ABUA insurance contact information

[CameronHaney]

Hello all. I have an ABUA (umpire.org) premium membership. I got it over NASO because I also referee basketball and it advertises that it covers all sports. I was specifically interested in the game fee replacement coverage. It just so happens that I turned my knee while refereeing and missed a couple weeks of games. I've been looking to file a claim but the website looks like a ghost town. The phone number says it's been disconnected and the email address says the domain does not exist when I tried send an email.

Has anyone had success filing a claim with ABUA and what is the current contact information? I'm hoping I haven't been gritted into paying for an insurance policy with no way for filing claims. Any help?

[The Man in Blue]

Well ... clicking on the links from a Google search turn up suspect "click here to show you aren't a bot" links.  Typing in umpire.org does bring up their site, but the last clinical update was for Jim Evans in 2019.  Looks like none of their "news" links or store items have been updated since 2019 either.

They do have a Facebook page, but I don't use Facebook so I don't know if it is current or defunct also.

Huh ... looks like they were still selling memberships into 2022 ... which includes discounts for Jim Evans Academy!

 

EDIT TO ADD: Their forums seem to still be active, but being pummeled by a bot selling hoist cranes (not to be confused with whooping cranes).

[Velho]

7 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

EDIT TO ADD: Their forums seem to still be active, but being pummeled by a bot selling hoist cranes (not to be confused with whooping cranes).

I know I gained a few pounds this fall but, geez...

[CameronHaney]

The site sure as hell took my money for membership. Any other people here "buy" a membership? Seems awfully scammy to me.

[Mudisfun]

What's sad is their forum use to have some really good members who were engaged and willing to share; just like here.

 

[MadMax]

22 hours ago, Mudisfun said:

their forum used to have some really good members who were engaged and willing to share; just like here.

Make a note of that @Umpire in Chief – don't offer insurance here at U-E.

[lawump]

On 11/28/2022 at 1:40 PM, Mudisfun said:

What's sad is their forum use to have some really good members who were engaged and willing to share; just like here.

 

It was the first forum I ever discovered. I bought insurance from them 15 years ago or so...when they were very active on their website.  Cannot vouch for them now.

[Jimurray]

On 11/27/2022 at 9:15 PM, CameronHaney said:

The site sure as hell took my money for membership. Any other people here "buy" a membership? Seems awfully scammy to me.

What happened when you did this, from their FAQs: "To file a claim, log into your ABUA account online and click on the “Insurance Questions” link on the lefthand side.  There you will find all instructions for filing a claim."

[The Man in Blue]

On 11/29/2022 at 11:35 AM, MadMax said:

Make a note of that @Umpire in Chief – don't offer insurance here at U-E.

OR ... offer insurance, collect premiums, and retire.

[CameronHaney]

On 11/30/2022 at 1:12 PM, Jimurray said:

What happened when you did this, from their FAQs: "To file a claim, log into your ABUA account online and click on the “Insurance Questions” link on the lefthand side.  There you will find all instructions for filing a claim."

It says to call the number first which in turn says has been disconnected. There's no further contact information provided or way of submitting information. The contact email address listed in the contact section says the domain doesn't exist. At this point, I feel I've been hoodwinked out of my membership fee and am contemplating contacting a lawyer. Has anyone actually filed a successful claim from ABUA or NASO for that matter? I don't have a lot of trust with the insurance industry.

[noumpere]

1 hour ago, CameronHaney said:

It says to call the number first which in turn says has been disconnected. There's no further contact information provided or way of submitting information. The contact email address listed in the contact section says the domain doesn't exist. At this point, I feel I've been hoodwinked out of my membership fee and am contemplating contacting a lawyer. Has anyone actually filed a successful claim from ABUA or NASO for that matter? I don't have a lot of trust with the insurance industry.

Did you pay with a CC?  Dispute it there.

[Jimurray]

4 hours ago, CameronHaney said:

It says to call the number first which in turn says has been disconnected. There's no further contact information provided or way of submitting information. The contact email address listed in the contact section says the domain doesn't exist. At this point, I feel I've been hoodwinked out of my membership fee and am contemplating contacting a lawyer. Has anyone actually filed a successful claim from ABUA or NASO for that matter? I don't have a lot of trust with the insurance industry.

At some point in the past I think the developer of the Force 3 mask, Jason Klein, was involved in the site. Try contacting him. 

[834k3r]

5 hours ago, CameronHaney said:

It says to call the number first which in turn says has been disconnected. There's no further contact information provided or way of submitting information. The contact email address listed in the contact section says the domain doesn't exist. At this point, I feel I've been hoodwinked out of my membership fee and am contemplating contacting a lawyer. Has anyone actually filed a successful claim from ABUA or NASO for that matter? I don't have a lot of trust with the insurance industry.

I mean no disrespect, but good luck. Your cost to fight it in small claims court--even if successful--will be more than recoupment of any fees to ABUA. If you paid via credit card, I'd dispute it that way, and if not I'd make sure you're not set up to renew automatically and just walk away.

[Jimurray]

39 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

I mean no disrespect, but good luck. Your cost to fight it in small claims court--even if successful--will be more than recoupment of any fees to ABUA. If you paid via credit card, I'd dispute it that way, and if not I'd make sure you're not set up to renew automatically and just walk away.

The ABUA fee might be small change but he's also out the "insured" game fees. Besides Klein this Connecticut LLC also shows Jim Evans as a principle. @TOMUIC has his email. No activity on the LLC since 2019 but maybe some CT insurance regulator could be of help. AMATEUR BASEBALL UMPIRES' ASSOCIATION, LLC | Connecticut Business Directory (ctcompanydir.com)

[umpstu]

57 minutes ago, Jimurray said:

The ABUA fee might be small change but he's also out the "insured" game fees. Besides Klein this Connecticut LLC also shows Jim Evans as a principle. @TOMUIC has his email. No activity on the LLC since 2019 but maybe some CT insurance regulator could be of help. AMATEUR BASEBALL UMPIRES' ASSOCIATION, LLC | Connecticut Business Directory (ctcompanydir.com)

I had insurance through ABUA until last year when I switched to NASO.  No longer had a good feeling about ABUA.

[The Man in Blue]

If they are defunct and gone, there may not be anything or anybody to sue.  However the site seems to still be accepting memberships ... that money has to be going somewhere.

If you are really wanting to put some effort into it, contact the consumer protection division of the state's attorney's office in Colorado (where they are listed as being based).  I'm not sure if this is truly considered insurance that would be covered under the state's department of insurance regulators, or if it is more like a car or appliance warranty which is unregulated (or ... I could be completely wrong on that).

Disputing the fees is probably about the best you can do.

 

[Umpire in Chief]

On 11/29/2022 at 12:35 PM, MadMax said:

Make a note of that @Umpire in Chief – don't offer insurance here at U-E.

When I was offering Premium Memberships here, I had a discount for Premium members with NASO. Wouldn't want to tread into those waters offering my own insurance...