Kamal Ghorui
A Florida man who sold his home over a year ago was left stunned after discovering he was still being charged hundreds of dollars each month for insurance on the property.Eugene Boykins Jr., a resident of South Florida, continued paying around $600 a month in home insurance premiums for more than a year after selling his house in Miami Gardens. Despite informing his insurer at the time of the sale, the charges continued and cost him thousands of dollars.Boykins had lived in the house for three decades and said the property held deep personal meaning. “I raised my children there. My wife died in it … Great memories.” However, rising costs forced him to sell and move into a rental property on a fixed income. “I downsized plus the mortgage was getting so high. So I sold it,” he said.Although he moved on, the financial link to his old house remained. “I sold the house 13 months ago and I’m still paying insurance on it,” he said. He added: “I mean it’s just like me throwing my money up in the air, they just take it and I ain’t get nothing for it. I don’t feel I should be paying insurance on a house I don’t live in.”Boykins said he had contacted the insurance company to cancel the policy when he sold the home, but the payments continued unnoticed for over a year. By the time he realised, a large amount was already gone. When he approached the insurer, he was told that refunds would only cover a few recent months.He then turned to the consumer help segment ‘Help Me Howard’ for assistance. “I thought maybe you could help me get my money back,” he said.Legal expert Howard Finkelstein explained that homeowners are not required to continue paying insurance once a property is sold, but proper cancellation procedures are crucial. “No, you don’t have to pay insurance on a home you no longer own. However, it is important to cancel the policy the correct way. It needs to be in writing to avoid a situation like this. In some cases, even if you don’t cancel properly, you can still get that money back.”Following intervention from the programme, including direct communication with the insurance company, the situation was resolved. Within weeks, the charges stopped and Boykins received a full refund.Boykins said, “It was the most beautiful thing ever. I received my money like I talked to the lady in charge. She sent both checks to me.”Finkelstein said people should always get proof in writing when they cancel a service. He added that even if you cancel over the phone, you should ask for a confirmation by email, letter or text, and check again if you don’t receive it.
