Policyholder Gets Droned!

Times are changing. A rather bizarre story, Insurance Company Drops Customer Saying A ‘Drone’ Took Photos Of Clutter In Yard, caught my attention: 

Drones sometimes fly over CJ Sveen’s Oakley house. He never thought much of it – until now.

‘Apparently they have some pictures, and they noticed clutter,’ Sveen said.

Sveen was shocked when he got this notice from his longtime home insurance carrier, California State Automobile Association (CSAA) Insurance Group, a AAA insurer.

‘They’re going to be terminating our homeowner’s insurance policy,’ Sveen said.

His house isn’t in a fire zone, and he’s never filed a single claim in 15 years. Instead, the notice said CSAA found “debris, hazardous conditions, tires or a dilapidated car” in his yard.

But how would they know that? No one ever came to inspect. So, Sveen called the company.

‘And they said, ‘Oh, we sent over a drone.’ And like, they have a drone that they sent over my property. Just flew into my yard. So, very shocked, yeah,’ Sveen said.

He says CSAA would not let him see the drone photos nor give him a chance to clear his yard.

‘I guess the old-school way would be to knock on your door. I guess they don’t do that anymore, they send a drone,’ Sveen said.

Watch out for those drones. Those ingenious insurance company underwriters are using them to check up on you. 

Thought For The Afternoon 

It is already clear that, because of advances in technology, drones are going to play an increased role in warfare in the years ahead. It is therefore vital that the legal frameworks governing their use are robust and internationally recognized.

—Douglas Alexander