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Insurance Company or Government spy?

96harley96harley Member Posts: 3,992 ✭✭
edited June 2002 in General Discussion
Got home, got the mail, and opened it. My insurance agent sent me a letter asking me to call because it was reported I had a rotweiler. First off, what if I did? Second, how did they get that information?

My wife called to inform them we have three labs. One of each color phase. The chocolate is tied. The yellow and black run loose as we live out so far that dueling banjos rings through the trees as you get close to our forest surrounded home. Their response was okay.

My wife went on to tell me the insurance agent sent an adjuster out our way to see if we needed to upgrade our insurance. My daughter's fiance told the man ,after the dogs greeted him with varied tones of barking, those famous last words, "They won't bite." They didn't, just barked but calmed down soon after realizing the guy was not intent upon carrying off our house.

If they can tell me what kind of dog to own, just what else do they let the agency know and who knows, who does the agency report this stuff to? Maybe they were hoping to find me building a concrete bunker with port holes? I don't think he reported my field of fire cut away from the house or the concentina wire strung up the driveway.

Comments

  • GreenLanternGreenLantern Member Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What you're probably seeing is the insurance industry trying to wring every little penny of profitability out of the policy holder. I'm sure some number-cruncher department at the insurance company has determined that dog owners are statically riskier than non-dog owners. This is probably nothing new but the fact they probably now use it by itself to justify raising your rates is. And I don't have a whole lot positive to say about insurance companies. They just raised my auto & snowmobile ins by $21 a month for no reason other than a 'rate increase'.
  • DupontDupont Member Posts: 129
    edited November -1
    Let me say this!

    When a State makes it mandatory to have car ins. You know the insurance companys and the Gov. are in it together! PERIOD!!!!

    What I would like to know is , what does your credit rating have to due with your insurance rates! Not a Darn thing!!!



    Of course I can play the piano, as long as it has pedals!
  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    Insurance people are lawyers who were too stupid to either get into college or pass the bar exam. Lawyers are politicians who are not good enouph actors to fool the general public. Politicians are gods punishment to mankind for all of our shortcomings.

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
  • 96harley96harley Member Posts: 3,992 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys, you have valid points for me to take into consideration. After posting this last night and informing my wife that I had, she went on to tell me this adjuster was out this way months ago. That got me to thinking, why wait so long to send me a letter? I guess the George Washington is the issue at hand.
  • Ronald J. SnowRonald J. Snow Member Posts: 1,346 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't usually get into this type of subject but what to heck:

    96harley: First, how long have your had your insurance with this insurance company? If you had acquired a rotweiller after buying your insurance contract they might just cancel your policy due to "an increase of hazard". As far as telling you what you can own; no way. However, the insurance company does not have to provide insurance either. Most insurance companies will let you have one claim for a dog that bites. If the dog bites again they will pay and request the dog be put down or they will cancel the contract. Insurance agencies report about you only to the insurance company your coverage is placed with.

    GreenLantern: Yes. Dog owners are a greater hazard and constitute a greater risk that non dog owners. I doubt a homeowners/liability insurance carrier would increase your premium for owning a certain breed of dog; more than likely they would just cancel the contract. Your agent would then place your coverage with a company that specializes in the higher risk business at a higher cost to you. This is nothing new; I started work in the insurance business in 1966 and it was that way then.

    Dupont: What does your credit rating have to do with your insurance rates? EVERYTHING! Depending upon what type of insurance your are purchasing. If you are financially sound you are a better risk than someone facing financial ruin. Every day buildings are burned, vehicles are wrecked and people are killed to collect benefits to pay off debts. Would you invest your money in a failing enterprise?

    4GodandCounry: I was in the insurance business as an underwriter for 19 years and met very few insurance people who were stupid; in fact, most of them were very bright.

    The biggest problem I see with insurance is that the consumer doesn't have the foggiest idea of what he/she is buying, how rates are promulgated or how risk is established. To top it all off the policies are legal documents and most consumers are intimidated by the wording. I know that all of you own and use firearms and understand the function and safe handling of those firearms. They cost money and are well taken care of to protect your investment. Well, you spend money for insurance and for the most part you have no idea what you have paid for. If you have questions regarding the contract or why the agent/company are investigating you simply take the time to ask them. I know you would certainly ask your local firearms dealer about any problem you were having with a firearm he sold you.

    Sorry to be so long winded and no, I am not in the insurance business now. I have upgraded to firearms dealer; now go buy insurance for this type of risk!
  • GreenLanternGreenLantern Member Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You make some good points Ronald!
  • gunpaqgunpaq Member Posts: 4,607 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Insurance agents are the few people that I have thrown out of my house. Insult me and my lifestyle and hobbies and then wonder why they lost a sale and got the boot.

    Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.
  • Ronald J. SnowRonald J. Snow Member Posts: 1,346 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    gunpaq: I don't blame you a bit. As an agency we did no door-to-door sales; the customer approached us first. My personal opinion of door-to-door sales people who "cold call" customers is very low. This applies to all forms of sales, not just insurance.
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