This post is a test.
Part rant/therapy, part request for input, part experiment to find who actually is reading "Pitchpull" when certain subjects are addressed.
I first insured with USAA while I was still an Officer-Candidate at The Armor School at Ft. Knox, KY in 1967. With one small (stupid) break, I've insured cars, home, life, and motorcycles with them since. It's an interesting company with a devoted following...
It used to be that to insure with them you had to be a military officer. Customers were MEMBERS, and shared in the company's profit experience. If the company had a good casualty experience, a check to share in that good fortune was added to the member's "subscriber savings account". (That part still applies.)
Rates are more than competitive, and service has always been exemplary.
But the company is expanding. Some time ago they started insuring enlisted military personnel.
Shortly thereafter they opened their doors to dependents. (My son is now also insured through USAA General.) If you've had your eyes and ears open over the last year or so you've no doubt seen the TV ad where a guy is slogging through a Viet Nam rice paddie with an M16 and matures so that he looks frighteningly like me at the end of the commercial... gray hair, glasses and all.
I have no heartburn with any of this, except that the little boutique operation that once was USAA, where I could literally call and voice my complaint personally to the President of the company, IS NO MORE. It's still a great company and for the most part I recommend it. But it's now a BIG, and getting bigger enterprise.
Two years ago when I bought the Pizza Bike I called USAA to insure it.
WHO ELSE WOULD I CALL?!!
When they heard I wanted to insure a motorcycle I was told to standby, they were transferrring my call. The next voice I heard was from a "Progressive Insurance" agent, acting on behalf of USAA.
Progressive Insurance is a good name for this company. It's a well-known fact the "progressive" management of the company donated heavily to the Obama campaign, and is now partly responsible for the hate and division we are experiencing in our political world.
I don't like being a part of that. I've told USAA that on more than one occasion. I took the policy with them, but immediately called USAA and told them I was unhappy.
So today I did something I haven't done in three decades...
I shopped other companies for motorcycle insurance coverage. Guess what I found? "Dairyland Cycle Insurance" provides the same coverage I now have at a lower premium.
I just emailed USAA to express my dissatisfaction with Progressive one last time. They've always been good about responding to communications promptly, so I expect an answer from them soon. (I once had a problem with one of these "subcontractor" companies and complained to them about the service I had received. I got a personal note from USAA's President telling me others had complained, and soon they stopped doing business with that company.) It's my hope something similar will happen here, because in a month I'll have three bikes to insure and I WILL NOT insure them with Progressive Insurance.
Stand by for further.
(Updated: The "Dairyland" link doesn't seem to work.
Their phone # is 1 866-324-7952.)
16 comments:
I'm a retired AF E-9. When USAA first offered insurance to enlisted, wasn't interested. Had too many memories of "officers only" organizations like the Air Force Assoc. Finally broke down and insured through USAA when I retired in 2000 after 27yrs. Yes, costs are reasonable but USAA took some hits in Kiplinger's Financial magazine for questionable practises when dealing with multiple home insurance claims. USAA pardnering with Progressive is just another step away from its origins...sort of like an elected official declaring the US Constitution is outdated in today's world.
I hope you get an answer soon. If not, you'll know they've gone to the dark side of the force. If so, you'll know your money isn't being used to further the destruction of the United States when you change insurance.
Still here, still listening. I'm not a biker so haven't had your experience with USAA. I do understand "progress" and the growing business model and get disturbed when I talk to a machine instead of a person. So far, I'm still pleased with the service they provide. If that changes, I'll follow your example and vote with my wallet.
I've had my policies (auto,home, life etc) exactly as long as you. I have my RV insurance with "Progressive" and have been looking for new coverage for the past year. USAA is still very customer service oriented and works hard to keep in touch when you are getting a loan, filing a claim or any other service. The one area is "Progressive". It's sorta like buying the car you always loved and wanted, but finding out there is a huge dent on the passenger side that isn't fixed.
I never went with USAA because of friends getting screwed by them... I've been with State Farm for 48 years and never had a problem, and my rates have always been VERY competitive... Just sayin...
Being enlisted swine in the day, I didn't qualify. Youngest son is with them. Haven't heard he, or Frau Feldweber, complain. I'm fortunate to have a great independent agent who gets me the lowest premiums and outstanding service.
They are now using PROGRESSIVE? Oh no. Not one red cent to fund that group.
Unbelievable.
It's a little like finding out Susan G. Koman was funding Planned Parenthood. I had no clue until they stopped funding them and the abortionists raised a big stink over it. I will NEVER give them another cent and it's just appalling that you think you are supporting a good cause (or company) only to find out you're helping to fund something you vehemently oppose.
Interesting... this is actually the first time I'd heard that they're using subcontractors. I've got home, renters, and auto insurance through them directly - and figured that when my Calmer Half wanted to take up the motorcycle again, we'd of course check in there. (Seriously - only insurance company I know of that didn't blink at a newly married couple having assets registered/located in three states and moving to a fourth. Especially when I started with "He was down by Fort Polk, I was up by Elmendorf AFB, we're moving just south of Fort Campbell...")
I do have my plane with a different company, but plane insurance is strange, and I knew my agent before needing plane insurance - and he provided plenty of level-headed, thoughtful, attempted-unbiased education without expecting any recompense.
Thanks for the heads-up; I appreciate the warning!
Errggggg....insurance shopping, one of the worse things in the world. I feel your pain.
While on the mainland, we got great rates and service from Nationwide. Sadly they aren't here, went to State Farm and it just wasn't feasible. Several years ago went back to Hartford. had them many years ago on mainland and had good service and rates. And no, I don't belong to AARP who they also deal with.
Funny thing. I too go through USAA, got my credit card with them, etc. I too know about Progressive and how it got is name. My motorcycle is insured through another carrier. I didn't even try USAA.
On the other hand, their customer service is uniformly excellent.
BZ
I was with USAA since the early 70's. They have been great on customer service and with any accident. However, after Katrina, they were one of only a few insurance companies that screwed their policy owners who lost their homes in the storm surge by declaring it was a flood. USAA's profits soared that year and they have been growing since. I can not support a company that choses profit over what is morally correct, especially when it is directed against members of our armed forces. I switched To Amica (also highly rated). I expressed why I was changing at the time I switched and it seemed that they really diidn't give a damn. My Dad has been with USAA since the 40's (his policy number is only 5 digits long). I have switched him as well.
Keep up the great blog and enjoy your retirement.
Alex
Like the WSF, I was an enlisted swine BITD and didn't get a chance to throw in with them. But there AIN'T no excuse for the Prog link.
Like the Old NFO and Miss D, I have a very long-term relationship with my agent and have dealt with him for 40+ years for everything including RVs and scoots. (No boats, hole in water to throw money into.) Good luck fighting the darkside. You know I've got your six...
NO progressive, NO way.
Progressive. They sent me a letter a few years back RETROACTIVELY cancelling my homeowners insurance after their "inspector" put a ladder against my 9' tall stone wall that surrounds my entire back yard and determined that my little buddy Moses was a Pit Bull.
Funny, they cancelled my policy retroactively to the previous month but never returned my premium.
I found a cheaper farm policy the next day via State Farm and the agent there said he didn't care if I had a Pit Bull, Rottweiler, or three-balled Timber Wolf in my back yard.
Tim: Perhaps it wasn't the dog that caused the cancellation, perhaps they didn't appreciate you not adopting their progress liberal agenda.
many many years ago my agent switched me to Progressive. I had never heard of them. I have not been with them for many years, if I had been I would have dropped them after I heard about Progressive's agenda. I guess the name of the company should have been a tipoff. I feel the same way about AARP. I cut that card up after 1 year when it leftist agenda became apparent. I though I might give AMAC a look. http://www.amac.us/
Post a Comment