2009 VIP
CyndiA
southern, NC

Like a good neighbor? No. More like the one who got arrested.

1 star rating

safe driver, over 25 years with USAA, mom to boys with one driving now, tried State Farm - boo hiss
Pros

    can we spell junk mail?, problems with motorcycles, they think I'm confused, higher priced than it seems, dropped too many balls to count

Cons
    not so cheap when bundled

SEP
5
2007

Someone told me that I'd get better rates with State Farm, since I had a kid about to turn 16. I called, and they did give me good rates.

I'd seen the commercials about "Like a Good Neighbor - State Farm is There." They do have a local office, so that sounded good too. USAA is in Texas - not a problem but so far away. I was feeling just fine about my "good neighbor" right down the road.

The state of NC then sent me a letter that my motorcycle insurance had lapsed. They had cancelled my tags. Bummer. Good thing I didn't wreck that week.

I called State Farm. They explained to me that my cars were paid direct as I'd set it up, but I was supposed to mail in the motorcycle payments. I don't think they told me that. Yes. They did send bills. They also sent "something" every few days. I figured it was all junk mail, since I set it up to have my payments paid direct. I asked them to put my motorcycle on there too after this mess, but they said that they couldn't.

If you've never lapsed your insurance and had your tag called in, let me say that you will owe the state. I think my fine was $50.

After that one of my students was crying. I asked here what was wrong. She said that someone broke in her car and messed it up - big times. The insurance company told her that she could not take it to the closest Saturn dealer. They made her take her car here in town (which I don't think is legal). They also refused to pay for new parts. Even the cut head liner was replaced with a used one. Her car was really new. She did go to the Saturn dealer after the work was done. The value went down and extra $3000 just due to the used parts. That's why she was crying. I asked which company she was with. She said State Farm. I can't vouch for all that, but it did worry me.

The next thing I discovered was that my 16-year-old was not covered. I got State Farm when he was 15. They don't charge for 15-year-olds. When I took him to get his full license, I called them. In fact, State Farm had to fax over to the drivers license office my proof of insurance. See now. My "neighbor" did know that I needed his insurance. I thought it was taken care of. I called. I told them he got his license.

It was about six months before I figured out that my kid was not insured. The drafts just looked low. They were bundled which made it hard to tell. State Farm really pushes with that bundling. I called to double check. Nope. No insurance on the kid. All that junk mail for services I didn't need - and they didn't even add the one I did need. Can you even imagine having a 16-year-old driving a car around with no insurance? I still cringe when I think about that.

After that I called up USAA which I'd used for over 25 years. They had always been great as I've noted in a review here. I told them I wanted to switch back - for good. They were terrific as always.

One thing you have to do when you change insurance is get on the three-way and confirm that. USAA called State Farm, and I said that I was changing over to USAA.

My "neighbor" at State Farm wanted to know why I was changing back to USAA. I mentioned the things above. Just briefly. I was very polite. I said, "I'd just feel more comfortable with USAA."

The State Farm rep said, "This woman is confused." This is on three-way. I'm assuming she is telling the USAA lady this. Can you even imagine an insurance rep saying that while you're on the phone? I'm thinking, "I'm going to show you confused in a minute." But, hey I'm Southern. I didn't say anything.

The rep from USAA said, "Our client has confirmed. Is there anything else we can do for you?" I'll bet she was thinking - "like send you for some PR training."

State Farm was disconnected at that point.

My USAA rep thanked me for my business and asked if there was anything else I needed help with. I told her I'd like to double check that I had the correct insurance amounts on my house. She rang me over to the home section and thanked me again before doing so.

I was, in fact, overinsured on my house. It was listed with some fancy slate roof. I just have shingles. So, I got a little lower rate there.

I'd never added up totals on all the insurance services, but I did this time as I took the bundle from State Farm to USAA. To my surprise, I ended up paying about $20 less per month total too.

USAA has been great over all these years. I was nervous the entire time I was with State Farm - and for good reason as I kept discovering. Fortunately I did not wreck the motorcycle while uninsured and my kid did not wreck when he was uninsured. We are now insured. It's direct pay with USAA, and they did it right as they always have. They don't send me all that junk mail either. State Farm will spam you to death.

You can decide for yourself who's confused here. I still can't believe State Farm told USAA that. That doesn't sound like a good neighbor to me.

 

 

 

 

Last edited on Sep 05, 2007



I_thumb_down State Farm is not recommended by CyndiA

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about CyndiA’s Review

 


CyndiA wrote on Dec 15, 2008 at 7:10PM

In response to ktru's comment from Dec 15, 2008 at 6:21PM:

Tks for the tips. When I did call State Farm, they did say I could get lower rates. The car rates were lower when they bundled. Good deal. When push came to shove and I went back to USAA, the car rates were higher, but State Farm jacked the house rates. So, I came out better with my old company USAA in the end. Customer service was also much better with USAA. That may be a big company and no local agent, but they (USAA) are rock solid. I found that out when my Dad died in a car accident. I handled all that. I don't know how USAA could have been any better even if they did not have an office in town. That was all by phone, but I felt taken care of and cared about with USAA.

CyndiA wrote on Dec 15, 2008 at 7:03PM

In response to ktru's comment from Dec 15, 2008 at 5:51PM:

Hi ktru - Thank you for the input. I did switch back to USAA where I'd been for ages and no problems. Mostly the local agents at State Farm were nice and all. It did make me really nervous to think I had a teen who was driving without coverage. Certainly, I was not paying the rates as I discovered. I don't know how things would have gone if he had not been a careful driver. I also thought it was rude to tell another insurance agent on a 3-way line that I was "confused." I was not confused about the kid not being added. I checked that. I would not imagine that many people would say, "Hey, I think I'll stick with you after you called me a moron on the phone with another company." When I made that one switch away from USAA, they did not make any rude comments about me personally while I was on the line. I really think that saying, "This woman is confused," is enough to make me not want to work with a company. It seemed like she was talking about an idiot with the alleged idiot listened in. Plus, when all was said and done, my rates for a package were lower with USAA.

ktru wrote on Dec 15, 2008 at 6:21PM

In response to tmi62's comment from Nov 21, 2007 at 11:51AM:

tmi62
Yes, it is State Farm's 'rule' to rate the youthful driver on the highest rated vehicle...I will admit I HATE this 'rule' and at all the State Farm agent's offices I have worked out (6 now), this 'rule' is rutinely broken to save the client money. Another 'trick' you should know...if you have fewer cars than drivers in the household and one driver is a youthful...ask about having the youthful rated as an 'occasional' driver. Another...if you drive under 7500 mi per year, ask about a low miles discount. I understand it is frustrating when your agent doesn't have all your information correct, but keep in mind most agents have thousands of policies and it is like pulling teeth without novacane to get clients to review their policies (probably because you are worried we will try to sell your something). There are consequences to avoiding your insurance office like the plague...your policies will be overlooked unless a problem arises or you call in. We do our best to review policies, but we need the client's help to make sure we are covering your properly and addressing all your needs. After all, life changes, so do your insurance needs...but if you are consistently treating your time with your agent like an overseas phone call, there isn't much time for us to find out how your needs have changed.

Call your agent for a free review. A lot of agents will also review policies you have with other companies to make see your whole picture.

I hope some of these tips and explanations will help you be a little easier on all your insurance providers and encourages you to take an interest in your own protection.

ktru wrote on Dec 15, 2008 at 5:51PM

CyndiA,

I am a long time State Farm customer and employee...I am so sorry to hear how poorly you were treated.

One thing I did want to mention, even though your agent failed to add your 16 year old to your policy, had he been in an accident, he would have been covered because he is a related household member. The underwriters and claims just would have balked at the agent as to why they didn't have him rated on a policy yet.

State Farm insures the household, not just individual people. So as long as the people in your household are related to you by blood or marriage, they are covered. You can, as you should, double check this with the policy booklet that is sent with your renewal...but for as long as I have worked here (7 + years), State Farm will typically cover the loss and ask questions later.

For example, I was living with my then boyfriend (fiance now) and technically, because we were not related, he was not listed on my policy, and he had regular access to my vehicle, he should NOT have been covered by my policy. However, State Farm covered the loss, there were consequences though...my fiance is now excluded from my policy and any further accidents/losses he would have in my vehicle would not be covered by State Farm.

State Farm agents are independent business owners. It sounds like the problems you had were not State Farm problems, but agent problems. Had your coverage/claims/etc been unjustly denied by underwriters...then it would be a company problem.

If you are thinking of switching companies...ask yourself this question first: Am I having a problem with the company or with my service provider/agent? If your problem is truly with your agent, not with your premium or coverage, you may want to shop agents before shopping companies.

Sincerely,
Lifetime State Farm client :)

CyndiA wrote on Nov 7, 2008 at 2:41PM

In response to OldHippie's comment from Nov 7, 2008 at 2:58AM:

Could be. Mine was not so great. I still cringe when I think about a 16 yr old on the road and not insured for a few months. Thank goodness he was careful.

OldHippie wrote on Nov 7, 2008 at 2:58AM

I believe a lot of it has to do with the agent in your area. Mine is GREAT.

CyndiA wrote on May 11, 2008 at 10:10AM

In response to gbmom's comment from Sep 6, 2007 at 7:35AM:

Ditto on USAA. Anyone who can go with them should give them a look. You've got to have a connection to the military. I first went on because my Dad had served.

CyndiA wrote on May 11, 2008 at 10:08AM

In response to TracieFadian's comment from Sep 8, 2007 at 7:17PM:

I've never had Progressive direct. Apparently State Farm "farmed" out the motorcycle coverage to Progressive which is why I had to send money instead of having it on the bank draft like I thought it was set up. I didn't wreck the motorcycle, so I never had to get involved with Progressive.

CyndiA wrote on May 11, 2008 at 10:07AM

In response to tmi62's comment from Nov 21, 2007 at 11:51AM:

Thanks for the tip. USAA did it right from the start. They've never played games. I'm glad to be back with them.

tmi62 wrote on Nov 21, 2007 at 11:51AM

State Farm needs to change their motto to "Like a good neighbor.....State Farm isn't there"!

You do have to watch State Farm on underaged (new) drivers. They will ask you how old the child is & even if YOU TELL THEM what auto the child is going to be driving THEY DO SWITCH the child to the higher rated vehicle to make your premium go up, thus putting more money in the agent's pocket. This is how the agent has been trained & trains their staff people.

Make sure you double check your policy if you have any children under 21 driving & see on your declarations sheet they send you where the child has been placed or even call the office to see. This determines your premium. ALWAYS place your child on the lowest rated vehicle that you have. This WILL save you money. The child can drive any car of yours, State Farm likes to put them on your highest rated vehicle. They use a figure called an IRG (Insurance Rating Group). Every vechicle has an IRG, the higher the IRG the higher the premium. Always ask what your vehciles IRG is if you have more than 1 car -- you DO have that right. Switch your child to the lower IRG vehicle. Under 21 drivers are also classified at higher rates & that also factors into what the IRG is for what car they are listed on.

TracieFadian wrote on Sep 8, 2007 at 7:17PM

So it isn't just Progressive that screws you after an accident, will not return your vehicle like it was before, lies to you, and is flat out rude? Why am I not surprised?

CyndiA wrote on Sep 7, 2007 at 6:24PM

I'm just thankful that nothing major happened when I was with them. The $50 fine was irritating, but it was very minor when I think about an accident or something an no coverage.

LaurieM wrote on Sep 6, 2007 at 9:01PM

I have had bad experiences with State Farm here in NY as well. I finally left and went with Allstate. I love them. Thanks for sharing your experience! Sorry for all your troubles though. :(

gbmom wrote on Sep 6, 2007 at 7:35AM

I see State Farm is living up to their ( Florida) reputation in other parts of the country. They have left so many people hanging, haven't paid on their claims, have lied to so many people and there are still families here that do not have a home since hurricane Ivan came through here. The new saying here in this part of Florida has gone from "Like a Good Neighbor".......to....."I don't need a good neighbor, I need a good lawyer". I'm in good hands....someone elses...USAA, and Armed Forces.

Jo wrote on Sep 6, 2007 at 5:39AM

Nice job on the State Farm review...sigh.. I have to tell you Cyndi I will have that song in my head all day! Jo