Why I hate Geico

[casualmadness]

I hate Geico. I hate them with a deep, brooding passion. And this is my story (I'll keep it brief).

As some of you may remember, I totalled my Jeep a few months ago. Now, I've been a Geico customer for about seven or eight years now. I signed on with them after realizing that they offered me the best rates. I've never had an accident, haven't had a ticket since college (only had three my entire life), and have generally been a good driver.

Fast forward many years and I total my Jeep. It was my fault. I hit black ice and the Jeep started doing cartwheels. Geico had to buy it from me, as well as pay some medical bills, as well as fix a Ford Explorer that I hit, as well as pay the medical bills of the lady driving the Ford.

After a while, I began looking for a new ride. With everything that I looked at,I called Geico to get an insurance quote.
When I finally decided on my new car (2008 Honda Accord) I called to get the rates. The lady quoted me a price that was only slighly higher than what I was paying on my 1999 Jeep. I asked if that was just a quote or a firm rate. She assured me that was the rate that I would pay if I purchased the Honda. I made a remark about how I was surprised that my rate wasn't higher since they had just paid out so much money for the wreck. She said, "we like to take care of our loyal customers and you've been with us a long time and have never had a claim."

Joy!

Fast forward to my first insurance bill that was approximately $200 more, bi-annually than what was quoted.
I called the company, steaming mad. I get some 20 something punk on the phone who might have been the most condescending ***** I've ever spoken to. He keeps telling me that I have to pay for the accident that I had and Geico spent a lot fo money to take care of me and now I have to repay them.
I demanded his manager. Manager is a slighly older punk telling me the same thing. After a long phone convo, I admitted defeat. I paid that first bill. Needless to say I'm now shopping for another carrier.

I get that my rates will icnrease after an accident. My beef is that they assured me (on multiple occasions) that my rates would not increase. So I budgeted for a 2008 Accord and then realized after buying the damn car that I was going to have to readjust my budget.



Geico sucks big time. That is all.

[NJL]

I have been with State Farm for about 7 years and they have been great. They also have a bank with competitive rates... If something ever happens with State Farm, I'll hit up USAA..

[Vince S.]

Originally Posted by casualmadness

I hate Geico. I hate them with a deep, brooding passion. And this is my story (I'll keep it brief).

As some of you may remember, I totalled my Jeep a few months ago. Now, I've been a Geico customer for about seven or eight years now. I signed on with them after realizing that they offered me the best rates. I've never had an accident, haven't had a ticket since college (only had three my entire life), and have generally been a good driver.

Fast forward many years and I total my Jeep. It was my fault. I hit black ice and the Jeep started doing cartwheels. Geico had to buy it from me, as well as pay some medical bills, as well as fix a Ford Explorer that I hit, as well as pay the medical bills of the lady driving the Ford.

After a while, I began looking for a new ride. With everything that I looked at,I called Geico to get an insurance quote.
When I finally decided on my new car (2008 Honda Accord) I called to get the rates. The lady quoted me a price that was only slighly higher than what I was paying on my 1999 Jeep. I asked if that was just a quote or a firm rate. She assured me that was the rate that I would pay if I purchased the Honda. I made a remark about how I was surprised that my rate wasn't higher since they had just paid out so much money for the wreck. She said, "we like to take care of our loyal customers and you've been with us a long time and have never had a claim."

Joy!

Fast forward to my first insurance bill that was approximately $200 more, bi-annually than what was quoted.
I called the company, steaming mad. I get some 20 something punk on the phone who might have been the most condescending ***** I've ever spoken to. He keeps telling me that I have to pay for the accident that I had and Geico spent a lot fo money to take care of me and now I have to repay them.
I demanded his manager. Manager is a slighly older punk telling me the same thing. After a long phone convo, I admitted defeat. I paid that first bill. Needless to say I'm now shopping for another carrier.

I get that my rates will icnrease after an accident. My beef is that they assured me (on multiple occasions) that my rates would not increase. So I budgeted for a 2008 Accord and then realized after buying the damn car that I was going to have to readjust my budget.



Geico sucks big time. That is all.

Wow, that's terrible. Did the woman you spoke with who gave you the original quote get it to you in writing by any chance?

[FL Knifemaker]

Geico is based here in Lakeland, FL. We see the Gecko all over town, waving to the cars. Good thing for him you don't live here

[GeneralElectric]

I used to have Geico, I switched to Progressive, then State Farm, and now I don't have a car anymore.

State Farm was the best to work with in my opinion.

I got into an accident when I had Progressive and they told me that shoulder injuries were nothing, and it'd be fine in a week or two since they usually go away. An orthopedist told me I was missing tons of tiny pieces from my shoulder.

Right...

[casualmadness]

Originally Posted by Vince S.

Wow, that's terrible. Did the woman you spoke with who gave you the original quote get it to you in writing by any chance?

If I were a smarter man,I would have asked for a fax or an email or something. But I have been with them for so long, and have never had any trouble (never filed a claim before) so it didn't occur to me.
I do my banking, IRA, CDs, etc. with USAA so I think I'm going to go with them for my auto insurance.

[NJL]

Originally Posted by casualmadness

I do my banking, IRA, CDs, etc. with USAA so I think I'm going to go with them for my auto insurance.

Sweet!

[Rakie]

I wouldn't go with anything like those companies... I have a friend who worked for state farm, and he worked for several places over the years, he told me that State Farm was the best company by far, aside from private insurance.

My dad got screwed over by The General, hehe.

[Atoz]

I'm insured through AAA. A few years back, I hit an antelope at 60 and demolished my front end. I only had to make two phone calls: one to report the accident, and a second to tell them where I had my car towed and what rental agency I was using to get a car while mine was being fixed. I just walked into the dealer, paid the deductible and picked up my car when it was fixed. It was great.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

You were assured by her that that would be the price you would pay, you agreed to those terms with her.

I'd take this higher. Even if she did give you an incorrect quote, the company still has to charge what you accepted.

(This is where I love that in Scotland a verbal conversation can be legally binding (does not have to be on paper) )

[casualmadness]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

(This is where I love that in Scotland a verbal conversation can be legally binding (does not have to be on paper) )

The problem is, I wasn't smart enough to get her name/extension/etc. I took the quote via cel phone and trusted that it was a good quote.
Bottom line; always get everything in writing. I should have known that, coming from the military. But I had a dumb **** moment.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by casualmadness

I do my banking, IRA, CDs, etc. with USAA so I think I'm going to go with them for my auto insurance.

Definitely go with USAA. Great insurance, and excellent service.

I joke with people that I married my wife just to get a USAA membership.

[Mark Latimour]

Greico was okay, but he was no Johnny Depp.

[casualmadness]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Greico was okay, but he was no Johnny Depp.

touche` salesman...

[RWP]

I am such a good driver State Farm pays me to insure with them.

[Eric Perry]

I've had State Farm for 10+ years. They've always been great, even through a few accidents (none of which were my fault, but they got the loyal runaround from the other carrier twice).

My rates aren't great, but they are better than other carriers I'd actually trust (Allstate, Progressive, etc.) None of that Geico or Safe Auto crap for me.

[NJL]

Originally Posted by RWP

I am such a good driver State Farm pays me to insure with them.

I got a dividend check from them, too!!

[NJL]

Originally Posted by jive1

Definitely go with USAA. Great insurance, and excellent service.

I joke with people that I married my wife just to get a USAA membership.

Actually, this was one of the first things I did when I got married (she worked for the bank...now divorced), too...

I just got the AmEx card with them.. it's like a line of credit as well!! Payments on the fly and the card is black, so some may think it the Centurion card (sp?) LOL

I want to refi next year on my truck.. prolly do that there, too..

[steve21]

I use Wawanesa and they've done my family pretty well. Me and my dad are basically "At risk" drivers because he's gotten a couple of tickets and been in a couple of accidents that weren't his fault, and I am not only an 18 year old male but got into an accident that was 100% my fault... and the rates are still good for us.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by Eric618

My rates aren't great, but they are better than other carriers I'd actually trust (Allstate, Progressive, etc.) None of that Geico or Safe Auto crap for me.

I've had nothing but cheap insurance for several years, and no issues.

Had Geico, but never made a claim.

Had Progressive, made a claim on a car break-in, they paid up promptly with no problems.

Have Unitrin Direct (through Sam's Club) - totalled TWO cars this winter. They paid up promptly with no problems, including a rental car on one of the accidents.