I rarely do rant posts… but here is a fun one.
I recently got a notice from my insurance company of, oh I don’t know 15 years or so, that they are NOT renewing my Condo Unit Policy. My company is the very well known giant of State Farm. I have had 2 claims at this property, four years apart. In 2004 my condo was burglarized and I lost a computer, jewelry and other things. I made some cash back from my insurance company but of course nothing could replace my grandmother’s diamond drop earrings.
Then just recently as I returned from my world tour, I was dismayed to discover that my tenant had some ‘issues’ with the fireplace and there was some pretty bad smoke damage. So… I made another claim. Well, much to my chagrin I just received a notice in the mail saying that come October they will no longer renew my policy. What – no discussion, no phone call, no explanation? I was basically dumped with a “Dear John” letter.
And do you know why? Because I used my insurance company for what I thought I was paying it for—insurance. Some things happened, I made some claims, and because of that – they had to actually pay me money. So since that goes against their whole scam of cheating us all out of our money in hopes that nothing ever goes wrong – they dropped me like a bad mobile phone call. Oh, so what, Mr. State Farm—are you too good for me now? Are you above me and my vagabonding ways? I mean, ‘like a good neighbor, State Farm is where??’ No, you are more like a bad neighbor – playing your music too loud, three half-cannibalized ford trucks strewn about the front lawn, and two weeks worth of trash sitting at the curb.
I called my local Chicago agent, whom I like very much, and has always been there for me. She explained that the underwriter basically didn’t like the fact that I had 2 claims in 4 years, as the national average is around 10 years per claim. Do you think I wanted to be robbed or my condo to burn down? So, in other words, they didn’t want me as a customer because I used them for what they are supposed to be there for and in turn I wasn’t their ‘golden’ girlfriend anymore who just sends them bags of cash every year for nothing. This seems completely unethical to me. Is this even legal? Isn’t there some kind of regulating board that deals with asshole business dealings like this? Ya know, the ‘asshole business bureau’ or something like that.
Watch this and you’ll see what I mean:
State Farm said I could come back to them in a few years after I’ve ‘improved myself’, but, no shocker here, I will never date State Farm again. If they had a problem when I made those claims they should have told me then. Just like any relationship, you need good communication to make it work. And if they want me back in a few years… they can keep dreaming… because I’m on the hunt for a new insurer to keep me secure and snug late at night. And he will love me just the way I am.
Prologue:
Um, well, it turns out that it was very hard for me to find a new insurer since my record was so ‘tarnished’ so after a few phone calls and begging and pleading, my ex came crawling back and wants to take me back. Er, or is it the other way around? State Farm finally called and wants to get back together. I guess I still did have feelings for them (and the fact that all the other insurance companies I tried going out with were not cheap dates). So, I gave them back my key and are giving it another shot. I guess everyone deserves a second chance.
Did you let the "Good Hands" company take a little liberty on their way down your body into your pocket? You're right about all of this. In many cases you're insured until your first claim. Then you're damaged goods. Their just not that into you- once you've raided their coffers for a tiny share of the money you've paid them. Funny video! It's the only industry I know that starts with a profit and builds premiums off of that. It goes kinda like this. "You heard about Hurricane Ike, uh yah, it hit Lousiana and Missippi but its effect goes as far as Montana and Idaho. Everyone pays more. Bummer dude. However, you'll be glad to know that we'll never insure any of those folks again down there. Too risky. So risky that we need the Pacific Northwest to come through and help us pay those claims. What the hell, When California had wild fires we had to drop them like a prom dress and get New England to pay the freight. If this shit keeps up we're going to have to become an International one strike and you're out operation.
You went back to them?!? I was there when they dumped you. It was my shoulder you cried on that night. We ate ice cream right out of the tub and got silly on cosmos. Now you’re taking them back?!?
Look, I’ll be your friend no matter what, but I’m not sure I’m up for the three of us hanging out anymore. You may have forgiven them, but I’m not sure I have yet. I’ll work on it. As long as they make you happy, they’ll make me happy.
BUT, if they change their mind and dump you again, you know I’ll be there for you with a shoulder and some Breyer’s on the ready. 🙂