Of the Big-Three Captive-agent insurance carriers, State Farm has the closest relationship with its agents. Allstate has been trying to get rid of its agents, and become a direct-writer, like Geico, and Farmers has been owned by so many different parent companies, that its agents are alienated, and feel that it's every-man-for-himself, against the Company. But, State Farm still enjoys a close relationship, with its "supposedluy" Independent Contractor agents (for tax purposes, they're not employees). Any State Farm agent can make your life wonderful, or miserable, depending upon their competency, and the extent to which they like you. A local friend had his house insured by the 'Snake'. He suffered three not-at-fault losses (a car ran into his front brick wall, he had a windstorm "partial" loss, and I forget the third claim) within about 1.5 years. As agents live-and-die, with their "Loss Ratios", this local agent allowed the Snake to non-renew my friend's policy, and then acted like there was nothing that he could do, to reinstate the policy. I remember the third claim (DUH!): he was rear-ended, in his own car, and this nice-guy agent failed ("forgot"; whatever) to tell him about his policy's Under-Insured coverage which was available to him! So, I am insured by the Snake, (good coverage rates) but, at least I know how the Game is played! Neil Vedder ************************************************************* To unsubscribe or set your subscription options, please go to http://lists.psu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=l-forwardlook&A=1
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