Posted on 10/04/2016 11:27:09 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
Here is the official response I got from USAA on their NFL sponsorship:
Thank you for your response. USAA is proud to serve as the Official Military Appreciation Sponsor of the NFL, and our sponsorship is a reflection of our mission and commitment to serving the military community.
We have no plans to end our role as the Official Military Appreciation Sponsor of the NFL. The NFL provides a great platform through which we can raise awareness about and appreciation for America's military and their families. We are proud to work with great players like Army veteran and Pittsburg Steeler Alejandro Villanueva and teams across the league.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please reply to this message or call us at 210-531-USAA (8722), our mobile shortcut #8722 or 800-531-8722. We value your business and the opportunity to serve all your financial needs.
Thank you, Crystal Mann USAA
USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates.
This was a follow on to their previous response to me on Sep 18:
Thank you for your message regarding the NFL payers disrespecting the National Anthem. I cab certainly understand your concern, and appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your inquiry.
At USAA, we believe it is an honor to stand during the national anthem to show our respect for our country and the men and women who have fought to protect all of our freedoms.
It is my hope this information was helpful, as it is my goal to provide you the best customer service. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any additional questions. You may reply to this email or call us at 1-800-531-USAA (8722). Our representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., all Continental U.S. Time Zones.
I appreciate your membership and look forward to maintaining your trust every time we do business together.
Thank you, Magda Garcia USAA
As a 50-year member of USAA, I’m disappointed in them. Even though I think your responses come from “flunkies” the responses should reflect at least a semblance of the CEO/BOD position, or at least not conflict with policy. As I said: disappointing.
TC
Serious people don’t have time to worry about the NFL.
keep hitting the NFL and their sponsors in the pocket book!
Calll the phone number
Vote your membership rights
Just changed insurance carriers. Got quotes from USAA. They were not competitive. Maybe they should concentrate on being competitive instead of sponsoring football.
I’ve done several. USAA is the gold standard.
I rarely have insurance claims so, for me, the carrier has to be in the ballpark. Just dumped Farmers because my premiums were mounting every year without a claim. Saved 60% going elsewhere with my business. Will begin to review my insurance needs yearly.
Don’t complain about the companies. The best way to stop companies from sponsoring these events is for people to simply stop watching or supporting the NFL.
Every year I hear people complain about the NFL. Even our church group have “Super Bowl Sunday” parties as bad as their half time shows are with clothing malfunctions and F bombs.
I wonder how many here will watch a game or two?
I’m a forty year member of USAA. The company has changed dramatically over the last 10 years as it has grown larger and attempted to add more services. I recently pulled all of my IRA and investment accounts from the company due to the poor performance of its managed accounts and funds, indifference to customers feedback, and high fees. My insurance premiums (no claims) have escalated dramatically and for the first time in 40 years I’m getting competitive quotes and considering moving my insurance business.
My take is USAA, once a lean no frills operation with an unparalleled commitment to servicing its members, is now managed by a swollen and expensive bureaucracy. Its management is out of touch with its customers, it is slow to react, and is becoming increasingly uncompetitive in the marketplace. While sad, unfortunately this is the pattern most businesses and organizations follow as they grow, stagnate, and then ultimate decline.
NFL sponsorships, and most of the television advertising done by USAA, is a waste of money costing millions of dollars that could be used to reduce insurance premiums or give back to members in dividends.
No doubt the senior executives at USAA enjoy box seats at the playoffs and super bowl where they rub shoulders with the wealthy and famous. However, if they don’t soon focus on their core business of providing no frills, low cost insurance to the military community, they will find themselves rejected by young active service members while experiencing a slow exodus of once loyal older retired members.
Every time I call the company I’m thanked for my 40 years of loyal service. No doubt the person on the phone is reading from a pop-up on a screen. Some consultant has told management having customer service people thank the member for the specific number of years of membership will help to reinforce loyalty. However, what senior executives seem to be missing is loyalty is the reward an organization receives for consistent outstanding performance and can be withdrawn when performance is no longer consistent, superior or competitive. The next time the CEO is sitting in the skybox of a stadium and watching NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, he might want to give some thought disloyalty and disrespect he is observing and consider if the organization he presides over is earning the respect and loyalty of its members. The fact he continues to support the NFL, with the dollars of active and retired military members demonstrates he isn’t giving loyalty much thought.
Smart move. I renegotiate or find someone else. No one should be held hostage by insurance companies, at least until the government moves in and screws up this market as well.
Are you serious? You have to include everything Issa offers in the price compared to other companies. I’ll forgive usaa on this one minor infraction.
I’ve been with USAA for decades, but they aren’t the same company. Once they were all about providing the best value for their customers, but they have fallen prey to the bean counters and wall street mentality.
I had to sue them to pay for my wife and childrens’ medical costs after an accident—after never having a major claim. The inside information that I received was they were the worst of all the companies when it comes to settling. They have done well from a corporate perspective, but I now view them as the same as any other corporate entity—they have lost my respect as they have lost their focus.
My experience is completely opposite of yours. I’ve been a member for 20 years and when ever I get unsolicited phone calls from other insurance carriers I just say USAA and they hang up because they can’t compete. My only complaint would be they changed from 10 payments per year to 12.
I have them as well, you realize you can choose your payment plan? I pay 2 times a year.
I will say that with the recent membership expansions, that I a seeing some minor degradation in performance.
My biggest disappoint has been when they changed their investment management (stock, IRAs, etc) op to an outside contracted group. Felt they should have gone to more of a schwabesque route. Their interface there is clunky as well and I’ve considered moving it out, though I like the convenience of having things all in one place.
I think the pricing competitiveness depends on which state - most where I’m at can’t give me the same value for the price.
What options are out there that a veteran once got with USAA?
Was with Farmers for 23 years. I guess brand loyalty is out the window.
The advantage of USAA was that it was owned by it members, its operations were low cost, and its primary products were insurance (auto, home, life) where servicemen were having difficulty with industry practices at the time which were not well suited to support people who were frequently moving and often deployed overseas.
Today due to technology low cost commercial insurers (Geico, Progressive) have the capability of providing insurance products similar to USAA and servicing customers who move frequently or are located overseas so the competitive advantage with respect to the insurance product has disappeared. With respect to banking and investment products, USAA never had a product superiority or service advantage, they were simply add-on products developed to sell more to the existing membership.
Today it no longer has a cost advantage versus competitive options for most insurance products. Its one remaining advantage seems to be “one stop shopping” for a variety of financial products. Before I retired there were definitely advantages to having my insurance and financial relationship with one company. Now that I’m retired, and have time to manage multiple relationships, that advantage of USAA has gone away. In fact, with lower income in retirement, I will spend more time managing my accounts to realize cost savings. Now that I have time to shop, I have learned USAA doesn’t always have the lowest cost, best product for a particular need, or the best service.
The only advantage I can think of today with USAA is its reputation for fast and efficient claim service. I’ve had only two auto claims and both were handled fast and efficiently. I also had one homeowner’s claim (leak water damage) a few years ago. The disaster recovery contractor USAA sent out to deal with the damage had some issues but I was able to work out the problems in a few days. USAA paid the claim with no problem. Based on my experience, and the company’s reputation, USAA generally does not hassle or nickel and dime on claims.
For auto insurance Geico and Progressive are cost and service competitive in many states. The same with homeowner’s insurance. There are a number of internet based low cost term life insurance companies. An independent insurance agent can often help find good low cost life insurance policies with smaller companies.
As to banking, I’ve found local banks and credit unions are very cost competitive with USAA Bank.
As to investments, Vanguard provides mutual funds with much lower fees than USAA as well as higher performing funds. Some of the Blackrock and Fidelity index mutual funds are also low fee (others are not, read the fine print). I moved most of my investments to Vanguard and found the fees and service better than at USAA.
I still have my auto insurance at USAA and some of my life insurance policies. I am giving serious consideration to moving my auto policies to Progressive. The life policies are cost prohibitive to move due to my age.
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