Paint house or lose coverage

OLD SOUTH END - Robert and Lois Jean Warstler, happily married for the past 53 years, received a letter from an insurance company threatening to cancel their coverage if they don't repaint the home within four months.

The Warstlers have lived in their South Hawley home for the past 48 years and have been insured through Effler Schmitt Insurance for the past 40. The couple have great credit and overall responsible behavior.

"It makes us feel bad because of having insurance for 40 years with same insurance company and have three claims that wasn't major claims, and because the house needs painted, they want to cancel us," Robert told FOX Toledo News.

The Warstlers can't afford to repaint their house and don't know how they would do it with the onset of winter.

"I believe personally and my sisters do too, that this is another attempt to red-line because the insurance company probably doesn't want the risk factor in this neighborhood," said Cliff Warstler, their son.

Effler Schmitt Insurance said they are not red-lining the couple. Effler Schmitt is just the agent for the actual insurer - Encompass - which has done several inspections throughout the metro region.

"We've seen a lot of changes in the world and it's really hard to believe, but we're just hoping and praying that some way God will find us help and we believe in that," Lois Jean said.

(FOX Toledo's Kristi Leigh contributed to this report)