My wife and I started our coverage with Allstate during April 2001 and cancelled our policy 1 April 2006. During this time we always paid our bill on time, usually in our agents office.
When we started our policy Allstate ran both our credit reports and gave us a quote we accepted. My wife and I had both been driving for over 20 years at the time with no tickets or accidents. In 2003, I had my first and only accident to date. Allstate adjusted my rate which raised my payment $24.00, a month. I didn't like it but figured I had to pay for my mistake.
During Nov. 05', while serving in S.W. Asia, I received a letter from my wife informing me Allstate had almost doubled our premiums. It took alot of work but I managed to get some phone time to call Allstate. The rep. I spoke with informed me that when Allstate renewed my policy they ran a "periodic" credit check and due to our credit scores, we had been placed into a "high risk" category which raised our premiums. I asked what derogatory info. had been discovered and the rep. replied she could not release the info. I then inquired how my credit score affected our driving habits and what we were at "high risk" of. The rep. became irritated and stated that we were welcome to shop for other insurance if we didn't agree with their rates. I thanked the rep. for informing me of the obvious and terminated the call due to time spent on the phone.
Needless to say I started to worry about being victims of identify theft. I also remembered how the U.S. had just had hurricane Katrina and wondered how much money Allstate had lost to claims payments.
I returned home in Feb.06' and reviewed credit reports from all three bureaus. I did not find negative info. that would justify a premium increase. We had paid off a vehicle, sold a home, purchased a new home and two new vehicles between April 01' and Nov 05', life was good. I again called Allstate and the second call was no more constructive than the first. I found several insurers willing to give me coverage for less than what I was happily paying Allstate before the premium increase.
On Mar 10th, I sent Allstate an email through their website and instructed them to cancel my policy at 12:01 am, 01 Apr 06. I did not hear back from Allstate and did not pay my monthly bill for Apr. but was satisifed everything had been done.
On 10 Apr, I recieved a recorded message from Allstate informing me my policy was past due in danger of being canceled. I immediately called Allstate and they told me they had not received my email and had not cancelled my policy as instructed. I informed the rep. to cancel my policy and that I would not be paying for any coverage provided after Mar 31st. The rep. proceeded to tell me that in order to back date my cancellation to 01 Apr. I had to fax proof of my current insurance.
When I questioned the rep. his reply was that the law required me to have auto insurance. I thanked him for reminding me of the obvious and informed him that Allstate was not a law enforcement agency so they could take my word that I had current coverage. The reps. reply was to hang up on me. I took my paperwork to my agent and had him fax off the required proof and cancel my policy.
Shortly after cancelling my policy Allstate sent me a "collection" bill for $14.30. I paid the bill and tracked my payment through my bank. My bank has posted my payment and I have since received two "collection" bills for $14.30, from Allstate.
Tracey
katy, Texas
U.S.A.
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