brad's Experience
Written: Dec 19 '07 (Updated Dec 19 '07)
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Pros: The lowest offered premium at time I switched. Professional.
Cons: Too slow in resolving claims. Virtually no personal interaction.
The Bottom Line: These guys get the job done. Not with flying colors, but in my case, as inexpensively as possible.
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| brad's Full Review: AIG - American International Group - Auto |
Good day, folks. I started with AIG in September of 2006 after they undercut Progressive for my business. I have one policy and it is for a 2000 Honda CR-V. I have a couple of tickets (minor traffic citations) and I have been involved in a couple of minor accidents as well. At the time AIG took my business from Progressive, I was paying Progressive approximately $800 for a six-month policy. I switched to AIG for the same policy at approximately $550.
Since then, I have been involved in two minor accidents, so my premiums have risen under AIG to $735. However, after a bidding process with NetQuote, Progressive won back my business with a six-month policy for $562.
For things like auto insurance, basically any service that I absolutely need but don't often use - condo insurance would be another example - I am willing to sacrifice a level of service to get a cheaper policy. I was not under any illusions that AIG Auto would be better or even as good as Progressive had been for me. As I detail in another review here of Progressive, Progressive was very good to me and really, went very far to make sure I was taken care of.
Since I've had two accidents during my coverage with AIG, I think I can give an accurate description of their level of service.
I should say first that AIG has been professional in handling both cases. One was a mere fender bender involving limited damage to both vehicles and the other wasn't an accident but rather a case of vandalism on my vehicle. Regardless, a case of vandalism raises the rate, so I consider it an "accident."
But in short I must say that the level of service received from AIG has not been anywhere near the level I experienced with Progressive. In dealing with these two accidents, I have dealt with a minimum of six people not only with AIG but with farmed-out companies in getting my claims resolved. AIG doesn't keep everything in-house and so I ended up working with two different agents on the matter of my vandalism, for example.
While I was with Progressive, I pretty much worked with one person through the entire accident experience. And if I was in an accident with Progressive, their familiar van would be out there the next day to look at the damages and talk to me.
I have never seen or met an AIG employee.
The bottom line though is that AIG took care of me in both accidents. In the fender bender, there wasn't any damage to my vehicle, so there wasn't anything for them to do on my end. But they took care of the other person, who dubiously claimed injury, even though it was merely a tap onto his bumper (typical insurance fraud).
In the case of my vandalism, it was a drawn out process. It took way too long. In their defense, they had to do an "investigation," since it was vandalism. This makes sense since anybody could break their own window and claim vandalism, for whatever reason that would serve. So I get that they need to ask some questions.
However, from the time they finished their investigation to ultimately getting my upgraded car stereo replaced, it was well over two months. That's too long. Way too long.
But hey, I was paying far less in premiums and if I have to sacrifice some of my time to deal with some hassle, I will do it to save money.
Website: their website is pretty good. I can see my policy terms and everything is laid out there. I can pay my bill from the website. Overall, the website is fine for everything I need to do. I don't think anybody would have a problem with this website as one from an insurance provider.
Basically what I wanted to do here is tell you that these guys are totally legitimate, they are professional, and they get the job done. AIG doesn't have local agents, so you will not get any hospitality. And while I was working on the vandalism case, one guy quit AIG while the case was pending, if that means anything to anybody (merely antidotal at this point).
So good luck with AIG if they happen to offer the lowest rates. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to go with them if they are the cheapest, but I understand some people want a certain level of service.
Good luck.
Brad
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
brad
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Member: Brad Engelmann
Location: Helen Township, MN
Reviews written: 161
Trusted by: 95 members
About Me:
brad@engelmann.us (email address)
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