Located Stephen Ratliff on the internet while looking for auto insurance. I was covered but had recently separated from my husband and was commuting 30 miles to work each way. Decided to get additional temp coverage in case my husband let our insurance lapse.
Explained my situation to Ratliff. Stated that I just wanted six month of coverage on two vehicles. Immediately he began to cheat me. He gave me mimimal coverage. When I compared them with the coverage I already had I was not satisfied. He said for 8 more dollars I could increase my coverage to what I was already getting from GEICO. He kept insisting that I not drive the Lexus even though it was supposed to be insured.
I received my policy in the mail and thought all was fine. Two months later I began to receive bills from Farmers Ins. I didn't open them because I knew I didn't owe anything. When I finally opened the bills they were charging me 72.91 for the Mercedes and 89 dollars for the Lexus. I sent the bills back with a statement that my account was paid in full. The bills continued to arrive monthly and I continued to return them. Finally Mr. Ratliff sent the account to a collection ageny.
I spke with the collection agency and they responded that I needed to provide proof that I had insurance coverage before April 12 because that was why they were billing me. I sent a copy of my insurance policy to the address of the collection agency and wrote a letter to Farmers parent company.
I received a return letter stating that since I had not provided proof of coverage for THREE YEARS prior to October they were billing me. They sent my account to collections but said we could settle the account if I would pay 90.00.
I refused to pay and stated so, because I did not owe any money and if I provided proof of insurance for the previous 3 years what would prevent them for asking for proof for the previous 5 or 10 or twenty years?
Today is Sept, 29 and I am still dealing with these people. They did not respond to the complaint I filed with the BBB so the BBB said they would just keep it on file. I have also filed with the FTC who has referred it to the State Corporation Commission in Virgina. I am going to continue to fight this fradulent billing because it amounts to extortion.
I had an excellent credit rating until I became mixed up with Farmers Insurance. Now they have ruined my credit report. I have continued to request that they remove this from my credit report and so far they have not.
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