Some Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

[yogooglethis]

Went to an appointment today with a T65 suspect who lived in very upscale country club gated community and we joked about how popular you get when you turn 65 with all the mail and phone calls from insurance agents and carriers.I made a comment that at least he doesn't get people knocking on his door since his gated community requires that all visitors are to placed on a list and all visitors are verified by the guard before entrance.When my client told me that in fact they did have an insurance knock on their door I was a little shocked at first but then I thought a minute and asked Where they from Banker's life? Yep.Of course who else would have the nerve to do that.It was the usual Banker's MO - one agent knocks on the door while the other agent waits in the get away car parked in the street.The best part of the story is that my client said he was mad as hell about this and called the agents manager to complain about the agent door knocking in his gated community and the Bankers Life agent manager said that his agent claimed that she gained entrance because the gate was left open.This really pissed off my client because he knew the guy was lying through his teeth because his community has 24 hour gaurd service at the entrance and then to top that off the sales manager tries hard to make an appointment to discuss the matter in person!!! These Banker's agents have a lot of nerve which can be very useful in this business but to bad they are the most unethical scumbag agents in the world.

 

[liquidglass]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

I think I understand your anger, but as you stated in your last line, it can be very useful in this business. Now I'm not supporting bankers but I personally don't see a problem with it unless they were breaking some law. Otherwise the worse the person can say is "no." In my books that's just someone trying to drum up business, which from what I've seen is desperately needed for Bankers agents. Heck I made a living my first year door knocking to build my own system, don't 'knock' (haha) it till you've tried it.



Plus you don't need any special list to get in a gated community just a friendly personality, a polite hello or wave has gotten me a lot of places most people shouldn't be able to. In retrospect it's scary how easy it is to get into secure locations, I'm just glad most malicious people aren't smarter than that.

 

[Daytona_Guy]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

Went to an appointment today with a T65 suspect who lived in very upscale country club gated community and we joked about how popular you get when you turn 65 with all the mail and phone calls from insurance agents and carriers..

That space is entirely too crowded IMO. It's like a pack of wolves chasing one little lamb. If your options are limited to Med Supps in rural areas, it means you do the greatest amount of work, educating them about everything Medicare, for the lowest possible commissionable premium. That's if you are selected as the lucky wolf.

 

[AngelBand]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

Replaced a Banker's T65 yesterday- you should be thankful for their antiquated marketing- it's so easy to knock out. Rates not competative and agents are desperate for leads therefore, they are desperate for a sale, any sale.

Same with AmeriLife and Health Services of wherever- cleint said that an ugly AmeriLife agent keeps showing up at her door every two weeks to sell her a United Health Care Med Supp and next time he shows up, she is calling the police. And I'm sure he'll go back- she's turns 65 in May.

 

[WCMason]

So that's where that sales expression "getting past the gatekeeper" comes from...

 

[hammerken]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

I knock Bankers as much as anyone but can't begrudge them for prospecting like this. I will also admit that I would never have the balls to crash a gated community and get loose on some door knocking. I bet that guy kicks ass when he wakes up and goes Indy. Good for him.

 

[AngelBand]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

The poor,new Banker's agents are similar to the poor desperate Amerilife agents- do not let them in!

 

[yogooglethis]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

I think I understand your anger, but as you stated in your last line, it can be very useful in this business. Now I'm not supporting bankers but I personally don't see a problem with it unless they were breaking some law. Otherwise the worse the person can say is "no." In my books that's just someone trying to drum up business, which from what I've seen is desperately needed for Bankers agents. Heck I made a living my first year door knocking to build my own system, don't 'knock' (haha) it till you've tried it.



I started out with Combined selling sickness policies so I too can appreciate what it it takes to knock on a strangers door who is not expecting you and try to Combined shuffle your way from the porch into their home..My problem with Banker's agents is that if they do get in the door and are able to give their pitch for their Med Supp 4 months
prior to you getting to the prospects kitchen table they muddy up the water for you.There nothing worse than having to convince your prospect that the plan F I sell with UHC for 179.00 is just as good as the Plan F that Banker's sells for 230.00 a month.I know it sounds insane that they would be a competitive problem but they ALWAYS lie to try to sell their overpriced plan and they ALWAYS bash MA plans. Just having to defend your product from their negative selling tactics kind of brings you down to their level in the prospects eyes and makes both agents look bad because the prospects is thinking to themselves " wow one of these guys is lying.I wonder if that means 50% of health insurance lie to make a sale? "
The other thing I don't like about Banker's agents knocking on doors to sell Med Supps is how are they suppose to really shoot the prospect straight if they can't even broach the subject of MA and especially part D plans because their there as result of a cold call.I mean how people want to have one agent in their house to sell them their med supp and then have another nice visit from a shifty Banker's insurance agent to sell them part D.And then another visit from a different agent to explain Medicare part C.
Door to door is suitable for FE,accident plans,cancer plans etc. but I find that the T65 prospects want a comprehensive presentation explanation of ALL the options available to them and preferably on the same appointment.I don't actively market T65 but a good amount of the referrals i get are T65 and often the first thing a T65 prospect tells me when they call from a referral is that so and so said you are very thorough explaining the different options and my friend told me you would show me whats available not try to push me in to any particular plan.

 

[liquidglass]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

@yogooglethis:

appreciate you clarifying your feelings on the subject. I understand it's difficult. I in fact replaced a med-supp plan F this past week that a Bankers agent had written just two months prior (still in her open enrollment). My recommendation is educate the person on F, G, N explain how companies fluctuate and 3 minutes later get signatures. Don't defend otherwise it looks like you're trying to hide something. You very well may not defend anything the way I'm believing you do, just going by my interpretation of your post.

That space is entirely too crowded IMO. It's like a pack of wolves chasing one little lamb. If your options are limited to Med Supps in rural areas, it means you do the greatest amount of work, educating them about everything Medicare, for the lowest possible commissionable premium. That's if you are selected as the lucky wolf.

AMEN

At the example above of the woman still in her open enrollment she received no less than 5 phone calls from agents trying to set her appointment during the hour I was there. But because I got her and her husband the lowest FE premium they'll find and saved them money on the med-supp I'm not too worried about them flipping over .

 

[yogooglethis]

Re: Banker's Life Agents Have A Lot Of Nerve !

@yogooglethis:

appreciate you clarifying your feelings on the subject. I understand it's difficult. I in fact replaced a med-supp plan F this past week that a Bankers agent had written just two months prior (still in her open enrollment). My recommendation is educate the person on F, G, N explain how companies fluctuate and 3 minutes later get signatures. Don't defend otherwise it looks like you're trying to hide something. You very well may not defend anything the way I'm believing you do, just going by my interpretation of your post.





AMEN

At the example above of the woman still in her open enrollment she received no less than 5 phone calls from agents trying to set her appointment during the hour I was there. But because I got her and her husband the lowest FE premium they'll find and saved them money on the med-supp I'm not too worried about them flipping over .

I have been doing this 20 years.In North Fl I sell either plan F or N with UHC because UHC doesn't sell G or D and their F is cheaper than competitions G and D.Personally I recommend N but for those that insist on F either because they are copayment adverse or because they use the Mayo clinic here in North Fl that doesn't accept assignment.
So what i was tying to illustrate is that if the client wants plan F and if a Banker's agent gets in door it is very likely way before I have my intial meeting with client.The Bankers agent has told this client why their plan F is better even at 50.00 more a month.When I see them I tell them all plan F are the same and most of the time they figure out the Banker's agent was lying but some times the client is suspicious because of such a big difference in the premium how could the policies be exactly the same.This should never even be a concern if the banker's agent didn't fill the clients head with lies in the first place - that's all I am saying.I bow out graciously if another agent has me beat on price,product etc..I don't go in to scumbag mode to try to make a sale anyway.