Homeowners insurance

[ronny]

Tony, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but after reading and re-reading the first 5 lines of your post, I'd say you ordered that policy, whether you meant to, or not. You got a quote; told him you liked it; gave him info "to get the ball rolling"; received the policy and then, did nothing. Agent had no reason to call you back; he's just waiting for the company to credit his commission.
Don't misunderstand. I can feel your pain. But, had you picked up the phone, or better yet, emailed him (CYA) right then, you'd have saved yourself a lot of gastric juice.
I know the Agency you're talking about. He's mine, as well. He won't be after my next renewal. I was in that business (company, not agency) for 33 years. I could write a book on the do's and don't's of dealing with agencies (and direct writing companies).

Rule of Thumb when dealing with direct writers and faux direct writers - get the best deal you can with the best coverage you can. Then be happy if it lasts two years. For sure, get new quotes every three years.

Better option is to find an experienced Independent Agent (preferably a Personal Lines specialist) who represents multiple companies, He/she will work for you and can offer direction.

And, more important than you know, it really pays to investigate their claims dept and how they respond to claims. Those low premiums sometimes come at a price. Check with Cards81fan on that subject.

 

[JD8]

To the personal lines boys, I'm assuming these guys have binding authority? I do too but there's no way I'm binding without signatures. Are the (captive) agents on the hook from the carrier for the premium? Because it should've been a pretty easy process to backdate and cancel flat if he's got coverage elsewhere. Commercial is a different animal so I never know.

 

[ronny]

They can e-sign these things nowadays. I don't know what their binding authority is, but with online capabilities, it should take minutes for approval or declination.

 

[JD8]

They can e-sign these things nowadays. I don't know what their binding authority is, but with online capabilities, it should take minutes for approval or declination.

Right, I get that, we can too. However if there were no signatures, and no payment made, sounds like it was bound anyways. I didn't understand the pushback after that unless the agent was on the hook for the premium.

 

[ronny]

I think most of the direct writing "agencies" are held to some pretty stringent requirements. Once issued, they may well have a hook set.

 

[Fredkrueger100]

Right, I get that, we can too. However if there were no signatures, and no payment made, sounds like it was bound anyways. I didn't understand the pushback after that unless the agent was on the hook for the premium.

They told me they couldn’t flat cancel it because the policy had already been paid. Even though I never signed a thing and they never once sent me any documents to show me I had a new policy with them. They didn’t want me knowing or they would have. I had to send farmers proof that I had insurance at the time farmers started the policy and I had to type up a letter and tell them I wanted to cancel and why. I did and then they tried to act like my Declaration page I sent wasn’t good enough. So I sent a different one and they finally said they were canceling and issuing my refund. I should receive it next week sometime. Or at least I better. The guy was supposed to send me an email showing where they processed the refund and cancelation but I never received one. I wouldn’t be surprised if they try and screw me. They know my safeco policy has to be paid by the end of this month or it will lapse for no payment. I wouldn’t be surprised if they try and make that happen. If they do I am suing. I find it quite funny that they never called me, never emailed me, never texted me, and never sent me any documents telling me I had a new policy with farmers. I had no idea. But the agent did text me to let me know they were fixing to deduct my payment for the car insurance. That is more proof of what they did. They were hoping I wouldn’t catch it and my safeco would lapse and I would be stuck with farmers. Or else they would have let me know they were fixing to have the premium paid out of my escrow account.

 

[Fredkrueger100]

Tony, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but after reading and re-reading the first 5 lines of your post, I'd say you ordered that policy, whether you meant to, or not. You got a quote; told him you liked it; gave him info "to get the ball rolling"; received the policy and then, did nothing. Agent had no reason to call you back; he's just waiting for the company to credit his commission.
Don't misunderstand. I can feel your pain. But, had you picked up the phone, or better yet, emailed him (CYA) right then, you'd have saved yourself a lot of gastric juice.
I know the Agency you're talking about. He's mine, as well. He won't be after my next renewal. I was in that business (company, not agency) for 33 years. I could write a book on the do's and don't's of dealing with agencies (and direct writing companies).

Rule of Thumb when dealing with direct writers and faux direct writers - get the best deal you can with the best coverage you can. Then be happy if it lasts two years. For sure, get new quotes every three years.

Better option is to find an experienced Independent Agent (preferably a Personal Lines specialist) who represents multiple companies, He/she will work for you and can offer direction.

And, more important than you know, it really pays to investigate their claims dept and how they respond to claims. Those low premiums sometimes come at a price. Check with Cards81fan on that subject.

I have safeco through an independent agent. He does business with multiple companies. If I could go back I would have called. But I had no idea they can go ahead either the process without me singing anything. The documents they sent me to sign said I had to sign to “complete the purchase of the policy”. So I assumed if I didn’t sign it I wasn’t purchasing it. That was my ignorance to assume that. But lesson learned. Won’t ever make that mistake again. I would rather have higher premiums and have a good company and a good agent rather than save some money and have a crap company and agent. And from this experience farmers IS a crap company and the agent is even worse. The agent knew I didn’t sign those documents. And when he called me I wouldn’t answer. Most people would have asked “do you still want the policy?” But he didn’t. He didn’t give a rats rear if I did or not. He just wanted the commission and was willing to do whatever to get it.

 

[ronny]

I have safeco through an independent agent. He does business with multiple companies. If I could go back I would have called. But I had no idea they can go ahead either the process workout me singing anything. The documents they sent me to sign said I had to sign to “complete the purchase of the policy”. So I assumed if I didn’t sign it I wasn’t purchasing it. That was my ignorance to assume that. But lesson learned. Won’t ever make that mistake again. I would rather have higher premiums and have a good company and a good agent rather than save some money and have a crap company and agent. And from this experience farmers IS a crap company and the agent is even worse. The agent knew I didn’t sign those documents. And when he called me I wouldn’t answer. Most people would have asked “do you still want the policy?” But he didn’t. He didn’t give a rats rear if I did or not. He just wanted the commission and was willing to do whatever to get it.

There's the smartest thing that you, or anybody else, has said in this thread yet.

 

[turkeyrun]

Have had Farmers for 40 years. With the firearms rider.
Filed 3 major claims, within a 16 month period.
Along with 2 smaller claims.
Never an issue with paying any claim.
1 was a house fire. Turned in a bill for cleaning and repairs on firearms. Agent looked at bill, says, " we got off cheap. " marked it approved to pay.

Farmers is #1

 

[ronny]

You obviously have pictures.