| Revision as of 20:38, 7 June 2006 editOhnoitsjamie (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Administrators260,831 edits rv www.farmersinsurancegroupsucks.com is not what most would consider to be a suitable source← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:41, 7 June 2006 edit undoRouter~enwiki (talk | contribs)253 edits It sites references and compiles reports.Next edit → | ||
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| == Criticism == | == Criticism == | ||
| In 2003, Consumer Reports rated Farmers Insurance Homeowners "Worse" for both "Problems with Claim" and "Delayed Payments". In March 2006, Consumer Reports considered Farmers Insurance one of the amongst 27 insurance companies in terms of paying off (auto) claims in 30 days or less. | In 2003, Consumer Reports rated Farmers Insurance Homeowners "Worse" for both "Problems with Claim" and "Delayed Payments". In March 2006, Consumer Reports considered Farmers Insurance one of the amongst 27 insurance companies in terms of paying off (auto) claims in 30 days or less. According to State Insurance Commissioner reports, Farmers Insurance has the in California, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado and more. | ||
| A number of consumers, agents, and claims adjusters have had disagreements with Farmers Insurance. Here are some of the more popular cases that have made it into the news. | A number of consumers, agents, and claims adjusters have had disagreements with Farmers Insurance. Here are some of the more popular cases that have made it into the news. | ||
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| * Insured Consumer: The case is one of the most prominent mold claim cases against an insurer. Ballard alleged that Farmers Insurance failed to adequately and swiftly cover repairs for a water leak, allowing the toxic mold Stachybotrys chartarum to overrun their home and damage their family's health. | * Insured Consumer: The case is one of the most prominent mold claim cases against an insurer. Ballard alleged that Farmers Insurance failed to adequately and swiftly cover repairs for a water leak, allowing the toxic mold Stachybotrys chartarum to overrun their home and damage their family's health. | ||
| * Insured Consumer: did not understand why Farmers Insurance would not compensate Martin for "pain and suffering" -- her lost career, inability to have another child, continuing emotional and physical pain. Martin accused Farmers Insurance of fraudulently using a program called Colossus to rip off customers. , former Farmers claims adjusters, stated "There's so much pressure on you to settle for the least amount possible". Dietz and Klein claimed Farmers Insurance would offer monthly incentives to pay less. Typical prizes were $25 gift certificates or a pizza party for an adjuster and her team. | * Insured Consumer: did not understand why Farmers Insurance would not compensate Martin for "pain and suffering" -- her lost career, inability to have another child, continuing emotional and physical pain. Martin accused Farmers Insurance of fraudulently using a program called Colossus to rip off customers. , former Farmers claims adjusters, stated "There's so much pressure on you to settle for the least amount possible". Dietz and Klein claimed Farmers Insurance would offer monthly incentives to pay less. Typical prizes were $25 gift certificates or a pizza party for an adjuster and her team. | ||
| * Insured Consumer: . A new insurance law that changes the definition of "accident" and is named after a woman involved in a incident of road rage, takes effect June 2006 in Washington state. The "Ethel Adams Law" is named after a woman who was injured in March 2005 when her car was hit in an incident of road rage by a pickup truck driven by Michael R. Testa. After the accident, Adams' insurer, Farmers Insurance, at first said it wouldn't pay Adams' claims because it said Testa was trying to cause a wreck and the crash was not an accident. “Ethel Adams' insurance carrier tried to apply an imaginative interpretation of the law to keep from paying her claim. This new law bears her name with the hope that no other innocent insured will have to go through the nightmare Ethel experienced," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, in a statement. | |||
| == External links == | == External links == | ||
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Revision as of 20:41, 7 June 2006
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The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies was founded in 1928 as the Farmers Insurance Exchange in Los Angeles, CA. The company started out offering only automobile insurance but home and commercial insurance was added as the company grew. Farmers Group is the country's third-largest writer of both private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance. Farmers Group is managed but not owned by Zurich Financial Services. Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is based in Los Angeles, California, and operates in 41 states across the country through the efforts of approximately 18,000 employees. Foremost Insurance Company, located in Michigan, was acquired by Farmers in March 2000.
Praise
Farmers ranks 3rd behind Allstate and State Farm.
Criticism
In 2003, Consumer Reports rated Farmers Insurance Homeowners "Worse" for both "Problems with Claim" and "Delayed Payments". In March 2006, Consumer Reports considered Farmers Insurance one of the “Poorest Performers” amongst 27 insurance companies in terms of paying off (auto) claims in 30 days or less. According to State Insurance Commissioner reports, Farmers Insurance has the most complaints in California, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado and more.
A number of consumers, agents, and claims adjusters have had disagreements with Farmers Insurance. Here are some of the more popular cases that have made it into the news.
- Claims Adjusters: In September 2004, Farmers Insurance claims adjusters won a lawsuit, Bell v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, which rewarded them for all their overdue overtime labor. At the time it was largest overtime pay class action ever tried in the United States.
- Insured Consumer: The Ballard v. Farmers Insurance case is one of the most prominent mold claim cases against an insurer. Ballard alleged that Farmers Insurance failed to adequately and swiftly cover repairs for a water leak, allowing the toxic mold Stachybotrys chartarum to overrun their home and damage their family's health.
- Insured Consumer: Barbara Martin did not understand why Farmers Insurance would not compensate Martin for "pain and suffering" -- her lost career, inability to have another child, continuing emotional and physical pain. Martin accused Farmers Insurance of fraudulently using a program called Colossus to rip off customers. Robert Dietz and Christy Klein, former Farmers claims adjusters, stated "There's so much pressure on you to settle for the least amount possible". Dietz and Klein claimed Farmers Insurance would offer monthly incentives to pay less. Typical prizes were $25 gift certificates or a pizza party for an adjuster and her team.
- Insured Consumer: Ethel Adams. A new insurance law that changes the definition of "accident" and is named after a woman involved in a incident of road rage, takes effect June 2006 in Washington state. The "Ethel Adams Law" is named after a woman who was injured in March 2005 when her car was hit in an incident of road rage by a pickup truck driven by Michael R. Testa. After the accident, Adams' insurer, Farmers Insurance, at first said it wouldn't pay Adams' claims because it said Testa was trying to cause a wreck and the crash was not an accident. “Ethel Adams' insurance carrier tried to apply an imaginative interpretation of the law to keep from paying her claim. This new law bears her name with the hope that no other innocent insured will have to go through the nightmare Ethel experienced," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, in a statement.
External links
Company Web Sites
Other Resources
- A collection of ratings, articles, lawsuits, allegations and complaints critical of Farmers Insurance
- Farmers Insurance Reviews at Epinions.com
- Farmers Insurance Auto Reviews at CarReview.com
- United Farmers Agents Association, professional association for Farmers Agents.