State Farm wants its customers to be trumps.

[cab67]

Not sure where else to post this, but I really need to rant about something that has nothing to do with anyone else.

In the past three years, I've been involved in three minor auto accidents. This follows a 20+year accident-free driving record.

In none of these cases was anyone injured. In all cases, the damage was minor, and the cars were repaired.

Two of those accidents involved parked cars. In one, I misjudged the clearance in a crowded parking garage and dented one of the cars next to me. In the other, I was backing a rented king-cab pickup out of a driveway and bumped into the BMW foolishly parked right across from the driveway. (I wasn't accustomed to the truck's length.)

The first took place in a crowded parking garage with no surveillance cameras. The other happened out of state, and the owners had no idea who I was. I could have just driven off.

Instead, I chose to leave a note with my name and contact info in both cases. I thought it was the right thing to do. The damage was minor in both cases, and In the first, the father of the owner (a student at the university where I work) actually thanked me for my honesty.

So my insurance carrier - State Farm - has decided to drop me.

I know full well how insurance companies use statistics. Still - I really feel like I'm being punished for being decent. (They also claim it was for speeding tickets, but I've had very few, and the most recent was in 2021. Because my wife and daughter live in another state, I drive about 600 miles a week - I drive to where I work on Mondays and back to my family on Fridays. This includes driving on the freeway through towns notorious for the aggressiveness of their speed cameras. Not having had a speeding ticket since early 2021 - and having had very few throughout my life - is actually remarkable. So I don't buy that particular argument.)

I didn't have to identify myself to the owners of the cars I hit. I could have just left. I actually kinda wanted to with the BMW, because my mother in law, who I was visiting at the time, has been complaining about the owners of that car leaving it right across her driveway for several years. But I couldn't stomach the thought of leaving a young student in a lurch in the first instance, nor could I tolerate lying in front of my seven-year-old daughter (who was with me in the pickup) and encourage her to lie as well in the second instance.

I knew these accidents would cause my premiums to spike. I met with my agent late last year to ask about actions I could take to minimize the magnitude of that spike. And I should add that this particular agent has been very helpful and offered to help me find another carrier.

At this point, to hell with State Farm. They evidently prefer drivers who fail to take personal responsibility. I would encourage all of you to drop whatever State Farm insurance you have. I, for one, do not want my business to go to a company that encourages its customers to be trumps.

Maybe I should have lied?

[gay texan]

1. They dropped you over some minor things?

Was that their reasoning?

[DURHAM D]

3. Risk.

[cab67]

7. Like I said -

I know how insurance companies use statistics. After 20+ years of no accidents, I had three over the period of less than 3 years. From a completely dispassionate view, that means I'm a higher risk than I was. I get this. I never expected to face no consequences for these accidents.

But I've known of people (none of whom were my friends) who actually killed people in accidents deemed their fault, and their insurance wasn't cancelled. I've personally known people with DUI's who really should have had their insurance cancelled, but who kept their coverage, albeit with higher premiums. Their licenses were suspended (as they should have been), but once their driving privileges were reinstated, they had no interruption in coverage.

The fact is, I could have kept my mouth shut about two of them, and no one at State Farm would have known. The fact that I actively stepped forward means I'm being penalized. I don't mind paying higher premiums very much; in fact, I expected it. But to be dropped, as though I'm a consistent menace on the roads? That's not right.

[cab67]

8. suddenly, with three minor accidents in slightly less than 3 years, I'm suddenly a risk.

Last edited Thu Feb 29, 2024, 01:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Even though none of the accidents was serious, and even though I had a spotless accident record dating back to 2001. (And even that accident was minor.)

The problem is that, in all three cases, I accepted liability. I hit two parked cars, and in the third, I turned left when my view was partly blocked; I thought I was clear, but I wasn't. (The other driver was speeding, but that wasn't taken into account.)

I was never impaired. No one was hurt. All of the cars were repaired - none was totaled.

[DURHAM D]

2. I don't understand your title.

My father was a State Farm agent. My aunt was a State Farm agent. Two first cousins are agents. Another cousin works in their national headquarters. There are probably more family members currently working for State Farm.

I have been insured with State Farm auto for my entire driving life.

We are all Democrats.

[cab67]

4. "trump" is a pejorative.

It refers to someone who lies and fails to take responsibility with no second thought. Just like "quisling" refers to a traitor.

The people you know may be Democrats, but some people there want us to behave like trumps. That's not right.

[DURHAM D]

6. This is nonsense.

[cab67]

9. What's happening to me is nonsense.

Seriously.

I acknowledged that my local agent is decent and trying to help, so I'm not tarring everyone working for State Farm. But the fact remains - I didn't have to be honest, but I was, and now I'm being punished.

That's the beginning, middle, and end of it.

[BigmanPigman]

5. State Farm rips me off as much as AAA

I think all insur costs are pure BS. When you are NOT at fault they still increase your rates. It is a con game. Whether someone nails your parked car and there is no one around for miles and you have photographic proof it makes no difference. Same for floods and leaks in my apt from irresponsible neighbors. I always end up paying tons of $$$ when it is not my fault and it never changes, only gets worse. Insur has increased a lot more than the cost of living. The whole industry is a con game.... home, car, etc.

[Meadowoak]

10. I had state farm for over 30 years, never had a claim or a ticket.

Last year the rate increase nearly doubled my premiums, my agent said it was across the board and nothing she could do. I switched to farm bureau at about half what state farm was charging.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. That Happened To Us

We had Economy Fire & Casually for car & MetLife fir home.
Economy is owned by MetLife, so effectively we were "bundled".
I noticed the home owners insurance went up by 9, 11, 11, & 10% in successive years, though inflation was under 2% and wafe increases under 2.4% those 4 years.
So. I double checked the car policies and those were going up at >3x inflation.
No claims, no late payments, same house, same cars.
I shopped around and bundled with another major carrier.
Homeowners went down $600 & auto went down about $350.
Insurance companies can't be trusted. Really have to stay vigilant.
I'm still surprised that you got dropped. Their statistics usually involve rate of return & a reasonably long time horizon.
Shop around. You might get coverage cheaper than what you were paying.

[NBachers]

11. The trumps thing is a bit of a stretch

[cab67]

14. I didn't say they showed trumpian behavior.

I said they evidently want their customers to do so.

And if two tickets in about 10 years makes me a multi-ticketed driver, so be it, I guess.

[Celerity]

15. fair enough

[GoodRaisin]

13. The reason you took responsibility is because you have good

character and that is what it really comes down to. Our values dictate what we do in situations like that. Good on you for that.

Insurance is another thing altogether. They dropped you because of the incidents and that happens all the time because you are deemed a higher risk. They care more about good driving than good character.

My son’s insurance got dropped by State Farm when they found out his girlfriend was driving his car. She had a 3 year old DUI in another state. What he did was went to an independent insurance agent, gave them all the information, and that agent found him and her a policy with Progressive paying much less than he was being charged by State Farm. You might want to try the same approach and see if it will help you.

Good luck to you.

[Liberal In Texas]

16. Any chance you could be eligible for USAA?

If you or a parent were had military service you can join. A non-profit that I have found them to be fair and easy to work with for a few decades.

[Deuxcents]

27. Thanks for the reminder as I've thought about calling them

Both my parents were in the military in WWII but I don’t have their identification numbers or anything except their birthdays. Can they find them in their files with just the birthdays?

[Liberal In Texas]

33. Not sure

I would give them a buzz. The people on the phones are very nice and should be able to quickly let you know.

[sarisataka]

17. While I commend your taking responsibility

any insurance company would drop you for three accidents, at least two at-fault, in three years. Unfortunately honesty is not rewarded in the insurance world.

Speeding tickets stay on your record for three years, unless they involve other factors like DUI.

It sounds like you are going through a bad stretch. It happens. As the incidents drop off consideration, accidents also are tracked for three years, your "insurance rating" will improve and you can get coverage with any company.

Tip: don't chase the lowest premium every year. Get with one company and stay there. Insurance companies check how often you change and it does affect your rate.

[cab67]

24. My wife was involved in three accidents in three years.

She was at fault for all. One of them totaled her car, along with the car she hit.

She still has her coverage.

Different company.

[GuppyGal]

18. Insurance companies dropping 'customers' for minor claims is not a new thing. So yes it fosters people to lie. nt

[William769]

19. Please don't take offense at this but

I have had State farm for 20 plus years and I don't want State farm insuring someone that has your type of record that will have an impact on raising my rates.

I am accident free, and ticket free. Why should I be punished with rate increases because of people with bad driving records.

[cab67]

20. I take great exception to "bad driving record."

My record as a whole is excellent. I had three minor accidents in the past couple of years, but otherwise, my 41-year-long driving record is clean. I've never even had the airbags deploy.

Please check my record before describing its "type."

Thank you.

Should add - I've been a State Farm customer for more than 30 years.

[Mysterian]

21. A cousin of mine who sold insurance told me,

"If you have State Farm, you don't have insurance."

[lastlib]

29. Same with AllState!

I have a horror story about them over a theft attempt on my car, the summary of which filled three pages of a letter/nastygram to their CEO. Before I would ever go back to them, I would seek insurance from Satan Life & Casualty Co.

[Always Blue]

22. Lawyer up

I was recently in a car accident and contacted a lawyer. I was told if they cannot cancel your insurance and to contact him immediately if they did.
Insurance is a scam, no protection for consumers. They also use credit scores which should be illegal.

[AwakeAtLast]

25. We just got rid of State Farm

If you are related to a veteran or current service member, contact USAA.

State Farm raised our premiums by $300/month! Good riddance!

[Melon]

26. 3 you caused accidents....

I’m not saying I get it…..but I get it.

[cab67]

31. You're saying you get it.

And I get it, too.

But although I can accept having to pay higher premiums, I think being dropped entirely is too much.

What makes things worse is that I met with my agent late last Fall, after the last accident, to discuss what would happen to my premiums. I was told to add renter's insurance (I live in an apartment), which would soften the blow. So I did. And they dropped me anyway.

I'd like to think I'm at least entitled to a refund for the remaining amount of my renter's policy, which I cancelled yesterday.

[kimbutgar]

28. My husband has his truck stolen in 1988 and he had State Farm Insurance

Luckily only the was broken and minor items stolen. State Farm doubled his premium after that he changed to another insurance carrier. We have never had State Farm after that!

[Freethinker65]

30. Liberty Mutual dropped me after one claim in 14 years where the guy that rear ended me was issued a ticket!

They dropped me one week after sending me a letter commending me on my years as a customer and safe driving record along with saying even if I had an at fault accident, accidents happen, and that one accident wouldn't make my rates go up!!! The accident on question happened over a year and a half prior and I appealed and was denied and instead offered coverage at an affiliate high risk pooling insuring company.

I shopped around and switched TO State Farm for better coverage at less than 1/2 the previous year's price at a Liberty Mutual. Ended up bundling my homeowners AND getting an umbrella policy and still saved money overall. Yeah, might be teaser rates, but no increase in auto renewal rate after 6 months.

I think it depends on risk AND where particular insurance companies want to pull out of. Ended up Liberty Mutual had no physical agents nor offices within hundreds of miles of me, at least they didn't when I called. That could be part of the reason.

[Xolodno]

32. Statistical predictive models probably flagged you.

I know, because I've built some of them in the past. It isn't just the accidents, tickets, etc. but the milage you put on, distance to and from work....basically a boat load of behaviors. Which state you reside in also influences this, some states may disqualify certain items on a model and others may completely allow it. Also the regulatory environment as well, how much you can collect in the event of an accident will influence an insurer's appetite for risk. I doubt it was the accidents alone.

One neighbor made the remark that "those illegal aliens with thier junk cars are raising our insurance rates". I told her, actually we prefer those. Cut a check for a grand and walk away, it has little impact on our claims. It's when that brand new Mercedes and BMW have a fender bender and the repair costs shoot through the roof. A real bad accident, and we're on the hook for two cars if our insured was at fault. And distracted driving is very common with more expensive cars.

End of the day, insurance companies are there to make money. If the model is right or wrong in your case, is irrelevant. They have to maintain discipline in using it and adjust it as more data comes in.