State Farm Insurance Consumer Reviews - Page 5

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA -- In 2007 I was involved in a serious auto injury. The young man at fault had State Farm insurance. I had an appraiser look at my vehicle, which had the front end smashed up and the frame bent, and determine the loss of value on my 1 year old vehicle. The estimate was a bit over 10 grand and it was faxed to team forty something. After standing my ground and insisting they pay, all they would offer was a fraction of the value. They gave me excuse after excuse.

Well along came one of those DVDs in mail from a personal injury lawyer. Since I would need surgery, I called them and had them handle my case. So far State Farm has agreed to pay about half of my loss of value and agreed to pay all of the defendant's liability limit. My advice for anyone dealing with State Farm and you have an injury... GET A LAWYER! Everything I have heard and read about these tight wads is true. They want your premiums like there's no tomorrow but when it comes to settle, they want you to believe your claim is worthless.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- For what it's worth... After reading all of the negatives, I felt it was only fair that I say something positive about the company. Unfortunately most of us only talk about the negatives. When things go right, you don't tell anyone. So, these statistics which appear to be so negative are probably not representative of the overall experience with the company, certainly not mine.

In my experience, and I've been with them 40 years, they have been more than fair. I currently live in Dekalb County, GA and crime here is rampant, not to mention the ridiculous traffic congestion. In the past several years, I have had two vehicles stolen out of my driveway, one enclosed 16 ft. utility trailer with $35,000 contents, and had some juvenile delinquents with a stolen vehicle crash into my house, to the tune of $20,000 damage. (Since the vehicle was stolen, of course the stolen vehicle insurance did not pay because the drivers were not authorized.) There have been other less substantial claims over the years as well, but they have always come through for me.

My daughter has totaled two cars, not to mention substantial damage to another. In each case they paid off without an argument. In fact, I feared they might cancel my insurance considering the dollar amounts that they have had to pay to settle the claims. I have to admit that I get a little annoyed when I compare my rates to what my relatives pay in North Florida. But when I think about the total amount of my losses, I will just pay the cost and not complain. I sleep better at night, hoping that I don't have to call them, but reassured to know that they're there if I have to.

BLAINE, MINNESOTA -- I was hit at a gas station by a State Farm insured driver. I was pumping gas at the pump not in the car and parked correctly. The estimate for damages was $1941.38, State Farm issued payment of $1095.22. This leaves me to pay $846.13 for damages that are in no way my fault. I have spoke with several agents in the claims department including a manager. They all give me the same story - they claim that there are prior scratches on a part that now needs to be replaced therefore they can reduce payment of the amount of the prior damage. My vehicle is 7 years old. It is bound to have scratches.

Think of it this way, your car is hit parked in a parking lot, you are not at fault. You have to pay $846.16 to repair the damage caused by a State Farm insured driver. Sound fair to you? My Insurance Company, My Lawyer, my body shop and the Department of Commerce agree with me. State Farm doesn't care.

SOUTH CAROLINA -- I have had my home and car insured with State Farm for 10 years, and a rental property and a second car for 2 + years. I have paid more than $3000.00 per year in total insurance premiums to State Farm. Today I receive a letter informing me that the policy on my home will not be renewed, because of my "loss history", including a theft claim (for a briefcase while traveling overseas) for which State Farm paid $174.00, and a water damage claim on my home in February 2003, for which State Farm paid $680.00.

The letter does not include any contact information other than the company's address (no phone number, no email). How is that for 1) business sense 2) customer service? I stayed with State Farm despite cheaper quotes from other companies. Now I am transferring all three remaining policies.

NORTH CAROLINA -- I had my auto policy with State Auto for many years. This year's policy was from 8/1/06-8/1/07. I paid my dues monthly. I found another less expensive insurance company and cancelled my State Auto policy as of 9/15/06. I figured they would take the whole month, but instead, they drafted for my full month on 9/1 AND billed me another $158.00. I wrote the Insurance Commission and according to them, in North Carolina insurance companies can change your contractual policy amount if you cancel your policy (and without your permission or knowledge).

They reevaluated my policy to a maximum premium then figured out what the difference for that month would be at this higher rate and billed me that difference. That made my policy not $211 but $475 and I only used two weeks of that full month. And according to the Insurance Commission is perfectly legal and all the insurance companies in North Carolina practice this "punishment for cancelling" process. This is outrageous and the people of North Carolina need to speak up or it will continue. We need to contact our congressmen and government officials.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN -- When my bill goes up there was never an explanation if it's a rate increase or expected savings either due to increasing deductibles or agreeing to using "In Drive". Should I not be entitled to hear any change on premium first from the Corporate HQ prior to seeing it on my bills? Is it possible that your agent does not know how to factor out any increase/savings from your regular monthly charges? Do you agree with his answer "I do not know what the real savings were... or I don't know how to figure it..." but he knows how much rate increase six months from now, explicitly accurate on each of 2 cars? Don't I have legal rights to know the truth and only the truth?

GRANBURY, TEXAS -- Typical non payout from State Farm. Reputable roofing company stated I needed a full replacement of roof do to hail damage from major storm and tornado. State Farm's adjuster that only works for them called for 500 square feet of patching on a 2500 square. A patch job of that size roof you would see the patch a mile away. The ironic thing is the man was a ac/heating contractor before becoming an adjuster.

After asking him simple roofing questions like how many shingles in a bundle etc... he had no clue!! This man was giving repair estimates on roofs and had absolutely no idea what he was doing. After deductable I ended up with no money for repairs. I am taking them to small claims court now. If I were you I would stay clear of State Farm.

MT. AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA -- I had a head on collision and was almost killed. To make things short, I got $18,000 out of this lying, disgusting, worthless insurance company. Every time one of their lying commercials come on, I have to turn it, as they all blatantly LIE. When we needed them, they put us on hold, gave us the run around and didn't do much of anything. On the commercials, they sing that stupid jingle and someone magically appears. Wow... nothing like that ever happened to me the 22 years I was with them. They are liars. They do nothing for their customers except take take take...

NILES, ILLINOIS -- I purchased $100.000 worth of jewelry insurance (my wife's rings, watches, and other jewelry) about 5 years ago from Bill, our State Farm agent in Niles IL. We also carry our house policy and life policy with the same company. About 3 months we have burglary break in to our house, police came took a bunch off fingerprints and found nothing.

My wife's watches were missing and some other smaller jewelry that wasn't insured! Our policy for watch was insured for $45000, when we provide a police report we been offered either replacement watch or replacement cost check of $38900. My question is this, why we are paying premium on $45000 but when comes to replacement we get only 39k? State Farm's answer was "We have to negotiate a better deal with some jewelers out of New Orleans and that's why we can replace your watch for less." That's great but why I'm paying for the past 4 years on 45k, and that kind of watch I like to see and hold in my hand before I make a decision!

Not to mention that we just got a letter from State Farm that they no longer willing to insure us - really? One claim in 6 years and our house $2400/year, our jewelry $1600/year and our life policy $4200/year. That's about 8k year, was great to collect and raise our rates every year but now we're no longer a good customer?! Have your agent properly explain your policy and stay away from State Farm!

CALIFORNIA -- If you think our government is a bunch of liars, deal with State Farm. They have a whole team of them. If I had some lye soap, I would send it to them to wash their mouths out, not that it would do any good. They must have straw for brains, not a one can could deal with you one on one. What a company to be proud of. I would put my faith in a skunk, at least we know they are stinkers. State Farm is no better than the senators running in your state. They say what you want to hear but they are all LIARS and that's not going to get you to the pearly gates.