Usaa
08-07-2009 | 11:27 PM
#31
Nothing to write
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: PA28 Flight Engineer
USAA has been better than anyone else I've used as far as claims processes go. I've had to make comprehensive claims with USAA and they have been seamless.
I had to switch to esurance earlier this year after a PCS, since I saved almost $600 every 6 months. I've already had to make two claims, and it has just been outrageous. Additionally, I've found that I can't get the same coverage levels that I had with USAA. For example, my liability was $500,000 per accident with USAA. I've had trouble finding anything over $300,000 with other companies. Also, I always ran $0 deductibles with USAA, I haven't been able to replicate that since switching.
Despite the savings I'm getting this year, I think I may switch back next year even if the premium is slightly higher.
I can't speak for homeowners insurance claims other than when my car got broken into and items were pilfered, and when I made a claim for a broken laptop and ipod touch screen. Both were paid immediately with no hassle and money issued for a replacement.
I had to switch to esurance earlier this year after a PCS, since I saved almost $600 every 6 months. I've already had to make two claims, and it has just been outrageous. Additionally, I've found that I can't get the same coverage levels that I had with USAA. For example, my liability was $500,000 per accident with USAA. I've had trouble finding anything over $300,000 with other companies. Also, I always ran $0 deductibles with USAA, I haven't been able to replicate that since switching.
Despite the savings I'm getting this year, I think I may switch back next year even if the premium is slightly higher.
I can't speak for homeowners insurance claims other than when my car got broken into and items were pilfered, and when I made a claim for a broken laptop and ipod touch screen. Both were paid immediately with no hassle and money issued for a replacement.
08-13-2009 | 03:21 PM
#32
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Likes: 1
Again...not here to debate but just to remind folks to at least take a look around.
My progressive premium is $1414 a year...down from USAA $1860. Not a huge deal, and but for the homeowner issue I'd have not switched.
Homeowner....get ready....$1725 verses $6666. It took a couple days for an independent agent shopping around to finally cross the ts and dot the i's, but that is quite a savings. Coverage is not quite apples to apples, but pretty darn close. Biggest difference was USAA paid 70k for 24 months of loss of use, but this policy is only about 30k. Structure, contents, and general liability were the same.
As soon as I can get my wife's life insurance somewhere else, we will officially close the book on USAA. That means a 25 year subscriber savings will be showing up...and its about double what I thought it was. Funny thing is with such an incentive to LEAVE, once they went so high on the homeowners there really is an incentive to take all your insurance somewhere else. When I was moving the flood policy the agent tried to do a sales pitch on me saying I wouldn't save anymore on the FLOOD policy moving it. When I told him "okay...but I'm passing up getting x thousand dollars back if I cancel ALL my USAA policies...." he couldn't think of a good reason for me to stay. The other agent had reminded me "its just business...", and I had to agree. But if it is just business, then I'm going somewhere less expensive.
In other places...maybe they are the best insurance. For now, however, saving 5 grand a year in this economy is worth moving some paperwork around. Maybe if enough folks do it the old USAA will come back.
My progressive premium is $1414 a year...down from USAA $1860. Not a huge deal, and but for the homeowner issue I'd have not switched.
Homeowner....get ready....$1725 verses $6666. It took a couple days for an independent agent shopping around to finally cross the ts and dot the i's, but that is quite a savings. Coverage is not quite apples to apples, but pretty darn close. Biggest difference was USAA paid 70k for 24 months of loss of use, but this policy is only about 30k. Structure, contents, and general liability were the same.
As soon as I can get my wife's life insurance somewhere else, we will officially close the book on USAA. That means a 25 year subscriber savings will be showing up...and its about double what I thought it was. Funny thing is with such an incentive to LEAVE, once they went so high on the homeowners there really is an incentive to take all your insurance somewhere else. When I was moving the flood policy the agent tried to do a sales pitch on me saying I wouldn't save anymore on the FLOOD policy moving it. When I told him "okay...but I'm passing up getting x thousand dollars back if I cancel ALL my USAA policies...." he couldn't think of a good reason for me to stay. The other agent had reminded me "its just business...", and I had to agree. But if it is just business, then I'm going somewhere less expensive.
In other places...maybe they are the best insurance. For now, however, saving 5 grand a year in this economy is worth moving some paperwork around. Maybe if enough folks do it the old USAA will come back.
08-13-2009 | 10:32 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 0
From: Permanently scarred
Homeowner....get ready....$1725 verses $6666. It took a couple days for an independent agent shopping around to finally cross the ts and dot the i's, but that is quite a savings. Coverage is not quite apples to apples, but pretty darn close. Biggest difference was USAA paid 70k for 24 months of loss of use, but this policy is only about 30k. Structure, contents, and general liability were the same.
08-14-2009 | 02:48 AM
#35
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Likes: 1
Are you living in a McMansion? I'm 300 yards from the Santa Rosa Sound with $425,000 dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible; USAA charges me $1,777/year. I need to compare rates; I'm sure I can probably get something cheaper for the autos, but the service is fantastic so it'll make it hard to leave unless the savings are something similar to yours.
I agree...over the years their service was very very good.
08-14-2009 | 03:06 PM
#36
New Hire
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I work at USAA and wanted to reach out. Our mission is facilitate the financial security of the military and their families. In so doing, we strive to offer members competitively priced products and services complemented by award-winning customer service. If we are not meeting your needs or expectations, please e-mail me at [email protected]. I'd like to help resolve any issues you're experiencing.
Thank you for placing your trust in USAA. We're honored to serve you.
Tricia Phillip
USAA Social Media
Thank you for placing your trust in USAA. We're honored to serve you.
Tricia Phillip
USAA Social Media
08-14-2009 | 03:57 PM
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
I work at USAA and wanted to reach out. Our mission is facilitate the financial security of the military and their families. In so doing, we strive to offer members competitively priced products and services complemented by award-winning customer service. If we are not meeting your needs or expectations, please e-mail me at [email protected]. I'd like to help resolve any issues you're experiencing.
Thank you for placing your trust in USAA. We're honored to serve you.
Tricia Phillip
USAA Social Media
Thank you for placing your trust in USAA. We're honored to serve you.
Tricia Phillip
USAA Social Media
Tricia, thanks for posting.
I'll admit that after following this thread, I have been shopping around. Here are my specific "beefs" with the USAA policy:
1) Auto: I moved from metro DC (crazy Beltway drivers drafting at 80 mph) to coastal MS (anti-Beltway). The auto premiums went up about 25%. I was told it was because of hurricane losses. My unanswered question was "But if we evacuate, we're DRIVING the cars out of harms way. Why is that a threat?"
2) Home: Just got the renewal. The premium went up over 20%. When I called about that, I was told it was the inflation protection. I'm sure CNN would be covering the financial armageddon with an inflation rate of 20%. FWIW, it was 3.8% in 2008.
I think most of the gripes revolve around unfounded increases with the ol' mushroom treatment.
15-yr USAA member
08-14-2009 | 06:30 PM
#38
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Likes: 1
Sent to Tricia on Friday to email address
No secret to those who know me I'd rather try to change the environment rather than adapt to it... Whether its a curse or a blessing, I don't know, but its kept me riding horses at times I probably shouldn't have.
I sent this note to Tricia based on her invitation. If you love USAA...write and tell her. If like me you've gotten a bit sour lately...write her too. Maybe if there is enough grass roots input some changes can be made. Heck...we video tape ALPA meetings now...anything can happen!
Dear Tricia,
I am writing because of your recent invitation on an aviation message board.
I have been an USAA member since I was an AFROTC cadet at Auburn University. Back then, USAA was marketed as a full service, low cost insurance company primarily for officers and retired officers. The implication was that by being in such a historically low risk group, not only would you have good service but at a very competitive price.
My USAA number is xxxxxxxxxx. I have used your services over the years all over the globe, and had a few minor auto claims and two flood claims along the way. You can research and see where we've been and what we have done all these years.
For years, I smugly sat around and listened to others complain about their insurance travails. I didn't have such problems, as USAA kept my family covered with great service and very good rates. To be honest, although I compared rates and shopped around in the 90s, I didn't comparison shop again until this year when my homeowner premium doubled. I just didn't feel the need to shop--because historically (although it was very OLD data) when I did compare USAA always had the best rates, and I appreciated the service.
Along the way, however, I began to see some changes. My auto premiums climbed steadily, and I often wondered if expanding the services outside of the officer ranks increased the premiums for everyone. Again...I didn't really shop around...I was content.
A couple years ago, I was told USAA would not renew a policy on an investment property we have near Tyndall AFB. Despite the fact we never made a claim, the home was cinder block construction on a fairly high lot, I had no choice but to find another company when USAA refused to cover anything but primary residences in the state of Florida. I elected to stay with USAA for my other insurance needs, but consulting an independent agent who found a policy for me that actually was less expensive that my previous USAA policy. However, I liked your company, so I used USAA for the other policies you continued to honor.
This year, however, my premium effectively doubled on my primary residence. I estimate the value of the home structure to be $250,000 or less to rebuild, and we don't have expensive taste in furniture, clothing, or appliances, and I expect we could redo everything after a loss for less than $75,000. When I tried to adjust the policy down, I was told the impact would be negligible on the total premium. At that point I gave up and started shopping other places.
USAA has always marketed itself as a friend to the military member. The fact is that I have retired from the Air National Guard now, make a comfortable living as an airline pilot, and have a wife who is very well connected in the community as we have made it our home the last 10 years. I have the time, money, and contacts available to deal with some insurance headaches, and changing providers, while disappointing, is not that difficult for us. However, I think many of your active duty military members who are facing a PCS, and cannot sell their home without taking a huge loss would be in dire straights if they were forced to lean on USAA right now. In addition to the stress of moving their families and possessions, if they are elect to rent their home to another family they will have to add changing insurance companies to their out processing checklist. Moving in the military is a stressful time under the best of circumstances...moving into or out of Florida is now much more difficult for service members who have trusted you all these years. I can live without you--I've got options. However, I still remember the hectic pace of PCSing and grimace when I think about adding a bunch of insurance changes into that mix. If you don't change that policy, I suggest you market yourself as "our mission is to facilitate the financial security of military families...that do not live in coastal areas..."
When I elected to share my experiences within the virtual pilot community, I discovered several people had similar experiences. Quite a few were very defensive of USAA, just as I had been for about 23 of the last 25 years. However, like me, there are some who have noticed the changes that have taken place over the last few years and are disappointed. I am also sensing a trend of USAA no longer being "our insurance company", but rather "an insurance company". Servicemen don't always get the choice on whether or not they in higher risk areas, nor do they get to chose when they have to move in our out of those locations. You've got a business to run, and I'm sure your underwriters have done plenty of due diligence. However, from Corpus Christi Texas to Brunswick Maine, there are literally thousands of service men and women along the coasts who have counted on your company for years. I know the 2004-2005 Hurricane Season was devastating, but most military homeowners simply cannot accept a doubling of their premiums. It seems USAA is out to recoup a few tough years of losses, and the cost advantage we have had for years has not only evaporated but many of us find ourselves paying considerably more by sticking with you than by moving our policies.
What I can say without reservation is I've never had a single claim that was not handled to my satisfaction. I am grateful for the prompt, professional, courteous service I have gotten over the years. There is probably an amount I'd pay to keep that level of service--but with three daughters to raise paying more than $450 more a month on homeowner policies is just too much. Considering the very few times I've ever needed to make a claim, I'm willing to take a chance on someone else to save some funds for my girls' education funds.
In short--I don't feel like I quit USAA. Instead, I feel like I was deliberately pushed aside and "encouraged" to shop around by offering a policy that is more than double what other competitors quoted. That's okay--business is business and your board of directors and underwriters provide the guidance. I know this is not personal. However, the risk is becoming just another insurance company is that there are a ton of insurance companies out there. My subscriber savings account, when refunded, will pay my homeowner premium for the next three years. That's a lot of incentive to give someone else a try. And its not personal...its just business.
Regards,
Axxxx Hxxxxx
Member xxxxxxxxx
I sent this note to Tricia based on her invitation. If you love USAA...write and tell her. If like me you've gotten a bit sour lately...write her too. Maybe if there is enough grass roots input some changes can be made. Heck...we video tape ALPA meetings now...anything can happen!
Dear Tricia,
I am writing because of your recent invitation on an aviation message board.
I have been an USAA member since I was an AFROTC cadet at Auburn University. Back then, USAA was marketed as a full service, low cost insurance company primarily for officers and retired officers. The implication was that by being in such a historically low risk group, not only would you have good service but at a very competitive price.
My USAA number is xxxxxxxxxx. I have used your services over the years all over the globe, and had a few minor auto claims and two flood claims along the way. You can research and see where we've been and what we have done all these years.
For years, I smugly sat around and listened to others complain about their insurance travails. I didn't have such problems, as USAA kept my family covered with great service and very good rates. To be honest, although I compared rates and shopped around in the 90s, I didn't comparison shop again until this year when my homeowner premium doubled. I just didn't feel the need to shop--because historically (although it was very OLD data) when I did compare USAA always had the best rates, and I appreciated the service.
Along the way, however, I began to see some changes. My auto premiums climbed steadily, and I often wondered if expanding the services outside of the officer ranks increased the premiums for everyone. Again...I didn't really shop around...I was content.
A couple years ago, I was told USAA would not renew a policy on an investment property we have near Tyndall AFB. Despite the fact we never made a claim, the home was cinder block construction on a fairly high lot, I had no choice but to find another company when USAA refused to cover anything but primary residences in the state of Florida. I elected to stay with USAA for my other insurance needs, but consulting an independent agent who found a policy for me that actually was less expensive that my previous USAA policy. However, I liked your company, so I used USAA for the other policies you continued to honor.
This year, however, my premium effectively doubled on my primary residence. I estimate the value of the home structure to be $250,000 or less to rebuild, and we don't have expensive taste in furniture, clothing, or appliances, and I expect we could redo everything after a loss for less than $75,000. When I tried to adjust the policy down, I was told the impact would be negligible on the total premium. At that point I gave up and started shopping other places.
USAA has always marketed itself as a friend to the military member. The fact is that I have retired from the Air National Guard now, make a comfortable living as an airline pilot, and have a wife who is very well connected in the community as we have made it our home the last 10 years. I have the time, money, and contacts available to deal with some insurance headaches, and changing providers, while disappointing, is not that difficult for us. However, I think many of your active duty military members who are facing a PCS, and cannot sell their home without taking a huge loss would be in dire straights if they were forced to lean on USAA right now. In addition to the stress of moving their families and possessions, if they are elect to rent their home to another family they will have to add changing insurance companies to their out processing checklist. Moving in the military is a stressful time under the best of circumstances...moving into or out of Florida is now much more difficult for service members who have trusted you all these years. I can live without you--I've got options. However, I still remember the hectic pace of PCSing and grimace when I think about adding a bunch of insurance changes into that mix. If you don't change that policy, I suggest you market yourself as "our mission is to facilitate the financial security of military families...that do not live in coastal areas..."
When I elected to share my experiences within the virtual pilot community, I discovered several people had similar experiences. Quite a few were very defensive of USAA, just as I had been for about 23 of the last 25 years. However, like me, there are some who have noticed the changes that have taken place over the last few years and are disappointed. I am also sensing a trend of USAA no longer being "our insurance company", but rather "an insurance company". Servicemen don't always get the choice on whether or not they in higher risk areas, nor do they get to chose when they have to move in our out of those locations. You've got a business to run, and I'm sure your underwriters have done plenty of due diligence. However, from Corpus Christi Texas to Brunswick Maine, there are literally thousands of service men and women along the coasts who have counted on your company for years. I know the 2004-2005 Hurricane Season was devastating, but most military homeowners simply cannot accept a doubling of their premiums. It seems USAA is out to recoup a few tough years of losses, and the cost advantage we have had for years has not only evaporated but many of us find ourselves paying considerably more by sticking with you than by moving our policies.
What I can say without reservation is I've never had a single claim that was not handled to my satisfaction. I am grateful for the prompt, professional, courteous service I have gotten over the years. There is probably an amount I'd pay to keep that level of service--but with three daughters to raise paying more than $450 more a month on homeowner policies is just too much. Considering the very few times I've ever needed to make a claim, I'm willing to take a chance on someone else to save some funds for my girls' education funds.
In short--I don't feel like I quit USAA. Instead, I feel like I was deliberately pushed aside and "encouraged" to shop around by offering a policy that is more than double what other competitors quoted. That's okay--business is business and your board of directors and underwriters provide the guidance. I know this is not personal. However, the risk is becoming just another insurance company is that there are a ton of insurance companies out there. My subscriber savings account, when refunded, will pay my homeowner premium for the next three years. That's a lot of incentive to give someone else a try. And its not personal...its just business.
Regards,
Axxxx Hxxxxx
Member xxxxxxxxx
08-14-2009 | 08:05 PM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Desert Poolie
Albie...Your letter is very well spoken and as my Kiwi wife would say it's Spot On! Please let us know what the response is. I'm still with USAA but when I get back from the desert I'll be looking around. I just hope I don't have to switch. Although that "Subscriber Account" is starting to sound promising.
Cheers,
Tweet
Cheers,
Tweet
08-14-2009 | 09:57 PM
#40
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: C-17 IP/EP
Albie,
Tricia posted here (I'm guessing) because of a letter I sent to the CEO of USAA after reading your initial post. I sent them the link to this site. A few days ago, I received a call from the office of Gen Robles (Ret.), and I had a relatively long conversation with one of his staffers (I think it was Tricia). I explained to them that your post had illuminated some key points to several of the active members of this board, and I brought it to their attention out of respect for the company that has served so many of us over the years.
The point I wanted to get across to them was the old adage of speaking "truth to power"...if the good General is only hearing about how happy their members are, then he's not hearing the whole story. In this day and age of viral marketing, bad news can reach the masses faster on the internet than any multi-million dollar ad campaign could ever hope to do. (Just ask the guy who wrote the song called "United Breaks Guitars"...it was a nightmare for United Airlines.)
YouTube - United Breaks Guitars
The fact of the matter is that I never even considered shopping around outside of USAA until I read your post. If USAA is listening, and I believe they're a smart enough company to do so, they just might realize what is happening & make it right for guys like you. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us here.
Tricia posted here (I'm guessing) because of a letter I sent to the CEO of USAA after reading your initial post. I sent them the link to this site. A few days ago, I received a call from the office of Gen Robles (Ret.), and I had a relatively long conversation with one of his staffers (I think it was Tricia). I explained to them that your post had illuminated some key points to several of the active members of this board, and I brought it to their attention out of respect for the company that has served so many of us over the years.
The point I wanted to get across to them was the old adage of speaking "truth to power"...if the good General is only hearing about how happy their members are, then he's not hearing the whole story. In this day and age of viral marketing, bad news can reach the masses faster on the internet than any multi-million dollar ad campaign could ever hope to do. (Just ask the guy who wrote the song called "United Breaks Guitars"...it was a nightmare for United Airlines.)
YouTube - United Breaks Guitars
The fact of the matter is that I never even considered shopping around outside of USAA until I read your post. If USAA is listening, and I believe they're a smart enough company to do so, they just might realize what is happening & make it right for guys like you. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us here.
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