Allstate, Farm Bureau - Any thoughts?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 01:54 am Post Subject:

Isn't it odd that an insurance policy or contract is only available to be read after you have you have commited to it, paid for it, and replaced a previous one? And you are lucky if you get a copy from some companies. Oh here's where you can find a copy of your contract (policy) online. ( if you have a computer or online connection.) Oh and forget about orignal equipment parts for that car of yours, we will replace at our option parts made by someone other than the manufacturer of your vehicle.

There are thousands of vehicles on the road today that have aftemarket safety impact bars behind the bumpers that have recently been proven to be defective and there is no requirement of any insurer to notify the policy holder of a decertified structural part that has been proven to be defective and no recall program to remedy a situation that could prove fatal to policyholders if involved in a frontal collision. Odd isn't it?

The caveman and gecko company is the only insurer to publicly state that they will no longer use aftermarket impact bars but did not say that they would notify vehicle owners that were forced to use them that they would replace them. This recent revelation should be brought to the attention of vehicles owners just as the Toyota throttle cably issue has been and it should be initiated by the insurance industry in my opinion.

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 06:51 am Post Subject:

Allstate is like the other devils in the insurance world; bait and switch then deny and clobber you. My new policy with them was a great buy(after switching from Safeco who i was with 14 yrs.) My renewal rate went up 30.00 in only 6 months and I have no claims or changes. I 've been played again. The great rate lasts only until your signed up. BEWARE

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 02:38 pm Post Subject: Allstate

I personally have had a bad experience with Allstate. I was in a car accident where both the girl that hit me and myself were insured by Allstate. Allstate promises to give you representation, but they refused to give me a representative. They led me on by promising they would let me know if my medical bills came anywhere near what the girls coverage was, but didn't. My bills were over 10 times what her coverage was and growing and they still would not have said anything had I not finally decided to get a lawyer and sue them. I am a Christian and did not want to have to go this way, but had no choice. They had ruined my credit! If you do a "Google" search by putting in "vs. Allstate" you will find several very interesting things about the company....to say the least!

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 08:30 pm Post Subject:

Gee, hard to believe, especially when their commercial spokesman makes you feel all good and fuzzy about allowing them to take care of you.

Whether it's allstate or any other company, their business practices vary in different markets and states and the purpose of their commercials is to get you to feel good about selecting them. They are milking your trust and empathy. It's called marketing! They have a very very good marketed commercial and if you'd take a poll from prospective insurance purchasers, most would feel safe in believing this ficticiousl representative who is AN ACTOR who is paid to make you believe you would be in better hands with them.

I get at least ten solicitations a month telling me they can save me money. When compared, they can't even get close to what I am presently paying so why do they claim they can? It;s marketing and advertising and fishing for unhappy policyholders. The best place to find out how insurance companies treat their policy holders is to ask anyone who has recently had a claim with a company you are contemplating switching to or to talk to contractors and auto collision repairers who are not dependent on that company for a source of direct income through referrals. The last person to ask what they think of their insurance company is someone who has never experienced a claim with them in 15 years.

One should also explore and understand the limitations and coverages that you are seeking. Full coverage auto does not mean you have rental coverage or underinsured, or med pay in most instances. The cheaper prices reflect the bare minimum coverages that are offered for the liability, collision, and uninsured in most cases. Sitting in an auto shop being told you dont have comprehensive on your hail damage, or rental coverage, and "oh yeah" that thousand dollar deductible don't look so good now, is a bad time to find out that switching to save money was a good idea.

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 01:34 am Post Subject:

My bills were over 10 times what her coverage was and growing and they still would not have said anything

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 06:20 pm Post Subject:

I want to switch my home and auto insurance from statefarm to allstate i havent had a claim for ten years with state farm but i think i pay too much ,should i switch or not help please.

Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 08:06 pm Post Subject:

should i switch or not help please.

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 03:11 am Post Subject: allstate

Allstate is good, but not necessarily cheap. However, keep in mind that if you find an honest and hard working independent agent like I did (after leaving the first agent in the dust because he didn't really look around for the best coverage for the money for me)... it should be considered seriously.

Did you know Encompass is Allstate but Allstate agents can't sell it? It's a great policy and reasonable, in my opinion. Allstate agents can't sell it. It was developed so Allstate could get in on the 'independent' market.

Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:25 pm Post Subject:

Something to consider when changing insurance companies is how well or how bad they treat you when you have a claim. Do they make you jump through hoops and go on the three estimate goose chase or do they insist you use one of their preferred shops?

A lot of these online non agent lower priced insurers offer lower rates because they attempt to pay less when you have a claim based on my experience as a repairer and collision business owner. The business of insurance is selling insurance and setting rates where as it is not telling you how much your vehicle repair will be. They often state in legal precedings that they only pay for losses and it is the shop that is the repair expert. So why do they interefere with the process if this is so? When insurers get involved with claims settlements, it is to settle on the least amount a claimant might take regardless of the actual cost of repairs based on an invoice presented by you as proof of loss from an expert.

Even agents have been successfully neutered as they have little say in the claims process other than giving you an 800 number to call. The best bet would be to educate yourselves about what is covered on a loss and what coverages you are selecting and understanding what is owed to you in the event of a loss and who may repair your vehicle. Don't judge the value of your coverage based on the price unless you are looking for minimum liability coverage. Find a shop that will advocate for you the vehicle owner and not defer to the desires of the insurer who is indemnifying the policyholder or paying a damaged party a sufficient amount to be placed in the position they held prior to the loss.