In my opinion, if coming into someone\’s home with an arrogant and dismissive attitude towards an insured client / Hurricane Rita loss claimant is considered \’great service\’, then Farmers gives excellent service.
On 12/19/05, I had a fire in my 3000 sq ft custom built home. There was actual fire and water damage to 800 sq ft, including my home office, master bedroom, master bath and 2 large walk in closets. The smoke damage throughout the rest of the house was extensive and Farmers approved and deem it neccessary to hire a fire & water restoration company to remove and clean all my household belongs at thier offsight facility. They took everything that was cleanable from \”beenie babies\” to the refrigerator. The resorations company\’s bill now stands at $55000.
I have hired a contractor with 20 years of experience in fire restoration to do the structral work. My contractor\’s estimate stands at $96000. Farmers assigned my claim to a \”newbie\” inexperienced adjuster. He has meet with my contractor and the estimate was gone through line by line. As of Friday, 1/27/06, my adjuster has approved only $44000 (up from the initial of $38000). On the adjuster\’s lastest…he failed to include little things such as a permit (required in Harris Co., TX) or got things totally wrong such as the windows to replace…he listed those a \”single hung\” when they are \”horizonal, storm window\”. Let me look at one room… my son\’s. Farmers agrees that the heat from the A/C vent damaged the ceiling to the extent that the ceil needs to be replaced, seeled and get 2 coats of paint. Farmers agrees that the 3 walls without wallpaper be cleaned, sealed and get 2 coats of paint. Farmers allows for the cleaning ONLY of the wallpapered wall, doors, doorfacing, baseboards and window skirt. Well, it just doesn\’t make common sense to me that if the ceiling needs to be replace and 3 of the 4 walls get \”clean, seal and paint\” treatment that the wallpaper and woodwork can be just cleaned.
With every letter attached to any and all communications with Farmers, I get reminded that Farmers has only approved my temporary housing through 3/29/05 and any additional must be approved in advance. Every letter, excused my contractor of causing delay in the repair of my home. Verbally, my adjuster has suggested that if my contractor can\’t do the job for what Farmers is willing to pay \”prehaps another contractor can\”. These letters and communications verge on intimadation, to say the least.
After carefully reveiwing the adjuster\’s last estimate, I called and spoke with his superior. I address a few of my concerns with him and he had, in fact, reveiwed the lastest estimate and it was in order. However, I brought it to attention that flooring has yet to be addressed by Farmers and is included in my contractor\’s estimate. I asked him to assign an adjuster to my claim with more experience that the current one…he refused stating \”your claim has been assigned to this office and that is where it is going to stay.\” I asked him what Farmers considers a \”large loss\” claim, he retorted, \”What do you consider a large loss?\” My response, \”Do not patronize me.\” He never answered the question. I know that my claim is being handle according to my adjuster as a \”mid loss\” claim. The supervisor suggested that the quickest way to resolve the difference between Farmers and my contractor would be the appraisal process. Then, he changed his tune and has agreed to personally come and meet with my contractor at my home to go over the estimate before going to appraisal. I am looking forward to the meeting….
One more comment….my agent: Not once has he called or contacted me with regard to the fire….even though he is being \”cc\”ed on all correspondence. Great service considering he has written the policies on 4 autos and 2 homes including the flood policies, and…lol…keeps trying to sale me life policies.
So, Carl…..will you answer the question, \”What does Farmers consider a \”large loss\”? At what dollar amount, should the claim be re-assigned from \”mid loss\” to \”large loss\”? You seem to be so pro-Farmers, surely you can answer the question.
I welcome, any and all, comments from all readers.
Just call me \”getting frustrated in Houston\”…..Djean
You are all freaking me out. I\’ve been a Farmer\’s agent for about 10 months. And I\’m female. I have a few thoughts on all the comments I read attached to the fine article.
1)Farmers was bought out by Zurich some 6 or 7 years ago, I believe, and I\’ve heard that the takeover has been hard on the company staff (CSRs, Claims Adjustors, etc) with all the typical crap that large takeovers have such as dumping the better payed, more experienced.
2) I thought I just heard that Farmers claims just got rated #1 by whoever it is that does that.
3) I can\’t tell if Zurich has good intentions or bad towards the operation of Farmers.
4) Insurance companies in general are like casinos, not like a govmt social program. By that I mean that the house has to make a profit or they go out of business. Both casinos and insurance cos hedge their bets– and the ins cos do that by restricting their coverages and geographical areas they cover. They can\’t cover all things for all people in all places without charging way more than anyone can or will pay without going bankrupt. So, like the one person said, agents need to educate their clients on what they\’re buying.
5) I was a claims adjustor for Nationwide in the mid 80s, and I worked pending claims which were claims left over from adjustors who quit or got fired. They were messes. Insureds who hadn\’t been contacted a year since the claim had been reported, quite a few fraudulent claims including a woman who had 6 slip and falls in malls w/i 1 yr. I also was an office mgr for a State Farm agent in the early 80s and saw insureds upset with their claims handling there as well. My point being that the policies: contracts are all pretty similar, but some claims adjustors are good (same w/their supervisors) and some aren\’t, and insureds don\’t know what they\’re covered for.
6) I\’ve spoken to other trial attorneys who have told me that Farmers was one of the better cos to deal with. So, I don\’t know what to believe about that issue.
7) Agent Treatment: I don\’t have anything to compare with on this. They sure make the agent pay for everything, but I\’ve heard that you have to have $50K to start up as a State Farm agent. I wasn\’t told what a financial drain starting an agency would be, and I had no small business background so I was completely naive about the whole thing. Thank God for the bank of Mom & Dad. And Farmer\’s training sucks.
One big benefit of being a Farmer\’s agent is Not Being Exclusive. But I still haven\’t found a brokerage firm that has their sh** together yet, either.
8) Comparing Farmers to AAA, Progressive, etc.: I\’ve heard from AAA writers that they get very poorly paid. I think that having an agent as opposed to a web-site or 800# is a huge asset for the insured. Farmers does train their agents to get to know their insureds and to try to make sure they (insured) are educated on what their buying and that they have the best coverage they can afford with the least possible gaps. I think that\’s a good thing for the insured. You don\’t get that without an agent, from what I\’ve seen. But it does take a good agent, and they aren\’t all good.
9) Last comment (thank God): I try to be a person of integrity and if I find that Farmers screws people, I\’ll quit. The corporate BS I\’m continually subjected to says no, but I\’ll make my own judgement on that. I can read a contract and the courts can interpret them and then the ins cos can rewrite them so they don\’t go broke. So, we\’ll see. I hope Farmers is trying to be a good company, and if not a corporate example or an innovator in the business, at least act at the level of the status quo good faith.
Too much to read, but #2 stood out…..NO WAY! I\’m sure you guys are #1 in claims in your own mind, but I don\’t think you\’re even in the top 10 by any reputable publications. Their overall claims service is worse than most sub-standard carriers. Djean summed it all up nicely in the post before yours. My advice to you, stayed involved in your customer\’s claims when necessary. While they don\’t like it, claim handlers will usually step it up when the agent becomes involved.
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Consumer Reports rated Farmers Insurance \”Worst\”, see site below for details:
======================================= http://www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com/
=======================================
Once they get rid of their top-heavy \”sales\” managers and \”district\” managers, and once they go back and remember the old founders Tom Leavey and John Tyler, and how they started the company: by helping people. Today\’s bloated company has \”district\” managers grinding down agents and \”sales\” managers selling high-priced products that fewer and fewer people need. The press in California alone has driven them from third place down to eighth. The suits are so busy covering their own butts, they forgot who was paying the bills……and salaries. The founders are rotating in their graves.
Thanks, I haven\’t gotten to that step but haven\’t forgotten it as an option either. Tomorrow morning is the big day…meeting at my burnt home with adjuster, his supervisor, my Farmers agent and my contractor….we\’ll see how it goes. I spent an hour with my agent (of course, I went to him not the other way around). He seemed to think I was right on serveral points, asked to be at the meeting….what the heck the more the merry…at least he understood the difference between a \”single hung\” and \”double, horizonal hung, storm window\”…small step for mankind (or at least my claim). I think I\’ll ask if anyone objects to my taping the whole thing..lol. Wish me luck.
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In my opinion, if coming into someone\’s home with an arrogant and dismissive attitude towards an insured client / Hurricane Rita loss claimant is considered \’great service\’, then Farmers gives excellent service.
In Texas.
rogerpoegc@yahoo.com
Carl Farm — here\’s my story:
On 12/19/05, I had a fire in my 3000 sq ft custom built home. There was actual fire and water damage to 800 sq ft, including my home office, master bedroom, master bath and 2 large walk in closets. The smoke damage throughout the rest of the house was extensive and Farmers approved and deem it neccessary to hire a fire & water restoration company to remove and clean all my household belongs at thier offsight facility. They took everything that was cleanable from \”beenie babies\” to the refrigerator. The resorations company\’s bill now stands at $55000.
I have hired a contractor with 20 years of experience in fire restoration to do the structral work. My contractor\’s estimate stands at $96000. Farmers assigned my claim to a \”newbie\” inexperienced adjuster. He has meet with my contractor and the estimate was gone through line by line. As of Friday, 1/27/06, my adjuster has approved only $44000 (up from the initial of $38000). On the adjuster\’s lastest…he failed to include little things such as a permit (required in Harris Co., TX) or got things totally wrong such as the windows to replace…he listed those a \”single hung\” when they are \”horizonal, storm window\”. Let me look at one room… my son\’s. Farmers agrees that the heat from the A/C vent damaged the ceiling to the extent that the ceil needs to be replaced, seeled and get 2 coats of paint. Farmers agrees that the 3 walls without wallpaper be cleaned, sealed and get 2 coats of paint. Farmers allows for the cleaning ONLY of the wallpapered wall, doors, doorfacing, baseboards and window skirt. Well, it just doesn\’t make common sense to me that if the ceiling needs to be replace and 3 of the 4 walls get \”clean, seal and paint\” treatment that the wallpaper and woodwork can be just cleaned.
With every letter attached to any and all communications with Farmers, I get reminded that Farmers has only approved my temporary housing through 3/29/05 and any additional must be approved in advance. Every letter, excused my contractor of causing delay in the repair of my home. Verbally, my adjuster has suggested that if my contractor can\’t do the job for what Farmers is willing to pay \”prehaps another contractor can\”. These letters and communications verge on intimadation, to say the least.
After carefully reveiwing the adjuster\’s last estimate, I called and spoke with his superior. I address a few of my concerns with him and he had, in fact, reveiwed the lastest estimate and it was in order. However, I brought it to attention that flooring has yet to be addressed by Farmers and is included in my contractor\’s estimate. I asked him to assign an adjuster to my claim with more experience that the current one…he refused stating \”your claim has been assigned to this office and that is where it is going to stay.\” I asked him what Farmers considers a \”large loss\” claim, he retorted, \”What do you consider a large loss?\” My response, \”Do not patronize me.\” He never answered the question. I know that my claim is being handle according to my adjuster as a \”mid loss\” claim. The supervisor suggested that the quickest way to resolve the difference between Farmers and my contractor would be the appraisal process. Then, he changed his tune and has agreed to personally come and meet with my contractor at my home to go over the estimate before going to appraisal. I am looking forward to the meeting….
One more comment….my agent: Not once has he called or contacted me with regard to the fire….even though he is being \”cc\”ed on all correspondence. Great service considering he has written the policies on 4 autos and 2 homes including the flood policies, and…lol…keeps trying to sale me life policies.
So, Carl…..will you answer the question, \”What does Farmers consider a \”large loss\”? At what dollar amount, should the claim be re-assigned from \”mid loss\” to \”large loss\”? You seem to be so pro-Farmers, surely you can answer the question.
I welcome, any and all, comments from all readers.
Just call me \”getting frustrated in Houston\”…..Djean
You are all freaking me out. I\’ve been a Farmer\’s agent for about 10 months. And I\’m female. I have a few thoughts on all the comments I read attached to the fine article.
1)Farmers was bought out by Zurich some 6 or 7 years ago, I believe, and I\’ve heard that the takeover has been hard on the company staff (CSRs, Claims Adjustors, etc) with all the typical crap that large takeovers have such as dumping the better payed, more experienced.
2) I thought I just heard that Farmers claims just got rated #1 by whoever it is that does that.
3) I can\’t tell if Zurich has good intentions or bad towards the operation of Farmers.
4) Insurance companies in general are like casinos, not like a govmt social program. By that I mean that the house has to make a profit or they go out of business. Both casinos and insurance cos hedge their bets– and the ins cos do that by restricting their coverages and geographical areas they cover. They can\’t cover all things for all people in all places without charging way more than anyone can or will pay without going bankrupt. So, like the one person said, agents need to educate their clients on what they\’re buying.
5) I was a claims adjustor for Nationwide in the mid 80s, and I worked pending claims which were claims left over from adjustors who quit or got fired. They were messes. Insureds who hadn\’t been contacted a year since the claim had been reported, quite a few fraudulent claims including a woman who had 6 slip and falls in malls w/i 1 yr. I also was an office mgr for a State Farm agent in the early 80s and saw insureds upset with their claims handling there as well. My point being that the policies: contracts are all pretty similar, but some claims adjustors are good (same w/their supervisors) and some aren\’t, and insureds don\’t know what they\’re covered for.
6) I\’ve spoken to other trial attorneys who have told me that Farmers was one of the better cos to deal with. So, I don\’t know what to believe about that issue.
7) Agent Treatment: I don\’t have anything to compare with on this. They sure make the agent pay for everything, but I\’ve heard that you have to have $50K to start up as a State Farm agent. I wasn\’t told what a financial drain starting an agency would be, and I had no small business background so I was completely naive about the whole thing. Thank God for the bank of Mom & Dad. And Farmer\’s training sucks.
One big benefit of being a Farmer\’s agent is Not Being Exclusive. But I still haven\’t found a brokerage firm that has their sh** together yet, either.
8) Comparing Farmers to AAA, Progressive, etc.: I\’ve heard from AAA writers that they get very poorly paid. I think that having an agent as opposed to a web-site or 800# is a huge asset for the insured. Farmers does train their agents to get to know their insureds and to try to make sure they (insured) are educated on what their buying and that they have the best coverage they can afford with the least possible gaps. I think that\’s a good thing for the insured. You don\’t get that without an agent, from what I\’ve seen. But it does take a good agent, and they aren\’t all good.
9) Last comment (thank God): I try to be a person of integrity and if I find that Farmers screws people, I\’ll quit. The corporate BS I\’m continually subjected to says no, but I\’ll make my own judgement on that. I can read a contract and the courts can interpret them and then the ins cos can rewrite them so they don\’t go broke. So, we\’ll see. I hope Farmers is trying to be a good company, and if not a corporate example or an innovator in the business, at least act at the level of the status quo good faith.
Too much to read, but #2 stood out…..NO WAY! I\’m sure you guys are #1 in claims in your own mind, but I don\’t think you\’re even in the top 10 by any reputable publications. Their overall claims service is worse than most sub-standard carriers. Djean summed it all up nicely in the post before yours. My advice to you, stayed involved in your customer\’s claims when necessary. While they don\’t like it, claim handlers will usually step it up when the agent becomes involved.
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Consumer Reports rated Farmers Insurance \”Worst\”, see site below for details:
=======================================
http://www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com/
=======================================
You haven\’t seen anything til you have seen this web site. Farmers Insurance is a bad faith low balling cheap skate company!!
FarmersInsuranceGroupSucks.com
Once they get rid of their top-heavy \”sales\” managers and \”district\” managers, and once they go back and remember the old founders Tom Leavey and John Tyler, and how they started the company: by helping people. Today\’s bloated company has \”district\” managers grinding down agents and \”sales\” managers selling high-priced products that fewer and fewer people need. The press in California alone has driven them from third place down to eighth. The suits are so busy covering their own butts, they forgot who was paying the bills……and salaries. The founders are rotating in their graves.
If you are going to represent Farmers, then please use a spell-checker.
carlfarm – why can no one from your company spell?
Thanks, I haven\’t gotten to that step but haven\’t forgotten it as an option either. Tomorrow morning is the big day…meeting at my burnt home with adjuster, his supervisor, my Farmers agent and my contractor….we\’ll see how it goes. I spent an hour with my agent (of course, I went to him not the other way around). He seemed to think I was right on serveral points, asked to be at the meeting….what the heck the more the merry…at least he understood the difference between a \”single hung\” and \”double, horizonal hung, storm window\”…small step for mankind (or at least my claim). I think I\’ll ask if anyone objects to my taping the whole thing..lol. Wish me luck.