Western North CarolinaThe Mountain Region including Asheville
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We used Farmer's Ins and the same agent for a bazillion years before we moved but Farmer's pulled out of NC shortly before we moved here. Our realtors recommended their agent with Farm Bureau and they've handled our insurance for our rental, autos, umbrella and our new build. Oh, and we flipped our health ins through United Healthcare to them (self employed) as well since our IL agent couldn't keep us on.
We'll be moving into the new house soon and although I have no complaints with Farm Bureau (we also haven't had a claim), the agent we started with is gone, we've been passed around to a couple of other agents in the office and they moved to a new location. That part is really no big deal since there's little need to ever go there but I do prefer to have an agent with a face, not just a phone number - I know, very old school - and the agents we've had there are just, meh. I'd like someone with experience, someone proactive who keeps tabs on changes for us and local is a big plus.
Obviously a highly rated company is a priority and if there's a ratings website that you know of that isn't tied to advertisers that would be helpful - I haven't found one. Do you have an agent you've been happy with? Experience with a company handling claims efficiently? We've had very little in the way of claims (home or auto) over the years but just due to the roads here and what I've seen with people I know (our son just got rear ended sitting at a red light last week) odds are we'll need it!!
If you have any military service - yours or your parents, you may qualify for USAA. They have the best rates that we have found. We have all of our insurance through them, including our Medicare medical insurance.
I'm also interested. When my wife and I purchased our cabin a couple of years ago, I evaluated policies from both NCFB and State Farm. Ultimately I went with NCFB, not just for price (though it was better), but I thought the office was pretty responsive to some particular circumstances for the properties involved.
Renewal time is coming and I'll probably re-evaluate my coverage options and price swapping my umbrella coverage (to include my FL home).
I like GEICO. They also have local offices. I know there is one in H'ville, for example. I have been with them for over 17 years already and have found them to be very responsive when anything comes up, and also very thorough when figuring out insurance options.
The best I've found and have used (both car and house) for years is: NC Farm Bureau (agent: Matt Laughter) They have an office near Ingles at the corner of Howard Gap Rd. and Rt. 64 East. Best price and best service; I've recommended them often and everyone is very satisfied.
We used Farmer's Ins and the same agent for a bazillion years before we moved but Farmer's pulled out of NC shortly before we moved here. Our realtors recommended their agent with Farm Bureau and they've handled our insurance for our rental, autos, umbrella and our new build. Oh, and we flipped our health ins through United Healthcare to them (self employed) as well since our IL agent couldn't keep us on.
We'll be moving into the new house soon and although I have no complaints with Farm Bureau (we also haven't had a claim), the agent we started with is gone, we've been passed around to a couple of other agents in the office and they moved to a new location. That part is really no big deal since there's little need to ever go there but I do prefer to have an agent with a face, not just a phone number - I know, very old school - and the agents we've had there are just, meh. I'd like someone with experience, someone proactive who keeps tabs on changes for us and local is a big plus.
Obviously a highly rated company is a priority and if there's a ratings website that you know of that isn't tied to advertisers that would be helpful - I haven't found one. Do you have an agent you've been happy with? Experience with a company handling claims efficiently? We've had very little in the way of claims (home or auto) over the years but just due to the roads here and what I've seen with people I know (our son just got rear ended sitting at a red light last week) odds are we'll need it!!
Thanks for any info.
Farm Bureau is good at collecting money that's it. I started with them 15 yrs ago and had an honest up front agent. Over the next 10 yrs my policies were moved to four different offices with a different agents every time.
I had three policies and have only put in one claim (successfully)and was screwed royally. The adjuster was BEST FRIENDS with a local cleaning company, she called them, set things up and I had to pay them, they were to do the repair work also but when they realized SHE forgot about 30% of the job refused. Farm Bureau then REFUSED to pay them saying they didn't authorize them for the cleanup and I never ever gave them permission their adjuster did. They did more destruction then clean up. They attempted to sue me for the money on work that FB authorized and I ended up paying them. Then less the 30% the adjuster missed I didn't get enough to even clean the clean up crews mess.
I wrote letters up the chain and was told to get the work done and then they would decide whether or not to reopen my case. Really who is going to do work and MAYBE get paid.
Second last summer I was in a car accident, in no way my fault the St Trooper even put in the report I was going less then 35MPH in a 45mph zone, just left an intersection. The other driver admitted his dog jumped on his lap when he was turning and he couldn't turn his wheel. His ins co sided with him of course, FM said in their opinion it wasn't my fault(no Kidding) so they wouldn't represent me to get my money for a totaled vehicle. I had to hire my own attorney.
Lastly I have a farm policy for all my equipment and I was told what it covered. After one of my guys had an issue with a tractor last summer I called the agent and he said the damage wasn't covered.
I have since June 2016 been asking for a complete copy of my policy, they have sent the cover page only on 6 different occasions with limits, not what's covered. It's a rider policy on my farm policy and the rider company has no policy number for the number I have on the cover sheet.
They've collected over $30,000.00 or so in premiums from just one property and the I was hosed every time.
Another words they S*ck!
Not analgous as we are Haywood County next door, but we have used a local agency since we got here in Sept 2001...
LN Davis in Waynesville is the writing agent, and our house, umbrella, and 3 cars/3 m'cycles are all under the same underwriter through that agent: Auto-Owners, based in Lansing, MI.
Like many, I have become complacent about shopping around, and as the local agent is a golf friend I will continue with them, (and that underwriting company), until they stiff me. I have never had a claim so it is unknown how 'they' would perform.
Our house ins goes up a tad every year and every couple years I call our local agent and have them reduce some of the line items and slightly raise the deductibles, as when I think of the all of the money I have paid for 'insurance' over the past 5 decades with no claims, it cranks me off. Interestingly, our 3 cars/3 m'cycle rates are quite low as is our $2 Mill umbrella.
Not apples to apples and good luck on finding better rates...my only suggestion is to email a dozen agents, see who responds and look carefully at the line items the underwriters often pack into the offered policy, eg ID theft, big contents amount, cost of replacement build overstated, (the foundation isn't buring up), et al.
GL, mD
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