State Farm Insurance uses ridiculous, underhanded tactics...Anyone know of a really good auto insurance co.?

Question

My family has been a customer of a single office of State Farm for over 30 years, through two agents. The original guy was incredible--took the time to know and understand my family, their needs and concerns, he used to come to the house...real old school. The "new" guy (past 10 years) has been, well, either an absentee at best, or a @$$h01e at worst. My father is getting older, and has gotten himself into a few (3 or less) fender-benders and one accident that was close to a total loss, all over the past decade. My mother has a perfect record. I've had a few moving violations, two cases of total loss, and a couple fender-benders, again over the past decade. My most recent total loss was complicated by a DUI charge as well. Now here's the BS part...State Farm's office took it upon themselves to notify any other family members they had (who are NOT on the same policy as my parents and I) that my license was suspended (they waited until two weeks before I get it back).

And that I shouldn't drive their vehicle. Now--I'm 29, again my family has bee a customer for over three decades...You're telling me this guy either couldn't trust us (all law-abiding citizens, except for my DUI, which was minor) and me not to drive while under suspension, or else he couldn't call us to discuss it over the phone if he indeed had any doubts? What's next? Telling all your extended family members when you get a ticket, so they'll make sure that you pay it? Or perhaps sending them your insurance premium, just so you won't forget about it?...ARGH!

PLEASE. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL, TELL ME. Is there an insurance company or agent that is still "old school"? Who conducts business in the old, friendly manner? Who does your auto insurance, are you happy, and why (if you've never had any accidents or problems, please don't answer...I'm more concerned with how other companies address issues, not "I've paid my premium, never had an accident, and I'm happy with it.").

Answer 1

State Farm Agents office are independently owned..Your problem is not with State Farm as a whole, It's with one State Farm Agent. And you are right, he had no right to share your information with non-household members.

Each agent has a head office that you can complain to or you can file a complaint with the insurance department for your state. I have been inured by and employed by them for years and believe me when I say that it's not a common practice to give out any ones information . You can change your State Farm agent anytime you want if you are not satisfied with the office's service. I'm sorry that you are having a bad experience but don't blame an entire company for the poor judgment of one person or one agents staff.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Sure there are.

If the other family members were household members, he had to tell them. If not, well, that was a privacy violation, IMO.

But now, you've got a problem . . . you have a policy with, what, seven accidents? And a dui, and a buncha moving violations. DON'T tell me you've got a parent who's 70 or older, because NO ONE wants to write auto policies on the over 70 crowd, they have more accidents per mile driven than the 16 year old boys!!

So regardless of where you WANT to get insurance, I think you're going to end up at Progressive. You can get a PRogressive policy at a small agent near you, but the service bit is going to be hit or miss.

Answer 4

State Farm is my auto insurance company and I am very happy. Sounds like you personally have a troubling loss history.

In what manner did State Farm notify family members that your license was suspended? Just a news bulletin or did they send a cancellation notice stating they would no longer cover YOU due to license suspension? The policyholder has a right to know why insureds lose coverage.

If State Farm notified other people about your license suspension and those person's policies are not in any way whatsoever tied in to your parent's policy through any multi-policy discount program, you may have something to complain about. Get yourself a lawyer or see a free/low-cost legal clinic for further assistance.

Answer 5

Working in claims for a large, national insurance company I deal with many other insurance companies. When it comes to claims, each insurance company handles them differently: some better, some worse. It also may be your expectation of an insurance carrier. Unfortunately, there is no one good insurance carrier.

And your problem is with the agent. If there are multiple agents in your town, you may be able to request a different one. It sounds like your mother may be able to stick with State Farm as she is clean. You're 29, maybe you should get out on your own policy so it keeps her rates low. She may be having enough problems with Gramps.

Answer 6

You're 29, two total loss accidents, a couple of fender benders, a few moving violations, and a dui? You shouldn't be allowed to drive. Period.

Answer 7

If it was two weeks before you "got your license back" you had no business driving any car, and if you would have had an accident during that time period, you would have voided their insurance coverage if you had borrowed one to drive.

All those telling you State Farm 'had no right to tell'...are dead wrong. It's a matter of PUBLIC record, and they can tell anyone about your lack of a license, and in fact it can be argued that they had not only a right but a legal obligation to tell those who might be affected of your status.

You would only have a case if they "Damaged your reputation by telling others things that were NOT true."

Answer 8

State Farm has a very strict privacy policy. They would only notify the family members which are listed in your household. You should check with your agent to find out who all is listed as drivers in your household. This will probably solve the question as to why all of your family members were notified. Also - if you are concerned with your family losing their insurance policies due to your driving record - they can exclude you as a driver in order to keep their policies. Check with your agent.

Answer 9

You're blaming your agent when you should be mad at State Farm, the letter your family received about not letting you drive their cars may have had the agents contact info at the the bottom but I can assure you he did not send the letter. State Farms underwriting department would have sent you the letter, they are the ones responsible to protect the company and other policy holders from excess liability. Once again the underwriting department decides who to insure or not insure, your agent can not change that process and most of the time the agent is unaware of letters that have been sent to a customer until the customer calls and asks question about it, thats why the underwriting department puts your agents name at the bottom of the letter because its his job to handle your questions or concerns. I hope this info helps.

Answer 10

There is no such thing as a minor DUI. If you hit the legal limit, you drank too much, period. That said, State Farm should have only notified those on your policy.

In reference to your personal email to me... Yes, I understand that some states have "tiers" for how they determine how drunk you are when they test for blood alcohol level. What I was trying to say is that is really irrelevant as you have NO business driving with any alcohol in your system. When you do, you are risking other people and not just yourself. That is the bottom line.