{"data":{"id":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-56-7-113","jurisdiction":"us-tn","citation":"Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-113","heading":"Inquiry by homeowner's insurance policyholder not grounds for premium increase or cancellation of policy - Communications necessitating investigation - Violation constitutes unfair trade practice","body":"(a) For purposes of this section: (1) \"Cancel\" means to terminate a homeowner's insurance policy prior to the expiration of the policy period; (2) \"Claim\": (A) Means an oral, written, or electronic submission for payment filed by an insured, on behalf of the insured, or by a third party whereby an insurance company accepts the submission for payment in accordance with the insurance company's reasonable submission standards; and (B) Does not mean an inquiry by an insured or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured; (3) \"Inquiry\" means any communication to an insurance company by an insured, or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured, regarding general terms and conditions of a homeowner's insurance policy, including a communication concerning whether a homeowner's insurance policy provides coverage for a type of event or the process for filing a claim; and (4) \"Insurance company\" has the same meaning as defined in § 56-1-102 . (b) No insurance company shall increase a premium or cancel a homeowner's insurance policy solely on the basis of an inquiry or inquiries by an insured regarding the insured's homeowner's insurance policy or a loss under the policy. (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a communication by an insured to an insurance company necessitates an investigation by the insurance company which results in a written finding that there has been a change in a known condition or use of the premises or a fraudulent act by the consumer, then the insurance company may consider the communication to be either a claim or an inquiry. (d) A violation of this section shall be considered an unfair trade practice under the Tennessee Unfair Trade Practices and Unfair Claims Settlement Act of 2009, compiled in chapter 8, part 1 of this title. Added by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 975,s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.\n(a) For purposes of this section: (1) \"Cancel\" means to terminate a homeowner's insurance policy prior to the expiration of the policy period; (2) \"Claim\": (A) Means an oral, written, or electronic submission for payment filed by an insured, on behalf of the insured, or by a third party whereby an insurance company accepts the submission for payment in accordance with the insurance company's reasonable submission standards; and (B) Does not mean an inquiry by an insured or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured; (3) \"Inquiry\" means any communication to an insurance company by an insured, or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured, regarding general terms and conditions of a homeowner's insurance policy, including a communication concerning whether a homeowner's insurance policy provides coverage for a type of event or the process for filing a claim; and (4) \"Insurance company\" has the same meaning as defined in § 56-1-102 .\n(1) \"Cancel\" means to terminate a homeowner's insurance policy prior to the expiration of the policy period;\n(2) \"Claim\": (A) Means an oral, written, or electronic submission for payment filed by an insured, on behalf of the insured, or by a third party whereby an insurance company accepts the submission for payment in accordance with the insurance company's reasonable submission standards; and (B) Does not mean an inquiry by an insured or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured;\n(A) Means an oral, written, or electronic submission for payment filed by an insured, on behalf of the insured, or by a third party whereby an insurance company accepts the submission for payment in accordance with the insurance company's reasonable submission standards; and\n(B) Does not mean an inquiry by an insured or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured;\ncer on behalf of an insured;\n(A) Means an oral, written, or electronic submission for payment filed by an insured, on behalf of the insured, or by a third party whereby an insurance company accepts the submission for payment in accordance with the insurance company's reasonable submission standards; and\n(B) Does not mean an inquiry by an insured or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured;\n(3) \"Inquiry\" means any communication to an insurance company by an insured, or by an insurance producer on behalf of an insured, regarding general terms and conditions of a homeowner's insurance policy, including a communication concerning whether a homeowner's insurance policy provides coverage for a type of event or the process for filing a claim; and\n(4) \"Insurance company\" has the same meaning as defined in § 56-1-102 .\n(b) No insurance company shall increase a premium or cancel a homeowner's insurance policy solely on the basis of an inquiry or inquiries by an insured regarding the insured's homeowner's insurance policy or a loss under the policy.\n(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a communication by an insured to an insurance company necessitates an investigation by the insurance company which results in a written finding that there has been a change in a known condition or use of the premises or a fraudulent act by the consumer, then the insurance company may consider the communication to be either a claim or an inquiry.\n(d) A violation of this section shall be considered an unfair trade practice under the Tennessee Unfair Trade Practices and Unfair Claims Settlement Act of 2009, compiled in chapter 8, part 1 of this title.","path":["TN Code","Title 56","Chapter 7"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_tn_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:26Z","sha256":"6dcdf7a4faa3bb64d6561bde1b8345744af2cf7e709abb60908e738e412c2cc1","source_id":"us-tn","stale":false,"prev":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-56-7-1120","next":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-56-7-114"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}