclasm was expressed most clearly and vociferously by Chen Duxiu during the New Culture Movement which occurred between 1915 and 1919.[10] Proposing the, "total destruction of the traditions and values of the past," the New Culture Movement was spearheaded by the New Youth, a periodical which was published by Chen Duxiu and which was profoundly influential on a young Mao Zedong whose first published work appeared on the magazine's pages.[10]
Nationalism and the appeal of Marxism[edit]
Along with iconoclasm, radical anti-imperialism dominated the Chinese intellectual tradition and slowly evolved into a fierce nationalist fervor which influenced Mao's philosophy immensely and was crucial in adapting Marxism to the Chinese model.[11] Vital to understanding Chinese nationalist sentiments of the time is the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed in 1919. The Treaty aroused a wave of bitter nationalist resentment in Chinese intellectuals as lands formerly ceded to Germany in Shandong were, without consultation with the Chinese, transferred to Japanese control rather than returned to Chinese sovereignty.[12] The negative reaction culminated in the May 4th Incident which occurred on that day in 1919. The protest began with 3,000 students in Beijing displaying their anger at the announcement of the Versailles Treaty's concessions to Japan yet rapidly took a violent turn as protesters began attacking the homes and offices of ministers who were seen as cooperating with, or in the direct pay of the Japanese.[12] The May 4th Incident and Movement which followed, "catalyzed the political awakening of a society which had long seemed inert and dormant"[12]
Yet another international event would have a large impact on not only Mao but also the Chinese intelligensia was the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Although the revolution did elicit interest among Chinese intellectuals, socialist revolution in China was not considered a viable option until after the May 4th Incident.[13] Afterwards, "To become a Marxist was one way for a Chinese intellectual to reject both the traditions of the Chinese past and Western domination of the Chinese present" Maurice Meisner, Mao's China and After, page 18.
Mao's personal philosophy[edit]
Along with the Chinese intellectual tradition which was prevalent during his youth, it is clear that Mao's personal philosophy, his idealism and populist leanings, were foundational to the formation and profile of Maoism. Mao's political ideas emerge from his personal ethics. One source is commentaries to "A System of Ethics" by Friedrich Paulsen (1917–1918) where he expressed: "I do not agree with the view that to be moral, the motive of one action has to be benefiting others...Morality does not have to be defined in relation to others...People like me want to ...satisfy our hearts to the full, and in doing so we automatically have the most valuable moral codes. Of course there are people and objects in the world, but they are only for me".[14]
Mao believed that human consciousness is the principal factor in human history. In other words, he may be viewed as an idealist and, as such, directly contradicted the materialistic determinist tenets of orthodox Marxism.[15] Mao had the utmost faith that, through the actions of "dedicated revolutionaries," a new social reality could be formed which would be in harmony with his ideals.[15]
Mao also believed strongly in the concept of a unified "people". These notions were what prompted him to investigate the peasant uprisings in Hunan while the rest of the China's communists were in the cities and focused on the orthodox Marxist proletariat.[16] Many of the pillars of Maoism such as the distrust of intellectuals and the abhorrence of occupational specialty are typical populist ideas.[11] The concept of "People's War" which is so central to Maoist thought is directly populist in its origins. Mao believed that intellectuals and party cadres had to become first students of the masses to become teachers of the masses later. This concept was vital to the strategy of the "People's War."[11]
Mao's nationalist impulses also played a crucially important role in the adaption of Marxism to the Chinese model and in the formation of Maoism.[17] Mao truly believed that China was to play a crucial preliminary role in the socialist revolution internationally. This belief, or the fervor with which Mao held it, separated Mao from the other Chinese Communists and led Mao onto the path of what Leon Trotsky called, "Messianic Revolutionary Nationalism" which was central to his personal philosophy and is demonstrated in his long-standing hostile relationship with ComIntern.[16]
The Yan'an period[edit]
During the period immediately following the Long March, Mao and the Chinese Communist Party were headquartered in Yan'an, which is a prefecture-level city in the Shaanxi province. During this period Mao clearly established himself as a Marxist theoretician and produced the bulk of the works which would later be canonized into the "thought of Mao Zedong".[18] The rudimentary philosophical base of Chinese Communist ideology is laid down in Mao's numerous dialectical treatises and was conveyed to newly recruited party members. This period truly established ideological independence from Moscow for Mao and the CCP.[18] Although the Yan'an period did answer some of the questions, both ideological and theoretical, which were raised by the Chinese Communist Revolution, it left many of the crucial questions unresolved; including how the Chinese Communist Party was supposed to launch a socialist revolution while completely separated from the urban sphere.[18]
Basic components[edit]
- People's war and the mass line: The party must not be separate from the popular masses, either in policy or in revolutionary struggle. To conduct a successful revolution the needs and demands of the masses must be the most important issues.
- New Democracy: In so called backward countries, socialism cannot be introduced before the country has gone through a period in which the material conditions improve. This cannot be done by the bourgeoisie, as its progressive character is long since replaced by a regressive character.
- Contradictions as the most important feature of society: Society is dominated by a wide range of contradictions that call for varying strategies. Revolution is necessary to resolve fully antagonistic contradictions such as those between labour and capital. Contradictions arising within the revolutionary movement call for ideological correction to prevent them from becoming antagonistic.
- Cultural revolution: The revolution does not wipe out bourgeois ideology; the class-struggle continues, and even intensifies, during socialism. Therefore a constant struggle against these ideologies and their social roots must be conducted. Cultural Revolution is directed also against traditionalism.
- Three Worlds Theory: During the Cold War, two imperialist states formed the "first world"; the United States and the Soviet Union. The second world consisted of the other imperialist states in their spheres of influence. The third world consisted of the non-imperialist countries. Both the first and the second world exploit the third world, but the first world is the most aggressive part. The workers in the first and second world are "bought up" by imperialism, preventing socialist revolution. The people of the third world, on the other hand, have not even a short-sighted interest in the prevailing circumstances. Hence revolution is most likely to appear in third world countries, which again will weaken imperialism opening up for revolutions in other countries too.[19]
Mao Zedong drew from the writings of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Vladimir Lenin in elaborating his theory. Philosophically, his most important reflections emerge on the concept of "contradiction" (maodun). In two major essays, On contradiction and "On the correct handling of contradictions among the people", he adopts the positivist-empiricist idea (shared by Engels) that contradiction is present in matter itself (and thus, also in the ideas of the brain). Matter always develops through a dialectical contradiction:
"The interdependence of the contradictory aspects present in all things and the struggle between these aspects determine the life of things and push their development forward. There is nothing that does not contain contradiction; without contradiction nothing would exist".[20]
Furthermore, each contradiction (including class struggle, the contradiction holding between relations of production and the concrete development of forces of production) expresses itself in a series of other contradictions, some dominant, others not.
"There are many contradictions in the process of development of a complex thing, and one of them is necessarily the principal contradiction whose existence and development determine or influence the existence and development of the other contradictions".[21]
Thus, the principal contradiction should be tackled with priority when trying to make the basic contradiction "solidify". Mao elaborates further on this theme in the essay On Practice. On the relation between knowledge and practice, between knowing and doing". Here, "Practice" connects "contradiction" with "class struggle" in the following way: Inside a mode of production, there are three realms where practice functions: economic production, scientific experimentation (which also takes place in economic production and should not be radically disconnected from the former) and finally, class struggle. These may be considered the proper objects of economy, scientific knowledge, and politics.[22]
These three spheres deal with matter in its various forms, socially mediated. As a result, they are the only realms where knowledge may arise (since truth and knowledge only make sense in relation to matter, according to Marxist epistemology). Mao emphasizes—like Marx in trying to confront the "bourgeoisie idealism" of his time—that knowledge must be based on empirical evidence.
Knowledge results from hypotheses verified in the contrast with a real object; this real object, despite being mediated by the subject's theoretical frame, retains its materiality and will offer resistance to those ideas that do not conform to its truth. Thus, in each of these realms (economic, scientific and political practice), contradictions (principle and secondary) must be identified, explored and put to function to achieve the communist goal. This involves the need to know, "scientifically", how the masses produce (how they live, think, and work), to obtain knowledge of how class struggle (the main contradiction that articulates a mode of production, in its various realms) expresses itself.
People's war and mass line[edit]
Maoism's political orientation emphasizes the "revolutionary struggle of the vast majority of people against the exploiting classes and their state structures", which Mao termed a "People's War". Usually involving peasants, its military strategies have involved guerrilla war tactics focused on surrounding the cities from the countryside, with a heavy emphasis on political transformation through mass involvement of the lower classes of society.
Maoism departs from conventional European-inspired Marxism in that its focus is on the agrarian countryside, rather than the industrial urban forces. This is known as Agrarian socialism. Notably, Maoist parties in Peru, Nepal and Philippines have adopted equal stresses on urban and rural areas, depending on the country's focus of economic activity. Maoism broke with the state capitalist framework of the Soviet Union under Nikita Khrushchev and dismisses it as modern revisionism, a traditional pejorative term among communists referring to those who fight for capitalism in the name of socialism.
New Democratic revolution[edit]
The theory of the New Democracy was known to the Chinese revolutionaries from the late 40s. This thesis held that for the majority of the peoples of the planet, the long road to socialism could only be opened by a 'national, popular, democratic, anti-feudal and anti-imperialist revolution [the language of the day], run by the communists.'[23]
And in the context of New Democratic revolution, the rationality of such economic policies as to destroy feudalism on the basis of land to the tiller, to confiscate all foreign and domestic economic establishments with a monopolistic character and to limit, control and guide private capital that do not control public life, have been proved in practice.[24]
Mao's intellectual Marxist development[edit]
Mao's Intellectual Marxist development can be divided into five major periods: (1) The Initial Marxist Period from 1920–1926; (2) the formative Maoist period from 1927–1935; (3) the mature Maoism period from 1935–1940; (4) the civil war period from 1940–1949; and (5) the post-1949 period, following the revolutionary victory.
- The Initial Marxist Period from 1920–1926: Marxist thinking employs imminent socioeconomic explanations; Mao's reasons were declarations of his enthusiasm. Mao did not believe education alone would bring about the transition from capitalism to communism because of three main reasons. (1) Psychologically: the capitalists would not repent and turn towards communist on their own; (2) the rulers must be overthrown by the people; (3) "the proletarians are discontented, and a demand for communism has arisen and had already become a fact."[25] These reasons do not provide socioeconomic explanations, which usually forms the core of Marxist ideology.
- The Formative Maoist Period from 1927–1935: In this period, Mao avoided all theoretical implications in his literature and employed a minimum of Marxist category thought. His writings in this period failed to elaborate what he meant by the "Marxist method of political and class analysis".[26] Prior to this period, Mao was concerned with the dichotomy between knowledge and action. Now, he was more concerned with the dichotomy between revolutionary ideology and counter-revolutionary objective conditions. There was more correlation drawn between China and the Soviet model.
- The Mature Maoist Period from 1935–1940: Intellectually, this was Mao's most fruitful time. The shift of orientation was apparent in his pamphlet "Strategic Problems of China's Revolutionary War" (Dec, 1936). "This pamphlet tried to provide a theoretical veneer for his concern with revolutionary practice."[27] Mao started to separate from the Soviet Model since it was not automatically applicable to China. China's historical particularism viewed through Marxist eyes served as the link between the Marxist process and China.
- The Civil-War Period from 1940-1949: Unlike the Mature period, this period was intellectually barren. Mao focused more on revolutionary practice and paid less attention to Marxist theory. "He continued to emphasize theory as practice-oriented knowledge."[28] The biggest topic of theory he delved into was in connection with the cheng-feng movement of 1942. It was here that Mao summarized the correlation between Marxist theory and Chinese practice; "The target is the Chinese revolution, the arrow is Marxism-Leninism. We Chinese communists seek this arrow for no other purpose than to hit the target of the Chinese revolution and the revolution of the east."[28] The only new emphasis was Mao's concern with two types of subjectivist deviation: 1) Dogmatism, the excessive reliance upon abstract theory; 2) Empiricism, excessive dependence on experience.
- The post-1949 period, following the revolutionary victory: The victory of 1949 was a conformation of theory and practice. "Optimism is the keynote to Mao's intellectual orientation in the post-1949 period."[29] Mao assertively revised theory to relate it to the new practice of socialist construction. These revisions are apparent in the 1951 version of "On Contradiction". "In the 1930s, when Mao talked about contradiction, he meant the contradiction between subjective thought and objective reality. In "Dialectal Materialism" of 1940, he saw idealism and materialism as two possible correlations between subjective thought and objective reality. In the 1940s he introduced no new elements into his understanding of the subject-object contradiction. Now, in the 1951 version of "On Contradiction", he saw contradiction as a universal principle underlying all processes of development, yet with each contradiction possessed of its own particularity."[30]
Departure from Leninism[edit]
Mao departed from Leninism not only in his near-total lack of interest in the urban working class but also in his concept of the nature and role of the Party. For Lenin, the Party was sacrosanct because it was the incarnation of the "proletarian consciousness," and there was no question about who were the teachers and who were the pupils. For Mao, on the other hand, this question would always be virtually impossible to answer.[31]
In its post-revolutionary period, Mao Zedong's thought is defined in the CPC's Constitution as "Marxism-Leninism applied in a Chinese context", synthesized by Mao Zedong and China's "first-generation leaders". It asserts that class struggle continues even if the proletariat has already overthrown the bourgeoisie, and there are capitalist restorationist elements within the Communist Party itself. Maoism provided the CPC's first comprehensive theoretical guideline with regards to how to continue socialist revolution, the creation of a socialist society, socialist military construction, and highlights various contradictions in society to be addressed by what is termed "socialist construction". While it continues to be lauded to be the major force that defeated "imperialism and feudalism" and created a "New China" by the Communist Party of China, the ideology survives only in name on the Communist Party's Constitution; Deng Xiaoping abolished most Maoist practices in 1978, advancing a guiding ideology called "Socialism with Chinese characteristics.[32]
Maoism after Mao[edit]
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Shortly after Mao's death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping initiated socialist market reforms of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1978 beginning the radical change of Mao's ideology in the PRC.[33] Although Mao Zedong Thought nominally remains the state ideology, Deng's admonition to seek truth from facts means that state policies are judged on their practical consequences; the role of ideology in determining policy, in many areas, has thus been considerably reduced. Deng also separated Mao from Maoism, making it clear that Mao was fallible and hence that the truth of Maoism comes from observing social consequences rather than by using Mao's quotations as holy writ, as was done in Mao's lifetime.[34]
In addition, the party constitution has been rewritten to give the socialist ideas of Deng Xiaoping prominence over those of Mao. One consequence of this is that groups outside China which describe themselves as Maoist generally regard China as having repudiated Maoism and restored capitalism, and there is a wide perception both in and out of China that China has abandoned Maoism. However, while it is now permissible to question particular actions of Mao and to talk about excesses taken in the name of Maoism, there is a prohibition in China on either publicly questioning the validity of Maoism or questioning whether the current actions of the CPC are "Maoist."
Although Mao Zedong Thought is still listed as one of the four cardinal principles of the People's Republic of China, its historical role has been re-assessed. The Communist Party now says that Maoism was necessary to break China free from its feudal past, but that the actions of Mao are seen to have led to excesses during the Cultural Revolution.[34]
The official view is that China has now reached an economic and political stage, known as the primary stage of socialism, in which China faces new and different problems completely unforeseen by Mao, and as such the solutions that Mao advocated are no longer relevant to China's current conditions. The official proclamation of the new CPC stand came in June 1981, when the Sixth Plenum of the Eleventh National Party Congress Central Committee took place. The 35,000-word "Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People's Republic of China" reads:
"Chief responsibility for the grave 'Left' error of the 'cultural revolution,' an error comprehensive in magnitude and protracted in duration, does indeed lie with Comrade Mao Zedong . . . . [and] far from making a correct analysis of many problems, he confused right and wrong and the people with the enemy. . . . Herein lies his tragedy."[35]
Scholars outside China see this re-working of the definition of Maoism as providing an ideological justification for what they see as the restoration of the essentials of capitalism in China by Deng and his successors, who sought to "eradicate all ideological and physiological obstacles to economic reform".[36] In 1978 this led to the Sino-Albanian Split when Albanian leader Enver Hoxha denounced Deng as a revisionist and formed Hoxhaism as an anti-revisionist form of Marxism.
Mao himself is officially regarded by the CPC as a "great revolutionary leader" for his role in fighting the Japanese and creating the People's Republic of China, but Maoism as implemented between 1959 and 1976 is regarded by today's CPC as an economic and political disaster. In Deng's day, support of radical Maoism was regarded as a form of "left deviationism" and being based on a cult of personality, although these 'errors' are officially attributed to the Gang of Four rather than to Mao himself.[37] Thousands of Maoists were arrested in the Hua Guofeng period after 1976. The prominent Maoists, Zhang Chunqiao and Jiang Qing were sentenced to death with two-year-reprieve while some others were sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment over 15 years.
Maoism internationally[edit]
Maoism outside China[edit]
From 1962 onwards, the challenge to the Soviet hegemony in the World Communist Movement made by the CPC resulted in various divisions in communist parties around the world. At an early stage,[citation needed] the Albanian Party of Labour sided with the CPC. So did many of the mainstream (non-splinter group) communist parties in South-East Asia, like the Burmese Communist Party, Communist Party of Thailand, and Communist Party of Indonesia. Some Asian parties, like the Workers Party of Vietnam and the Workers Party of Korea attempted to take a middle-ground position.
The Khmer Rouge of Cambodia is said to have been a replica of the Maoist regime. According to BBC The Communist Party of Kampuchea (Cambodia), better known as the "Khmer Rouge", identified strongly with Maoism, and is generally labeled a "Maoist" movement today.[38][39] Maoists, however, are quick to point out that the CPK strongly deviated from Marxist doctrine, and that the few references to Maoist China in CPK propaganda were critical of the Chinese.[40]
In the west and south, a plethora of parties and organizations were formed that upheld links to the CPC. Often they took names such as Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) or Revolutionary Communist Party to distinguish themselves from the traditional pro-Soviet communist parties. The pro-CPC movements were, in many cases, based among the wave of student radicalism that engulfed the world in the 1960s and 1970s.
Only one Western classic communist party sided with CPC, the Communist Party of New Zealand. Under the leadership of CPC and Mao Zedong, a parallel international communist movement emerged to rival that of the Soviets, although it was never as formalized and homogeneous as the pro-Soviet tendency.
After the death of Mao in 1976 and the resulting power-struggles in China that followed, the international Maoist movement was divided into three camps. One group, composed of various ideologically nonaligned groups, gave weak support to the new Chinese leadership under Deng Xiaoping. Another camp denounced the new leadership as traitors to the cause of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought. The third camp sided with the Albanians in denouncing the Three Worlds Theory of the CPC (see Sino-Albanian Split.)
Che Guevara, though initially praising the Soviet Union prior to, during and shortly after the Cuban Revolution, later came out in support of Maoism, and advocated the adoption of the ideology throughout Latin America. The pro-Albanian camp would start to function as an international group as well,[41] led by Enver Hoxha and the APL, and was also able to amalgamate many of the communist groups in Latin America, including the Communist Party of Brazil and Marxist-Leninist Communist Party in Ecuador. Later Latin American Communists such as Peru's Shining Path also embraced the tenets of Maoism.
The new Chinese leadership showed little interest in the various foreign groups supporting Mao's China. Many of the foreign parties that were fraternal parties aligned with the Chinese government before 1975 either disbanded, abandoned the new Chinese government entirely, or even renounced Marxism-Leninism and developed into non-communist, social democratic parties. What is today called the "international Maoist movement" evolved out of the second camp – the parties that opposed Deng and claimed to uphold the legacy of Mao.
The Progressive Youth Organization was a maoist organization in Afghanistan. It was founded in 1965 with Akram Yari as its first leader. the overthrow of the then-current order by means of people's war.
Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party is a maoist party in Bangladesh. It was founded in 1968 with Siraj Sikder as its first leader. The party played a role in the Bangladesh Liberation War.
The Communist Party of Ecuador – Red Sun also known as Puka Inti is a small maoist guerrilla organization in Ecuador.
The Communist Party of India (Maoist) is a Maoist political party in India which aims to overthrow the government of India.[42] It was founded on September 21, 2004, through the merger of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War and the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCC). The merger was announced to the public on October 14 the same year. In the merger a provisional central committee was constituted, with the erstwhile People's War Group leader Muppala Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathi as General Secretary. It is currently proscribed as a terrorist organization by the Indian government for organizing mass killings in furtherance of their ideology.
Union of Iranian Communists (Sarbedaran) was an Iran maoist organization. UIC (S) was formed in 1976 after the alliance of a number of Maoist groups carrying out military actions within Iran. In 1982 the UIC (S) mobilized forces in forests around Amol and launched an insurgency against the Islamist Government. The uprising was eventually a failure and many UIC (S) leaders were shot.
The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a national communist party with a revolutionary background, is a follower of Maoism, although it is believed that the party has developed its own ideology, Prachanda Path, which was developed taking Nepal's political, sociological and geographical constraints into consideration. Still, this party is believed to have taken Maoism as its doctrine as its name suggests.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a maoist political and military organization. The PDFLP's original political orientation was based on the view that Palestinian national goals could be achieved only through revolution of the masses and people's war.
The Communist Party of Peru - Shining Path is a Maoist guerrilla insurgent organization in Peru. It was founded in 1980 with Abimael Guzmán as its leader. The Shining Path is currently waging a war against the Peruvian Government.
In the Philippines, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its New People's Army (NPA) has been waging a revolutionary war since 1968. Its strength peaked during the dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos and was the main bulk of the opposition against the dictatorship. However due to controversies regarding massive purges of its members in the mid-1980s and political miscalculations, it suffered several splits within its ranks in 1992 and 1997 forming several separate communist parties. It maintains active guerrilla fronts throughout the Philippines until today and is still considered by the military as the main threat to national security. The CPP, according to the military also allegedly has been leading and influencing legal left-wing political organizations and engages in elections.
The Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP), formed by former Central Luzon Regional Committee members of the CPP after the split in 1997 maintained much of the Maoist orientation from the CPP most especially on the concept of People's War. However it has put equal emphasis on legal political struggles along with armed revolution and it sees the proletariat as the leader of the Philippine revolution in union with the peasantry. The Rebolusyonaryong Hukbo ng Bayan (People's Revolutionary Army, RHB) is the armed wing of the MLPP and according to military intelligence sources, the most active and fastest growing insurgent force in the Philippines recently next to the CPP. Like its estranged political sibling the MLPP is said to be organizing legal organizations but does not engage in electoral processes.
United States[edit]
In the United States during the late 1960s, parts of the emerging New Left rejected the Marxism espoused by the Soviet Union and instead adopted pro-Chinese Communism. The Black Panther Party, especially under the leadership of Huey Newton, was influenced by Maoist thought. Into the 1970s, Maoists in the US formed a large part of the New Communist Movement.
The Kasama Project (KP), was initiated by former Revolutionary Communist Party, USA members critical of what they viewed as the dogmatism and cult of personality of RCP USA. KP describes itself as seeking to radically re-imagine contemporary revolutionary politics. It is deeply influenced by Maoist thought, in particular as developed by the RCP USA, but claims members who arrive from other traditions, such as anarchism.
Another Maoist trend, known as Maoist Internationalism or MIM-Thought, was initiated by the Maoist Internationalist Movement (MIM). Expanding on Lenin's theses on the labor aristocracy and more contemporary works such as J. Sakai's Settlers, the Mythology of the White Proletariat, this trend claims historical citizens of imperialist countries form a labor aristocracy. Concurrent to the collapse of MIM in 2008, some groups began using the term Maoism-Third Worldism to describe this trend.[43] Today, third worldist Maoist groups in the USA include the Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons [44] and the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement.[45]
The Communist Party of Spain (Reconstituted) was a Spanish clandestine maoist party. The armed wing of the party was First of October Anti-Fascist Resistance Groups.
Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist–Leninist (TKP/ML) is a maoist organization in Turkey currently waging a people's war against the Turkish Government. It was founded in 1972 with İbrahim Kaypakkaya as its first leader. The armed wing of the party is named Workers' and Peasants' Liberation Army in Turkey (TIKKO).
Maoist organizations[edit]
Today, there is no consensus on who does and who does not represent Maoism. Various efforts have sought to regroup the international communist movement under Maoism since the time of Mao's death in 1976.
One notable organization was the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM). RIM was founded in 1984 and included such notable organizations as the Communist Party of Peru (PCP), also known as "Sendero Luminoso" or "Shining Path," the then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), now known as the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) UCPN(M), and the Revolutionary Communist Party USA (RCP(USA)). Today, the RIM appears to be defunct or near defunct. The magazine associated with the RIM, A World To Win, has not published an issue since 2006, though A World To Win News Service still publishes regularly on the internet.[46]
In addition, many of the one-time RIM organizations have become increasingly critical of each other. This has resulted in many public splits. For example, recently the RCP USA has criticized the UCPN(M) as revisionist after the UCPN(M) abandoned its people's war for the parliamentary road. In addition, Red Sun, a web page that claims to be affiliated with some faction the Communist Party of Peru, has criticized both the UCPN(M) and RCP USA. Another movement that has criticized the UCPN(M) is the Communist Party of India (Maoist) -- although they were never formally a RIM member, the CPI(Maoist) was formed out of three organizations, some of which were RIM members, at conferences organized by RIM.[47][48]
Another effort at regrouping the international communist movement is the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations (ICMLPO). Two notable parties that participate in the ICMLPO are the Marxist Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The ICMLPO seeks to unity around Marxism-Leninism, not Maoism. However, some of the parties and organizations within the ICMLPO identify as Mao Zedong Thought or Maoist.
Criticisms and interpretations[edit]
Maoism has fallen out of favour within the Communist Party of China, beginning with Deng Xiaoping's reforms in 1978. Deng believed that Maoism showed the dangers of "ultra-leftism", manifested in the harm perpetrated by the various mass movements that characterized the Maoist era. In Chinese Communism, the term "left" can be taken as a euphemism for Maoist policies. However, Deng stated that the revolutionary side of Maoism should be considered separate from the governance side, leading to his famous epithet that Mao was "70% good, 30% bad". China scholars generally agree that Deng's interpretation of Maoism preserves the legitimacy of Communist rule in China but at the same time criticizes Mao's brand of economic and political governance.
Critic Graham Young claims that Maoists see Joseph Stalin as the last true socialist leader of the Soviet Union, but allows that the Maoist assessments of Stalin vary between the extremely positive and the more ambivalent.[49] Some political philosophers, such as Martin Cohen, have seen in Maoism an attempt to combine Confucianism and Socialism - what one such called 'a third way between communism and capitalism'.[50]
Enver Hoxha critiqued Maoism from a Marxist-Leninist perspective, arguing that new democracy halts class struggle, the theory of the three worlds is "counter-revolutionary" and questioned Mao's guerilla warfare methods.
The destruction of balance constitutes leaping forward and such destruction is better than balance. Imbalance and headache are good things.
Mao, May 1958, in a speech.[51]
The implementation of Maoist thought in China may have been responsible for over 70 million deaths during peacetime,[52][53] with the Cultural Revolution, Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957-58,[54] and the Great Leap Forward. Because of Mao's land reforms during the Great Leap Forward, which resulted in famines, thirty million perished between 1958 and 1961. By the end of 1961 the birth rate was nearly cut in half because of malnutrition.[55] Active campaigns, including party purges and "reeducation" resulted in imprisonment and/or the execution of those deemed contrary to the implementation of Maoist ideals.[56] The incidents of destruction of cultural heritage, religion, and art remain controversial. For more discussion of this period, see the article Cultural Revolution.
Some Western scholars see Maoism specifically engaged in a battle to dominate and subdue nature and catastrophe for the environment.[57]
See also[edit]
- Chinese New Left
- Cult of Personality
- Deng Xiaoping Theory
- History of the People's Republic of China
- New Democracy
- Three Represents
- Quotations from Chairman Mao
External to China:
- Communist Party of India (Maoist)
- Guevarism
- Marxism–Leninism–Maoism–Prachanda Path
- Naxalite
- Naxalite-Maoist insurgency
- Communist insurgency in the Philippines
- Nepalese Civil War
- Internal conflict in Peru
- Shining Path
- Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
- ^ "Quotations From Chairman Mao". Peking Foreign Languages Press.
- ^ A Critical Introduction to Mao. Cambridge, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Cambridge University, 2011. P. 290.
- ^ a b A Critical Introduction to Mao. Cambridge, England, UK; New York, New York, USA: Cambridge University Press, 2011. P. 289-290.
- ^ John H. Badgley, John Wilson Lewis. Peasant Rebellion and Communist Revolution in Asia. Stanford, California, USA: Stanford University Press, 1974. P. 249.
- ^ Brian Leiter (28 October 2012). Why Tolerate Religion?. Princeton University Press. pp. 46–. ISBN 978-1-4008-4485-2. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Pages 12-16.
- ^ Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 10.
- ^ Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 11.
- ^ Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 14.
- ^ a b Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Pages 14.
- ^ a b c Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 44.
- ^ a b c Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 17.
- ^ Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Pages 18.
- ^ Chang, Jung; Halliday Jon. Mao: The Unknown Story. London: Vintage Books, 2005. Page 15.
- ^ a b Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 41.
- ^ a b Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 43.
- ^ Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 42.
- ^ a b c Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 45.
- ^ Maoism Glossary of Terms, Encyclopedia of Marxism
- ^ Mao Tse Tung, "On contradiction", Selected Readings from the Works of Mao Tse-Tung, Foreign Language Press, Peking, 1967, p. 75, or http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_17.htm.
- ^ Mao Tse-Tung, "On contradiction", Selected Readings from the Works of Mao Tse-Tung, op. cit., p. 89, or http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_17.htm.
- ^ Cfr. Mao Tse-Tung, "On practice. On the relation between knowledge and practice, between knowing and doing", Selected Readings from the Works of Mao Tse-Tung, op.cit., p. 55: "Man's social practice is not confined to activity in production, but takes many forms—class struggle, political life, scientific and artistic pursuits; in short, as a social being, man participates in all spheres of the practical life of society. Thus man, in varying degrees, comes to know the different relations between man and man, not only through his material life but also though his political and cultural life (both of which are intimately bound up with material life)", or http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_16.htm.
- ^ Amin, Samir (October 2009). "The Countries of the South Must Take Their Own Independent Initiatives". The Third World Forum. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- ^ Dahal, Pushpa Kamal(Prachanda). "On Maoism". PROBLEMS & PROSPECTS OF REVOLUTION IN NEPAL (Published by (Printed Version): Janadisha Publications, Nepal, 2004). Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- ^ Lowe, Donald M. The Function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966. Page 109
- ^ Lowe, Donald M. The Function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966. Page 111
- ^ Lowe, Donald M. The Function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966. Page 113
- ^ a b Lowe, Donald M. The Function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966. Page 117
- ^ Lowe, Donald M. The Function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966. Page 118
- ^ Lowe, Donald M. The Function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966. Page 119
- ^ "Meisner, Maurice. Mao's China and After. New York: Free Press, 1999. Page 44.
- ^ "Xinhua: Constitution of the Communist Party of China". News.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ UC Berkeley Journalism -Faculty - Deng's Revolution at the Wayback Machine (archived January 4, 2009)
- ^ a b "Maoism". Citizendia. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "China the Four Modernizations, 1979-82". Country-studies.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ S. Zhao, "A State-Led Nationalism: The Patriotic Education Campaign in Post-Tiananmen China", Communist and Post-Communist Studies, 1998, 31(3): pp. 288
- ^ For a newest expression of the official judgment, see 中国共产党历史第二卷下册,中共中央党史研究室著,中共党史出版社,第二八章对"文化大革命"十年的基本分析(History of China Communist Party, Vol. 2, Party History Research Centre (Nov. 2010), Chap 28 Analysis on Cultural Revolution)
- ^ "Khmer Rouge Duch trial nears end". BBC News. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "What Went Wrong with the Pol Pot Regime". Aworldtowin.org. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ ROMA OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA Author: Judith Latham doi:10.1080/009059999109037. Published in: journal Nationalities Papers, Volume 27, Issue 2 June 1999 , pages 205 - 226
- ^ Ridge, Mian (2009-10-29). "Maoists' hijacking of Indian train reveals new audacity". The Christian Science Monitor (The Christian Science Monitor). Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ^ What breakthroughs are at the core of Maoism-Third Worldism? | Anti-Imperialism.com
- ^ The Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons
- ^ Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement | Anti-Imperialism.com
- ^ "AWorld To Win News Service". Aworldtowin.org. 2006-04-03. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "RW ONLINE: Maoist Organizations Unite in India". Revcom.us. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Scott H. "Maoist Revolutionary parties and organizations in India". Massline.info. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Graham Young, On Socialist Development and the Two Roads, The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, No. 8 (Jul., 1982), pp. 75-84, doi:10.2307/2158927
- ^ Political Philosophy from Plato to Mao, by Martin Cohen, page 206, published 2001 by Pluto Press, London and Sterling VA ISBN 0-7453-1603-4
- ^ Speeches At The Second Session Of The Eighth Party Congress
- ^ Jung Chang and Jon Halliday, Mao: The Untold Story (Jonathan Cape, 2005) Page 3.
- ^ policy autumn 06_Edit5.indd[dead link]
- ^ Teiwes, Frederick C., and Warren Sun. 1999. 'China's road to disaster: Mao, central politicians, and provincial leaders in the unfolding of the great leap forward, 1955-1959. Contemporary China papers. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. pp 52-55.
- ^ MacFarquhar, Roderick. 1974. The origins of the Cultural Revolution. London: Published for Royal Institute of International Affairs, East Asian Institute of Columbia University and Research Institute on Communist Affairs of Columbia by Oxford University Press. p 4.
- ^ Link, Perry (2007-07-18). "Legacy Of a Maoist Injustice". The Washington Post.
- ^ By Judith Shapiro 'Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China Published 2001 Cambridge University Press Politics / Current Events 306 pages ISBN 0521786800
Further reading[edit]
- Marxism in the Chinese Revolution by Arif Dirlik
- Rethinking Mao: Explorations in Mao Zedong's Thought by Nick Knight
- The Function of "China" in Marx, Lenin, and Mao by Donald Lowe
- Li Ta-chao and the Origins of Chinese Marxism by Maurice Meisner
- Mao's China and After by Maurice Mesiner
- The Political Thought of Mao Tse-Tung by Stuart Schram
- Mao Tse-Tung, The Marxist Lord of Misrule. On Practice and Contradiction by Slavoj Zizek
- Gregor, A. James and Maria Hsia Chang. "Maoism and Marxism in Comparative Perspective." The Review of Politics. Cambridge University Press for the University of Notre Dame du Lac on behalf of Review of Politics. Vol. 40, No. 3, July 1978. 307-327. Available at Jstor.
- Meisner, Maurice. "Leninism and Maoism: Some Populist Perspectives on Marxism-Leninism in China." The China Quarterly. Cambridge University Press on behalf of the School of Oriental and African Studies. No. 45, January - March 1971. p. 2-36. Available at Jstor.
- Steiner, H. Arthur. "Maoism or Stalinism for Asia?" Far Eastern Survey. Institute of Pacific Relations. Vol. 22, No. 1, January 14, 1953. P. 1-5. Available at Jstor.
External links[edit]
|This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (August 2011)
- Marx2Mao.org Mao Internet Library
- The Encyclopedia of Marxism Mao Zedong Thought.
- The Encyclopedia of Marxism Mao's life.
- Monthly Review January 2005 Text of the leaflets distributed by the Zhengzhou Four.
- World Revolution Media Maoist revolutionary film, music, and art archive
- Batchelor, J. Maoism and Classical Marxism, Clio History Journal, 2009.
Selected organizations[edit]
- Marxist–Leninist Communist Organization – Proletarian Way (France)
- Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Communist Party (France)
- News and Theory website of the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement
- Signalfire - maoist news portal
- Communist Party of Argentina People
- Maoist Group of Sri Lanka.
- Leading Light Communist Organization -- for Global People's War
- The Kasama Project
- Chinese Communist Party
- Freedom Road Socialist Organization
- Revolutionary Internationalist Movement
Committee of Marxist-Leninist-Maoist parties from around the world
- Revolutionary Communist Party, USA Revolution newspaper online
- www.ucpnm.org[dead link] Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
- www.sarbedaran.org Communist Party of Iran (MLM) *in Persian*
- Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)
- Communist Party of Peru Shining Path
- Revolutionary Internationalist Socialist Party, USA (RISP)
- Workers Party (Turkey)
- Revolutionary Communist Party of Canada (PCR-RCP)
- Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers PCTP/MRPP (Portugal)


text:
Secret Santa 2011 – Binchou-tan
Hello again, and welcome to this year's Reverse Thieves' Secret Santa project post. For those unaware of this, it's a sort of take a recommendation, leave a recommendation system where a stranger will drop in and give you a choice of three shows to watch, while you do the same for your unwitting recipient. Last year, I was tasked with watching Shigofumi.
This year, I was recommended Binchou-tan, To Heart and Darker Than Black. First of all, big thank you to my Santa. These are three shows I really did want to watch after reading their descriptions. Unfortunately, time constraints lead me to only be able to watch one show, but I will certainly be getting around to the others at a later stage. The show I'll be reviewing is Binchou-tan.
It's hard not to be enamoured by Binchou-tan on first watch. The series starts by showing us a gorgeous setting – a run-down old house in the middle of a leafy green forest. The noises, the insects buzzing around, the shadows on the forest floor, they all contribute to creating a wonderful scene. Then we're introduced to Binchou, our title character.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Insurance Agent has Claims Nightmare
Posted by Gi Gi on 11/05/2009
I am an Insurance Agent for many years. I had my automobile and home insured with Travelers and being in the industry, my coverage was quite adequate. Approx. a year ago I was involved in a 4 car chain collision, I was in the middle car between two very large SUVs'. My car was totaled and I was taken by ambulance to the ER of the local hospital. I was diagnosed with a sprained lumbar and whiplash.. Given medication. I needed PT and to this date I am still in pain and discomfort, which is quite upsetting to me at times. From the beginning, the claim was handled horrifically. Since I am knowledgeable with coverage, more than the average layman being in the business, the first thing was I knew I was paying additional premium for Rental coverage ... since Travelers has an " agreement " with Enterprise Auto, I was first given an Economy Car to use. I inquired to them and was told this is the type car they are told by Travelers to give their clients for rental, I knew I was paying in premium for at least a Mid size car for rental and had to " insist on it with the first adjuster'' they finally did agree and I had the remaining time with my midsize car for use. So basically, our clients that we sell the policies to are paying extra for the better rental and if involved in an accident they are not given the proper car type unless the insured insist ...this was just the beginning... Most importantly, my PIP was totally mishandled... I was in PT, seeing my doctor for chronic back pain and on medication... and almost three times a week, this PIP adjuster would call me on my cell and question me regarding my condition... which is very unprofessional... to the point of being a nuisance. In the midst of my treatment and unbeknown to me, she decides to "close "the pip file since she claims ... I was feeling better... When my doctor, specialist and MRI and x-ray bills had been sent to Travelers, they were not going to pay, since the file had been " closed" ... I had $100,000 on medical and full tort coverage... and at this point all Travelers had paid was about $3,000 in med bills. ... After, phone calls to supervisors, management, faxes, letter, most of the bills are finally getting paid ... but Travelers refuses to allow me to continue to go to PT since they feel my injury should be healed by now...I wish they were right, but unfortunately, I am still suffering with pain and are taking meds to help me go through my day. This whole experience was and has been a nightmare for me... I just feel that they were doing all they could knowing I had excellent coverage and wanted to cut it off as soon as possible.
AS far as anything I agreed with on the handling of the claim was only how quick they settled and paying me for my car.... which was less than two weeks from the date of the accident. But in doing so, I was told I had to return the rental within 24 hrs... how could I ...I did not have a car to drive and since I was injured, was unable to go out and buy one.... once again, I called and explained I had rental for 30 days.... and needed this time to go out and purchase a car.. They did agree with this and gave me I believe a week more... but once again the average Joe would not have known this... I was very very disappointed with this whole handling of this claim... and would not recommend this company based on my experience with them.
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Posted by moneybags on 2009-11-05:
Contact the insurance commissioners office in your state
Posted by JR in Orlando on 2009-11-05:
You have a very valid complaint since you are the customer of Traveler's insurance company. I would suggest you contact an attorney, any of the personal injury attorneys, because lawsuits can be filed, at least in Florida, for failure to pay PIP coverage and other payments by an insurance company to its insured. Some attorneys specialize in that area.
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Denies a valid claims for completely useless reasons. Typical insurance scam.
Posted by LinuxHpc on 02/25/2008
SAINT CLAIR, MISSOURI -- We purchased our home on or around 06/2007, at which time travelers insurance accepted the liability of insuring our home, without notation of any waivers of liability or related material. We experienced a wonderful remaining summer without incident despite several storms that contained both hail and or high winds.
On or around 1/22/2008, we began to notice signs of water damage bleeding through the ceiling. We had recently had a bad rash of winter storms with high winds and or hail. I phoned our insurance company ( Travelers insurance ) and made a claim. A gentleman down the street also suffered damage during a storm, his insurance company paid up and he got a new roof. The insurance adjuster (For travelers) came out, and at first stated that she (Tonya) was going to write it up so they replace the whole roof, before she left, she painted a much darker picture.
Tonya claimed that the house had previous un-repaired damage. I was puzzled at this claim. Tonya went on to explain that since the gutters had hail damage, and the gutter guards did not, then surely the previous owner did not replace the roof. I find her analogy to be offensive and ridiculous. I never knew their was previous damage to the gutters, I wouldn't have replaced them either. Tonya went on further to claim that our roof was not properly vented, which again puzzled me because the roof has two vent holes in every soffit and every gable is also vented in the front. These venting methods appear to have been accepted when the roof was placed on the house, are still in use with most every house in our development, and were accepted when Travelers insured our home. Tonya also claimed that a valley seam was installed incorrectly, which was again false.
After doing my own research, I learned that no only was the valley seem correct, but the underpinnings of the valley seem exceeded code. Tonya ( The Travelers insurance claim adjuster ) went on to make several other claims, of which most make no sense. Even if there were any validity to any of them, they are negated by the facts, and that is that Travelers insurance accepted out home as it was, without complaint or waiver of liability. Further, Travelers has been accepting payments for almost 9 months without complaint, and continues to do so without proper claim coverage.
Home owners insurance is supposed to be something in place to help relieve stressful situations that can cause loss of life and home. In this case, Travelers has failed to pay a claim, which has lead to the extremely stressful situation of having to pay for the roof repair out of pocket.
Bottom line, run as fast as you can from Travelers. Don't believe me, check out other rip off related websites.
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Posted by madconsumer on 2008-02-26:
although i do understand your dilema, they are correct. a good adjuster can tell old damage from new. this just sounds like basic home ownership maitenance.
Posted by moneybags on 2008-02-26:
Did you have a HOME INSPECTION done prior to buying? It should tell the condition of the roof and venting systems. Did the Sellers Disclosure tell you about any prior roof damage, repairs, etc? Ask your Realtor for help. There should be pictures in MLS that he can provide.
Have the repair made to the leaking area. YOU MUST MITGATE DAMAGES! Save the receipt. Appeal the decision of the adjustor. Ask for a different or independant adjustor. Present the receipt as well as the above mentioned documents. Should be OK. If the seller claimed new roof, you may have a court case. Same for the inspector. Inspectors carry insurance. If you had an inspection done, and you paid, You have a good case if he found no problems. Of course, the adjustor may be shafting you irregardless. So ask for a new adjustor!
Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-02-26:
Insurance is there to help with damages done that are covered peril, NOT as a home maintenance policy.
Both Madconsumer and Moneybags are right. Get your roof fixed NOW. You will have to pay up front for it and if any other damages come from this (leaking water on to TV for example) would not be covered because you did not take the appropriate steps to make sure nothing else is damaged.
You can try and appeal the decision but it is true that these adjusters are trained to be able to see new damages vs. old damages.
Check your policy to see what is covered and what is not. As a general rule, in order for it to be covered, you'd have to be able to take a picture of the loss, not a video. Meaning a loss is almost always "instant" and not constant.
Good Luck.
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-02-26:
Good info Gothic. I had not heard of this new damages vs. old business. Just another little thing consumers need to be aware of.
Posted by LinuxHpc on 2008-02-26:
The home was inspected as passed.
The insurance company inspected the house, and it passed without waivers.
The roof was ripped apart from High Winds and Hail as stated.
The insurance company denied a valid claim. Period.
Nothing else matters, high winds ripped off shingles, hail put half moons on most others. The minerals on most of the shingles were stripped off. Why is this maintenance? It's not, it's High Winds and Hail damage.
That's it, that's all. Stay away from Travelers Insurance.
Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-02-26:
When are you claiming the hail and wind damage occurred?
If it happened before you moved in, you didn't insure the house then and there is no coverage. Period. Insurance doesn't work retro. It works only with in the terms of the policy.
That would be your dollar to update and repair anything that was not in the sale contract, that would include prior damage to siding, windows, shingles, etc.
Posted by fascismsux on 2008-02-26:
One of the biggest reasons ppl buy insurance is cuz ya dont know that you would otherwise have the extra money to fix a problem at any possible future time .If we could all be expected to have that money and could therefore solve the problem without bugging the poor little Ins . co. then whats the point of having an Ins . co ?
i know one person who is a certified home inspector ,and because I know what this person knows and doesnt know about home inspecting , I feel confident in saying that a home inspector is as worthy of inspection as the the home is .
As for gutter damage proving that the previous owner didnt replace the roof , this is BS , maybe the gutter damage is the result of tearing off the old roof-sht happens ya know - or maybe it was from a previous hailstorm and just wasnt replaced cuz it wasnt a major problem like rain coming through your ceiling ? maybe the new looking gutter gaurd was added as an afterthought later on ? and what does the ventilation have to do with the wind/hail damage = nothing !
Sounds to me like the Ins Co. is trying to scam another victim . i say get estimates and sue them if ya have too!- Even if the Ins. co declares that your roof is old , it still has value , and they should at least replace that value.
Posted by MSCANTBEWRONG on 2008-02-26:
What year was the house built? Is the roof the original roof? Did you call the day after you had a wind and hail storm? There are a lot of variables as to whether the insurance company is going to or should assume liability. If you called a few months after you had bad weather because you noticed some water damage, I rather doubt the insurance company is going to pay the claim. I would think in their opinion this would be standard maintenance as this wasn't a direct cause from the storm. JMHO
Posted by fascismsux on 2008-02-26:
MSCANTBEWRONG-I dont think its relevant whether the Co. was called after the storm - its only relevant that damage is done and needs fixxed , and that its the Co.'s job to finance the fixxing ! It's very reasonable to believe that though damage was done leading to leaks , that that damage wouldnt be noticable until the leaks actually appeared . for instance , if high winds from the south loosened and tore some shingles on the south face of the roof , it could be that rain would not cause leaks unless you again had blowing rains from the south .
Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-02-26:
fascismsux- An ins. co only covers what is listed in the policy. It is not for maintenance policy. If the shingles are bad because they are old, it's up to the homeowner to repair them.
If there was a problem with the roof and the prior owners didn't repair it, it is NOT the responsibility of the insurance company to repair it, it has to be from a covered loss.
Posted by fascismsux on 2008-02-26:
GothicSmurf- I'm just taking the poster at their word , meaning -quote-"without notation of any waivers of liability or related material." -unquote -
Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-02-26:
I understand that, but working in insurance for the last 6+ years, I can say with 99.9% certainty in their policy it tells them which causes/ perils are covered and excludes prior damages. Granted, I haven't seen their policy, but all homeowners policies are pretty much the same basics across the board.
Just because prior damage wasn't seen or known at the time doesn't mean it will be covered now. Unless damages are blatant, most of the times policies are written. I can't imagine that their policy states prior damage (before owning a home) would be covered.
As I said, it would help if the OP stated WHEN the damage occurred and IF they owned the house at that time.
Posted by Principissa on 2008-02-26:
I read this twice before posting and a few questions come into my mind: What did the home inspectors report say about the roof? Yes it passed inspection, but in their reports they are required to put the age, if there are any weak spots or shingles that need to be replaced, and if the ventilation is adequate. Is this the original roof or is it new? If it is new it may be under warranty through the roofer that installed it and you may get it repaired through warranty. If it is not new and this is damage that was reported by the home inspector the policy will not cover it because it is considered prior damage. Even though the damage happened during a hail or wind storm it may have aggravated a previous condition, like a weakened beam or loose shingle. If it is proven that the leak was caused by that the insurance will not cover it. You really need to read the report from the home inspector again and make sure that you didn't overlook something he/she put in there. You also don't state when the damage occurred. Did happen before, during, or after the storms? How long after the storms did it start leaking, a week, a day, a month? How soon did you report the damage to the insurance company, as soon as you saw it, a week later, 2 months later? Time is a factor when trying to place a claim. My insurance company requires that we call as soon as the damage occurs. Otherwise it will be considered prior damage because I cannot prove that it happened because of a storm. Last question, what does your policy cover? Does it cover water, lightning, fire, wind, or other acts of nature? If not than they are certainly not going to pay for the roof.
Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-02-26:
*wipes away tear* I taught you well Princi!
Posted by Principissa on 2008-02-26:
LOL Gothic, you should have heard me on the phone with USAA when I was taking out our home owner's policy. You would have been so proud of me.
Posted by MSCANTBEWRONG on 2008-02-26:
facismsux, I think it is relevant as to when the damage was reported. As stated by others, this could have been pre-existing...My inspection report outlines every detail of the house from the roof, gutters, heating, air, windows, seals, etc...I have pictures of everything, and anything that needed to be addressed was outlined very specifically...my homeowners policy is the same way. I made my agent go through every detail so I would completely understand what is covered and what is not. Since I live in a hurricane prone area I have to make sure I know every detail. Again, it is just my opinion since I'm not directly in the insurance business however, my dad is so I'm not totally in the dark.
Posted by fascismsux on 2008-02-26:
MSCANTBEWRONG- well, according to poster - the house was purchased roundabout june of 07- the first storms were during the summer -(june , july , august?).- these storms contained both hail and high winds- but there was no sign of leakage -(I would assume that at this time there was no shingles that were torn off either ?)- the leakage became noticable on 1-22-08, after even more storms of high wind and hail , which makes the summer storms irrelevant cuz ya cant really identify which storm caused what exactly due to their proximity .
was there old damage ? the poster says no , i see no reason to not believe that , not that it really matters what i believe cuz Im just here wasting time cuz I have no life ! I think the fact that a neighbor also had similar problems gives the posters claim credibilty.
Im biased I know, towards the consumer ,cuz , I think corporations are almost always criminal enterprises , but so what .
yes, the devil is in the details , but there are too many of them (the details ). Too many devils hiding too many details . keeping up with them all would consume ones life , I think . And that is the goal of the corporate world - to baffle us with bullsht , wear us down until we are all just a bunch of weary , frazzled, drug-addled drunks , just hoping life will end so we can rest.
Posted by MSCANTBEWRONG on 2008-02-26:
Facismsux, I'm just trying to get additional details to make sense of why the claim was denied.
Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-02-26:
fascismsux- where in their complaint did it say the dates of the storms? I missed that.
It just dawned on me that the OP noticed leakage in Jan of this year. Possible that it was ice dams that were in play.
Posted by fascismsux on 2008-02-26:
GothicSmurf- lazy reader huh?- just try the first 100 words - its in there!
Posted by MSCANTBEWRONG on 2008-02-26:
The way I read it was that they bought the house in June 07 and noticed the water damage in Jan 08.
Posted by LinuxHpc on 2008-02-26:
The house is 11 years old.. The roof was fine, as I stated, it was also inspected when I purchased it. Travelers has now changed their excuse to "The roof was just worn out." There was nothing wrong with the roof until after the high winds and hail storm. As I previously stated, Travelers insurance is a scam, run from the as fast as you can.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-02-26:
Good posts all. This is one of the most civil conversations I've seen here in a while.
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-02-26:
Agreed. Hey Jkt how you doing? Been playing much golf?
Posted by LinuxHpc on 2008-02-26:
For the record, there were no water stains until after the hail and high winds.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-02-26:
great super! Me and the better half played 36 weekend, 9 Monday. cart cover and heater help alot.
On the road again, won't play again till Friday pm maybe. Sunday for sure.
Posted by gooch on 2010-01-12:
If you don't hire a private insurance adjuster you will get raped every time. They charge 10 to 12% of what they get for you, but boy are they worth it. The insurance company person will always pull that failure to do maintenance crap to refuse paying for something.
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Travelers Denying Valid Tornado Claims
Posted by Krismas on 05/19/2008
DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA -- In my neighborhood we were hit by the March Tornadoes. My roof and siding were ripped apart. Travelers did replace my roof and we have been blown off by the Travelers adjuster twice when they found out I had my own team of people who wanted to meet with them. Twice they were a no show. They hired their"own independent" engineer and when I said I would hire my own as well, they told me it wasn't in my best interest and Travelers was looking out for me. So their whole group of engineers, the adjuster and claims manager came to my house and were all quite chummy for an "independent" evaluation. I contacted my state insurance commissioner's office as soon as they left my home to be proactive rather than reactive.
I just got the engineers report back from Travelers...wow, what a surprise...it was for Travelers stating that my home of 7 years with cement siding was torn apart due to the construction of my home and the contractors put nails in my siding to forcefully and that is why my siding is all torn up. What a crock! It was due to the wind pressure that popped the seams and nails out if my siding. Travelers paid the engineering company $1500 to help them deny my claim. It would have cost that to fix my siding. Don't ever use Travelers, I was a customer for 15 years plus, and when you need them they screw you. I am now involved with the Insurance commissioners office about this, I am hiring my own engineer and my own public adjuster, I am contacting the CEO of Travelers as well.
Travelers has three other similar claims in my neighborhood..all which had been denied as well stating shotty craftsmanship. Every other home has had no issues with their insurance companies. Only Travelers in Alpharetta, GA is denying claims. If you get an adjuster from there, you better beware and have your ducks in a row. They are conditioned and coached to not pay claims.
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Posted by tnchuck100 on 2008-05-19:
It's time for a lawyer. From what you have stated you should be able to recover the cost of your roof, your siding, your engineering/adjuster fees, your attorney fees, and court costs.
Don't roll over. FIGHT!
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-19:
Like many insurance companies after Katrina, they've learned how to dodge valid claims by asserting faulty construction or other issues. As chuck said...'Lawyer up'.
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-19:
Unless the original builder guaranteed tornado proof, which I would highly doubt, this baby falls completeley on to Travelers. Faulty workmanship or not Travelers insured the property as is. Your proactive stance leads me to believe that you have other experiences with Travelers. Anyway, your states insurance commissioner is the one who can get things rolling best. Personally I don't think it's time for an attorney until the state ins. commish rules on the case. Good Luck
Posted by Slimjim on 2008-05-19:
Dealer's right. They insured the property, they need to cover the damage. Perhaps contact an independent adjuster and see if retaining his/her services would be of help in getting proper claims money. I would look into this first as they would get a percentage of the claim only if they collect. An attorney would be my last resort because of retainers, but it may come to that too.
Posted by GothicSmurf on 2008-05-19:
Not always true dealer and slimjim-
Workmanship isn't always covered especially if it's faulty. Adjusters are trained to spot certain things- Nails coming out could have been aggravated from the tornado, but not caused by it.
HOWEVER if the OP isn't happy, they CAN hire their own public adjuster (of their choosing) to determine the damages THEN fight Travelers. I would suggest doing that first.
Posted by arden on 2008-07-15:
Re: Travelers Insurance complaint written by Krismas.
I would like to hear if you have had any success in resolving your claim with Travelers. I have a claims problem that sounds 'chapter and verse' like yours. How I wish I had checked with BBB before staying with this company so long. Thanks in advance for your response.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-12-31:
I get more fed up, no pun intended, with insurance companies trying to ----- (use your imagination) their policy holders
Posted by mesfly on 2009-03-23:
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-03-23:
mesfly, your situation makes me sick. To think that you are still living like this due to an insurance company not fulfilling their obligation is appalling. Those people should be ashamed of themselves. Did you get an attorney to help you out? I know for a lot of people this is not an option because of the additional cost, which is also what the insurance companies hope for. We pay and pay for years without a claim, and then when you need help from your insurance company, they come up with every excuse in the book to give you the shaft. Shame on them.
Posted by mesfly on 2009-03-23:
Posted by mesfly on 2009-03-23:
Posted by Anonymous on 2009-03-23:
Hopefully the Insurance Commissioner will be able to help you out. I had to use ours for some help with auto insurance once, and they actually were able to solve the dilemma in a short time. Of course, your problem is much more serious. I hope you receive a resolution soon, but it really seems like everyone has been dragging their heels for far too long, especially when we are talking about someone's home. I wish you the best.
Posted by Jonsmith on 2011-06-09:
We are currently suing Travelers Insurance. Our home had winter storm damage totaling around $30,000. Travelers sent a check for a little over $1,000 dollars and took over a year and a half to do so. But dropped our homeowners insurance immediately.
Some of Travelers cost savings suggestions included $500 to renail twisted usable roof gutters back on the house!!!!! Apparently, the adjusters have some "low-ball" company claim template that they use to for all claims "to cut a low-ball check and run".
DO NOT BUY TRAVELERS HOME, AUTO OR ANY OTHER INSURANCE FROM THEM. Drop them immediately and go with a reputable company. Consumer Reports recommends: Amica, CHUBB and USAA Group.
"Amica Mutual Group, USAA Group, and the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. were rated more highly for claims satisfaction than most other insurers."
IF THERE ARE ANY TRAVELER's CLAIMS ADJUSTERS OUT THERE.....PLEASE WRITE IN WITH STORIES AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO GET A FAIR DEAL FROM TRAVELER ONCE YOU ARE "STUCK" DEALING WITH THEM?????
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One small claim in 15 yrs and now we can't renew
Posted by Jamigrossfield on 11/30/2012
We have had Travelers for 5 yrs as renters and 10 yrs as homeowners. This year, a large tree fell in our yard and we had a small ($1,000) claim. They were great at handling the claim.
Only issue is, apparently their underwriter's policy is that if you make a claim, that's all fine- you just can't use them anymore.
We received a notice of non-renewal - because we made 1 claim in 15 yrs.
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Posted by ok4now on 2012-11-30:
Did you contact your agent for the specific reason for non-renewal? It's hard to imagine that they would drop a 15 year claim free customer for such a small claim.
I was a 5 year claim free Traveler's customer that just dropped THEM. They whacked me with a $350 rate increase, now they lost a customer. Shopped around and Liberty Mutual gave me a fantastic rate, actually lower than Traveler's before the rate increase.
Posted by At Your Service on 2012-11-30:
Ultimately any insurance company considers the value of your premiums compared to the cost of the claims. It's unfortunate that $1000 claims makes them question the value of your patronage, but if they do, just find a different insurance carrier.
Posted by kenny f. edmonson on 2012-12-02:
I purchased a homeowner policy from TRAVERELS HOME and MARINE INS. CO. And I paid the required premium. When I had property stolen from my home in Meridian, MS TRAVELERS has refuse to follow the conditions and terms of my policy while acting in bad faith. "TRAVELERS MAY NOT BE THE TALIBAN BUT THEY SURE HAS TALIBANISH WAYS". My advice of experience please do NOT buy any insurance from TRAVELERS and if by chance you have insurance with the drop them and get you some real insurance with an honest company or you will be sorry when TRAVELERS "DEFRAUD YOU" out of your hard earn money just like they done to me. For comments and questions call Kenny F. Edmonson 601-591-4885, email:email@example.com. THANKS
Posted by uhh on 2013-02-21:
Travelers is pulling out of North Carolina
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Home Owner Claim Horrible
Posted by Christina4223 on 10/27/2007
OSCEOLA, INDIANA -- I had a break in to my home on Sept 9, 2007 and it is now October 27 2007 and we have barely gotten anything done with this claim. I have filled out all paperwork interviewed with the investigator and jumped through all hoops and the only answer I got from my claim adjuster was they are still investigating even though the investigator told me his report is in. She also told me she cannot tell me anything else at this time and when I asked how long this could go on she said as long as they need, so forever! My son had his whole room cleaned out of over 10,000 in video game items and it is going on 2 months and these people are the rudest I have ever meant. Never sympathetic and literally told me not to contact her she would contact me when done. I mean what kind of co that you are a customer for says don't call me. I hate travelers and will be done with them once this is over. We feel victimized all over again.
I barely get called back and even called her supervisor and didn't get a call back for that one either. Horrible, stay away!
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Posted by moneybags on 2007-10-27:
Immediately contact the Office of the Insurance Commissioner of your state. Many states have a 30-60 time limit on claims to be settled. Also, haver you only called the ins. company? Something sent in writing - certified, with a copy to the ins. commissioner really gets things speeded up. Shop for a new ins. co before your rate goes up or you get cancelled
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-10-27:
It's always interesting to see how insurance companies respond to claims once the homeowner needs to file one. Good luck, I hope this gets resolved for you and your family soon.
Posted by ThinLazyAmerican on 2007-10-27:
Did you say $10,000. worth of video games?
If I may say so without sounding mean, the robber did your son a favor.
I bet the insurance co. is dragging their feet because they read your claim of $10k worth of video games stolen.
Are you kidding us?
Posted by Anonymous on 2007-10-31:
I agree with ThinLazy- I work in insurance and if someone handed me $10K in video games I would investigate as well. What else was stolen? And yes, there is usually a time limit on certian things, but not on how long it has to be before you are paid in full or how long it is before it is closed. If you are unhappy though, you can ask for a change in adjuster.
Posted by NSX91 on 2009-12-20:
First of all, now you know why Traverlers' premium is so cheap compared to some other companies. And now, you also get to experience what being cheap gets you.
Second, you just made a claim for $10,000 worth of video games? LMAO. My Atari 2600 and games probably cost me $1000 new, but now it's all worth about $5. You can't get new prices for crap.
And you can't switch carriers...not for at least 5 years (depending on your state). Because you now have a burglary claim and no other company will accept you on their standard policy. It should cost double to triple your current premiums with Travelers if you went anywhere else that have substandard policies.
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Good claims service then drop you like a rock
Posted by Ddolllaw on 08/24/2012
OAK PARK, IL, TENNESSEE -- Travelers provided excellent claim service for two claims I had in the last five years. The first was when a wind-storm knocked a village owned tree onto my house. The second was when after another storm the sewer backed up into my basement. As I was renting the house starting that year, I expected to continue coverage with them. They dropped me.
The reason was because of the two claims, neither of which were my fault but were caused by weather.
Now I had to go with another carrier, who seem to be good, but with an increased premium.
I just think this stinks.
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Workers Comp Claim
Posted by Chefiam on 03/28/2011
Travelers Insurance is riping worker's compensation people off. They drag out claims, use doctors to lie about an individual's injuries so they don't have to pay. They have the doctor to hold off on sending reports to defense attorneys, they short change you on your payoff amount. I have had two surgeries and they want to pay me $20,000.00. My doctor earned more than that. I have been waiting almost five years for my case to settle. They don't negoitate any higher than $20,000.00, they cause people to suffer while waiting for resolution on their case. They are blood suckers who don't care about innocent people. My attorney and I waited six months for a two page report from the doctor who works for Tavelers Insurance. It took 30 days for them to stop my workers comp benefits after preparing a 30 page report for a three hour visit to the doctor's office. Does this make since to anyone? It doesn't make since to me, they are sitting back in their confort zones while people are suffering while waiting for their case to close so they can move on with their lives. I hope they are ready for GOD because He sure is ready for them.
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Posted by Anonymous on 2011-03-28:
I hate to break it with you but this how all workman's comp insurances work. My husband's employer uses JT2 Integrated resources for their workmans comp and they are notorize for being one of the most difficult insurance companies to work with! My husband's back was injured on the job (law enforcement) and had to get an lawyer after WC denied the claim! His WC Dr closed his practice at January 1 and it took WC almost 3 months after that to send his medical records to the new DR. The new DR got his records and declined to see him. We found another Dr willing to see him but first WC has to send the Dr a letter of authorization. Its been 2 weeks and they still haven't sent the letter!
Posted by localgod on 2011-03-29:
The Workman's Comp insurance companies are trying new tactics to avoid claim fraud; in other words, innocent people are getting the screw job. I recommend you consult an attorney who specializes in occupation health and workman's comp claims, it doesn't hurt to ask an expert.
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Throwing the smallest of claims away
Posted by Cmcintosh620 on 12/14/2009
DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS -- (Boston, Danvers office) I was hit on my bike by a woman pulling out behind me (who was completely at fault) about a month ago. She immediately filed the accident report and the next day Travelers calls me up basically assuring me that the process was going to be a very fast one and that I would be on a new bike in less than two weeks.
So a month later, I'm finally able to get in touch with Jeff Lloy, my designated claim representative after countless missed calls, voicemails, emails, etc. and he told me that he did some "research" on the cost of Peugeot bikes and they were way less than my repair estimate from several bike shops. My vintage converted fixed-gear with very much work and parts put into it, will not be replaced for under $300... despite them telling me they'll cover up to several grand if necessary. I'm still (attempting) to deal with them at the moment. Can an international, hundred billion dollar insurance company really be so cheap?
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Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-14:
This apparently is your first time dealing with a claim. The answer to your question is.....yes.
Posted by Hugh_Jorgen on 2009-12-14:
The adjusters #1 job is to settle your claim as cheaply as possible. If the cost to repair your bike is more than the fair market value, they might opt to find a comparable used bike and provide you with that instead.
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Travelers doesn't pay home owner claim
Posted by Tpebrian on 02/08/2010
During the January 2010 storms in California. The outside wall of my bedroom cracked and began to bulge. The smell of mold or mildew began to go through my entire home. Travelers sent out a structural engineer and he said the foundation moved and caused the problem. This is completely not true. My home and its foundation are in good condition. The claim was denied and as of 02-04-2010 via phone call. I was told I would receive a copy of the report but have not received anything as of 02-08-2010.
I was told if I don't like it, to get my own report at my own exspense and they might possibly reconsider, but no guarantee.
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Posted by Inat on 2010-02-08:
well - think about it. You've been told your foundation moved and caused the structural damage. That's serious enough to get a second opinion
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Lack of CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
Posted by Vcap on 08/27/2009
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO -- I was involved in an auto accident with a travelers insured person on 8-5-09. The accident was the other drivers fault and the other driver fully admitted that to the police department as well as the insurance company. I received a call from the first agent within a couple of hours of the accident and he set up my rental car and got the investigator set up to look at my vehicle. I received call from the investigator the next day and was told that my vehicle was going to be considered a "total loss". The next call I got was from the "total loss agent", this is where the problems begin. The dollar amount they gave me was what I considered to be low, I told her this and what I had found for avergage prices for my vehicle as well as what NADA showed. I then put together a counter offer letter along with dates and amount of improvements made to the vehicle. This was faxed to them on a Sunday so I left a voice mail for the "total loss agent" letting her know that I had faxed this over to her and to get back with me. I did not get a call back at all on Monday, I did not get a call on Tuesday from her either. I did speak with the first agent on Tuesday and he emailed her and had her contact me. I was told that I needed to fax over receipts for the improvments made to the vehicle. My wife faxed these over and contacted the agent to let her know that they had been faxed, this was on a Thursday. I ended up calling on Friday to follow up and again had to leave a v/m at 10:30 A.M. I did not get a call back! I called again on Monday and she actually answered the phone, she said she did not get the fax! We had also faxed over to another agent info for lost wages, he did get his fax? We faxed over the documentation to her AGAIN, this time she got it. They came back with a new number that we agreed with. I hand delivered the signed title for my vehicle to their office on Wednesday the 19th at 7:30 A.M. and was told that she was going to process the check request as soon as she went back to her desk. I spoke with the other agent regarding lost wages the next day at 4:30 P.M. and was told the he was going to process the request for my check for lost wages. I got that check in the mail on Moday the 24th, I still have not got the check for the car. I called the loss agent on Tuesday the 25th after getting home and checking the mail and not finding a check. She still has not called back. I got a letter from her dated the 23rd which was a Sunday so I doubt very seriously that she was in the office on a Sunday. The postmark shows the 25th so she had been sitting on this for almost a week! I have now sent an email to the company comment/complaint email address, this was done this morning. I should not be shocked by this but I have not heard anything from the corporate office either. If this is the kind of customer service they display from not only the local office but from corporate as well I truly feel sorry for their paying customers!
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Posted by Anonymous on 2009-08-27:
Are you surprised? They never want to pay for anything.
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