In this report are details of how Allstate insurance:
1) scams the public on the internet through multiple websites,
2) offered me a false low rate and got me to sign up,
3) 2-3 months later did a bait and switch on me and raised my rates with no valid reasons,
4) checked my credit file when I was specifically told it would not happen.
5) ignored the requests for a valid explanation.
6) only really responded after I reported them to the insurance commissioner
7) turned me into a collection agency
Also contained are or will be:
1) various emails of me going off on Allstate
2) emails of requests for information from Allstate.
3) letters to the attorney generals / insurance commissioners office
4) allstates excuse that they never received any of the emails.
5) a letter from the insurance commissioner
6) a response from a Allstate.
7) emails to and from SAFECO
Other information will be added as I retrieve it from my email history and data archive. (I keep everything I ever wrote, sent or received. You never know when you might need it in the future. Just like this)
The moral of this story
as best said by rap group "Public Enemy" - "Don't believe the HYPE.
"In May I went shopping online for new auto insurance. After taking more than 12 hours total over 2 days to fill out requests from all these different "companies" websites (I was REALLY shopping). I find that the bulk of the sales leads were given to different Allstate reps.
For all having been provided the exact same information, I received quotes varying by hundreds of dollars. And the fact that I received so many from Allstate, tells me that the 12 hours I thought I was "investing" to be a good consumer, was just a complete waste of time.
After getting frustrated with that, I figured that I would go with Allstate, after all according to their marketing HYPE, "x many millions of people saved money by switching to Allstate!". They were going to save me a lot of money too!
So I picked an agent that seemed to give me a reasonable rate and seemed like he had half a clue. I explained that I already have insurance with Safeco and that I have been with them for years. I explained that I have not had an accident or citation in like the last 10 years.
The agent provided me with a quote. He then asked for my social security number and insisted it was only to check the drivers records as that is how they are stored. I expressly stated that it is not to be used to check my credit reports, and he agreed saying they do not use it for that purpose.in June I accepted the price quoted. I purchased the insurance. My first bill was processed online June 25th.
(Note: every time someone inquires into your credit reports, they ding you for a couple of points. That is why I did not want them checking, I didn't want them dragging my score down.)
In September, After a few months of insurance, I received a letter telling me something to the extent of "because of information we found in your credit report, and because of information you failed to provide to us" we are raising your rates. (I will post a copy of the letter, later)
I wrote them several email, demanded an explanation.
I aggressively told them that if they did not have some information, that it is them that failed to ask for it as I answered every question I was asked and even some I thought were completely un necessary and intrusive.
I also explained that there is no negative information on my credit file, Period. I am 38 and I have an income of over $75,000 a year, I pay my bills on time (all auto drafted from my checking account) and As I am rather anal about how my credit is, I retrieve reports from all 3 bureaus at least once a year, many years, 3 or more times a year.
So whatever EXCUSE they have for raising my rates is unwarranted.in addition, what on Gods green earth does my credit report have to do with how much I am being charged for auto insurance? That's CRAP! My driving record should be the ONLY factor considered. My personal finances have no bearing on weather I am a safe driver.
With the amount of increase they wanted to charge me for auto insurance, the rate would now be actually MORE than I was spending for the past several years with Safeco. That is nothing more than a Bait and Switch.
I immediately wrote an email to Safeco explained the entire situation (that I left for a cheap "date") and begged their forgiveness (like the prodigal son) and asked if I can come back to the family, full well expecting to have to pay some type of penalty.
SAFECO CALLED ME on the phone within hours.
The wonderful person I talked to at SAFECO looked up my previous account, and told me no problem, and in fact REDUCED my rate from what I was previously paying to even below what Allstate quoted me for their initial insurance cost.
I wrote my Allstate agent and instructed them I am canceling, I wrote their corporate office an email and told them I am canceling and I wrote to the state attorney generals office / Insurance Commissioner and reported Allstate.
Only after I got a response from the state did the Allstate's corporate office bother to return contact, and then it was nothing more than damage control to appease the state. And even then I informed them that I switched back to Safeco.
That was all in September.
Today, January 26th. I got a call on my cell phone (voice mail). No introduction or announcement of who they were, just a phone number and a "file number" and said to call them.
I called them back and find out it is a collection agency. Allstate turned me in for collections for money they said that I owe them for insurance services AFTER I had cancelled my policy with them.
Allstate gave the collections company an old address that I had not lived at for more than 4 years and my cell phone number but failed top provide them with my multiple email addresses, work information or current address.
I informed the collections rep, (in a very nice way its not her fault that Allstate is a scam company,) that if Allstate wanted to get in touch with me to tell me I owe them something, they have more than 7 ways of contacting me OTHER than a physical postal address.
The collections rep says that in order for me to "dispute" the account I have to provide them proof of insurance as of October of last year, since Indiana is a mandatory insurance state. Basically saying that if I did not have insurance, then I owed Allstate the money regardless if I cancelled or not.
What does my proof of insurance with another company have to do with the fact that I cancelled my insurance with Allstate? Why does Allstate think I owe them more money?
The collections rep was nice, but obviously was told by Allstate to go get more money and not provided all of the facts.
Now, I have to be concerned that this will show up on my otherwise spotless credit reports, I have to go jump through some flaming hoops to "prove" that I don't owe anything (I thought our legal system was set up to be innocent until proven guilty?) and I have to WASTE more time with Allstate over this matter.
I will write more updates as they come available.
The moral of this story as far as anyone getting insurance with allstate
as best said by rap group "Public Enemy" - "Don't believe the HYPE."
Curtis
Honolulu, Hawaii
U.S.A.
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