I have had car insurance for over 40 years. Last year after retiring I was contacted by Safeco Audo Insurance for a lower rate. The amount they quoted was less that what i had previously been paying. So being on a limited income i changed insurance carriers. I have now had this company for over a year. Recently i contacted them because i rock hit my window and cracked it. In all the time i have had other insurance companies glasss coverage for the windshield was always 100% covered. According to Safeco it is under comprehension with a $500 deductable. They stated i would have had to choose to have additional coverage in order for this to be covered. This additional coverage was never offered. BEWARE it stated that the windsheild was not covered under page 26 of my insurance contract. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!
Filing a claim with Safeco has been nothing but a nightmare. Our van was vandalized in our apartment complex parking lot. Two tires had been flattened, the fuse box in the cabin was pulled out, the dash was messed with, and the wiring harness was cut up. The vehicle had been moved, but we weren't sure if the vehicle had been taken or just placed in neutral and moved around.
We first called the police and filed a report with them that stated "vehicle burglary" and then filed a claim with Safeco. Initially I had to make a recorded statement with my claims agent. I used to be an insurance agent and have had to file auto claims before for other incidents and have never felt more like I was being interrogated and that I was on trial than this recorded statement. While waiting for an adjuster to come inspect the damage we had the van towed to a shop of our choosing. The first adjuster came and very breifly looked over the vehicle stating that there was only one flat tire and minimal wiring damage and that the cost to repair would be $600.
Our shop did a thorough inspection of the vehicle and located all the damage that had been caused to the van with an estimate to repair totalling over $10,000. I called and complained to my claims rep who sent a 2nd adjuster out to do a more thorough investigation of the vehicle. The second adjuster initially argued with the shop about the extent of the damage then conceded that the cost of repair would be more than the vehicle is worth.
As soon as the second adjuster agreed that the vehicle was a total loss the claim was assigned to a special review team agent. This agent was very rude and unprofessional. I was required to make another recorded statement and again it felt like I was being interrogated and that I was on trial. As soon as the recording ended I asked the agent why they are going to these lengths as this seemed excessive and I do not agree with the claim being drawn out like it has been. The agent then illegally indirectly accused me of causing the damage to get out of my loan.
The special investigator also sent out a Forensic Locksmith since my van has a transponder key and is near impossible to hot wire. I explained again that I could not say for sure the vehicle ever left the property or that it was successfully hot wired. I also expressed concern that my rental car coverage will be running out soon, but the investigating agent showed no concern for that.
I have spoken to several supervisors and they listened to my complaints and have stated that they are going to try and speed the process up but I am not seeing any positive progress. They are also bullying me and forcing me to move my vehicle to their facility telling me that if I don't they are going to charge me for any storage fees past a date of their choosing.
I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the Arizona State Insurance Commission. I have also contacted the Arizona Attorney General's Office because I refuse to be treated like a criminal when I am a victim.
It took 13 months and counting to settle a claim. I was rear-ended at a stop sign by a Safeco insured driver. Safeco took full responsibility for it and told my insurance company they would handle it. My car sustained significant damage and the body shop estimated that the other driver hit me at 40+ mph. After first offering to fix the car with almost 100% used parts including used structural parts not approved by the manufacturer, upon break down they concluded my car was not repairable. Safeco made a verbal offer which I agreed to and then they sent a check. The check was short by $500 due to Safeco trying to stick their costs of the claim on me.. I returned it and said to include the full amount which they refused to do. I filed a complaint with the California Department of Insurance. Safeco reconsidered my claim and REDUCED the amount they were willing to pay by $1400. In addition they cut off all car rental payments. After a couple months more of trying to get them to do the right thing, I asked my insurance company to pay me and seek their payment from Safeco.
I then tried to get Safeco to pay my medical bills and rental car expenses. They offered an amount that barely covered my out of pocket expenses but required me to sign a full release of all liability. I refused and decided my only recourse was to go to court. I went to Small Claims Court in Los Angeles and won a judgment against their insured. Safeco made a partial payment on their insured's judgment but not the full amount -- consistent with my previous experience. I fully intend to get the balance which means filing with the court a revocation of their insured's license. They have another 12 days to comply. A lot of grief for a very simple case. Their insured should be totally pissed at Safeco as well for not handling the claim in a responsible manner.
Their employees are mean-spirited, rude, imperial and bullying. They through out "last and final" offers like they are the grand pashas making a royal decree. They use retaliatory behavior and a good class action lawyer should look at their practice of trying to force payment of their costs onto the victims. I still have limited mobility in my neck with a bone chip floating around in there. Safeco could have spent their time and energy making things right rather than treating me like a criminal. In the end, Safeco will have spent far more than the modest amount I asked for which covered only my out-of-pocket expenses
Avoid this company at all costs. I can only speak to the Los Angeles claims office. They are unreasonable and you will never get a fair settlement on a claim. If you are hit, INSIST your insurance carrier handle all dealings with Safeco and if injured, get a really strong lawyer.
Safeco Insurance Reviews
I have had car insurance for over 40 years. Last year after retiring I was contacted by Safeco Audo Insurance for a lower rate. The amount they quoted was less that what i had previously been paying. So being on a limited income i changed insurance carriers. I have now had this company for over a year. Recently i contacted them because i rock hit my window and cracked it. In all the time i have had other insurance companies glasss coverage for the windshield was always 100% covered. According to Safeco it is under comprehension with a $500 deductable. They stated i would have had to choose to have additional coverage in order for this to be covered. This additional coverage was never offered. BEWARE it stated that the windsheild was not covered under page 26 of my insurance contract. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!
Filing a claim with Safeco has been nothing but a nightmare. Our van was vandalized in our apartment complex parking lot. Two tires had been flattened, the fuse box in the cabin was pulled out, the dash was messed with, and the wiring harness was cut up. The vehicle had been moved, but we weren't sure if the vehicle had been taken or just placed in neutral and moved around.
We first called the police and filed a report with them that stated "vehicle burglary" and then filed a claim with Safeco. Initially I had to make a recorded statement with my claims agent. I used to be an insurance agent and have had to file auto claims before for other incidents and have never felt more like I was being interrogated and that I was on trial than this recorded statement. While waiting for an adjuster to come inspect the damage we had the van towed to a shop of our choosing. The first adjuster came and very breifly looked over the vehicle stating that there was only one flat tire and minimal wiring damage and that the cost to repair would be $600.
Our shop did a thorough inspection of the vehicle and located all the damage that had been caused to the van with an estimate to repair totalling over $10,000. I called and complained to my claims rep who sent a 2nd adjuster out to do a more thorough investigation of the vehicle. The second adjuster initially argued with the shop about the extent of the damage then conceded that the cost of repair would be more than the vehicle is worth.
As soon as the second adjuster agreed that the vehicle was a total loss the claim was assigned to a special review team agent. This agent was very rude and unprofessional. I was required to make another recorded statement and again it felt like I was being interrogated and that I was on trial. As soon as the recording ended I asked the agent why they are going to these lengths as this seemed excessive and I do not agree with the claim being drawn out like it has been. The agent then illegally indirectly accused me of causing the damage to get out of my loan.
The special investigator also sent out a Forensic Locksmith since my van has a transponder key and is near impossible to hot wire. I explained again that I could not say for sure the vehicle ever left the property or that it was successfully hot wired. I also expressed concern that my rental car coverage will be running out soon, but the investigating agent showed no concern for that.
I have spoken to several supervisors and they listened to my complaints and have stated that they are going to try and speed the process up but I am not seeing any positive progress. They are also bullying me and forcing me to move my vehicle to their facility telling me that if I don't they are going to charge me for any storage fees past a date of their choosing.
I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the Arizona State Insurance Commission. I have also contacted the Arizona Attorney General's Office because I refuse to be treated like a criminal when I am a victim.
It took 13 months and counting to settle a claim. I was rear-ended at a stop sign by a Safeco insured driver. Safeco took full responsibility for it and told my insurance company they would handle it. My car sustained significant damage and the body shop estimated that the other driver hit me at 40+ mph. After first offering to fix the car with almost 100% used parts including used structural parts not approved by the manufacturer, upon break down they concluded my car was not repairable. Safeco made a verbal offer which I agreed to and then they sent a check. The check was short by $500 due to Safeco trying to stick their costs of the claim on me.. I returned it and said to include the full amount which they refused to do. I filed a complaint with the California Department of Insurance. Safeco reconsidered my claim and REDUCED the amount they were willing to pay by $1400. In addition they cut off all car rental payments. After a couple months more of trying to get them to do the right thing, I asked my insurance company to pay me and seek their payment from Safeco.
I then tried to get Safeco to pay my medical bills and rental car expenses. They offered an amount that barely covered my out of pocket expenses but required me to sign a full release of all liability. I refused and decided my only recourse was to go to court. I went to Small Claims Court in Los Angeles and won a judgment against their insured. Safeco made a partial payment on their insured's judgment but not the full amount -- consistent with my previous experience. I fully intend to get the balance which means filing with the court a revocation of their insured's license. They have another 12 days to comply. A lot of grief for a very simple case. Their insured should be totally pissed at Safeco as well for not handling the claim in a responsible manner.
Their employees are mean-spirited, rude, imperial and bullying. They through out "last and final" offers like they are the grand pashas making a royal decree. They use retaliatory behavior and a good class action lawyer should look at their practice of trying to force payment of their costs onto the victims. I still have limited mobility in my neck with a bone chip floating around in there. Safeco could have spent their time and energy making things right rather than treating me like a criminal. In the end, Safeco will have spent far more than the modest amount I asked for which covered only my out-of-pocket expenses
Avoid this company at all costs. I can only speak to the Los Angeles claims office. They are unreasonable and you will never get a fair settlement on a claim. If you are hit, INSIST your insurance carrier handle all dealings with Safeco and if injured, get a really strong lawyer.