Complain about a product or service

Progressive - Claim Disputes

Progressive Insurance • Claim disputes • Rates • Why do they call it that?

Al of Edgewood, NM writes (1/27/03):
I purchased a car for my son and purchased full coverage for it through Progressive. On Dec. 2001 my son rear-ended a truck and caused severe damage to his car. When we reported this to the insurance company, the adjustor asigned was Jay C. who up to this date refuses to talk to us or come and look at this car. He believes that my son was excluded from coverage even though this car and the loan were under his name. His name suddenly appeared on the exclusion list while my other son who is another driver in the household is included. He is two years younger than the excluded driver.

Which father would buy a car for his son and have him excluded? Progressive's main goal is to take advantage of their clients and refuse as many legitimate claim as possible.

Bradly, of Worchester, NY, writes:
On Aug. 27, 2000, I had a 2000 custom Harley Davidson stolen from my home while I was gone. I called the police and they came and took info. Four days later Mr. Appel shows up and takes my statement then he starts with talk of how any false info will result in no payment. Now they have sent the same statement form twice for me to fill out and I furnished them with pictures of the stolen bike and all my receipts and three times I have been asked for explainations of parts and where they where purchased when the info was at the top of each receipt and some parts were bought at swap meets and receipts where given. Now I'm being asked to do a sworn statement in front of a court reporter and bring my tax returns for 1998 and 1999. When I called Mike Appel up and asked him why I was being treated this way he stated that it was normal for all settlements and that Progessive did this on all claims. I feel that I am being discriminated against.

I'm out an $18,000 motorcycle that took five years to put together and I'm being told that I have to give them all my personal information and being treated as if i did something wrong. I feel that I am being discriminated against and that Progressive Insurance is trying to discredit my character and not pay this claim. I have been without a bike that took me five years to build and the only thing that I get is looks when they ask about my work and they find out I'm on Workman's Compensation. I have been put through the ringer and treated like dirt.

Bob, of Tampa, FL, writes:
My car was vandalized four weeks ago. I called Progressive to report the incident. The next morning they came to see the car. My stereo was stolen and speakers and other equipment. The next thing I know the guy who came to see the car was taking pictures of the mileage and informed me the car wasn't a brand-new car and they said they paid two years ago for the same sort of incident. Is it fair that I have been paying my coverage in full and come to find out now insurance companies pay only one time even if you keep a good record and continue paying your coverage?!

AEL of Macon, GA writes:
I was involved in a car accident on November 26, 1998. My 1998 BMW 323is was demolished and is considered a total loss by two auto body shops. Progressive refuses to honor these opinions and has made no effort to do what needs to be done (totaling my vehicle) or providing me with transportation.

I have upheld my end of the contract with Progressive my paying my premiums, yet they have breached their end of the contract by not servicing me. I desperately need your help! I am a divorced mother on total and permanent disability from IBM Corporation and owned only this one vehicle that I can no longer use. I am still paying my car note and continued to pay premiums to Progressive until this month. I cancelled my policy with them as I could no longer pay for service that I have not received!

I should not have to settle for having my vehicle "patched" and compromise my and my family's safety!

Unfortunately, this is fairly typical. Insurance companies have a great deal of leverage in a case such as yours and it will be difficult to make much progress with them.

AEL could hire an attorney but the cost would be considerable and the experts we consulted did not feel she would be able to recover enough to make it worthwhile. AEL could also call the state insurance commissioner's office and ask if they have a dispute resolution process for cases such as this. All insurance is regulated at the state level, so that's where one must turn for help.

Back to the top |