State Farm Stealing

[JohnWalker]

It sounds like you're dealing with minimum earned premium because of it being a toy and short term. They would probably need to cancel it outright. Where you dealing with the agency owner or a producer?

Calling the doi seems like a complete overreaction; if you talk to the right person at the agency they should be able to fix it, but the person you've been working with might have just done something wrong administratively.

I disagree. An uprate after the policy is issued is almost always failure to properly underwrite the risk. The OP stated that the agent is trying to get statefarm to reverse the charges but since their agents have binding authority, it probably stands as is.

If state farm does not honor their agent's error, the agent may be responsible for paying out of pocket but good luck making that happen without the proper knowledge or entity on the OP's side.

Involving the DOI will help protect the consumer and facilitate the process. If the agent can't resolve the issue, it's time to involve an entity that can.

You can opt for the courtesy of telling the agent you plan to involve the DOI and see if that "helps" but if somehow it's magically resolved when you mention the DOI then they were probably doing something shady and they should be reported anyway.

 

[Josh]

I disagree. An uprate after the policy is issued is almost always failure to properly underwrite the risk. The OP stated that the agent is trying to get statefarm to reverse the charges but since their agents have binding authority, it probably stands as is.

If state farm does not honor their agent's error, the agent may be responsible for paying out of pocket but good luck making that happen without the proper knowledge or entity on the OP's side.

Involving the DOI will help protect the consumer and facilitate the process. If the agent can't resolve the issue, it's time to involve an entity that can.

It's entirely possible this is an incompetent CSR/Producer and that the person that actually owns the agency isn't even aware of the issue.

I think it's an @sshole move to suggest that folks go straight to reporting things to the DOI before you even know if the agent running the agency has had a chance to correct it. Based on the information provided it sounds like whoever was handling this might have simply put in the cancellation date as of the day the person said they wanted to cancel vs cancelling the policy from the beginning date. Why should an agent retroactively cancel coverage? What if there was a claim during that period and the OP didn't want them to cancel the entire thing.

Now, if the agency owner themselves are the ones saying no refund and the answer isn't satisfactory, that's a different story, but it doesn't sound like the agency principal even knows what's going on here.

 

[indienoise]

Umm.. Yea... Ok

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In SC, don't appear to have Grinnell here.

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Def not street legal, and that was discussed specifically. The policy was for comp/coll only. They reclassified as dune buggy, which makes no sense. Even after I gave the V. I. N they were clear about what it is. They asked "ok is it the S model or the EPS model?"

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SC. The agent claims to be at continuing odds with the company, trying to get it straightened out. If it is indeed the agents fault, I'm pretty confident I can "convince" her to just fork over the money and leave me out of dealing with state Farm by mentioning D. O. I. Is that what you suggest?

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Progressive and Geico are the only 2 here I could find. Progressive was very competitive but Geico edged them out with more coverage.

Find an agent local to you. Any independent and even many captive agents sell foremost. Like 1822 mentioned, Safeco might work and possibly others.

 

[Bushwaffle]

It's entirely possible this is an incompetent CSR/Producer and that the person that actually owns the agency isn't even aware of the issue.

I think it's an @sshole move to suggest that folks go straight to reporting things to the DOI before you even know if the agent running the agency has had a chance to correct it. Based on the information provided it sounds like whoever was handling this might have simply put in the cancellation date as of the day the person said they wanted to cancel vs cancelling the policy from the beginning date. Why should an agent retroactively cancel coverage? What if there was a claim during that period and the OP didn't want them to cancel the entire thing.

Now, if the agency owner themselves are the ones saying no refund and the answer isn't satisfactory, that's a different story, but it doesn't sound like the agency principal even knows what's going on here.

It is a small agency and I was dealing with the producer. It never occurred to me that the agent wouldn't be aware of it. I will address her directly on Friday and and see what her response is before going to DOI.

 

[djs]

Just so you know, the DOI won't do a thing about this.
If you read the paperwork they had you sign, there is a clause in there about 30 days to underwrite the risk and make adjustments. (time might vary by state).

You need to have them flat cancel the policy as of inception. Basically, the policy never existed. If not, then the rate as applied will likely stand.

Agents may have binding authority but not rating authority. Carriers change rates over the agents all the time. Its not done out of spite or malice or anything, its done because the risk was mis-rated in the carriers eyes.

Just have them flat cancel back to the date of inception. They will understand this and tell you it can't be done, but they will eventually figure out how to do it.

Dan

 

[JohnWalker]

The agent claims to be at continuing odds with the company, trying to get it straightened out.

Dan,

I get where you're coming from as an agent I would definitely prefer the client come directly to me but I'm just going by what the OP is telling us and that's either the producer is talking to the agent and the agent is saying leave it alone or the agent is talking to state farm and they're saying it's on you.

Either way the guy came to us for a resolution. I feel this is the quickest way with least resistance. Had the agent asked the question, my advice would be different.

Agents may have binding authority but not rating authority. Carriers change rates over the agents all the time. Its not done out of spite or malice or anything, its done because the risk was mis-rated in the carriers eyes.

This is exactly my point and why the OP shouldn't have to put up with insurance company bureaucratic BS. It was still an error on someone that was not the OP. Now you're asking him to deal with them bickering among themselves for something nobody wants to take accountability for? The only person that suffers is the OP. All I'm suggesting is get some form of professional independent representation in the matter.

 

[Bushwaffle]

Just so you know, the DOI won't do a thing about this.
If you read the paperwork they had you sign, there is a clause in there about 30 days to underwrite the risk and make adjustments. (time might vary by state).

You need to have them flat cancel the policy as of inception. Basically, the policy never existed. If not, then the rate as applied will likely stand.

Agents may have binding authority but not rating authority. Carriers change rates over the agents all the time. Its not done out of spite or malice or anything, its done because the risk was mis-rated in the carriers eyes.

Just have them flat cancel back to the date of inception. They will understand this and tell you it can't be done, but they will eventually figure out how to do it.

Dan

I never signed any paperwork. I went into agency, got the quote, called an hour later and paid over the phone. I never got any paperwork whatsoever until the bill for the extra 900.

 

[insurance1822]

Hmm this is tough because many views are right..

1.) You're a punk @$$ f@g pansy for even mentioning the DOI

2.) That being said, you didn't sign anything & you are kinda getting screwed.

3.) This happens all the time where carriers bone us agents in the @$$ w/ these backdoor underwriting surprises w/ no consideration for how it impacts the customer (or makes the agency look like an ***.)

4.) In all my experience, I'm betting the agency did 90% of what they should have done. That being said, it's on them because they should have called down & made 100% sure it was OK to issue like it was. If it's something you don't come across every day, you need to call down because you'll end up getting burned like this.

5.) The agency SHOULD make this right. State Farm CAN make this right & I'm sure the agency wants it to be made right...they just need to go through the appropriate channels within State Farm to get it handled.

6.) Bring this to the agency owner. Now...IF he (or she..) gives any attitude or says there's "nothing they can do.." and doesn't make it right immediately (or advise they're going to make sure it's made right..) well then ya...threaten the DOI.

7.) These DOI complaints aren't what you think they are. I had a major complaint against me & I was 100% dead wrong and caught red handed doing a NO NO and it won't NOWHERE AT ALL. I didn't steal money or misappropriate funds, but I did order reports when somebody specifically said not to (long story...and somewhat a misconfusion but still myfault) Again, it went nowhere and the DOI was just like "say sorry and make this go away please because I have important things to do."

 

[JohnWalker]

7.) These DOI complaints aren't what you think they are. I had a major complaint against me & I was 100% dead wrong and caught red handed doing a NO NO and it won't NOWHERE AT ALL. I didn't steal money or misappropriate funds, but I did order reports when somebody specifically said not to (long story...and somewhat a misconfusion but still myfault) Again, it went nowhere and the DOI was just like "say sorry and make this go away please because I have important things to do."

Yeah but they made you say sorry didn't they . Even though you knew you were wrong, you didn't apologize until they were involved. Typical.

If the agent didn't do anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about. They'll be asked to provide documentation and move on.

The DOI calling or sending a nasty letter should be enough to get the OP back his $200. For me personally, it's not a large enough amount to spend more than 4 phone calls on. If it's not resolved by then why keep wasting my time.

At this point, he's gone back and forth with the agency for a month and been on the forum for the past three days. All for $200. What a waste of time! Involve someone that at knows the law and doesn't have patience for beurocratic bullshit, get your money back, and move on with life.

 

[Bushwaffle]

Hmm this is tough because many views are right..

1.) You're a punk @$$ f@g pansy for even mentioning the DOI

2.) That being said, you didn't sign anything & you are kinda getting screwed.

3.) This happens all the time where carriers bone us agents in the @$$ w/ these backdoor underwriting surprises w/ no consideration for how it impacts the customer (or makes the agency look like an ***.)

4.) In all my experience, I'm betting the agency did 90% of what they should have done. That being said, it's on them because they should have called down & made 100% sure it was OK to issue like it was. If it's something you don't come across every day, you need to call down because you'll end up getting burned like this.

5.) The agency SHOULD make this right. State Farm CAN make this right & I'm sure the agency wants it to be made right...they just need to go through the appropriate channels within State Farm to get it handled.

6.) Bring this to the agency owner. Now...IF he (or she..) gives any attitude or says there's "nothing they can do.." and doesn't make it right immediately (or advise they're going to make sure it's made right..) well then ya...threaten the DOI.

7.) These DOI complaints aren't what you think they are. I had a major complaint against me & I was 100% dead wrong and caught red handed doing a NO NO and it won't NOWHERE AT ALL. I didn't steal money or misappropriate funds, but I did order reports when somebody specifically said not to (long story...and somewhat a misconfusion but still myfault) Again, it went nowhere and the DOI was just like "say sorry and make this go away please because I have important things to do."

I appreciate you taking the time to respond to the thread and lend your opinions and expertise to the subject. That being said, if you had bothered to read my responses, you would see that I will be contacting the agent principle directly tomorrow before any talk of or to the DOI. I promise you, you would not be calling me names to my face and being able to chew your turkey afterwards.

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Yeah but they made you say sorry didn't they . Even though you knew you were wrong, you didn't apologize until they were involved. Typical.

If the agent didn't do anything wrong, they have nothing to worry about. They'll be asked to provide documentation and move on.

The DOI calling or sending a nasty letter should be enough to get the OP back his $200. For me personally, it's not a large enough amount to spend more than 4 phone calls on. If it's not resolved by then why keep wasting my time.

At this point, he's gone back and forth with the agency for a month and been on the forum for the past three days. All for $200. What a waste of time! Involve someone that at knows the law and doesn't have patience for beurocratic bullshit, get your money back, and move on with life.

My thoughts exactly.