Compete with Your Own Company

[dizzy]

Recently (captive agents) are now competing with their own company on line. They ( Company) says it for a very small % of the market. The back side has hired new programmers and Customer service Contact reps. Is anyone lese faced with this ?

They have launched several new features that bring them in to 2010 real world applications. Quotes and coverage for both p&c and L can be done on line. The area has lost 15% or more of the agent work force, every reason under the sun given, for their departure. Interesting phone calls, after people you have known for years are locked out of their computer systems . It is made known not to associate /call or anything else with the past agent, with a gentle reminder that your contract can be terminated without cause for any reason they see fit, without recourse . I know it makes me sound paranoid, and maybe recently I have but the directions I have seen are astounding. It kind of feels like your in high school all over again.


Agents that are left feel a little uncertain, because of mixed signals and since they are not one of the big 4 in the industry, we are personally based agents, as independent contractors but captive. They pay for nothing , I mean nothing, right down to their brochures, you have to pay it all.


In the last large meeting that involved several states the first thing out of Home office personal was we are not leaving our agents behind.
The mere fact that this was the opening statement caught me off guard. You can not discus anything with anyone for fear that you will be labeled as a " MALCONTENT". There is no real discussion between management and agents. In the past it was very open you asked you got good reliable information. Even agents don't trust each other, polite and civil but no real conversation occurs, everyone concerned about protecting their own books.

I have been a tried and true agent for a very long time, but either I am paranoid or there is something up.


So many changes in the last 18 months it feels like posturing, or some type of positioning is starting to happen.
Has any one experienced this before they dumped the agent force or am I just being a bit paranoid ? Is this typical how captive companies are before turning into the Lizards and Flo's of the world ?

 

[gambrinus]

You talking about Allstate buying "e-surance" ?

 

[Guest]

wow, your paranoid.

I know "most agents" bring value to their clients and most people know this,

If someone wants to call Geico or progressive, let them. They are the ones who have billing issues and lapses and are high maintance.

Whem rates start jumping, people want answers to to keep their rate decent.

Yes, rates are gonna skyrocket,

read this chart and it will show you,

some of these companies had a 20% higher loss ration than the last 2 years due to cat claims,

Auto Insurers' Loss Ratios Rise in Q2: SNL Insurance

 

[jhuang]

Allstate with Essurance and Answer Financial.

Farmers with 21st Century and Foremost.

State Farm with themselves...

 

[Sales71]

Also direct writers captive agent compete with there own after hours service and 800#.

 

[LGilmore]

I think you guys are missing the point. He feels he and other captive agents are going to get dumped by mother company. Well, having experienced that more than a decade ago, his fears are pretty well founded.

Probably the biggest eye opener for a captive is to be part of a company that doesn't value them any more. Several big co's have done this in the past 20 years as CEO's change over.

There are several posters here who used to work for the same big that I did and thought it was going to be a career. People at the top changed, attitudes changed, rules changed and low and behold in a 5 year window 2/3rds the agent force was cut loose.

An agent should never trust a company to look out for their well being, it's simply not their job or purpose.

It's kinda tough because they demand loyalty, but rarely return it.

Good luck poster.

 

[Sales71]

yes that is true corp america is all about profits and no longer can u work for a company for 30 yeras like the good old days.

 

[1manshow]

Isn't anyone going to mention the large bold print being hard to read!

The proverbial handwriting is on the wall. Maybe it's time to gather up several thousand xdates and begin your own mission Or you could stick around till the axe falls...again

 

[VolAgent]

Always remember a good rule in life. "Never trust anyone who doesn't trust you."

I am all for being loyal, but if a company shows any signs of disloyalty or lack of trust, get out now. It is no longer a question of if you'll get screwed, but when. Better you depart on your terms at a time of your choosing.

 

[Bertolinoins]

I am friends with several Allstate agency owners and none of them are happy or comfortable with the direction things are going. A few are second generation with large books of business so they have a lot to lose. It is a bad situation for them to be in, I feel for them.