When you have an insurance claim to file, whether for a car accident, theft or some other issue with your car, you rely on your insurance agent to help get you back on the road in a timely manner. While it seems like a simple enough equation – you submit the claim and they promptly take care of the issue – that's not always the case.
Recently, an auto insurance company in Arizona was fined $200,000 for providing slow service to their customers who filed claims. Not only will they have to pay the fine for the hundreds of complaints that were lodged against them with the state Department of Insurance, but they will also have to expedite taking care of all the outstanding claims. While an insurance company may stall in handling the issue in an effort to save money or discourage drivers from submitting claims, the bottom line is that it amounts to poor customer service.
Handling Claims
If you aren't sure how long your current agency takes to handle claims, now is the time to find out, rather than when you have filed one and are waiting for the fix. Contact the company and ask them their normal time frame for handling such issues. Additionally, you can contact your state insurance department, as well as the Better Business Bureau, to see if there have been a lot of complaints lodged against the company.
If you have had a slow experience with your auto insurance company, now is also the time to find a new agency. The last thing you want to do is reward a slow-responding agency with more or continued business.
A slow response time from your agent is frustrating, and it could end up costing you money. This is especially true if you have a policy in place that doesn't provide you with a rental vehicle while waiting for yours to be repaired or replaced. It could end up costing you even more if you don't have transportation to get to work and end up missing time.
Shopping Around
Solid auto insurance is important for everyone on the road. Insurance companies expect your premium to be paid on time and, if it's not, they will stop coverage, so it is only right that you should be able to expect prompt service in return. To find a good company, be sure to gather a minimum of three quotes for service and compare all aspects of the policy, including the claim response time of the company.
