Complaint Review: ING Insurance

I am a new auto owner to North America and sought auto insurance (I had my drivers licence here for a few years, no accidents or tickets). The lowest quote I could find was with ING Direct - just about $3,000 for the year 2002/2003 on a 1996 Toyota Tercel 2-door in good condition, no accidents.

Coverage was limited to the GTA - I could not leave the Province with the vehicle, nor drive outside the amalgamated Toronto region.

So I purchased the insurance, expecting that it would decrease every year if I had a clean drivinfg record and that things would get better.

Approaching renewal date this year I received a demand in the mail for over $4,000 in premium. When I called the agent and asked the reason for the increase she simply said that insurance rates had gone up.

Adding premiums for the first year and what they demanded for the second year I reach just short of the car's purchase price...

Well, I shopped around and found auto insurance that covered me for the whole of north america, with smaller deductibles in every category, for a shade over $2,100.

If ING wants to get out of the insurance business they should do so, not try to screw every one of their clients to the extent that they leave for greener pastures or sell their cars and take publkic transportation.

Most insurnace is becoming a reverse scam on the public, and the slightest cost to the insurance company is seen as an attack on their institution - claiming anything is a nightmare of decision-making and fear.

I think such a necessary part of life should be taken over and provided by the government on an accountability basis, not loaded up to what the market can bear. It is done in other countries, why not Canada?

James
Thornhill, Ontario
Canada