Please WRITE DOWN the name of the person who "helped" you!
Written: Mar 17 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Customer Service: |
 |
|
| Web Site Experience: |
 |
|
| Web Site Load Time: |
|
|
| Response to Claims: |
 |
|
| Price Confidence: |
|
|
|
Pros: Very simple structure.
Cons: Deceptive "simple structure". "Agents" fail to mention fine print.
The Bottom Line: If you can pay in full, auto deduct from credit card, and avoid calling them...they're okay.
|
|
|
| nad_masters's Full Review: Progressive Group - Auto |
Getting auto insurance can be a pain. Progressive offers what seems to be a small menu, which is designed not to confuse the average Joe. However, it is what they hide that will frustrate Joe.
I found them to be cheaper than other auto insurance during my research. It was very straight forward on the phone and even on the web. However, I do not trust entering my information on the web. I also like the added security of being able to ask questions to a live person during the application.
I recently found out that it seems like these "agents" or "salespeople" get their info straight out of the web, too! They do not really tell you the entire story and rely on you reading fine print when the policy is in force. The funny thing is I don't know whether the person I am on the phone with is my agent or not, since it seems like every one of their clients are passed around, whoever can answer the phone first. The only person you REALLY deal with is the claims adjuster, which is ALSO different for every claim. Call the claims adjuster (mistakened as an agent), and he/she will tell you to call Progressive's 800 number! What service!
This is the source of my frustration with Progressive... let me tell you my story:
On my move from California to another state, I'ved asked about canceling my coverage since I will be under my parent's insurance. The person (you MUST remember these people's name or you won't have a case!) said to me that I can go under the monthly payment so I can cancel once I get there. Prior to that, I was paying my premiums off in full (6 month coverage). I asked if there was any extra charges, since I already feel that the current $835/6 mo is already too costly. He consoles me with an "absolutely not".
That was one person... here's the next:
Once back home (and away from California), I called to cancel outright. The person on the phone said "you can just let the next statement go without paying and it will automatically cancel". At this point, I REALLY SHOULD HAVE gotten this guy's name. It was a very short phone call... but lets get on with the story...
I finally get a statement from Progressive, with late fees, cancelation fees...every fee you can imagine, I GOT! I also noticed that $835 divided by 6 DOES NOT EQUAL TO THE $180/mo I WAS PAYING!
The next person whom I called appologized for the misunderstanding, but offer no help except to "start a new policy so (I) can have coverage right away". I told her "excuse me, but after this incident, what makes you think I want to come back?" She explained the charges couldn't be removed, nor could they be credited if I come back to them ...it would still be considered a new policy, and the old one was considered CANCLED... even though that was YESTERDAY! No flexability AT ALL. It's like a well-programed computer that does not deviate from it's stored registers unless allowed by the memory controller. (Yes, I'm just babling BS now, but I'm steaming mad as I type this!)
What about claims? Claims take FOREVER! The adjuster I was dealing with seemed like he was always swamped with other claims. His call-return time turnaround takes from 3 days to a week! My second claim, the adjuster REFUSED to cover me correctly! My car was damaged by flying pebbles from the trucks who pass me up (very snowy and icy, was driving slow to be safe...truckers are VERY gutsy with their heavy machines and don't even use MUD GAURDS!)... and the adjuster said that for every truck counts as 1 collision, and for every pebble that hit me counts as each additional collision, and I was told each of them are a seperate claims, and I can do only so many claims. Now, come on! You can tell this is BS! Even the body shop I went to for an estimate agreed with me! It took both of us to convince the adjuster to cover the damages under Comprehensive and not Collision. Even so, the adjuster was very reluclent. When he finally gave up, he said that he had to give up because it was a law in California to do so, and now that I'm in IL, it gets confusing. Tell me...what's so confusing as getting comprehensive coverage on pebble/rock damages?
Moral of story? Being internet-based has it's merits, but sometimes, one-on-one consulting is better.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.