My Auto Insurance Christmas Carol, or Why We're Taking the Road Less Traveled
Written: Feb 27 '03 (Updated Feb 27 '03)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Customer Service: |
 |
|
| Web Site Experience: |
 |
|
| Web Site Load Time: |
|
|
| Response to Claims: |
|
|
| Price Confidence: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Great price
Cons: Don't file a claim!
The Bottom Line: File a small claim, end up more than paying it back double the next year... and the next year... and the next year...
|
|
|
| mjfrombuffalo's Full Review: Travelers - Auto |
(Based on St. George's Windsor, from the 1933 Presbyterian Hymnal. Hubby and I take the part of the Watchman, talking with Traveler's Auto Insurance.)
"Watchman, tell us of your cars,
Safety features they contain?"
"Traveler, we've a Saturn small,
And a van that's good in rain."
"Watchman, doth you drive quite well,
Careful and at safe speed?"
"Traveler, yes, no smash-ups here,
To all laws we pay strict heed!"
"Watchman, how we like your style!
Let us underwrite you now!"
"Traveler, that's an awesome price,
Just that much? Well, Holy Cow!"
"Watchman, insure your abode
Another discount comes your way."
"Traveler, Great! we'll do that too!
And with you we'll always stay!"
**three years later**
"Watchman, can we help you now?
What's the reason for your call?"
"Traveler, after all these years,
We now have a problem small..."
"Watchman, what then did you hit?
Was it car or bike or lark? "
"Traveler, nay it was not us,
Someone hit the car while parked!"
"Watchman, drive your car o'er there,
To our own garage-for-hire."
"Traveler, but our bumper's cracked
And it's rubbing 'gainst the tire!"
"Watchman, fine, we'll come to you
But it might just take some time."
"Traveler, well, OK, I guess,
A day or two will be just fine."
"Watchman, well, we saw your car,
Here are forms to file your claim."
"Traveler, but before we do,
Know that we were not to blame!"
"Watchman, yes, we know that well,
Your premium won't go up much."
"Traveler, well then, here you go,
Send the check, we'll keep in touch."
**four months later**
"Watchman, we are dropping you
For the $500 claim"
"Traveler, but we were but parked
At the store - we're not to blame!"
"Watchman, if you'd like we can
Keep you with your higher score."
"Traveler, yeah, but what the heck!
The premium's two thousand more!"
**one year later**
"Watchman, we've reviewed your case,
You still don't qualify for tops."
"Traveler, but outside that claim,
We've no tickets or traffic stops!"
"Watchman, here's your newest bill
$2800 per year."
"Traveler, we've just looked around,
Stick your policy in your ear!"
Plot recap: Traveler's offered us a great price plus a discount if we also got apartment insurance through them. The price was very good, but then we're two mature drivers with no tickets or claims in the past seven years and only one who drives to work - and that's only a five-mile trip.
Our car was parked in a store parking lot when someone hit it and drove away (da bastad). The repair bill came to $1000 and we had a $500 deductable. Before submitting the claim, we asked repeatedly about what this $500 not-at-fault claim would do to our insurance and we were assured it would be a "very small increase". They paid promptly - and promptly increased our annual insurance premium to more than double what it had been. After a ticket-free and claim-free year, they raised it another $600. We did a few web searches and found a somewhat better policy at a well-known company with a local office for about $1,000 less per year. While we stuck with them for a good amount of time, we're now going down roads less Travel-ed.
*****
SCROLL ALERT: Incredibly detailed information not needed by many
*****
For those who absolutely, positively think a finance review is unacceptable without them, the stats are listed below.
Travelers Auto Insurance
Price: Depends on a multitude of variables.
Company Website: http://www.travelers.com
No animals were harmed in the writing of this review. Travelers does not offer pet health insurance or discounts on life insurance for pet owners.
*****
END SCROLL ALERT: Incredibly detailed information not needed by many is done
*****
This review is the twenty-seventh installment of "Around My House in 28 Days," my response to the challenge leveled by amykhar. The challenge is to post one review every day for the whole month of February. Well, at least it's a short month. I'm starting at my door and going counter-clockwise around the house, reviewing whatever's in sight (and on this site). So far it's been the bathroom, then the kitchen, then the living room, the great outdoors, the bedroom, and now my briefcase...
Liked my review? Hated it? Leave a comment!
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mjfrombuffalo
|
|
Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 67
Trusted by: 32 members
About Me:
Not dead, just lurking
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.