Car Insurance: Policy or Scam?

Yizuman

Last week I called my insurance company to find out whether or not I can get a cheaper rate for my step-son who is 18.

He had just recently purchased his first car, a 1988 Chevy. He turned in the title for the car at our local BMV. The title will arrive in our mailbox for at least 3 or more weeks, 6 at tops.

While I spoke to a rep for the insurance company, asking for a quote on how much of a rate I can get for my step-son while sharing my policy.

I told the rep that we need a little time to consider the rate to see if this is what my step-son wants.

A few days later I get a letter in the mail from my insurance company that my step-son has already been added into my policy and the rate has been adjusted to reflect it.

I went online to take a look and I see that I am being charged anyway for my step-son's rate on my policy. WTF????

I called them and asked them why they went ahead and added my step-son into my policy and they told me that I gave them authorization to do so. I told them I never did such thing and demanded that they remove it.

They said they can't do that because since he's 18 and living in my household, I have to pay for his staying here in my house.

They gave me an example that if I was at work and my wife became hurt and he's the only driver available to take him to the hospital. If my step-son got into an accident, there would be major problems.

I told them my step-son is currently unemployed and I cannot afford this rate. I told them that I only called to ask for a quote and I was given a 14 day waiting period to consider the offer I was given by one of their agents.

I was going to add him to my policy only after he gets re-employed and he can get rides from me until then. They said if he rides in my car, he has to be insured as well. WTF??? The agent calls this a "family policy".

I asked them what it is that I can do get this off my policy and they said he has to move out and provide proof of a utility bill that he's living at a different address or get his own insurance (which would cost a hella lot more on his own than to add him on my policy because of his age).

I don't understand all this bullshit and I need advice on what to do and if what they are doing is legal?

I am so pissed off! I cannot afford this. My wife is a double amputee and is on a disability check and I am on a crappy retail job that barely make ends meet.

Yiz

Highlander

It sounds like they're jerking you around. I'm not familiar with your state's insurance laws, but to me something doesn't sound right. What if he were 18 and without a driver's license?

Would they still attempt to insure him anyways? I would call up another insurance company and get a quote, one with your son on the policy, and one without. If they comply to your

request then you know your current insurance agency to jerking you around. If the new policy quote sounds good, then drop your old company and tell them exactly why.

G Money

Ask for their written policy and then file a complaint for fraud with your states insurance commissioner and the BBB. I'd cancel my policy and get other insurance as the spinelss bastard doesn't deserve your business.

jaguarbass

If you dont want that kind of trouble, when you go get your new insurance policy you cant tell them that you have a licensed driver under 18. The state holds you responsible for your juvenile children and it sounds like you told them he has a license and a car. Parental responsibility starts with the pocket book. Thats the only spot anyone notices.

I feel for you, my father trew me out of the house when I was 18 so he wouldnt have to deal with the beaurocratic hassels and when my son turned 18 he went to live with my parents so I didnt have to deal with it.

SnakesInTheTower

when I got my driver's license as a 16 year old, my dad said I could not drive the family car and had to save the money to get my own vehicle and insurance. He stuck to that.

His insurance company (American Family) had me sign a waiver that I would not drive the family car and if I did drive the family car and got into an accident (or had any chargable "incident") AmFam would not be liable for paying charges.....yep, that's all I had to do, sign a waiver...and I never drove the car!

Definitely complain to your State Insurance Commissioner.

SnakesInTheTower (of the "good driver'" Sheep Class)

lola28

They can not add any driver to the policy without your consent, however because your son does live in your house they need to protect themselves against having to pay a claim should he have an accident while driving your vehicle, all you need to do is call your agent and tell him/her that your son will not be driving your vehicle at this time, they wont just take your word for it so you need to tell them that you will sign a Driver Exclusion form,be aware tho that if your son does drive your vehicle and has a claim they will not cover the damages. You do NOT have to pay because he lives in your home, that was total BS.

Lola **Insurance agent class**

Junction-Guy

I would immediately start comparing rates, and then tell this company to take a hike.

When I lived with my grandma, I could not drive her car because she didnt want to declare me as a driver, because her rates would go up. I got my own car and my own insurance.

AllAlongTheWatchtower

Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything illegal about what your insurance company did, but empathize with you. Years ago, I had Progressive, and thought they were great...up until one day while on the phone with a customer service rep, she asked me if I had time to take a brief survey. Since I liked the company at the time, and wasn't particularly busy, I said "sure, no problem". One of the questions was 'If you live in an apartment, do you have a roomate?', to which I answered yes.

About a week later, I got a letter from the company saying my insurance was going up, unless I got my roomie to sign a statement saying he would never drive my car. I was outraged. Tried to explain to them that I was soon moving, that my roomie and I were barely on speaking terms at that point due to something that was absolutely none of their business, etc etc, but to no avail. I switched companies very soon after that, and I hate progressive to this day.

Junction-Guy

Car insurance is one of the few things they can discriminate against you on the basis of gender, men pay a higher rate than women. They say it is because men are more likely to have accidents. What if it could be proven that a particular race has a higher accident rate, could they also discriminate against them too? What if the situation was reversed and women had a higher accident rate, would they be inclined to charge women a higher rate?

Car Insurance: Policy or Scam?

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