"Progressive Insurance" Repost...Please read

[heath]

Ok, here it goes again. I recently returned from Barren river lake, and the day after, I noticed that my trailer was completely cracked in two. Not the axle, but the frame itself between the two wheels. (tandem axle)

I called my insurance company and they sent someone out to look at it. The first words out of his mouth are..."Looks like a manufactures defect to me." I get a letter in the mail the next day stating that it was caused by "Wear and Tear," and would not be covered. Keep in mind that this is my first ever claim on anything that I have ever owned. My boat is a 2001 Champion 206 Elite. It's not like its 20 something years old and worn out.

I've had three different Marine Dealerships look at it and say that they have never seen one break like that before. So to me that makes it a freak accident, and the reason I carry insurance is to cover me in case of any accidents.

I have a friend that hit a stump at Santee Cooper, and they used the "Wear and Tear" thing on him too.

I'm not on here to bash Progressive, but I do want to let everyone know how things are being handled. If they can come through and make things right, I'll be the first to let everyone know, but on the other hand, if they don't make things right, I will go out of my way to let as many people I can know how they operate.

Wouldn't you hate to think that you are paying for insurance to protect you, only to find out that your not getting what you payed for.

I will keep everyone posted on the outcome, and if you have had the same or similar situations with Progressive, Please let us know.

Thanks
Heath Martin
Louisville Ky
[email protected]
502-817-3826

[Moose1am]

Get a Lawyer and sue them! That's the only way to talk to some insurance companies. It's the only language that they understand. The almighty dollar and the potential loss of the dollar shapes men's minds.

Ok, here it goes again. I recently returned from Barren river lake, and the day after, I noticed that my trailer was completely cracked in two. Not the axle, but the frame itself between the two wheels. (tandem axle)

I called my insurance company and they sent someone out to look at it. The first words out of his mouth are..."Looks like a manufactures defect to me." I get a letter in the mail the next day stating that it was caused by "Wear and Tear," and would not be covered. Keep in mind that this is my first ever claim on anything that I have ever owned. My boat is a 2001 Champion 206 Elite. It's not like its 20 something years old and worn out.

I've had three different Marine Dealerships look at it and say that they have never seen one break like that before. So to me that makes it a freak accident, and the reason I carry insurance is to cover me in case of any accidents.

I have a friend that hit a stump at Santee Cooper, and they used the "Wear and Tear" thing on him too.

I'm not on here to bash Progressive, but I do want to let everyone know how things are being handled. If they can come through and make things right, I'll be the first to let everyone know, but on the other hand, if they don't make things right, I will go out of my way to let as many people I can know how they operate.

Wouldn't you hate to think that you are paying for insurance to protect you, only to find out that your not getting what you payed for.

I will keep everyone posted on the outcome, and if you have had the same or similar situations with Progressive, Please let us know.

Thanks
Heath Martin
Louisville Ky
[email protected]
502-817-3826

[CTFSHWHISKER]

put some plumbers putty on it...good luck with them..

[thebassman30]

Heath,
Thank you for your post. I have Progressive and will soon consider State Farm as they seem to be the only solid company left. It seems that no insurance is better than any of the others.

Typically, this is how I think it should be handled. They should pay your claim restoring you to preaccident condition then go after the manufacturer as they stated. This is how it's normally handled. Large companies forget the power of the internet until you use it. Thank you for your post!

Mark Bell

B&K
Marketing | Design | Printing | Mailing
137 Citizens Boulevard
Simpsonville, Kentucky 40067

866.884.9425
[email protected]

[ChampioNinKY]

Hey Heath where exactly did it break I have the same trailer and want to check mine. Also I have progressive so please let us know how it comes out.

Good Luck
Jerry Cole

[SlopFishin]

Unfortunately I'll have to agree with the insurance guy. That definitely sounds like a manufacturer's defect. Trust me, if you've got a crack in the spot you describe then it would take a huge trauma to the trailer to cause that. You would have felt that hit. Sorry, I know it *****, but I'd say it was some type of defect.

[Tyme2fish]

Get some of that "Might Putty" that loud mouth Ron Mays sells on TV!!!!

Sorry, I tend to be a wize acre sometimes!!!

[PROANGLER746]

So this brings up a good question. Since I have progressive on my boat and am now looking to drop them....what insurance is the best or at least better company???

[MsgMills]

I have State Farm and after checking to see if U.S. Boat or Progressive could beat them....Hands down State Farm beat both by a considerable amount and I just feel better with someone who I've known for several years. Versus not having someone readily available.

[geobass]

I have progressive insurance on everything that I own and have insured. A car a truck a boat and 2 homes. The have been great to work with. I will say that I have never had a claim with them. Price and customer service is what sold me on them. I know several anglers that have progressive on their boats that have had claims and they tell me of nothing but good things as well. One guy took off his lower unit while pre-fishing for a tournament and within 48 hours he had a new lower unit delivered to the hotel and he replaced it himself. That to me is service.
If my trailer broke in half, I would have called the trailer manufacture not my insurance company. Trailers should not break in half.

[SKIPJACK]

I have had progressive for many years. The only claim that I have filed was about 3 years ago, when I was fishing a tournament on the river, we were headed back to the weigh in and my engine caught fire. One of the coils malfunctioned and caught the top end on fire. The wiring harness burned along with all that would burn on a 92 Evinrude 150. The claims adjuster put a $3000 value on the engine, wich was a bit low, in my opinion. They gave me $1500 to have it repared. The total repair cost was $2700. I took what I could get, and had it fixed. I just assumed that is how all insurance companies work.

[heath]

Thanks guys for all the replies. Jerry, my trailer broke on the frame between the two wheels on the drivers side of the boat. If you look at yours, there's a bracket welded on the the bottom of the trailer, which is holding that floater type piece, which catches the two springs. Basically if you look under your fender between the wheels, thats where it broke.

No, I don't know what I hit that caused it, but it could of been anywhere along our nicely paved roads. I've hit some pot holes on the Wk Parkway, where I thought I might of lost my whole rig. Next time you head South on 65 try riding in the slow lane from Louisville to E-town. I bet you switch lanes before you get there.

I've called Champion and Ez-loader, and the problem there is, Champion was bought out in 2003. My boat and trailer are a 2001. They said they couldn't help me. Ez-Loader said that the warranty was only covered for three years, and now they don't even make the trailers for Champion Boats.

I'm glad everyone is trying to help, and I appreciate all the advice I just want to let everyone know how they are handling my first ever claim. I've been on a mission talking with everyone I can about Progressive. The funny thing is, I have a list of 7 people that have had Progressive, and they all got the same response to filling a claim with them......."Wear and Tear"....to me, they could use Wear and Tear on anything that has ever been used.

Like I said, I pay $648.00 a year for full coverage($25,000)(which now I realize is very high) and I always thought I would be in good shape in the case of a problem. But it looks like I'm not going to be.

I plan on letting everyone know the results, and if they come through for me , I will say so, but if they don't, I will go out of my way to let everyone know how they operate.

Wouldn't you hate to think you were paying for coverage only to learn that since you have used your boat they a have a clause that they could use against you...."Wear and Tear".......Kinda ***** doesn't it???

Thanks again Guys,
Heath Martin