I have been insured with State Farm for about 8 years in the Bay Area. In those 8 years, I have received 1 ticket, which I took traffic school for. I have filed 1 claim, for a cracked windshield, which costs around $250. Conservatively, let’s say I’ve paid $10,000 in car insurance over the past 8 years. So they’ve collected $9,750 free and clear from me, and this doesn’t even include the renter’s insurance policy I have with them.
Yet just now, when I called to file a claim about my pole vs. car parking incident, I find out my premium will be raised by about $300/year for this $1600 claim. Not only that, but as I am taking my car to a ‘non-preferred’ shop, I have to wait some indeterminate amount of time to get a call from the insurance adjuster (the woman said she doesn’t know when he’ll call me back), who then has to come inspect the car, and make his own BS estimate. If his estimate is lower than the body shop’s estimate, I am responsible for the difference. All the while, the woman is telling me how if I get a ticket or file another claim within 3 years, I’ll lose my good driver discount, and my premium will go up 20%, etc.
Urge to punch someone…rising…