‘Throw my money away’: Florida man surprised to find he’s still paying $600 in insurance premiums months after selling house

A Florida man who sold his home more than a year ago was shocked to find out he was still being charged hundreds of dollars a month for property insurance.South Florida resident Eugene Boykins Jr. continued to pay about $600 a month in home insurance premiums for more than a year after selling his Miami Gardens home. Despite notifying his insurance company at the time of the sale, the charges continued and cost him thousands of dollars.Boykins, who has lived in the house for thirty years, said the property has deep personal meaning. “I raised my kids there. My wife died there … great memories.” However, rising costs forced him to sell and move into a rental property to earn a regular income. “I downsized and the mortgage was too high. So I sold it,” he said.Although he has moved, the financial ties to his old home remain. “I sold my house 13 months ago and I’m still paying insurance on it,” he said. He added: “I mean, it’s like I threw money in the air and they just took it and I got nothing. I feel like I shouldn’t be paying insurance on a house that I don’t live in.”Boykins said he contacted his insurance company to cancel the policy when he was selling his home, but hasn’t been paid in more than a year. By the time he realized it, most of it was gone. When he contacted his insurance company, he was told the refund would only cover the most recent months.He then sought help from the consumer help section Help Me Howard. “I thought maybe you could help me get my money back,” he said.Legal expert Howard Finkelstein explains that homeowners do not need to continue paying insurance after the 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’s important to cancel your policy the right way. It needs to be in writing to avoid a similar situation. In some cases, you can still get the money back even if you don’t cancel correctly.“The situation was resolved following the program’s intervention, including direct communication with the insurance company. Within weeks, the charges stopped and Boykins received a full refund.“It was the most beautiful thing ever,” Boykins said. “I received the money and it was like I talked to the lady in charge. She sent me both checks.”Finkelstein said people should always get written proof when canceling service. He adds that even if you cancel over the phone, you should ask for confirmation via email, letter or text message and check again if you don’t receive it.