Frankenmuth Insurance Frankenmuth Mutual, Frankenmuth Insurance Group Engage in Conflict of Interests - with policyholder funds Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth Executives use policyholder money to take the board of directors on week long luxury trips right before the board of director's anual meeting. They've gone to places like Vegas (The Winn) or Cabo and stayed at the exclusive One and Only Palmila. Not only do the board and executives go, but their spouses go, compliments of the policyholders - all the while, Frankenmuth is lobbying for higher insurance premiums for policyholders. The board meeting takes maybe a couple of hours yet the trips are for a week, wherein the board members and spouses are entertained, wined, dined and then go to the meeting on the last day of the trip where they vote on executive pay and bonuses? I feel this is a huge conflict and that the policyholders should be enlightened - particularly when this company claims it can't make money and needs rate hikes. How about reducing the spending on unnecessary luxury items that could be conceived as nothing more than "bribes" to the board members in exchange for voting on higher pay and bonuses. Of course that would explain why the recently retired CEO was able to build a 12,000+ sq foot house on Bay Harbor after purchasing the lot for about 1 million. Policyholders should look at the behavior of the executives and board members when considering where to place their money and trust. It's in my opinion, a HUGE conflict of interest and not at all in keeping with the fiduciary duties entrusted to people in these high positions. I don't think anyone begruges a for profit company making money but I personally don't expect them to engage in such blatent excess with the perceptions of conflicts and payoff's to board members for personal gain.
AM Best just downgraded Frankenmuth. Below is an article calling in to question alleged bribery of a judge by Frankenmuth to avoid a claims payment. Don't know if it's true but readers can form their own opinion...
The second link is from the Michigan Work Comp Agency - showing that Frankenmuth disputed 99% of the WC claims filed! You wouldn't think they'd need rate increases if they never pay claims - maybe the one that slipped through and accidently got paid was a big one?
www.courthouseforum.com/
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/wca/wca_Insurance_Company_Disputes_2007_227434_7.pdf
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Jeff Locke
howell,Michigan,
United States of America
I have not been paid either by Frankemuth
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, November 06, 2012
I see I am not the only one who has had poroblems with this company. read this website below
www.frankenmuthinsurancesucks.com
Bruce C
United States of AmericaFrankenmuth Insurance
#4General Comment
Sat, December 25, 2010
I had this company insuring my house and car for several years. I had no claims against Frankenmuth while insured by them. The agent handling my insurance assured me she had no problems with them in her 10 years as an insurance agent however there has been information documenting that the company is involved in donating large amounts of money to Michigan Supreme Court justices election campaigns.
I don't see why an insurance company would find it necessary to donate money to the Michigan Supreme Court justices unless they know they will get something out of it.
A Wisconsin Supreme Court decision indicates that Frankenmuth corporate decisions were unethical to their insured clients and if not outright illegal in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decision also questions why repeatedly Michigan judges rulings are in favor of Frankenmuth. I don't suppose they could of bought the Michigan Supreme Court do you?
If a Wisconsin judge doesn't like how Frankenmuth runs it's business who am I to question their opinion. I quit Frankenmuth and sleep better now.
Tom
United States of AmericaThey cheated me
#4Author of original report
Sat, July 10, 2010
I had a claim which was disputed by this company. I lost my house, my car, my family because they held payment of my claim for over 2 years. A judge finally ordered them to pay my claim in full with interest. They ruined my life. The adjuster I had initially was an idiot - Jill something (started with a w). She was clueless and when I would challenge her she never could respond because there was no answer. She hung up on me several times, was always in a nasty mood and just a mean individual. After I got an attorney I didn't have to talk to her by my attorney said she was flat out stupid and nasty to him also. She had all the information she needed that my claim was valid and she just didn't want to admit she was wrong about denying it so she held my money until a court ordered her to pay. I wish there was bad faith for this type of thing but my attorney said there is not in WC claims. Someone at that company should review her claims and how poorly they are handled and how she is ignorant and ignores the law. Not to mention how just plain mean and nasty she is to people. There is never a reason to be unprofessional.