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Emily Said:

Attn: Insurance agents, what is the best way reach you?

We Answered:

I would go to the yellow pages & look for independent agencies. I would start with the ones in a "high end" neighborhood and any that represent Chubb. Atlantic Mutual is another company that likes high end clients & AIG Private Client Group. These are the companies you need to see under the agency's name. Give them a call to see if they would like to set up an appointment. You will probably want to meet with the personal lines supervisor. We are always looking for good appraisers to suggest to our clients. Jewelry is easy, it is the fine arts & antique appraisers that are harder to find. If you can't get a meeting, see if you can go in & leave your business card (or several) & see what happens.
Where we are we have mobilehomes all the way up to multimillion dollar homes, all in the same very small town.
Good luck to you.

Ramon Said:

Is there any comsumer protection out there against insurance agents?

We Answered:

If the payment was lost in the mail....that means it did not get to the agency.

Just like....if you mail your check to the power company and it gets lost in the mail and does not arrive at the power company....your power gets shut off.

If your check to the water company gets lost in the mail....your water gets shut off.

There is no requirement that the insurance agent keep your policy in-force if the payment has not been received by the due date.

If the payment was not received by the due date....the policy lapses. Period.

The agent does not have the ability to not let it lapse. If you did not pay for the service....you don't get the service. Insurance is no different than any other product or service you pay for each month.

If your mail is that unreliable....from now on have the payment set up as an automatic draft....or take the check to your agents office and pay in person.

Do you know how often agents and adjuster hear...."the check was lost in the mail"?

If you have been a good customer...and this has NEVER happened before....sometimes if you can bring your check register and the ft/back check copy of the check(s) written just before and just after the insurance check to your agent....sometimes.....not often...but sometimes underwriting will re-instate the policy with out a lapse in coverage.

However, if this is not the first time your policy lapsed or that a check was lost in the mail....there is nothing your agent can do for you. You will probably have to get another policy.

Your best bet is to take your documentation to your agents office and see what, if anything, can be done to re-instate the policy.

Vanessa Said:

What's the value of a good, local insurance agent?

We Answered:

Why do you have to pay MORE to use a local agent? Many, many times, you don't - the price is comparable, or even LESS, than one of those direct writers. The money they don't pay agents, and more, they have to spend on advertising, to get you to call them!

Here are reasons why it makes sense to use a local agent:

1. binding authority, That means, you can deliver your payment to the local office the day it's due, and it counts as if the insurance company has received it.

2. personalized insurance advice - tailored to your specific need.

3. someone you can contact, and intervene with you, if you have a problem with your company assigned claims adjuster.

4. it doesn't cost more. There's no "surcharge" to using a local agent - and MOST insurance companies will NOT write directly. In other words, you HAVE to use an agent, if you want their policy.

Clarence Said:

What volume of the US Auto insurance market is sold "direct"? e.g. internet, phone, mail(not via local agents)

We Answered:

Someone in the world has the information your looking for, unfortunatly It's going to cost you some $$ to get it.

Groups like PCI, NAIC & III have people who gather insurance filings from all fifty states and create reports. But unless you're a member of their organization or pay for the reports, you'll have to gather bits and pieces from various places like media reports: http://www.iii.org/media/facts/statsbyis…

From raw data I've seen, direct writers account for around 20% of the personal auto insurance market. However a significant % of premium written by Progressive & GEICO (the #3 and #4 largest personal auto insurers) are written though their agency force.

Good luck in your search.

Jamie Said:

Question for independent insurance agents?

We Answered:

..quack?