Boycott Allstate

[thompsebby]

Just received a notice from Allstate that they are dropping us... we live here... going on 4 years, one & 1/2 mile from the beach... WMBB just broadcast a report saying how Allstate is dropping many policies in FL... is a boycott from the rest of their insurance in order - auto, etc.?

[JB]

But, but, they're the good hands people :roll:

Yeah, good at sticking a hand up your kazoo.

[yippie]

They non-renewed all my neighbors policies. AND non-renewed my business liability insurance as well!

I'll never insure ANYTHING will Allstate again. I even switched my car insurance to Nationwide because they didn't non-renew my homeowners! That is hopefully where my business will be written as well.

[InletBchDweller]

They dropped my Homeowners ins. also and I am 1/2 mile from the beach. I am now paying double. I have never filed a claim with them. I was soooooooo aggravated. I was told that there was nothing that could be done that the insurance commissioner of Florida approved them dropping many of their clients. Looks like we won the same lottery, just not the right one!!:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

[Scooter]

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: I promise that I will never use All State.

[Scooter]

Actually, I'm a State Farm girl. Been with State Farm for 19 yrs. They are the best. :clap_1:

[Smiling JOe]

So who are you going to use? :idontno:Allstate is not the only one dropping policies. Nationwide and State Farm have been dropping homeowner's policies left and right in the state of FL.

[Beach Runner]

A lot of people in our town got screwed by Allstate after the December hailstorm. They refused to pay, whereas all of the other companies paid.

Of course, all of the premium renewals have gone up - our insurance premium after the hailstorm went up 37%!!!!! There's no such thing as a free lunch, much less a paid-for free lunch. LOL.

When my husband went to pick up our daughter's car from the first available appointment we could get for hailstorm repair since we got back from the beach on January 2, the body shop doubled the price. We still haven't gotten our roof fixed - waiting on the contractor. I'm anticipating on a few surprises (aka price increases) on that.

Let's face it - insurance companies are in the business of taking your money and avoiding paying you for what you're paying for.

[beachmouse]

Allstate renewed us with a nice 50% premium increase. Scary thing is that they're still cheaper than State Farm for us even with the increase. We're about 50 feet above msl, so I suspect that's why we're easier to insure than many beach folks.

And we're actually pretty happy about how easy they were to work with when we had to file a claim over freak lightning storm damage a couple years ago. Our claims list was such that there should have been a fraud flag go up (lots of exotic electronics) but they covered our claim with no questions asked.

[SHELLY]

I can't say I'm surprised at what's happening out there with insurance--I pretty much saw this trainwreck coming several months ago--the next shoe to drop is the Citizen's clean-up.

Will $1 million + homes be dropped from Citizen coverage? How much more will second/vacation home owners be charged over primary homestead property owners (25% or more)? How will the inability to secure, and excessive cost of, home insurance play out in the real estate markets? Will Florida state homeowners be miffed when they discover they've ALL got to pay 6% to bail out Citizens for 2004...AND will they get more miffed when they have to pay out an ADDITIONAL 10% to bail out Citizen's for the 2005 losses?

(The "home insurance" part of the "cost of paradise" was contained in a teeny-tiny footnote.)

[Smiling JOe]

Homeowners Insurance
by: Tuquyen Mach (tmach@wmbb.com)

News 13 On Your Side (Panama City Beach, FL)

Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Bay County resident David King is livid. He just received a letter from his insurance company saying that his homeowners insurance, which expires in July, will not be renewed because of losses during the 2004 hurricane season.

"You're supposed to be in good hands with Allstate. Well, you're not in good hands with any insurance companies," says King.


Full Story (http://www.wmbb.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WMBB/MGArticle/MBB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835030547&path=)

[Smiling JOe]

I just heard the news story which I posted above. They mentioned that State Farm was NOT dropping policies at this time, so maybe I am not hearing the truth on the street.:idontno:

[JB]

Not sure who and who does not insure properties in the areas, but I have been with a number of different carriers over the years and have found Travelers and Encompass are both pretty policy holder-friendly.

Bottom line is, like SJ said, this isn't just Allstate. Every single homeowner's policy in the country is about to go up fairly significantly as a result of Katrina. Certainly doesn't seem fair that someone in say, South Dakota will have to pay more, but that's the way the insurance industry works.

Congress and the White House are always talking about health care reform. What about insurance reform? IMO, it's just about as big of an issue.

[SGB]

I just heard the news story which I posted above. They mentioned that State Farm was NOT dropping policies at this time, so maybe I am not hearing the truth on the street.:idontno:

I got a bunch of quotes for property insurance about 2 months ago and State Farm was willing to write a policy for us, but it was much more expensive than anyone else. They won't write for bay or beach front properties. (On a Bayou was ok.)

We currently have Allstate, but expect to get dropped in November. We were supposed to get dropped last November, but the state prevented it because we had a claim from Dennis. Which, by the way, was settled very quickly and the adjuster was very helpful. Of course, although we stayed with Allstate, our rates went through the roof.

[Cheering472]

I've heard alot of bad stories about Allstate insurance, both auto and homeowners. I had Allstate years ago and it was a battle to get them to pay a claim. I had them for 15 years without any claims, then had hail damage and needed a new roof. They said I had no hail damage. Even I could see it form the driveway, it was a mess. Every house on my court had a new roof after the storm, but my house seemed to have escaped damage? Guess those hands were sheilding my roof, but not my neighbors. I had a nasty fight with the agency, and had to have an independant contractor decide the claim. Finally got the roof repaired and soon after I got a new insurance company.

[30A Skunkape]

They all suck. So many stories of highway robbery here in Louisiana. The industry lobbyists are lining up their ducks to make it legal to increase rates and provide worse coverage. There was a good article on the topic in our paper here Sunday. They mentioned that AAA (the auto club folks) are writing homeowners policies in Louisiana for much less than Allstate, State Farm, etc. with very friendly service. Don't know if AAA is doing Florida policies but based upon what I read it would be worth looking into.

[30A Skunkape]

Just checked-AAA sells homeowner's insurance only in Louisiana and Mississippi on the gulf coast :bang:

[Cork On the Ocean]

Just received a notice from Allstate that they are dropping us... we live here... going on 4 years, one & 1/2 mile from the beach... WMBB just broadcast a report saying how Allstate is dropping many policies in FL... is a boycott from the rest of their insurance in order - auto, etc.?

I boycotted them after the hurricane in Homestead when they dropped 2 of my waterfront homes (one of which was on a controlled level lake). Since I had numerous vehicles and properties with them for 20 years without every having a claim, it really ticked me off and I pulled everything. I will NEVER go back to allstate even if it costs me more money.

[SHELLY]

I got a bunch of quotes for property insurance about 2 months ago and State Farm was willing to write a policy for us, but it was much more expensive than anyone else. They won't write for bay or beach front properties. (On a Bayou was ok.)


Several years ago, State Farm broke out their "Florida Insurance Business" from their nation-wide business and called it State Farm Florida Insurance Company (to keep people in Boise, ID from footing the tab of our hurricane damage and us Floridians from footing the tab for...ah...ah...attacks of killer potatoes(?)).

The new company raised rates substantially and cut their risk by not writing new policies in certain areas (mostly waterfront). My premiums were pretty steady for years and years--but in the last 7 years or so, my premium increased SEVERAL HUNDRED percent. Now the state of Florida is giving insurance companies the rubber stamp to raise rates 25% a pop without having to ask permission. I pretty much penciled in a yearly 25% home insurance rate increase for many years to come. (Those who are tallying cashflow analyses of investment properties should also take note.)

[TooFarTampa]

Several years ago, State Farm broke out their "Florida Insurance Business" from their nation-wide business and called it State Farm Florida Insurance Company (to keep people in Boise, ID from footing the tab of our hurricane damage and us Floridians from footing the tab for...ah...ah...attacks of killer potatoes(?)).

The new company raised rates substantially and cut their risk by not writing new policies in certain areas (mostly waterfront). My premiums were pretty steady for years and years--but in the last 7 years or so, my premium increased SEVERAL HUNDRED percent. Now the state of Florida is giving insurance companies the rubber stamp to raise rates 25% a pop without having to ask permission. I pretty much penciled in a yearly 25% home insurance rate increase for many years to come. (Those who are tallying cashflow analyses of investment properties should also take note.)

Shelly you are funny. :floor: And in this case at least, on-target too. :blink:

[yippie]

Allstate dropped 100% of ALL Business liability policies in Florida this year. No other insurance company non-renewed 100% - ONE HUNDRED PERCENT - of all policies.

I understand that AAA is writing business policies and my application is in. I will let you know what happens.

Seems like Allstate is the most aggressive in dropping current cleints.

Smarts a bit! :(

[Cork On the Ocean]

Several years ago, State Farm broke out their "Florida Insurance Business" from their nation-wide business and called it State Farm Florida Insurance Company (to keep people in Boise, ID from footing the tab of our hurricane damage and us Floridians from footing the tab for...ah...ah...attacks of killer potatoes(?)).

:floor: :floor:

[yippie]

WEAR ran a news story this morning about Allstate and I just giggled.

A businesss owner in Gulf Breeze stated that Allstate not only refused his $90,000.00 claim for Ivan damage, but dropped his insurance as well. (Canceling all businesses).

He now has a digital, animated sign in front of his business. (This is the funny part).

The sign has ALLSTATE with their famous logo, two hands cupped together.

Under the word Allstate, the flashing words read: You're Not In Good Hands. Then the cupped hands logo opens up and a man falls through them off the bottom of the sign!!! :clap_1: :floor:

The City of Gulf Breeze wants him to take the sign down.

I say GO FOR IT! LEAVE IT UP! :biggrin:

If anyone wants to e-mail the station their web site is www.weartv.com. I don't know if the story is on the site or not.

[yippie]

Here's the story:

Gulf Breeze Man Told To Take Down Sign


HE'S ANGRY WITH HIS FORMER INSURANCE COMPANY... AND A GULF BREEZE BUSINESSMAN IS PUTTING HIS FRUSTRATION IN *LIGHTS.

HE'S RUNNING HIS MESSAGE ON AN ELECTRONIC SIGN OUTSIDE HIS SHOPPING CENTER, BUT THE CITY IS ORDERING HIM TO TAKE IT DOWN.

AS ANDREW MCINTOSH EXPLAINS... THE CITY'S REASON BEHIND THE DECISION MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU'D EXPECT.

CHRIS GREEN OWNS THE SEAGREEN CENTER IN GULF BREEZE NEAR THE PENSACOLA BEACH TURN-OFF.

THE RESTAURANT AND BUSINESSES HERE SUSTAINED A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE DURING IVAN... AND GREEN WAS EXPECTING A LOT OF HELP FROM HIS INSURANCE COMPANY, *ALLSTATE.

INSTEAD.. HE SAYS IT DENIED HIS 90-THOUSAND DOLLAR CLAIM... AND DROPPED HIS POLICY.

Chris Green/Seagreen Center Owner: "I feel like the insurance companies in some cases, really haven't come through for us, and this was the last straw."

Andrew McIntosh/Reporting: "Feeling slighted by his insurance company, Green put up this message on the center's LED screen. It's one he says, many people can relate to."

Green: "They think it's funny for one, but then again it hits home."

A PLAY ON THE COMPANY'S SLOGAN... THE ANIMATED SIGN READS *ALLSTATE... YOU'RE NOT IN GOOD HANDS.*

THEN, A PERSON FALLS THROUGH THE WELL-KNOWN ALLSTATE LOGO.

Green: "I at least get some satisfaction at this point by running this sign."

BUT THE CITY IS ORDERING HIM TO STOP RUNNING IT.

GREEN RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GULF BREEZE LEADERS... WHICH STATES THE SIGN IS CONSIDERED AN *AD FOR ALLSTATE... AND HE'S BEEN ORDERED TO REMOVE THE MESSAGE *IMMEDIATELY.

Green: "This is far from an ad for Allstate."

Buz Eddy/City Manager: "The ad that he's been running for Allstate is not relative to any tenant in the center, so we believe that's a violation of our sign ordinance."

CITY MANAGER BUZ EDDY SAYS GREEN COULD BE FINED IF HE DOESN'T STOP RUNNING THE SIGN.

Green: "I have the right of freedom of speech."

GREEN'S CONSULTED SOME LOCAL ATTORNEYS WHO TELL HIM HE'S DONE NOTHING WRONG... BECAUSE THE SIGN IS *NOT INAPPROPRIATE OR OBSCENE.

Eddy: "That's an interesting question that he raises and we'll have to get to the bottom of that."

IN THE MEANTIME... GREEN SAYS THE ANTI-ALLSTATE MESSAGE WILL CONTINUE TO FLASH... WHETHER THE CITY LIKES IT OR NOT.

[Smiling JOe]

It sounds like Allstate should try a new name... FallState -- We'll drop you like a rock!

[yippie]

It sounds like Allstate should try a new name... FallState -- We'll drop you like a rock!

:floor: :clap_1:

Very clever!