botp
join:1999-10-02
Chicago, IL
| reply to gdm
Re: Insurance
Here's our story, we've been with Allstate over 10 years, went with them because my parents had them for over another 10-20 years or so. No claims for over a decade, yet ever year, the rates creep up. Every time I call, it's the same...look into increasing the deductition. That's their "canned" response to appear to help customers save something over their constant increasing rates.
A couple years ago, my parents had enough and switched to SF, saved a bunch. Their rates with SF have not increased like Allstate. This year I've had it, finally switched our home and two cars over to SF and saved over 25%.
Go to a SF office and talk to them direct, I skipped the online stuff. This is one area where I would pay a bit more than save pennies online. With an agent and a small office, I know who to talk to and he knows what I've called about. I was afraid if I went with online, I would pull my hair out if I had to keep repeating myself to a different person everytime I call about something and if I can't understand the other end because of accent etc. and the other end can't understand what I am saying. |
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bshelly
Premium
join:2002-02-17
Schaumburg, IL
clubs:
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| reply to gdm
I have heard good things from neighbors, friends and co-workers about Country Companies Insurance. I am planning on switching to them for my home and auto. I also hope they offer a personal articles policy for my camera and other equipment I wish to keep insured separately. |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
clubs:
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| Countries was good that's who we had before going back to Allstate. My issue with them was in 2 years I had 4 different agents which didn't sit very well with me.
Never a bad experience with them just the amount of agents in 2 years seemed like a lot! |
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Suchaknight
Premium
join:2002-10-06
Houbytown
| reply to gdm
SF sux. They cancelled my neighbors policy after 15 years of zero claims because lightning hit his chimney. Wouldn't even quote him a higher rate. They screwed me on an auto claim. Some kid threw a snowball at my car and put a nice dent in the hood, and they said it not vandalism, which was covered by the comprehensive, but rather collision, which had a much higher deductible. Crooks IMO.
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What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about? |
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grcore
New and Improved
join:2003-12-06
usa | reply to gdm
try eagle insurance...
or talk to Talro, and tell them roland harper sent ya |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
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1 edit | reply to gdm
Well further update I got quotes back from everyone for insurance. I created a little comparison on pricing.
As you can see from the above image they are all on par or cheaper then Allstate. Amica can't give me a reason why homeowners is so much more money.
I am not sure how much this affects things. I looked at the AM best rating and Amica is the highest followed by State Farm and farmers. Amfam has an A but outlook is negative and not sure if it's because the insurers basically own Amfam.
For Auto this with a $500 deduct on comprehensive/collision, 250,000/500,000/100,000
I have a few more questions for them and will decide. I can tell you shopping for insurance is a huge PITA!!! |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | reply to gdm
Nice table. I may also review our insurance policies. I've personally been with SF for 26 years, with homeowner's and umbrella thrown in for the last 12 of those. |
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Jon
Premium
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL | reply to gdm
Geez what are you driving? Is that 2 cars? That's what I pay through SF for a year. |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
clubs: | That is for two Auto's, which I should have stated. I am not sure what most people have down for coverage. The Amfam agent suggested lowering the 250/500/100 to 100/300 and have the umbrella kick in after that. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
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1 edit | Our SF numbers are close.
We pay $552.00 for two cars (1998 Maxima and 2002 Town and Country) at 250/500/100 and $100 deductible, $1711 Homeowners and $282 Umbrella.
That totals to $2545, which is pretty much in the ballpark it seems.
SF seems to generally be favorably reviewed at or near the top of the heap and for the very few claims we've made, we've been pleased with their service.
The only claim we've made in the last 5 years was a hail damage one (last year I think). It didn't affect us rate-wise. |
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StepR
Code Warrior
join:2000-11-06
Elgin, IL
| reply to gdm
Also compare deductibles. We had a $500 deductible on the homeowners, but one year the insurer changed the policy to a $500 deductible but 10% of the value of the house for wind damage. I let it slide. Three months later I suffered a wind storm loss, and had to pay a $3,000 deductible. When I had the chance I took the option for a $1,000 deductible for all perils. A higher deductible is better since the rates are cheaper, and it is not worth goin gon the record and making a claim on a small loss anyway. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Good point. Ours is $500.00. |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
clubs: | reply to StepR
Deductibles are all the same. Basically that chart is apples to apples for coverage. I gave each them my Allstate policy so they can see exactly what I have. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Did you call up specific agents? |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
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1 edit | For SF, Farmers and AmFam I did. For Amica I just called the 800 number since they work a bit differently.
SF & AmFam agents was given by a friend. Farmers I just looked on the website and selected one.
I also found that Farmers is buying the AIG Auto from. [edit] 2009 from this wiki »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmers_In···ce_Group
April 2009, the Farmers Insurance Group announced that it will acquire the AIG Auto Insurance company, including 21st Century Insurance, for 1.9 billion dollars. This put Farmers in a dead heat for third largest personal lines insurer in the US [17]. |
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Jon
Premium
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL
| reply to gdm
said by gdm  :That is for two Auto's, which I should have stated. I am not sure what most people have down for coverage. The Amfam agent suggested lowering the 250/500/100 to 100/300 and have the umbrella kick in after that. Okay that's about what I pay then for one per year so it's about the same.
To be honest I don't know off the top of my head what my coverage is. There are minimums I have to have b/c of the umbrella. So I know I at least meet that criteria. |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | You guys have way nicer cars than I do for sure. |
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gdm
Premium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
clubs:
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| reply to gdm
Well I called a Country agent to throw them in the mix. They ranked right behind State Farm for AM best raitings and had same complaint ratio for the state as SF did.
Needless say I am shocked!! |
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David
No,there is another.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
clubs:
 ·DIRECTV
·magicjack.com
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to gdm
I just switched to country about 2 months ago.
I dropped my house premium by $100/yr and got better insurance at a better price than... Farmers! I mean they flat out beat Farmers hands down.
So now I have Country Financial/mutual insurance as well.
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If you have a topic in the direct forum please reply to it or a post of mine, I get a notification when you do this.
Koetting Ford, Granite City, illinois... YOU'RE FIRED!!
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | reply to gdm
Holy crap! That's a huge savings! |
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