We have USAA for both auto and home insurance. They have been fantastic. We've had to make claims for both auto and home and their service was quick and easy. During the "derecho" storm, we had a lot of damage due to a tree hitting the house as well as loss of power. They immediately deposited money into our account to cover the loss of food in our freezer (we didn't even ask them to, but when dh was going over the claim for the tree damage, they asked if we lost power too and said they'd cover the loss of food also). Our car insurance is incredibly reasonable - it did go up very slightly once but only after the SECOND fender bender dh had in less than a year. The increase was barely noticeable. In addition, we get a dividend check back from them at the end of the year. This year it was over $200 though it's usually around $125. $200 is about what we'd pay for two months' of premiums (on house and car together) so that was a nice surprise.

Having a local agent is very beneficial when it comes to processing claims either against you by another, or one of your own. I've turned down several offers because there was no local agent; Claims would have been processed remotely and the claims adjuster would have been an unknown under contract (at lowest cost) to the company. I would have been saddled with expediting the whole affair and making many phone calls and dealing with no answers and leaving messages on answering machines and hoping I was home when a call-back arrived. I was in the situation one time when a car rolled back out of a driveway and smashed my door. It was a simple, uncontested claim. However, the car was driven by a wife of a serviceman and he had insurnace through a company that catered to men in the military. There was no local agent. The uninjuried party merely gave me a phone number and company name and did nothing more. It fell upon me to make the phone calls and co-ordinate the process if I wanted them to pay for the repair. And then, there was always wheedling to pare down the repair award. They wanted me to run around and get 3 estimates and then mail in the paper work. I balked unless they were willing to pay me for taking time off from work. I told them that if I did not get satisifaction within 2 days, I would file a complaint with the police. A claim adjuster contacted me rightg away, but he wanted me to chase him all over town. I refused and told him when and where he could find the car. I needed to keep using for my job. He came to my driveway and inspected the damage. That was the first real person-to-person contact I had with that company. The repair was made. In my opion, its worth a few dollars more to have an agent in your corner.

I had a long addendum to my earlier post about earthquake insurance in my prior post but decided to cut it and not post it. The shorter version that as a California resident for 66 years where we get tremors/ quakes regularly, I have never had earthquake insurance nor do I know anyone who has. I don't know a single suburban homeowner who has ever sustained a loss due to the quakes. Even those who live near to places that sustained major infrastructure damage during the largest quake in my lifetime, the Loma Prieta. Three tremors in 12 years in an area not even on the geological radar as being earthquake prone? There is a reason the companies don't offer the insurance. Buying it is burning money for no reason. Possibly better spent to address the earthquake anxiety issue.

We declined the tracker, so don’t have one. “How do they KNOW this?” My guess is that the insurance company (All State) sent the same email to everyone who they cover. We are not THAT special. It’s not a huge amount that will hurt their bottom line, but it’s a nice consideration on their part. Good business move IMHO. Arcy, many companies DO help those in need. Why do you think they don’t? In your posts you seem to have a lot of negativity in your life. I hope that you can find some happiness soon.