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Questions About Auto Insurance & Accidents

5324 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 1:37 PM

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Messages Page 522 of 533

#5208 of 5324 Re: POP QUIZ [steve_] by houdini1

Jan 29, 2013 (8:52 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 28, 2013 4:13 pm)
I still remember my shock and dismay when a young lady at a Hardee's drive-thru window advised me, with a big smile, that she had included my senior discount in the price. That was 14 years ago. I was 56 at the time and still thinking I was somewhat of a stud !!

#5209 of 5324 Re: POP QUIZ [sandman_6472] by igozoomzoom

Jan 30, 2013 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: sandman_6472 (Jan 28, 2013 11:23 am)
Curious about your thoughts on Metlife? We have 21st Century(Farmers) right now but am making a change. My new agent seems to like Metlife to.
 
My agency sold MetLife Auto for years and, due to excessive losses and the unstable economy, MetLife decided to stop selling new policies in Georgia. That happened in early 2010, about six months before I started working there.
 
They only put a moratorium on NEW business, so they didn't just dump their existing customers in Georgia. They still offer renewals each year to those customers and will continue to do so. Most companies just give the required legal notice- in XX days we're leaving this market and you need to find new coverage!
 
From what I've seen, they handle auto claims quickly and fairly. The other two Personal Lines agents in my office said they've never had a single complaint about MetLife!
 
But even if I didn't know anything about MetLife, I would still say that you made a good move leaving 21st! As an independent agent, I deal with a lot of companies when one of my customers is involved in accident with one of their policyholders, especially when the other guy is at-fault. My brother in-law manages a Honda/Acura body shop and has been in the body repair business for 22 years. You wouldn't believe some of the stories he tells me about all the shady things some companies (or certain adjusters) do.
 
There are some insurers who are all smiles and rainbows to their customers, but they treat body shops and everyone else like dirt! A lot of them also treat third-party claimants (the not-at-fault drivers that their customers crash into or run over) like criminals and make every step of the claims process as painful as possible!!!
 
21st (and all Farmers companies) fits the description above, although they are not the WORST. There are two companies that vie for the title of WORST Auto Insurance Company in America! They also happen to be the two companies with the greatest market share in the country. Satan himself wouldn't work for either of them for ethical reasons!!! =)
 
Here's a link to the Top 25 Auto Insurers by market share in the U.S. and you can see the companies I'm referring to in the top two spots-
 
http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/largest-auto-insurance-companies-by-market-s- hare.html
 
Needless to say, they are NOT "Like a good Neighbor" nor are you in "Good Hands" with either one! I have an intense hatred for the one in the top spot- (rhymes with Fate Harm)- based on my own hellish experiences when one of their customers caused an accident with me, my mom and several of my customers.
 
I could go on for hours and tell you just a fraction of my experiences with them, but I'll save some for my book that I'll never write about them.....
 
But I will share this- my step-dad had insurance with State Farm from the age of 16. Between the ages of 16 and 62, he had one Comp claim foir around $8000 in 1994 (car stolen) and a $2300 Hit-and-Run claim (Wal-mart parking lot) for $2100 in 2010. My mom has also been insured on his policy for the last 22 years. She has never had a claim or ticket and he has no tickets in over 7 years.
 
In August 2011, after they denied a hail damage roof claim (which they eventually paid in full, after I hired an independent appraiser to challenege them), my step-dad finally agreed to leave SF and let me insure them with a company that I trusted. They were paying $2641/year for auto insurance with SF and had varying levels of coverage from one car to the next. Auto-Owners Insurance Group covered them for $1426.95 and increased their liability limits from 100/300 to 500/500, increased their Uninsured Motorist form 25/50 to 250/500 (10x) and gave them $100 Comp and $500 Collision Deductibles. I saved them over $1200 per year and increased their coverage exponentially. Adding insult to injury, the new insurance company is consistently rated among the top THREE auto insurers for Claims satisfaction! =)
 
Sorry, I got off on a rant there, huh?

#5210 of 5324 Re: POP QUIZ [igozoomzoom] by sandman_6472

Jan 31, 2013 (5:59 am)

Replying to: igozoomzoom (Jan 30, 2013 2:54 pm)
Thanks for the great info...I feel really good about Metlife and the policy price went down even more once I faxed over our mature drivers course certificates. The new agent seems to be a very nice guy and he's even going to come over to inspect the cars himself without me shlepping over to see him...know that's customer service! The quotes I got from the big guys were outrageous and even my own man who has taken care of us for maybe 20 something years was of no help and quoted a price 1 and 1/2 times more for the same coverage. We got the new agents name from a co-worker of my wife who's very pleased with his service. I have to agree...great customer service!
 
I also like the idea that our rates are guaranteed for one year and we only have to do the whole bit once...just one less thing to take care of. And the ease & simplicity has been a real eye opener. And one last thing...you should write that book or relate some stories in here or the Chronic Car Buyers forum, think we'd all get a good laugh and possibly learn a thing or two about the insurance business!
 
The Sandman

#5211 of 5324 Re: POP QUIZ [igozoomzoom] by houdini1

Jan 31, 2013 (12:43 pm)

Replying to: igozoomzoom (Jan 30, 2013 2:54 pm)
That's the thing with these shysters. They are great until there is a claim. Thanks for the good info.

#5212 of 5324 Re: POP QUIZ [sandman_6472] by sandman_6472

Feb 11, 2013 (6:52 pm)

Replying to: sandman_6472 (Jan 31, 2013 5:59 am)
My new agent came to the house earlier to inspect vehicles and have me sign paperwork. Locked in for a year at $1330 which is the best quote we got in South Florida. We've both taken the mature drivers class through AARP and have clean driving records. Drive econo cars so we're both very happy with our Metlife policy. The old one runs out on the 14th and this one starts on the 13th. The agent is very nice and helpful and will see if he can get us a good rate on our homeowners insurance...he thinks he can...yay!
 
The Sandman

#5213 of 5324 Re: POP QUIZ [steve_] by fezo

Feb 13, 2013 (5:58 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 27, 2013 1:16 pm)
Oh yeah, went up to $4 last year for passenger cars.
  
No extra charge if you want someone to drive you and your car across.
 
Now THAT is a job I could handle - driving cars across the Mackinac Bridge!

#5214 of 5324 Re: POP QUIZ [fezo] by marsha7

Feb 14, 2013 (10:06 am)

Replying to: fezo (Feb 13, 2013 5:58 pm)
I don't know about that...when I drove across the Delaware Memorial Bridge, it seemed like it was WAY above the river when you look to either side, and it just gives me the creeps...those extra long bridges just might paralyze me...

#5215 of 5324 Re: We subsidize bike lanes and [euphonium] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Feb 14, 2013 (10:51 am)

Replying to: euphonium (Jan 27, 2013 2:39 pm)
yeah we wouldn't want lunatics proposing public transportation in America That's the road to perdition.

#5216 of 5324 Re: We subsidize bike lanes and [Mr_Shiftright] by euphonium

Feb 14, 2013 (12:02 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 14, 2013 10:51 am)
Actually, the Columbia River Crossing is between Portland & Vancouver. Perdition is in WA DC.

#5217 of 5324 Re: We subsidize bike lanes and [euphonium] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Feb 14, 2013 (5:25 pm)

Replying to: euphonium (Feb 14, 2013 12:02 pm)
We must never confuse stupidity with evil. You give Washington DC far too much credit.

Messages Page 522 of 533

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