Erie Insurance Group Homeowners Insurance Consumer Reviews

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA -- Had a claim for kitchen damage due to water. They claim it was an ongoing problem which it was not (guess they live in my house too). Adjustor came fully loaded with "expert" she hired that would say that it was an ongoing water problem. I'm sure he was paid handsomely - money that should have been used to help resolve my problem.

I had 6 different contractors to give me estimate for repairs. Each said they found it unbelievable Erie would not pay my claim. I even appealed to the home office in Erie, PA - rude rude rude. Local agent no help. Wouldn't return my phone calls. With each appeal Erie hired yet another "expert" to back up their premise that there was an ongoing problem. They will spend endless amounts of money to prove they are not at fault. Independent "experts" they hire are paid handsomely I'm sure. Why would they go against Erie? That would be like being fired and they would lose easy money. For years, we have paid premiums on both home and auto and now when I needed it they deny my claim. They should be ashamed. Total rip off. How do these people sleep at night?

DAMASCUS, MARYLAND -- Very unhappy with Erie. We had Erie Homeowners Insurance for years. There was a condo fire above us with minimal damage to our home. Two months later there was a flood upstairs with minimal damage to our condo. We put in claims for both, Erie barely covered anything and a few months later dropped our entire coverage because we had put in two claims in the last five years. They said "Too many claims in last five years." How is (2) claims too many? I hate this company, please beware before you do business with these jokers. I hate them!

Two months after I lost my job, our basement backed up with sewage. At the time, I thought that Erie did a good job covering the loss (we had a sewage rider). I was able to find a job later in a different state. In late March/early April, I received a renewal notice that showed our rate going from $578 to over $900. Apparently, they were upset that I filed a claim with them and intended on penalizing me for it.

On April 28, with us being in Texas and the house not selling, I contacted Erie (through the Ridge Agency) to see if I could reduce anything to save us money. I was shocked when the agent informed me that after talking with his people, my policy was to be cancelled as of May 1 because we were now living in Texas. He could sell me a different policy, but it would run over $5000, and I had to make the decision quickly because I would have no coverage for the house in a few days.

I specifically asked him the question “So as of May 1, I have no insurance?” He responded, “Correct, they are not going to renew the policy.” He asked if I wanted him to start the process on the new policy, and I informed him that we would probably be leaving the house abandoned, and I would call him back if I decided I wanted the coverage, but that there just wasn't any way that we could afford that.

On June 3, I received a letter from them saying that they were extending coverage to June 21, 2009. Since I hadn't requested this, I ignored it. On July 1, I received a letter from them saying that I owed them another $152 for the extended coverage period. I called the customer service number on the form that day. The woman took my information and my questioning of why I was expected to pay for this, and said that she would send an inquiry and get back to me. I never heard from her again.

Instead, in mid-August I received a letter from a collections agency for the amount - not only had Erie Insurance not done a thing with my inquiry, they had sent it to a collections agency. How's that for customer service? On August 18, I first called the Ridge Agency and was told that they didn't know a thing about this, that the main office had pulled the records - they couldn't see anything regarding the policy, and that I would have to call the main Erie office. I did so, and was passed between several people - all of which said they couldn't help me.

They denied that I had ever contacted them regarding this, despite the fact that I could tell them the date and time that I did, and have phone records to prove it. They just kept passing me to someone else. I finally was transferred to an executive assistant in the office of the president. I explained the problems that I had to her, and she kept insisting that I had to have signed a cancellation, despite the fact that they were cancelling the policy, not me.

She put me on hold for 10 minutes, and then said that had called and spoke to my agent. (Interestingly enough, when I had called the Ridge Agency, they said that he was out of the office for the week with a medical injury - so how did she speak to him? One of them was obviously lying to me. I just don't know which.) In the end, she said that she would further investigate and get back to me. I never heard from her again either.

In late September, I received another collections letter. I then wrote to the president and CEO of Erie Insurance laying out the utter failure of their company. The response was laughable: He refused to respond to the question of why my first call was ignored (and didn't take my offer of providing him with the phone records).

He then claims that his executive assistant tried to reach me by phone, but my cell phone goes to someone else's voice mail, and the home phone keeps disconnecting them. We get anywhere from 12-15 calls per day on these two phones, as my work number automatically transfers to my cell if I don't answer. My boss would be all over me if operations could not get a hold of me. There is no problem with these phones. The problem is with their failure to provide any customer service. At this point, I don't believe they even tried to call.

And even if they could not contact me by phone, why was no letter sent? They obviously have had no trouble sending me letters requesting money? Both his letter and his executive assistant claimed that it is my responsibility to know state law as it pertains to the insurance business - this is their idea of customer service - telling the customer that they're responsible for knowing how their business operates and is affected by state law. And why would I not believe the agent telling me that I have no insurance as of May 1?

He also states that the agent told me that they were not renewing the policy because I filed a claim for the basement flooding. The agent never told me this, nor did the executive assistant try to claim this in the August call. And if this were true, why had they sent me a renewal notice in March/April? Although maybe this is the hidden truth of the matter, I filed a claim, so they want to drop me - again, obviously a company dedicated to customer service. If you use their service, they cancel you.

Also, if the agent knew that it would be another 51 days until my insurance would actually stop, why was there a rush to get me to sign the $5000 policy immediately - “before my policy lapsed on May 1”? That's a big question - but that one I can answer - to collect commissions on a huge new policy and having me pay for two policies covering the same period!

Does this sound like a company you want to deal with? My guess is no. I would suggest that you avoid Erie Insurance and the Ridge Insurance Agency like the plague. They are obviously unethical businesses, and have no intention of actually providing you with value for your money. All they want is your money, unless you file a claim, and then you're going to be cancelled as soon as they realize they actually had to pay you. Companies that lie to you, refuse to answer your inquiries, and refuse to adhere to their so-called corporate motto - “Above all in SERVICE means knowing what's right and doing something about it” are not worth your time and money.

Again, I urge you to avoid Erie Insurance and the Ridge Insurance Agency at all costs. If you are already entangled with these dishonest people, I recommend that you begin looking for honest businesses before they decide to cheat you.

FORD, VIRGINIA -- I let my policy run out as I went with a much cheaper carrier. Erie Insurance (on its own and against my will) then ran my insurance 3 months after my expiration date and then had the audacity to say I owed them $190+ for this coverage. If this wasn't bad enough they then turned over this debt over to a collection agency. I can't believe this type of nightmare BS is allowed. My advice: RUN FROM THIS COMPANY!!

ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA -- DO NOT BUY ERIE HO Insurance! In February 2017 our area was hit by a severe hailstorm. My neighborhood was one of the worst and my home was hit hard. After making several calls to Erie finally a month later, their adjuster along with an Erie paid roofer shows up to inspect the damage. Erie will only pay for HALF of my roof & shingles! All other homes in my neighborhood are getting complete roof replacements, they do not have ERIE Insurance. My home is only 5 yrs old. Thanks for taking care of my investment Erie!

Don't waste your time with these people. I was a good, paying customer for many years and had a legitimate claim for water damage to my roof denied. To boot, the adjuster they sent who made the recommendation to deny my claim was rude and arrogant and made insulting and demeaning comments to me during his inspection. Then to add salt to the wound, I cancelled my policy, provided written notice and am now being charged for a premium that I do not owe.

Even though their CS representative agreed and said she would take care of it for us, we have now received our 2nd notice from a collection agency. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY. THEY HAVE QUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY AND VERY BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE!!

INDIANA -- For 20 years we had Chubb Insurance but my husband changed to Erie to save a buck. What a rip off! Last August of '07 we were on vacation and were robbed to the tune of over $50,000. It is now July of '08 and NOTHING!!! We have been working with their lawyers and ours for about 6 months. Next we'll call the state regulatory agency.

Keep in mind we bought the most expensive package they had: "A million dollars worth of insurance" or so we were told. I have had to go so far as to get affidavits from friends and family as to the ownership of things and provide photos and still nothing. RUN from this insurance company and if you are in any sort of oversight capacity investigate Erie Insurance for non-payment of claims!