by mar3156 » Sat Feb 07, 2009 08:57 am
I originally commented about my insurance agent, Farmers Insurance, charging me $215 a month for my teen when he had his learners permit and I he was learning how to drive in my car. I found out from others that they did not have to pay any additional premiums for their teens when they were learning to drive. Since I posted this I did some research and found out that many insurance companies do not charge additional insurance for someone with a learners permit. State Farm, Allstate, Esurance to name a few. The I emailed 40 Farmers Ins Agents and more than half said that Farmers does not charge additional premium for drivers until they get license. I contacted my Farmers agent and demanded that he return the $2,100 that I paid to have my son insured while he had his permit. My agent said he would forward my request to underwriting. After a week I had not heard back from my agent so I contacted him again. He said he had not heard anything yet. Another week went by and still I had not heard from my agent. I was planning on calling my agent again to find out if he had heard anything from underwriting but I got so busy at work that I didn't have time to call him. To my surprise when I got home a check, in the amount of $1,972, from Farmers Ins was waiting for me. There was a letter with the check that just said that the check was being issued due to an overpayment.
The insurance agent that provides life insurance for all the employees where I work told me that I should have sued them. She said that insurance companies don't usually like to refund money and that this is their way of not having to admit that they did anything wrong or unethical.
My question is: can I sue them? Does anyone know where I might find information pertaining to this issue? Or a lawyer that I might ask?
The insurance agent that provides life insurance for all the employees where I work told me that I should have sued them. She said that insurance companies don't usually like to refund money and that this is their way of not having to admit that they did anything wrong or unethical.
My question is: can I sue them? Does anyone know where I might find information pertaining to this issue? Or a lawyer that I might ask?
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:31 pm Post Subject:
The insurance agent that provides life insurance for all the employees where I work told me that I should have sued them. She said that insurance companies don't usually like to refund money and that this is their way of not having to admit that they did anything wrong or unethical.
Clearly they admitted they did something wrong by sending you the check for overpayment...so that's not true..My question is: can I sue them? Does anyone know where I might find information pertaining to this issue? Or a lawyer that I might ask
What would you be suing for? You got your money back right? The agent made a mistake, but got you the refund, so I don't see the beef and seriously doubt any attorney or judge or jury would other than to think you were sue crazy...and I further doubt you'd find an atty to take it..Really what would you be sueing for? I'd understand if you had not got the refund...but you did .... so again what would you be sueing for?
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:05 am Post Subject: Suing Ins Company
I could sue for "Good Faith and Fair Dealing" which is implied when you purchase auto insurance. Also, for "Unfair Claims Practice." The agent did not make a mistake. He knew what he was doing - or at least he should have known what he was doing. He has been an insurance agent for over 20 years. He knew there were alternatives and did not disclose information. He is clearly in the wrong. And also this caused me financial hardship - who has an extra $2,100 to throw around these days?
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:47 pm Post Subject:
Well you can't sue for unfair claims practices because there was no claim...I agree most don't have that extra 2k setting around (me included)...and I agree what he did was slimy, personally I'd file a Dept of Ins complaint as well as one with his company and let it go since i got my money back...but you can certainly sue anyone you want...winning a judgement is something all together different, and the amount of time they had that money was short...my bet is the most you'll get is the interest you could've got on that money...for what a month?
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