Boat Insurance Problems/got a cancellation notice

[R watts]

For the life of me I don't understand this crap with Insurance companies!! I have been with Allstate Ins for about 15 years on every boat I have owned. In the last three years I added my home and my three vehicles. It has been a great policy and price and I have had no complaints, until now.

I've had two (2) boat claims in 15 years of using this company, 1 in 2005 for lower unit damage and 1 in 2007 for gelcoat repair.

I have always paid on time and have had no other claims home or cars.

I just received a cancellation notice effective the end of this policy period 08-07. Their resons are for having the 2 claims.

I can't seem to get past the the whole concept of paying for something for so long, being a faitful customer of this company and using the service that is paid for and then being dumped by them for them sole purpose of their exsistance!

I just don't get it and as pissed off as I am right now I probably never will.

Has anyone been through this type of thing and will it be a problem getting insurance since Allstate has decided to cancel my policy??

Thanks for any advice !!

[Mike]

I use Mercury insurance for my 3 cars, home and boat which they sub out to Foremost. I have only had the boat policy for 2 years and last year I had a $9,000 gelcoat claim! I just got my bill yesterday for the next 12 months and it is still $448.! I was expecting a increase since I had the huge claim. So they have taken in less than $1,000 from me and paid out $9,000 and didnt raise my rate??? Sounds like a good company to me. Check them out.

[Smile_n_Jax]

Insurance companies can be pretty hard core that way. They don't look at you as a long term customer with multiple policies.

I would suggest you go to your agent and discuss the problem. I'd also make it very clear to him that if the problem is not resolved you will be taking all of your business somewhere else.

Sometimes you need to rattle the cage to get the beast to wake up.

[troutnut]

I would be sweating bullets if I was an Allstate agent. Earlier this month ALLSTATE decided they would no longer write new homeonwers policies, because of the "risk".

Maybe it is time to shop around for a better company?

I say kick them to the curb!

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Allstate to stop writing policies for homeowners in California
Insurance company cites disaster-prone nature of state in decision
By George Avalos
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Article Launched: 05/11/2007 03:05:41 AM PDT


Allstate Insurance Co. said Thursday that it will halt the writing of new homeowners insurance policies in California, calling the state a catastrophe-imperiled region that has become too risky.
The company said it will continue to serve customers with existing homeowners policies and that it will renew those policies when they expire. The company also will continue to offer new policies, and serve existing ones, for other lines of insurance, such as automobile coverage. Allstate also said it would stop providing new landlord insurance policies.

"This is California," said Rich Halberg, an Allstate spokesman. "It is a very catastrophe-prone state. It is home to some of the most damaging catastrophes in the country."

Allstate is the No. 3 provider of homeowners insurance in California, the company said. In 2005, the most recent year for which figures were available, the company wrote $844.9 million in homeowners insurance premiums.

The company will cease offering new homeowners policies on July 1. Allstate will refer new customers to Pacific Specialty Insurance Co., which is not affiliated with Allstate.

Allstate was one of the few homeowners insurance carriers that proposed a rate increase in recent filings with the state Department of Insurance. Allstate said the decision to retreat from the new policy arena for homeowners had nothing to do with its attempt to raise rates. The company has proposed a 12 percent increase.

"This new strategy helps protect our existing customers and provides an alternative to California consumers looking for new property insurance policies," said Robert Barge, field vice president for Allstate in California.
Allstate could be making a mistake by deciding to terminate the writing of new homeowners policies, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said.

"While the writing has been on the wall regarding its intent in California, I believe this is a short-sighted business decision," Poizner said in a news release. "I expect there will be no shortage of insurance companies that will be more than happy to compete to serve more than 1 million Allstate customers."

Other insurance companies, including Farmers, Safeco, State Farm, AAA and Hartford, had previously reduced rates for California homeowners by more than $1 billion, Poizner noted. Those rate cuts are in "direct contradiction to Allstate's actions," Poizner said.

"We have room to write more homeowners policies," said Lonny Haskins, a State Farm spokesman in the Bay Area. "We don't write like wild people, but we have room to add on. If somebody had been thinking of bringing their business to Allstate, the customer should be in a good position if they have to go elsewhere." State Farm is the largest homeowners insurance provider in California.

Farmers Inc. Group, the No. 2 homeowners carrier, also is poised to snap up potential Allstate customers.

"We have no plans to modify the way we operate in California," said Jerry Davies, a Farmers spokesman in the state. "Our agents are in place throughout California."

Allstate said it has halted the writing of new homeowners policies in Florida, Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey. Allstate also has trimmed its activity elsewhere, said Mike Siemienas, an Allstate spokesman. "We have limited our writing along the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast," Siemienas said.

Allstate appears to have curbed its homeowners activity more sharply in California than anywhere else, even though the state's highest-profile disaster, major earthquakes, occur at erratic intervals compared with hurricanes.

During the first quarter of 2007, Allstate reduced its new homeowners policies by 31 percent in California and by 15 percent in what it calls hurricane exposure states compared with the same period the year before. Nationwide, Allstate reduced the writing of new homeowners policies by 12 percent, according to a recently released company financial report.

A consumer group said it was glad to see Allstate exit the new policy business for homeowners. The company was out of step with other insurers, said Carmen Balber, a consumer advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.

"Hasta la vista, Allstate," Balber said. "Consumers are better off without them."

Rather than a 12 percent increase, Balber said she believes Allstate should cut rates 40 percent, for a savings of $426 a year for homeowners.

"This is an attempt by Allstate to bully California to allow them to continue charging excessive rates to homeowners."

Allstate officials, though, say the move simply shows the company acting in a prudent fashion.

"We don't want to add to the level of risk we have in California," Halberg said. "We want to be in a strong position for our existing policy holders."

George Avalos covers the job market, insurance, petroleum and banks. Reach him at 925-977-8477 or gavalos@cctimes.com.

[86ranger]

You got buddy, you got a PM.

[Gator]

Call Gayla at Sawyer-Cook. I have my boat policy with them (yes, I am on the Pro-Staff but that was after being with them for three years) and just moved my vehicles over. It was seamless and all the people there are great to work with. You won't be disappointed.

[dogfish2]

Contact Stan Vanderburg 1 800 BASSBOAT. He and his brother are top notch fishermen in their own right and underrstand all aspects of the business. The best part is they can be reached, in person, without being "passed around." You will not be disappointed, especially if there is claim. (Not affilliated with the company)

[Guest]

I second the 1 800 Bass Boat. I had a lower unit get damaged right before the FLW Series Delta event. I called Stan directly and he hand walked my claim through to get it handled quickly.

That and the fine work from the boyz at Inland-Marineand they had me back on the water in just a couple days! Now if I only would have been as efficient on the water as my boat insurance company was I would have been in business!

[David McKenzie]

I, like you have had allstate forever and I was also served one of these notices. Not for a claim on my boat but on my homeowners. same thing, 2 claims in a couple of years. What I did was call my agent and and he said that over worked and stressed out policy underwriters will just do what the computer tells them and automaticly cancel your policy in accordance with "company rules" . Do your self a favor, call your agent and tell him whats going on. Thats all it took to get me off the cancel list in my case as he made a few calls and got things straitened out. My rated DID go up a little but nothing compared to what it would have cost me to go over to another company. Good luck to you.


btw...my boat coverage is thru Stan @ 1 800 bass boat..the only way to go.

[Brian]

I third 1-800-BassBoat. I just got done dealing with Ken Vanderburg insuring my boat. Never had a problem contacting him direct throughout the process.

[Randy Walker]

I believe that if the California Department of Insurance would have allowed them to, Allstate would have actually cancelled or non renewed all homeowners policies in California. The CA DOI would not allow them to do this from what I have been told, which is a good thing for those who have Allstate. I myself write insurance business with Mercury, Allied (Nationwide), Safeco and the Hartford which are all A-A+ rated companies. I would suggest looking into any of these companies ~ I think you will be pleased....

Good Luck ~

[Terry Smith]

I was with State Farm for over 25 years. Autos,life ,home owners, and boat and they tried to raise my rates when I went to add my wife to the auto policy. She hadn't had A ticket in over 10 years at the time but was with State farm when she was 17 and had two traffic tickets and they consider her A high risk. My agent wouldn't do JACK SH## for me to help so I pulled all of my polics as did my Dad, Brother ,and Sister. Gayla at Sawyer & Cook for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kentuck]

Had my original Home Owners' with SF. Got to the point my rates were going up about $100-$150 each year with no claims filed. Tax man told they were trying to get out of HO policies. Switched to another provider for almost half the cost for better coverage.

[MIKE TREMONT]

Most of the insurance companys have a shady side, but some are worse more than others.
I could bore you with some horror stories, but it wouldn't ease your pain. They have the power to do what they want and do, and we are forced either by law or circumstance to pay into thier machine. It's a rackett.
Just a nickname I heard and my humble opinion on all insurance.

[getalife]

I have had my bass boat, ski boat, home, rental property, and three cars with farmers for about four years. Recently they raised my homeowners from $945 to $1957 because of one claim for @ 5000.00. I called my agent and told him I would move all my policies elsewhere and it magically went down to $957 a year. Now I dont trust him so I checked out 1-800-bassboat and my ski boat insurance went from $600 to $450. My bass boat is up for renewal and I dont think I will go with a major carrier, I will call 1-800-bassboat. I used to be an adjuster for Farmers and I know that there underwriting department has alot of room to adjust your premiums.

[Gene Buchholz]

Give Al at Sawyer Cook a call they are the best. Their number is
800-655-2814

[R watts]

Thanks for all the advice and a place to vent. I talked with Stan at 1800bassboats who was able to ease some pain. He assured me not to worry and he would handle my insurance.

What a pleasure to talk to and deal with. I gotta admit this site sometimes is over the top but when you need help or good advice this is definately the place to find it.

Thanks again for the help!!!