See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Joanna DelBuono
Brooklyn Daily
From the Geico cavemen to the Geico Gecko, 15 minutes really can save you a bundle.
I have had one car insurance company for the past 35 years or so.
Back in the day, as a young driver in the high-risk pool, I needed to find an insurance company that would insure me at rates my part time job could afford. That company was Wausau. The company was my carrier for more than 35 years, and even though it went through a laundry list of other names, it was still the best company around.
It never dropped me, the rates were reasonable, and when I got married, I just added my husband. Even then the rates remained stable.
Through the years the premiums stayed pretty current and since the rate raises were always manageable we stayed. You know, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Last September the company that started out as Wausau, changed yet again, this time to Kemper. Since we had weathered the many iterations through the years, Bob and I decided we would stay with it.
The previous policy was a 10 monther. The first change that Kemper made was that we now had a six-month policy that would renew twice a year. Okay, one way or another you have to have full year coverage, so we stayed.
The policy was more expensive, but now we had three cars, two were new. We stayed.
In April, when the policy renewed and the bill came, I noticed an increase and I called the company.
“One driver received a ticket in the last six months, so we raised your premium,” was the answer.
Since it was me that got the ticket, I really couldn’t complain. We paid the increase and we stayed.
So now, another six months have gone by and there have been no tickets, no accidents (thank God), no late payments, and it was time for another renewal.
I got the bill in the mail and noticed that there was yet another rate increase. Not a little one this time, but a big jump.
I called Kemper and asked why?
The answer: “Well New York State granted an increase and we looked at the statistics and payouts for your area and we noticed we paid out a lot and so we raised everyone accordingly.” What? There were no claims made, no violations issued. Why should we be penalized for payouts made for other claims?
“Not fair,” I said, adding, “We have been customers for a very long time, always paid our premiums on time, and never made a claim.”
She answered, “That’s why that company is no longer in business and we bought them out.”
Ouch!
As providence from on high the television was on and the Geico gecko shot across my 42-inch screen.
“Why not” I thought, “I’ve got 15 minutes.”
I called. It really didn’t take as long as 15 minutes. The young man named Ryan was able to save me a bundle and all it took was 10 minutes. Goodbye Kemper, hello Geico.
Not for Nuthin™, but that Geico Gecko had me at hello!
Follow me on Twitter @JDelBuono.