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Trading In Your Auto Insurer (Surviving Socialism)
WSJ ^ | 8-24-12 | Karen Blumenthal

Posted on 11/11/2012 7:01:31 PM PST by RKBA Democrat

If you have been with your auto insurer for several years, your faithfulness might be costing you a bundle. That's the conclusion of a new report from the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, which represents consumer interests. The longer customers stay with a company, the more likely they are to pay more than they need to, said the agency, which looked at pricing and other data from large auto insurers.

The analysis found that the insurers' risk of loss is less the longer you stay with the company, meaning you become more profitable to the company the longer you stay around. While the savings will vary from person to person, long-term customers are likely to be paying too much.

The report was meant to be a siren call to shop around for home and auto policies. Not only might consumers be paying their own insurer more, but they could be missing out because other companies often aggressively price new policies as "loss leaders"—selling them at a loss or only a small profit—to draw in new customers, the report found.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: insurance; survivingsocialism
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Hat tip to Clark Howard's website for the tip.
1 posted on 11/11/2012 7:01:39 PM PST by RKBA Democrat
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To: freespirited; oblomov; Jet Jaguar; wastedyears; nascarnation; Henry Belden; petercooper; ...
Surviving Socialism Pinglist
Stories and tips with a financial emphasis to help conservatives SURVIVE and prosper during difficult times.

To be added or taken off this list, please send a FR mail to RKBA Democrat

2 posted on 11/11/2012 7:02:58 PM PST by RKBA Democrat
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To: RKBA Democrat

Been pricing around but still can’t match what my current rates are. For you searching, check out the Mutuals.


3 posted on 11/11/2012 7:09:19 PM PST by rstrahan
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To: RKBA Democrat
Price is only one part of your relationship with your insurer. Been with AMICA for Home and Auto for 20-plus years.


Survived three hurricanes with lots of damage in 2004 in central Fl.

The last one (Jeannie) hit on a Sunday, had a check for $13,000 by the next Friday.

They have taken care of every issue we have ever had without hestation.

Insurance is supposed to be about peace of mind, not worrying if you paid too much.

or not enough.
4 posted on 11/11/2012 7:22:17 PM PST by John 3_19-21 (Stand for something or fall for anything.)
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To: RKBA Democrat

We’ve been with AAA for home and auto for years. This article has really sparked my curiosity. With the drop in home values, I imagine we’re paying too much in homeowners insurance. About to add a teenager to the auto too.

Any advice is appreciated.


5 posted on 11/11/2012 7:31:39 PM PST by mplsconservative (Barack Hussein 0bama has American blood on HIS hands!)
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To: RKBA Democrat
USAA is hands down the best insurance company out there I’ve shopped around and even after all these years they beat the competition. If you have the military connection they are the only choice IMHO.
6 posted on 11/11/2012 7:36:51 PM PST by montanajoe
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To: John 3_19-21
Ran into something really weird when I got a better offer on a homeowner's policy. It was a reputable brand of insurance replacing another reputable brand, but they insisted on me removing English ivy growing along a brick wall near a slope toward the house.

I pointed out that I planted the ivy to keep seepage out of the basement. Ivy has been used for hundreds of years along walls to draw moisture out of the soil. Mine was highly effective against doing exactly that. We bought the house at a slightly discounted rate because the basement had the beginnings of mold problems near the foundation which is facing a downslope. We moved the drain field just enough to eliminate those problems naturally by building up the area around the foundation with mulch and sandy soil and planting English ivy to draw moisture out.

But it was either remove the ivy or no insurance, so I told them to stick it and I'd stay with the current, more expensive insurer.

7 posted on 11/11/2012 7:45:05 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: mplsconservative

I want to get our of liberal “Progressive” insurance


8 posted on 11/11/2012 7:57:08 PM PST by Democrat_media (limit government to 5000 words of laws. how to limit gov Quantify limited government ...)
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To: RKBA Democrat

Been with GEICO for 26 years.

Shop for better prices every three. With all the big players and discount players.

Always get the same answer.

“We can’t come close to those rates. They are giving you
a huge discount for your time with them.”


9 posted on 11/11/2012 7:59:27 PM PST by Arlis (.)
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To: RKBA Democrat

I have Safeco, I will be making my last payment period this week and thats it. I’m dropping all insurance period. I need the funds for traveling expenses, and its not by truck.


10 posted on 11/11/2012 8:01:29 PM PST by Eye of Unk
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To: Vigilanteman

Some types of Ivy can be destructive. This ivy can grow under concrete sidewalks, up stone walls and under siding causing some pretty severe damage over time.


11 posted on 11/11/2012 8:01:29 PM PST by John 3_19-21 (Stand for something or fall for anything.)
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To: Arlis

(GEICO - you can now send me a $1,000 check for my testimony here)

[Anyone who goes to GEICO tell them I sent you so they can send me a check too...]

;-)


12 posted on 11/11/2012 8:01:38 PM PST by Arlis (.)
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To: Arlis
Been with GEICO for 26 years.

Not to criticize but to inform - GEICO means "Government Employees Insurance Company" and is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, a holding company run by Obama ass-kisser Warren Buffett. Savings is savings, but conservative GEICO customers are doing business with people who hate their beliefs.

13 posted on 11/11/2012 8:18:35 PM PST by TonyInOhio
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To: Eye of Unk

It sounds like you might be heading down under soon, right?

Free Republic will hopefully escape their national website filter. Tell us how it is there!


14 posted on 11/11/2012 9:15:14 PM PST by ConservativeMind ("Humane" = "Don't pen up pets or eat meat, but allow infanticide, abortion, and euthanasia.")
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To: John 3_19-21

They are the BEST company to deal with in my opinion. The only insurance company who tries to keep the customer happy.


15 posted on 11/11/2012 9:16:11 PM PST by Orange1998 (Please DO NOT PRESS CTRL W)
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To: ConservativeMind

FR will be OK in Oz, but it will be a veritable maze of snoopers more so than ever, HS will really want to get a feel of what right wingers are up to.

Personally again I’m not fighting them, they can have my scorched home and the diesel soaked dirt. At the very least i am scouting and prepared to stay permanently. America is NOT going to have a corrective revolution, there won’t be any impeachment over Libya, Obama will find a way to remain in office permanently. We all laughed and scoffed before, now its reality, the nightmares of America begin.


16 posted on 11/11/2012 9:24:34 PM PST by Eye of Unk
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To: mplsconservative

Advice: check out a list of “best” homeowners insurance companies. Getting the absolute cheapest product might be a false economy. JD Powers has a list of the “best” herehere:

http://www.jdpower.com/content/press-release/uj0Qpsp/2012-u-s-national-homeowners-insurance-study.htm

On the negative side, here a list of worst insurance companies:

http://www.getclaimhelp.com/worst_insurance_companies/insurance-companies-deny-claims-raise-premiums.html

Here is another list by state:

http://www.smartshopyourcarinsurance.com/best-worst-insurance-by-state.html

I’d look up the agents for a few of the “best” for your area and give them a shot at the work. You may end up sticking with who you have, but at least it’ll be informed decision.

ALSO, while there is a lot of hay made about getting a better deal by combining home owners with auto, I haven’t found it to be all that good of a deal for me.


17 posted on 11/12/2012 4:20:08 AM PST by RKBA Democrat
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To: mplsconservative

We saved a bundle by switching from geico to USAA. If you are a veteran or a child of a veteran go with USAA.


18 posted on 11/12/2012 4:33:59 AM PST by snippy_about_it
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To: mplsconservative

P.S. Check out the mutual insurance companies as well. The true mutual insurance companies are owned by their policyholders like a credit union or coop. You’re in a relatively low risk area (MN?), so homeowners insurance shouldn’t cost you all that much. Here on the coast, hurricanes are the issue and we pay more as a result and some insurers have red-lined the area/state.

Auto insurance is more a commodity and in my view should be treated as such.


19 posted on 11/12/2012 4:39:12 AM PST by RKBA Democrat
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To: Democrat_media

“I want to get our of liberal “Progressive” insurance.”

There are plenty of other choices out there.


20 posted on 11/12/2012 4:41:33 AM PST by RKBA Democrat
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