Posted on 10/10/2014 8:16:00 AM PDT by Citizen Zed
USAA wants to take to the skies in an effort to fast-track insurance claims.
The financial services company, whose members include U.S. military personnel and their families, asked the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to test unmanned aircraft last week, becoming the first insurance provider to seek an exemption.
Since commercial drone use is prohibited by regulators, USAA has conducted four years of research in partnership with the FAA and public entities. The exemption would pave the way for independent testing of small drones that could help USAA quickly settle insurance claims during natural disasters.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxbusiness.com ...
Oh, for crying out loud. This must be from the same people who thought that it was a good idea for an insurance company to build a theme park.
“But can the drone fill out your claim forms, print them and then witness you signature? That would be impressive.”
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I have all my insurance with USAA and also bank with them. The USAA Bank is in San Antonio Texas and I live in Maryland. That has NEVER been a problem. The only time I’ve ever gone to a USAA physical branch is to deposit cash, which I rarely need to do. Everything else is done online to include check deposits (done by using an app on my smartphone to take a picture of the check).
USAA is simply being very proactive to prepare for any future natural disasters that may engender mass claims. You’ll remember how frustrated folks affected by Katrina and Sandy were with all the delays by their insurance companies? USAA doesn’t want that to happen to their customers.
ha! If only!
USAA is a reputable company which serves it’s clients well. I’ve had all my insurance with them for half a century. Their proposed use of drones in lieu of sending an adjuster into a hurricane-caused area of wreckage seems like a cost-effective way to settle claims, at least initially. What’s not to like?
TC
I’ve done business with USAA for several years now. I only wish every other company I do business with were as efficient and responsive as they are.
I guess it’s only a matter of time before all insurance companies are allowed to do this.
How did building a theme park help the USAA members? It didn’t. It helped San Antonio. That is where USAA is headquartered.
USAA is trying to be a mega company. Look at all their television ads. If you’ve been with them for 50 years, then you remember when USAA was a smaller, more personal insurance company. The focus of the leadership of USAA has gone from the members to the company.
I am a member of USAA. If my house gets hit by a natural disaster, don’t send a drone to look at the damage. Send a person. Act like you care about the person. Want to cut costs? Quit building theme parks. Bigger isn’t always better.
If any company were to be trusted to do this right, it would be USAA. In my 31 years of doing business with them, I have no complaints about their professionalism and ethics.
They are a good company. They’re not a perfect company. They make some mistakes. I’ve already pointed out the theme park. They also tried to get into the retirement home business. They don’t advertise that any more. They also brought in the business man to run the company. He was quietly sent packing.
I used to be proud to say I was a USAA member. Now, I’m just glad they are a good company. It used to be a group of peers working together. Now, it’s just a company.
Dittos to your first 2 sentences and I agree with the rest of your post. USAA is flat out the best organization, of any kind, I have ever dealt with. They have been 100% professional with fast policy services and responses to any claims I have had....at all times, through out all of these years. They are the best!
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