Smart Step Insurance ,Intersections Insurance Services SMART STEP IS A RIP OFF AND A DBA OF INTERSECTIONS INSURANCE Arlington Heights Illinois
Smart Step Insurance (The real name is Intersections Insurance, See below)
I found $40 monthly withdrawals through my bank account at Bank of America. First I called Smart Step. Smart step said I authorized the withdrawals and that they sent me a "policy" in the mail.( I am a licensed independent insurance agent and I own my own insurance agency! Why would I buy something I have never bought on my own or want? Why would I buy it through them and not get the commission on the sale?) I never received a "policy" because if I did I would have immediately called the State of Illinois on it and I never authorized the sale.
Smart Step said that I did authorize the sale after a telemarketing call to my home. THERE IS NO WAY I EVER DID THAT. They said that "it is really valuable coverage". I said I would file a complaint and that I wanted my money back immediately. They said after another 10 minutes of arguing that they "would investigate the matter" and that they would get back to me within 45 days and "send me a cd audio recording" of the transaction. As of this writing I do not have my money back yet.
I then called Bank of America. After speaking to 3 individuals, and the last one being incredibly rude, they said I had to fill out a form and mail it in and that "they would investigate the matter".
I filed a complaint with the State of Illinois Dept. of Insurance and they said in writing and this is word for word:
"The Division of Insurance received your recent letter. The insurance company name provided on the consumer complaint form is not an insurance company licensed to do business in Illinois. In order to investigate this matter, the following information is needed: 1. Actual full name of insurance comapny involved: ________________. The Division of Insurance can take no further action until you provide the requested information. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me. Very Truly yours, Roy Prose, Insurance Analyst, Office of Consumer Health Insurance. 877-527-9431. consumer_complaints@ins.state.il.us"
CALL THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO COMPLAIN
CALL YOUR STATE DEPT OF INSURANCE TO COMPLAIN
GET A FORM FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF YOUR STATE
FILE A POLICE REPORT
BELOW IS THE BBB REPORT FOR SMART STEP DBA (Intersections is the real company)
Business Contact and Profile
Name: Intersections Insurance Services Inc.
Phone: (847) 797-8500
Address: 315 W University Dr Arlington Heights, IL 60004-1811
Yahoo Map Website: www.intersections.com www.charteredmarketing.com Original Business Start Date: January 1981 Principal: Ms. Diane Flanagan, Vice President Customer Contact: Ms. Diane Flanagan, Vice President - (847) 797-8500 Employees: 90 TOB Classification: Insurance Services, Health & Medical (General), Insurance Companies, Insurance-Group BBB Accreditation: This organization is a BBB Accredited business.
Additional DBA Names: Advantage Care Plus
Smart Step Protector Insurance
Smart Step Insurance
Chartered Marketing Services, Inc.
Mark
Northbrook, Illinois
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Mark
Northbrook,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Finally Paid Back Update 8/11/09
#2
Wed, August 12, 2009
UPDATE: I was finally paid back $80 into my account only after I filed a complaint with the State of Illinois Department of Insurance. My wife authorized the policy but without my permission. BOA sent ACH payments to Smart Step from my account even though my wife is not a signer on the account and I did not give verbal or written authorization.
As of this date we still have not received a CD copy of the phone conversation (even though we received a written copy) as promised by Smart Step (Intersections) insurance and we still have not received the policy they said they would send originally. Again, I am a registered insurance agent in Illinois and I would never have bought anything that I can buy myself.
No further withdrawals via BOA to Intersections has taken place as of 8/11/09. A copy of this update has been sent to the Illinois Department of Insurance, Thomas Anderson, Investigations Unit per his request.