Like a good neighbor? No. More like the one who got arrested.
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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
State Farm is not recommended by CyndiA
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