I have been a loyal progressive customer for years. They have wonderful over-the-phone customer service and an awesome online portal. Almost 2 years ago, I was convicted of a DUI offense I had committed around 5 years ago back in my partying years. Stemming from the conviction, I was forced to carry an FR-44 filing, which means I have to carry higher insurance limits for 3 years from the date of conviction, since I am considered a high risk driver. I have carried this fr44 insurance for almost 2 years now with progressive. DUI's are not cheap, especially in Florida... So I learned my lesson and have paid my dues since.
All of a sudden Progressive sends me a letter in the mail with the following writing:
"Please contact the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles to see if you require a non-cancelable FR-44 Important information about your policy financial responsibility filing. If the state indicates you need a filing, but not a non-cancelable filing, please ask the state for a new case number and contact us before your policy renews. If the state indicates that you do not need any type of filing, please contact us so we can remove it from your policy. If you still need the non-cancelable filing when your policy renews, please be aware of the following updates we've made to comply with Florida Statute 627.7275 (2) (a):
You'll have to pay in full for your entire six-month policy period. When you get your renewal bill, this will be the only payment option. Once your policy renews, you will only be able to make limited updates to it. Although it will be considered to be non-cancelable, under certain circumstances you may be able to cancel it and start a new policy. Please refer to your policy contract for additional information. You'll only be able to make changes to your policy that result in a premium increase during the first 30 days of your original policy period.
If you have any questions, please contact us anytime. We're here to help."
So naturally I call the state the first time, and they tell I am not required to carry non-cancelable fr44 insurance. Then I call Progressive, and tell them that I am not required to carry non-cancelable insurance, so they tell me that I should call the state and ask for a new case number that does not begin with a 4, since according to them their system only requires the 6 month premium payment for case numbers beginning in 4 or 2 (mine begins with a 4). I asked Progressive if the state does indeed provide new case numbers, and they said yes. So I call the state the next day, and it turns out that they dont give out new case numbers, and that every fr44 starts with a 4 anyways! So I get Progressive on the line and put them on conference call with the State, and get the supervisors of each on the line, and it becomes a back and forth conversation of misinformation and confusion. Anyways, according to the state, the state does not require anyone with fr44 insurance to have non-cancelable insurance, but that it is the insurance company's right to decide how and what to charge for anything (which I suppose is true)... But arriving at my point...
My point in writing this consumer complaint is that demanding a 6 month premium for renewal upfront is plain unjust. I have been a loyal customer for years paying excruciatingly high premiums (more than $700 a month the first 6 months since the conviction), why do this at all? I dont have a couple thousand dollars lying around to pay for full 6 months premium, and frankly, who does in this bad economy? I was lucky to have a good job and even be able to afford the 1 month premium. Secondly, I was given false information in the letter Progressive sent, the state doesn't require anyone to carry "non-cancelable" FR44... And the state does not give out new case numbers! Either Progressive does not know what the heck is going on or they are lying to excuse their greedy action to collect more money upfront.
The whole thing is just not right. We are forced to carry insurance by law, so its not like we can just decline their terms. I understand I am a high risk driver, so Progressive should assess a high rate for me as they have done over the past 2 years, but not demand 6 months worth in premiums, and then send me a letter with false information to excuse their actions!
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