"Progressive Insurance" Repost...Please read

[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

[CTFSHWHISKER]

sounds like the weld may have been too hot...if you have to have it fixed yourself heath take it brown engineering on roberts ave,off strawberry lne,he can weld ice..
his son is running now for the most part,he's done a few lower units and stuff and does real well..

[cumberlandguy1]

Wow! Just read this thread and I have to say you have been getting ripped off in premiums as well. I have full coverage on boat, motor, and trailer. This also includes anything that is stolen as well. Yes, I made sure that was covered when I insured it. $168 per year. Hope you find someone to fix the trailer at a fair price.

[dc chopper]

I have Grange on everything I own and my agent, who is also a good friend, is a former game warden so he knew everything I needed coverage wise. My 94 camry is 46 a month and thats with 500k in insurance on it. Everyone needs to check thier vehicle coverage because most companies don't give you enough coverage. the example given to me was what happens if you cause a car carrier truck to crash? Do you have enough insurace to cover all those cars? Even a load of vettes at 50 k a pop? Point taken so I always go as high as possible and hope I don't have to use it. If you have a personal relationship with your agent, it's 10 times better cause he won't rob you like the rest of them will.

[Jabbo]

It just so happens that I work for Progressive as a claims adjuster. I'm truly disappointed that you feel like you experienced poor claims service. I understand that accident's happen and although I work for Progressive I truly feel like we have the best claims service bar none. I left the company for about 9 months due to some re-structuring but came back because the company is great to it's employees and in my humble and slightly biased opinion provides a great service. Many of us that work there also have boat, bike or RV insurance with them and are subject to the same claims handling practices as everyone else. No we don't get discounts, no we don't get preferential treatment we get the same service. Unfortunately what I have found is that many people don't understand their policy. Progressive goes to great lengths to make sure that their adjusters understand the policy but more over we don't look for ways to deny claims we look for ways to afford coverage. Progressive also provides top class training to their adjusters that handle special lines (boats bikes rv's) and cars too, unlike many other companies. If you experience a mechanical breakdown our adjusters can usually diagnose the cause. An internal gear that has a hairline crack and finally fails can cause a jolt that feels much like an impact with a stump etc. Our adjusters are trained to look at these and many other scenarios to help determine what actually happened. If it is not a cut and dry situation guess what? You get the benefit of the doubt. Again, I'm truly sorry that you had a poor claims experience with Progressive. If you haven't already, I would contact the trailer manufacturer to see if there are any service bulletins on this type of damage. There may be a recall or the manufacturer may repair it free of charge to you. On a side note. Some of the most common claims I see are where people don't maintain their trailer bearings or upper gearcase lubricants in out drives. Bearing buddies don't always work!!! Make sure you keep your bearings and fittings greased and fluids changed. If you have any questions feel free to send me a note off the main site and I will answer what I can.

[Bobby Headrick]

I fished the same Tourney that TritonKTB fished and I know he hit a stump and that caused his damage, Heaths trailor was more than likley damaged from hitting one of the many potholes on our hwy's,just drive between L ville and Barkley or barren, I have had my boat complety jump in the air due to potholes. Not all adjuster's know everything,a hairline crack,thats bull, wear and tear, bull. I quit selling ins a long time ago due to so called adjuster's who know more than mecanics and people who deal with problems. The adjuster's are trained to look at what can save the ins co money and are trained to find the cheapest way out for the co which is also bull, they claim total replacment but that is also bull, I ahve seen adjuster's get bonuses when they stopped a big claim, next we will have health ins saying that they will not pay a claim due to wear and tear. To me the ins co's are a big problem in this country due to we have to have it we pay them out the wazzoo but when we need them they give us a hard time look what they did after Katrina, look if your house burns down they fight it, you have wind damage they fight it.You buy ins to help you during a crises but when that happens they are not there but there bill is. Yes there are some out there who take advanatage of claims and lie about the cause of the loss, but I personally know both of these guys and know that is not the case, if you work for Progressive then you should do something to help these and others and to keep your co in business. I too have Progressive but only libility, I hope and pray that if something ever happens that they will pay, but now I do not trust them,and that really worrys me cause one accident can lead me to ruin. If a company cannot do what they say then this a fraud and theft and they should not advertise that they will do this and that when they don't. The ins co's are some of the biggest scammers out there as they prey on fear of loss and say they will be there for you but that is not always the case. All ins co give a hassel when it comes to claims, then you have to get a lawyer and be out more money, it is a lose lose situation for the consumer.

[thebassman30]

Heath,
This is fantastic thread. Thank you for being persistent and getting the word out. For the most part, insurance is a joke....get the least the law will allow.
Mark

[heath]

My only reason for posting on here is to let those of us with Progressive insurance know just how they are handling this situation. After doing all the homework on them the last couple of weeks, it's not looking real good for them right now.

I've taking my problem up the chain of command there, and I plan on fighting until I get a reasonable decision.

This "wear and Tear" thing that they seem to be using on several different people that I have talked to, (7 to be exact) is kind of a insurance for them. How could hitting a rock in the lake be turned down because of "wear and Tear".

I talked with a new person today from Progressive, and I'll keep everyone posted as to how they continue to handle my claim.

Thanks
Heath

P.S. Thanks to everyone for all the advise and replies.