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I think my insurance agent scammed me...advice anyone?
Here's the situation. My policy renewed automatically, but my agent neglected to renew my auto-withdrawal. So my policy goes into default for lack of payment and is eventually cancelled. This happens without my knoledge as I was out of the state attending training for a new job. When I returned home, I found this out and started the process of getting my insurance renewed.
I received a few quotes, all about the same price so I elected to stay with my previous agent. I spoke with him over the phone one night as I was preparing to move to Utah, and I confessed that I needed insurance NOW because I was getting in the car and driving there. He put together a quick estimate of "about $100 a month." I told him to go ahead and resign me, and gave him the authorization to renew my policy.
A week later, the charge showed up in my checking account for DOUBLE what he had originally quoted me. I called him and asked and he told me that was the penalty for allowing my insurance to lapse.
My agent is with AAA so its not really a question of trying to get the cheapest possible insurance. My real issue is that I was quoted one price then charged another. I am not disputing the rates, its their product and they have the right to charge whatever they feel like charging for it. Just like its my right to go to a diffrent company because I think their rates are too high.
Coincidentally, I would have done exactly that if only I had been given a quote that was accurate. A quote is supposed to be a quote, not a guess. Any significant deviation from the quote (say being off by 100%) should warrant at the very least a phone call to me to authorize the higher charge.
That was not done. My issue is that I was quoted one price and then charged a completely different amount than what I had been quoted, with no authorization on the higher charge.
7 Answers
- oklatomLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Sorry, your agent isn't responsible for holding your hand and making sure things are done just as you want them done. Someone was getting your mail and got the letter that said "If you don't pay, we will cancel". Also you should have noticed the money wasn't going out of your account every month.
Yes, when insurance lapses, for any reason, there is a penalty that gets paid.
It's amazing you saw that but missed 3 months of no payment.
- ChrisLv 51 decade ago
The harsh reality of this is a quote is just a quote. An agent will do the best he can (maybe this guy was off a bit) based on what you have told him, but if he's not in Utah and underwriting gets their hands on it and rates it properly, the rate can change. I'm sorry about that bad news. Now that you're in a new location how about calling around? You have more info than you did before and should be able to do better. Reinstatement of a policy after a lapse in coverage can also be expensive up front.
Source(s): claims person - 1 decade ago
I think your agent misquote you or didn't have all the information when he first quote you. He should have done his homework and get the real/actual numbers to you. It usually leaves things to questions/dispute when you say one thing and another happens (in this case the charge amount). I think that you should let him know and question why this was different and accept his explanation. Also ask him if you have been given all the discounts possible, that is, discounts you would be qualified for. Get the statement from the insurance company, go over the charges and coverage and call him to make sure that this is accurate and adequate insurance. Your other option is to pay this and get coverage for this term, while you look for another local insurer to where you are moving, or just cancel it altogether. You have to weigh your relationship with this agent, his integrity with you, and this error warrant an end to it.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I think you need a professional help. In case you find it useful please visit http://www.abcofinsurance.com/ - they offer free insurance counsultancy on phone. You can also contact them via free online form on the site.
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- Anonymous1 decade ago
90% of the companies are BS money takers with no grace periods because of so many people getting insurance to get their registration renewed only or just can't afford the AAA or STATE FARM type companies. You have to pay extra to get the service you want or expect problems from time to time. Just hope you don't have a claim with them.
Source(s): http://painintheexhaust.blogspot.com/ - sunshineLv 51 decade ago
first it depends if you expired i know you said it automatically right there is a problem i want to see my policy and why do i pay so much not me personnelly progressive is the way to go you spoke to an agent you may have had to be covered w another one of their cust. someone more expensive at lenght you should have bought or tried to buy it where you moved to just a thought this is a mess you have good luck
Source(s): me - Anonymous1 decade ago
I don't think you were scammed...you just have a moron for an agent. God help you if you actually ever need some real assistance with a claim.
My two-bit advice: either change your agent or change the company.
Source(s): Claims slave
