Bristol West Car InsuranceBristol West Car Insurance renewing policy without notification and money discrepancies San Jose CA (headquarters elsewhere)

As a new driver of a 1992 Bmw 525i I went out looking for insurance. Did some quotes for great insurance companies and the prices were insanely high. I finally thought just to settle for Eastwood a low rate company owned that gave me quote from Bristol west insurance. $144 a month with $280 down seemed the best option so I stuck with it and signed up.

After 11 months my car was totaled by a tree when I had it parked in the driveway to a home I was renting a room in. It was a not windy,raining, or much of anything really, normal california weather. I figured just to go through home owner insurance because my car didn't have that kind of insurance through tree damage.

I was making ok money as student working as a server, until they renewed my policy with out telling me. I figured I miscalculated the months I had it for, then after 2 months then I thought, ok now my policy is over. They took out another $144, causing me hundreds of dollars in overdraft fees from my bank and forced me to drop out of school due to lack of funds.

It turns out they took out $450+ out of my bank for a new policy for a car that is in the junk yard. I call them, get put on hold for an hour, then they say "ok, just fax us proof that you car was damaged then we can cancel your policy" I told them it doesn't matter I need the money back from the renewed policy without my knowledge. To make a long story short they basically would say "o, no we need these papers then wait three weeks" call them again, no we need these papers" call them again after two weeks no we need these papers."O, no we need these papers," the same ones I faxed two weeks ago.

Finally when it got to we need a copy of the check that you got from your home owner insurance proving that you got the money for the totaled car I did a three way call with my insurance agent three more times. Then they said we will send the check. Three weeks later I get a check for 5 dollars, they owe me $450+

I thought to myself , you have to be f-ing kidding me. Call them back they said we never sent you a check I don't know what your talking about, I said, I'm holding it in my hand I will fax it to you right now. Suddenly they say o yea that was a mistake we will send it out to you in one week.

5+ calls and 2 months later I finally got my retro-active payments back for something that should never have been done in the first place, they never told me that they renewed my policy then put me through hell to try to get my money back that should never have been taked out

After this 5 1/2 month long nightmare this has not only cost me the money they owed me, but 100 dollars in faxing papers, 500 dollars in overdraft fees, and countless hours in calling and stressing out because of third party mistakes.

Dont go to Bristol West insurance ever, they are scheming and they will put you through hell and play stupid to make you jump through hoops, even after I tell them my entire situation as young financially independent student trying to pay for rent and school at the same time, they just don't care.

Ryan
stockton, California
U.S.A.