I fucking hate insurance companies

[digitaldiscipline]

This is the email I just sent to my agent, because I knew I was due for renewal soon, and had gotten a PDF of my policy statement just this morning (because I'd asked for one).

Me: Thanks for the info. Can I pay with a credit card?

Agent: Homeowner's Choice does not take payments over the phone, you would have to mail it to them directly.

Me: I’m sorry, but I’m afraid the only reaction I have to Homeowner’s Choice Insurance at this point is extreme sarcasm.

Just so I’m sure I’m clear on this – they didn’t send me a statement alerting me about a payment that’s due tomorrow, and haven’t joined the 1980’s with this newfangled “credit card” technology… so that I basically have no choice but to be late with my payment? Do I have that right?

The fact that the insurance premium is approximately five times as high as the property tax bill for my home is just the bitter icing on this laughable cake.

Is there any possible way I could be insured with ANY OTHER COMPANY AT ALL? Or am I simply at HCI’s mercy because of the location of my home?

Comments

[hellsop.livejournal.com]

"And how much 'choice' are we actually talking about, here?"

[happygoth.livejournal.com]

Do you qualify for USAA? According to all I've read (and limited experience), they're the best option, period. Not sure how good "best" is, but so far we've been decently happy.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

I would also recommend USAA highly. However, becoming a member requires that you, your spouse, or the parent of a spouse be a veteran/member of the military.

[happygoth.livejournal.com]

Ah, well my father-in-law was in the Navy, so we jumped at the chance to use USAA. Kind of lucky that way (and I don't remember if etcet was in the military).

[cheez-ball.livejournal.com]

If I pay my gas bill the day it's due I have to do a wire transfer via Western Union. Yea...special.

Does your insurance company have a website that takes payments?

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I believe my dad was in the Army / reserve, but that was way back when they still rode mammoths into battle. (I can say that here b/c he only checks my LJ posts via Google Buzz ;-) ).

Bears investigating, if nothing else.

[bitogoth.livejournal.com]

We use Liberty Mutual, but not sure if they cover your neck of the woods- my impression was that they normally wouldn't cover us except I've been a policy holder for so many years they didn't want to lose me (and we saved a tonne moving our auto insurance over from a different company- cut it almost in half).

[cassandrasimplx.livejournal.com]

Another recommendation for USAA. You really find out the character of an insurance company when they have to pay out; I've had to have two cars replaced after floods, and can't say enough good things about them.

[smaugchow.livejournal.com]

In general, any company providing homeowner insurance in Florida desperately wants OUT of that business. There are literally laws that say an ins. co. CAN'T just pick up and leave Florida. Florida gets raped by hurricanes often enough to make it very expensive to write such policies, so you are absolutely paying for your weather.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

yeah, there hasn't been a hurricane to make landfall here in six years. when we had all those storms, my rate was half what it is now, and my house was valued at about twice what it is now. the math is bullshit.

and i'm already insured with one of the two companies of last resort, despite being on some of the highest ground in the county, in a dwelling old enough to have survived the last direct strike of a hurricane in this area.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I switched homeowner's insurance last year to the same one where I also have motorcycle and auto insurance. And saved about $600/year, partly because of multi-policy savings.

Fuck insurance companies, is all I have to say.