I asked for a quote, and they came up with a fairly good number. With that I told the agent that I would switch. Well, when everyting was said and done, I arrived at his office to pay the bill, and he started asking me the same questions from the begining, that I had already answered. Then he came up with a different quote. Not in my favor of course. So, I felt like he was just screwing with the computer, and I don't think I will switch even though I can save a few $. What has been your experience with these people?

Mistakes are made, most often when information is taken over the phone. I think he may have put some incorrect information in the software when he gave you the original quote...

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I met with him the original time too.

Sounds like bait and switch.
Find a different agent.
All insurance companies are scum, your best line of defense is an agent you trust.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

I wouldn't call them scum...but an Independent Agent is always your best bet

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

After more than 30 years with State Farm I switched to Travelers and saved $445.00 per year on my two cars. Got more coverage also with Travelers. Got my quote from the Travelers website not an agent. I still have my property insurance with State Farm but not for long since we live in Florida. It does pay to shop around. My 2 cents.

I've had my cars insured with them for a long time - same with my house, until they turned into big wussies and dropped my windstorm coverage because I am within 2 miles of the Gulf of Mexico. They did this soon after a near 50% rate increase.
Now I am with the state funded insurance co. and eventhough they might be on shaky ground, I am paying something more reasonable - especially after I had my roof re-done ($200/year discount).

I want to make it clear, that I am quite happy with my State Farm agent - or else they would not be getting my money for car insurance.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

State Farm is referred to by some as the evil empire because of their size alone.

I did the yada-yada with a Nationwide agent near me for a quote for my diesel motorcoach earlier in April. It was an outstanding bid, with superior coverage to my Geico policy's renewal bid. When I went in person to sign the documents, it got better by -25% less once they plugged in my credit score. The next day I called Nationwide's 877 number to further tweak the policy, and saved another $30.00 with even better coverages, and my defensive drivers training plugged in.

What Progressive and Geico wanted in an annual premium for my motorcoach, with less coverage for $637.00 and $673.00, respectively put me in Nationwide's hands. I'm paying $321.00 a year now with Nationwide.

I should note that I called Geico on the phone to see if they were able to match Nationwide, and they could not come close. I even have a towing policy on the coach that pays up to $750.00 per disablement on the coach. Towing these monsters can get costly, and this way I don't have to carry a coach.net policy for $115.00 a year, however I have to find my own towing outfit.

I did not bother to get a quote from State Farm, Farmers, etc.

My Mercedes-Benz is still with Geico.

Insurance companies are in business to make money #1. To provide you service is their 2nd priority. Just like with banks, your best bet is with a small local agency that will work for you, and not their shareholders in Hartford.

__________________

Don't Chrome them; polish them

Did you get the original quote in writing? That would be pretty standard I would think, especially if you were meeting in person. If so then he should honor it.

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

I have switched State Farm agents. Many are good, some are not.

My only problem ever with an insurance agent was with an independent when his insured customer hit my son and got a ticket for it.

If I didn't have retired insurance agents as buddies I would still be waiting for the check.

They wouldn't let me talk to the agent, then they said they really needed more time and info after two weeks, multiple copies of everything etc etc etc. So I said.: "You have a valid claim to process. You have more paperwork than required. So process the claim and worry more about my complaint to the state insurance commission and your headquarters and less about your loss ratio."

I got the check in 3 days.

But I get tired of having to do this every time I deal with an insurance company.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Righteous.

All too common of a story.

We had a kids 07 Mitsubishi Eclipse at the shop, bout a year ago, and that car sat there for 90 days before his insurance company assumed responsibility. Poor kid had car payments, registration, and insurance payments for 3 months with no car. Then the repairs took almost another month, with trying to get an adjuster out to write the necessary supplements.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

There is NO incentive to settle quickly or even on a timely basis, for insurance companies. That is why I self-insure where I think it makes sense in my life.

I agree it is agent dependent. I have 5 cars, house, and 2 boats with State Farm. He recommended an umbrella liability policy and reducing all other liability coverages to minimum, saving me $4-500 a year for more coverage. He explained the best way to cover my 16 year old daughter for the least $, and offered to compare any cars I was looking at for cost.
A rock broke a windshield. No problem, free replacement. He helped me with business liability coverage for my small consulting firm.... In short he is a go getter. Others I have worked with are not.

I have not shopped around with another company to replace this whole set of coverage, but it may be worthwhile to see if another company can come up with this package.