My auto insurance is due to expire on April 26. I received a letter from my current carrier on April 3, stating my policy was changed. They gave me a higher deductible and and a higher insurance policy rate. In addition, they requested that I pay the amount in full by April 26. What was the amount? A little over $3,500. I freaked out! I did not have that kind of money!!!
I was the one who put myself in this predicament. Long story short, I filed too many claims in a short period of time and got put into the high risk category.... most of the claims were for scrapes my car has received in the parkade under my condo complex.
So, I called my insurance company and I wailed and complained and they turned a deaf ear. They even told me, "good luck finding something better".
I called my bank and tried to purchase auto insurance through them. They wanted even more money, over $4,000 for less coverage and again, I had to pay it in one lump sum by April 26.
Friday the 13th of April, I checked my mailbox. In the mailbox was a letter from a bank in which I have a checking account that has a $5.63 balance. The letter was about auto insurance! They gave a toll free number to call if your auto insurance was expiring in less than 30 days. They have insurance brokers who could shop around and get you the best policy to suit your needs. Well, a ton of bricks did not have to fall on me for me to realize that I should call them!
I called and spoke to a young man who was very nice. I told him my situation. He did a preliminary search and he found an insurance company that he said might take me on. He gave me a quote but, he said it wasn't firm. He said he had to submit everything to them and he'd call me on Monday with the final offer. I asked him what did he think my chances were? He told me that truthfully he thought I would get a policy but with some revisions like a higher deductible and less coverage. Higher deductible!!!! We were already looking at a $1,000 deductible. Sheesh!
This was Friday night, April 13, 2012. Well, I sat down and I wrote my story and here it is:
I will receive a call from the insurance broker on Monday. He will tell me he found an insurance company that was willing to give me a policy. They will offer me a policy with some type of revision, either a higher monthly payment or a higher deductible. However, I would receive the same coverage as I would have if I stuck with my original insurance provider and they will give me the option to pay montly instead of forcing me to pay in one lump sum. The insurance company will also provide home insurance so that I can drop my condo insurance with my current insurance carrier and receive a 10% discount on my monthly payments. My monthly payment will be the same as the monthly payments I would have had to pay with my current insurance provider, if they would offer me a monthly payment option.
I told myself this story until I felt good about it. Then I put it out of my mind.
Well, Monday rolls around...I receive a call from the insurance broker!
He found an insurance carrier. They offered me the same coverage as my current carrier, same deductible everything. This new company offers home insurance! So, I can get a 10% discount on both the auto and home insurance if I purchase both through them. The policy is $200 more expensive than my current insurance carrier. However, with the 10% discount, it's $200 cheaper. And...wait for it... they offer a MONTHLY PAYMENT plan. Yipee!
Well, again, a ton of bricks didn't have to fall on me. I signed up for the auto insurance. (I will wait for the condo insurance to expire before I switch).
It's amazing! I told a different story and got almost exactly what I asked for.
No comments:
Post a Comment