Complaint Review: USAA - San Antonio Texas

I have been a member of USAA since 1992.

Approximately 3 years ago, A GMC Jimmy parked in my driveway was heavily hail damaged, and I filed a claim with USAA.

Approximately two years ago, I tapped the bumper of a jeep, because after the driver started moving forward from an intersection, then he suddenly, and for no apparent reason, slammed on his brakes. No damage was done, no injuries were sustained, and no law enforcement agency was involved.

I notified USAA, just in case the other driver was one of those types that claim whiplash or something later. No claim was ever filed by me or the other driver.

However, USAA evidently opened a claim at that time, and let it remain open for quite some time.

Last year, the window of a nursing home shuttle bus blew out on the freeway, showering the front of my vehicle and several others, with shards of glass, damaging the paint and windshield. I tried to get the nursing home or their insurance to pay for the damages, but they would not, and USAA told me there was nothing I could do but file a claim under my comprehensive coverage, to get the compensation for the damages, so I did.

Also last year, while backing up in a convenience store parking lot, in heavy rain, I backed into a 2' high concrete filled steel post, which was painted gray, and located in an unusual place out in the middle of the parking lot, very close to the parking space I was backing out from, and below line of sight either by looking behind while backing (as I was at the time), or from side view mirrors. I filed a claim with USAA and am now having the damages repaired.

Despite the prior claims, my rates with USAA have stayed the same for the last two six-month policy periods. This February, they suddenly doubled, from about $600 per six month term, to almost $1,000.

When I called to find out why, I was told it was because I had two "at fault" accidents on my record. When I queried them as to why there were two (only figuring the post), they told me that the incident in which I had bumped into the jeep, had been placed on my record as an "at fault" accident also.

I asked them why it was considered a claim, since there was no claim, no damage, no injury, no ticket issued, etc. and they said "just because I called them and told them about it"

At approximately the same time (this month or possibly last month), they have suddenly decided to add all of the above incidents (the hail claim from three years ago) to the CLUE reports, insuring in effect, that I cannot get insurance anywhere else.

In calling other insurance companies, I was told by Nationwide that they don't consider an incident such as backing into a post, or one in which no claim was ever filed, and no loss occurred, as "at fault" accidents.

However, it is evidently left up to the insurance companies to determine what they want to call a claim, and what they don't. USSA has clearly seen an opportunity to jack me up on my rates, and have created a monopoly by "blackballing" me on this CLUE report.

I evidently have no recourse, other than to sit and take it. The information they report is one sided, and subjective in nature. Credit reports at least give an individual to dispute what's in their file. There is no provision for this with CLUE reports.

I accept responsibility for my own actions, but it's obvious that USAA thinks they have me over a barrel, and are taking advantage of the situation.

There is no rocket science to figure out why they suddenly decided to do these things after a record loss year from mold claims!

Beware that they engage in these tactics before considering them as an insurer for your vehicle.

Jack

Houston, Texas
U.S.A.