Venting, Just Had the Biggest Ass of a Walk in

[iiinycboi]

like title said, i wanted to punch the old man lol.

He comes in asking about auto insurance, i explain to him that he needs proof of address and all driver info. he keeps telling me just put him as single and rent in another location.

I keep trying to explain to him that everything requires proof and the mvr will pull up all info and then your rates wont be the same as the one i gave you. etc. etc.. then he beings to get all red and flustered. He starts telling me how angry and unpleased he is.

"whats with all these questions?" "my previous broker never asked!" "why are you making this so hard for me?" "i just want the lowest price you can offer me!" "dont give me a hard time" "wow, this is so annoying, do you know what you are doing?" "Give me back my info!, You cant do it!"

So i tell him no need for him to take it back, i'll shred it in his face. I am trying very hard to smile and hold my composure and keep it professional. He keeps throwing all these statements on how i cant do my job and how he doesnt care, just give him the price so he can decide if he wants to switch.

I tell him, i need to explain these situations, and he goes no one will check just do it and give me a damn price. Are you new? Do you know what youre doing?

At this point, i tell him ok i need info to give you a correct quote, i can give you a quote for 200 dollars a year, would you want that? he goes yes, but it will jump to 1500 dollars in one month because of updated info. etc...

Anyways, would you just tell this guy sorry i can't do your business, throw the guy out, or just try to keep it professional and talk thru it and try to win his business?

In the end, he said hes low on time so i gave him my card and said when you reconsider giving me info and taking the time to go over some things you can call me.

 

[nyc2phi]

haha

What kind of info was he not giving you? SS# DOB?

What other kind of proof would you need for auto ?

 

[iiinycboi]

wife's name, daughters name, actual address, proof of address( he wanted to have it at another borough for cheaper rates), i kept telling him if they show me conflict of address you will have to give me proof, all i asked are you able to do that? he goes no one checks! you must be new!

Then his current coverage, he goes just give me a quote for the cheapest of cheap, i figured he has 25/50/10 but i wanted to make sure.

He wanted homeowner discount, marriage discount. But he couldnt give me his home address, but the one where he is using the mailbox... and wouldnt give me wife info to show he had a wife.

 

[NCAgent]

when I worked for the Allstate center NY was NOTORIOUS for needing to check every little thing. You had to show proof of residency, proof of other drivers, etc. etc. If the MVR pulled up something showing another driver like your child you had to show proof that the child lived elsewhere, you couldn't just take their word for it. And proof was oftentimes like a lease and utility bill or something like that, not just a driver's license. The reason being is that rates could be RIDICULOUSLY different from one address to another and people got that and started giving other addresses. Clients would have a girlfriend/boyfriend and use that address rather than their own for mail to go to, things like that.

It happens a lot, believe me. It sucks bro but you were just doing your job. He sounds like someone who got caught after a year and was trying to move again. Either that or he was from another state that was moving to NY and wasn't used to the procedure.

NY sucks for everything with this. You don't show insurance when pulled over, you could get arrested. You have to go through a process when switching cars. All of that crap.

Personally, I wouldn't want the client. You know at the drop of a hat he is going to switch if someone is easier (read, sloppy) with the quote. He will be pissy whenever an endorsement has to be done, and etc. There is enough other business to not be a punching bag for douches like that.

 

[BTFuzz]

wife's name, daughters name, actual address, proof of address( he wanted to have it at another borough for cheaper rates), i kept telling him if they show me conflict of address you will have to give me proof, all i asked are you able to do that? he goes no one checks! you must be new!

Then his current coverage, he goes just give me a quote for the cheapest of cheap, i figured he has 25/50/10 but i wanted to make sure.

He wanted homeowner discount, marriage discount. But he couldnt give me his home address, but the one where he is using the mailbox... and wouldnt give me wife info to show he had a wife.

You spent way too much time with this clown. You don't need jerks like that, Geico and safe auto do....next!

 

[djs]

Moral to the story - avoid walkins!!!!!

Other than that, quote it the way they want it, but make sure the quote is so high that they won't buy.

It was likely the agent down the street anyway, just seeing how you did things.

Dan

 

[FL P&C Broker]

My rule of thumb is that I don't quote auto unless they have another line with us. Avoids the situation that you just had. The red flag was when he was being difficult. Those are the customers that will take up 80% of your time.

 

[stormtracker]

Just pull your weapon and fire. The old man was obviously a disguised operative...

 

[CaptiveGuy]

The annoying clients who don't want to do things the right aren't worth it just as a few others have said. The problem is when you are starting out you want to quote everyone (you have bills!) but eventually you will see it's not worth the hassle.

The larger agencies around me make their own guidelines stricter than what the carrier's allow and have no problem referring it to GEICO or another agent.

 

[russelltw]

My answer: "the $150 I make on commission is not worth losing my license and my source of income for my family to save you a couple hundred bucks. Would you lie about something and possibly lose your job so I could save a few dollars?" I have used this before.

Don't waste my time if you are going to be dishonest with me. What's to say later, he holds that over you when he wants you to commit fraud in some other way...

Not worth it.