Complaint Review: Allstate Insurance - San Jose California

I am skeptical about all insurance companies and wouldn't purchase insurance at all if it weren't absolutely necessary. I do everything I can to avoid having to file a claim but when I did file with Allstate for water damage at our home in Foster City, California in 2001 I got good service, prompt payment, and no hassles. The claim was in excess of $5,000 and they paid in full and even offered to pay for lodging in a nearby hotel while repairs were being made. I expected my rates to go up or to have trouble getting insurance in the future. Four years have passed and neither has happened. It was the first and only claim I have filed against my insurance company and I have to admit it was handled professionally by Allstate.

I am skeptical about all insurance companies and wouldn't purchase insurance at all if it weren't absolutely necessary. I do everything I can to avoid having to file a claim but when I did file with Allstate for water damage at our home in Foster City, California in 2001 I got good service, prompt payment, and no hassles. The claim was in excess of $5,000 and they paid in full and even offered to pay for lodging in a nearby hotel while repairs were being made. I expected my rates to go up or to have trouble getting insurance in the future. Four years have passed and neither has happened. It was the first and only claim I have filed against my insurance company and I have to admit it was handled professionally by Allstate.

I am skeptical about all insurance companies and wouldn't purchase insurance at all if it weren't absolutely necessary. I do everything I can to avoid having to file a claim but when I did file with Allstate for water damage at our home in Foster City, California in 2001 I got good service, prompt payment, and no hassles. The claim was in excess of $5,000 and they paid in full and even offered to pay for lodging in a nearby hotel while repairs were being made. I expected my rates to go up or to have trouble getting insurance in the future. Four years have passed and neither has happened. It was the first and only claim I have filed against my insurance company and I have to admit it was handled professionally by Allstate.

I am skeptical about all insurance companies and wouldn't purchase insurance at all if it weren't absolutely necessary. I do everything I can to avoid having to file a claim but when I did file with Allstate for water damage at our home in Foster City, California in 2001 I got good service, prompt payment, and no hassles. The claim was in excess of $5,000 and they paid in full and even offered to pay for lodging in a nearby hotel while repairs were being made. I expected my rates to go up or to have trouble getting insurance in the future. Four years have passed and neither has happened. It was the first and only claim I have filed against my insurance company and I have to admit it was handled professionally by Allstate.

Had State Farm Homeowners insurance for over 27 years. Had 3 claims in that time totalling around $7,000. Cancelled us and because our last claim was for water damage now we can only get insurance through a high-priced company for less coverage. We appealed to the insurance company and they reinstated us but our premiums went up 75%. Our agent would do NOTHING - we had to call the home office to get this resolved ourselves. (I totalled up our premiums over the time and we paid more than twice what are claims were. I've learned my lesson - do not put in a claim if there is anyway to pay for it myself.)

Have you ever read your homeowners policy? I often ask myself why I even have insurance. There are so many exceptions that only three things are covered. Fire (depending how it is started), Theft, and Liability. Most people are better off investing there own premiums and becoming self insured.

P.S. It's not just Allstate that works that way. All insurance companies due. They lose a lot of money on claims and they have to be profitable. So give them a break. Sorry that you didn't have a better insurance agent to advise you of that. So blame the agent and not the company.

Your absolutely right. Only put in a claim if you have too. For those that cannot find insurance there is the California Fair Plan which is for people that either live in the brush area, near the ocean, or have a hard time finding insurance. It is not the best policy because it does not cover everything like a homeowners policy. But it does cover fire in case the home burns down. Only certain insurance agents write it. Check the website at cfpnet.com. Good Luck.