At the suggestion of a friend I switched to Progressive Insurance when I bought another car. Shortly after that I had an eenie weenie fender bender that was my fault, for which they paid out just under 450 Dollars. It took another few months for my renewal but I was confident that, since that claim was so small, and after talking to friends who said that most insurance cos don't even consider claims under 1000 Dollars as anything, I didn't think my insurance was going to go up or even if it did it wouldn't be significant. I had not had an accident in 4 years and don't have tickets of any kind.
Enter Progressive Insurance!!!
They increased my premium by nearly 60%!
I pleaded with Progressive to reconsider since I had been accident free for 4 years and this was a small accident, but they told me in so many words that they can darn well do as they please!
Next, they reported me to Choicepoint as having paid out 550 Dollars. Looks small but in percentage points this is an increase of almost 25%, and FALSE!
Going up 60% of my premium would have meant that in fact I pay them back 3 times over what they paid out if I had stayed with them for the next 3 years (until the Choicepoint report falls off) When I complained to my state's regulators about this, I was told in so many words that Insurance Cos can pretty much do whatever they want in the state of Texas!
When they reported the amount as 550 Dollars to Choicepoint, it made me really mad, because I believe that any amount under 500 Dollars does not even get reported.
When I complained to Choicepoint that the amount is wrong and sent as proof a copy of Progressive's own statement sent to me on their own letterhead, they wrote back saying that Progresive says that the amount of 550 Dollars is correct.
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH
Can we ever get anywhere with these rip-off companies that seem to be ruling the planet?
A friend of mine suggested to me to switch insurance companies. I should have listened to him right then, but I thought they are all the same and since it was reported I wouldn't get a break from anyone else. When my next renewal came in, I called my former Insurance Co who told me, that even if it was 550 Dollars that was paid out, it DIDN'T COUNT and they gave me a rate of what I had before the accident. Finally some justice!
I switched back to them.
Progressive Insurance, what a super-duper Rip-off King of an Insurance Company!
The Texas Department of Insurance, what a totally useless regulatory Office!
AND Choicepoint, the enabler of rip-off practices by siding with rip-off companies rather than helping the consumer when they have been wronged and they have proof!
I'm not done yet with either of you!
Elvera
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