What a Nightmare!
Written: Jul 03 '08
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Pros: Never filed a claim, but those I know who did report good, easy experiences.
Cons: Phone/internet QUOTE versus actual charge seems to CONSISTENTLY be two different things.
The Bottom Line: Never switch to Geico/Travelers completely until you get a BILL - what they quote you versus what they CHARGE you are consistently different.
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| Hairballz's Full Review: Travelers - Home |
I'm a Geico customer, have my home, auto and motorcycle policies with them. Only Geico Homeowners is actually done by Travelers, like it or not. When I decided to switch my Homeowners from Allstate to Geico/Travelers, just for the convenience of having all my three policies under one roof so to speak, I got a quote from Geico that was only about $20 different from my Allstate account, so I figured what that heck, let's go. Got on the phone, moved it over, no problem.
A few days later I got my policy in the mail - first thing I noticed, of course, was that the rate on the phone that we'd agreed to and the rate on the policy were SIGNIFICANTLY different - it'd gone up about $200!! I called to find out why, and they person I spoke with started reviewing my policy, telling me about the coverage for my slate roof (I have a metal roof), my masonite siding (I have brick), my three bathrooms (I have one), etc. It became really clear very quickly that the so-called inspector whom they were supposed to have sent to give my house a look-see as a new policy owner either hadn't even bothered to drive by, or had simply checked off some boxes on a form and submitted it.
FINALLY got all that straightened out by doing the work FOR them, over the phone, answering all the questions about what my house ACTUALLY contained, and then we got to the results - they insisted that my house, which on a GOOD day in a great market situation MIGHT sell for $79,000 needed to be insured for $250,000!! Of course I balked, BIG TIME - spoke to supervisors, spoke to everyone, and Geico/Travelers insisted that I HAD to insure the house for the amount their computer showed - I could NOT adjust it to a REALISTIC coverage level - and that the rate was now going to be about $700 a year instead of the previously quoted (on the phone, the first time) $500. I got all kinds of lines about replacement value, rebuilding costs, etc, but I know the market I live in, and if the house burned down TODAY, with all it's contents, it could still be replaced for about $125K.
My elderly parents live in the historic, national landmark side of town, in a 3-story 18 room house worth 3/4 of a million dollars - and THEIR rate with Geico/Travelers is not as high as mine! Huh? Mine is a ranch style home in a moderate income typical suburban neighborhood, I have ZERO claims on any of my policies and a credit rating that makes retailers DROOL.
This makes no sense at all.
I called around, OF COURSE, and got quotes from other companies. Everyone else WOULD let me write a policy for whatever amount I felt was sufficient (no one even SUGGESTED insuring a $80K house for $250K) but, interestingly, even with LESS coverage the rates were actually about the same as Geico/Travelers?!!? Weird, for sure.
In the end, I stayed with Geico, but I still have a REALLY bad taste in my mouth about this experience. Between the rate change from Quote to Actual (which from reading other reviews I understand is VERY common with Geico) and the total "drive by" estimate of my home's value I'm really just holding my breath hoping I never actually have to deal with an adjuster for any reason.
On another note, but also about Geico, I recently traded in a 10-year old truck for a used, 2 year old Chevy Equinox. I had called Geico while I was carshopping, and gave them two OTHER vehicles to get an idea of what the change would do to my insurance rates - a Honda CRV (hottest vehicle out there) and a Ford Escape - both 2008 models. Both came in really about the same rate as the 10 year old truck. But when I actually traded for the Equinox, and Geico HAD me (no more theoretical changes, but an actual change) the Equinox rate went up over $100 higher). Again, no claims, STELLAR credit rating.
I swear, I think they pull rates out of their butts.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Hairballz
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Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 0 members
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