USAA 1/4 century mark!

syncroid · 08-18-2009, 05:51 AM

I made the 1/2 century mark with USAA yesterday. Yah! 24 of those years with no tickets or accidents. (knock on wood)

fingpilot · 08-18-2009, 12:49 PM

I've been with USAA since summer of 1968. So you know where I was when I 'joined'.

I just left them because so much has changed there, and I got a better rate (unheard of) from CSAA. They stopped insuring motorcycles, then stopped insuring boats. Then a screwup on a double payment on my car insurance (auto pay) tripped 'universal default', and that took a year and several thousand dollars to clear up. Even then, didn't really clean it up.

So long USAA. I'm sure they DGAS.

lin7310948 · 08-18-2009, 04:29 PM

i became a member in the summer of '69...40 years ag0...right out of artillery ocs at ft sill oklahoma!

mossguy · 08-18-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingpilot

I've been with USAA since summer of 1968. So you know where I was when I 'joined'.

I just left them because so much has changed there, and I got a better rate (unheard of) from CSAA. They stopped insuring motorcycles, then stopped insuring boats. Then a screwup on a double payment on my car insurance (auto pay) tripped 'universal default', and that took a year and several thousand dollars to clear up. Even then, didn't really clean it up.

So long USAA. I'm sure they DGAS.

Fing - I'm sorry to hear that you have had such a bad experience with USAA. I am guessing that this was an aberration. I have been a member for 44 years and have always had excellent service, etc. Best of luck (seriously) with your new company!

Tom

k9handler · 08-18-2009, 05:05 PM

I can't say the same...10+ years and no claims, this year my daughter let's her boyfriend drive her truck and he totals it!

USAA as the bank (loan on the truck) and the Insurnce company just manage to screw me over, very poor customer service in my opinion.

I am now with Allstate.

widgeon13 · 08-18-2009, 06:15 PM

USAA 40 years, no complaints!

gt350mike · 08-18-2009, 07:31 PM

Man, I'm trying to figure out how many times we've had to submit a claim since we've been with USAA.

Although we've had great service with them since 1985, I am pretty disappointed that I had to go to Progressive for my motorcycle insurance.

Rot 911 · 08-19-2009, 05:58 AM

I too am getting a bit disappointed in USAA. Been a member since 1985, but when I bought the new Ducati I find out they no longer insure motorcycles. While the service is good I wonder if this is the beginning of a downhill slide to poor service.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt350mike

Although we've had great service with them since 1985, I am pretty disappointed that I had to go to Progressive for my motorcycle insurance.

Exactly my experience and sentiments too. I was pretty disappointed with their towing insurance limit of 25 when I had a blowout last month. 25 miles doesn't do much for you in the middle of the Mojave Desert. That was a $1000 adventure after the tow.

fingpilot · 08-19-2009, 09:07 AM

I am soooooo glad I am not the only one that feels this way about USAA. It seemed like the downhill slide started about 5 years ago. My rates (NEVER a claim or ticket) had been creeping up. Then I got the call about how they were going to stop insuring boats. They had the paper (loan) on the boat, a 43-foot sailboat. Gave me 6 months to find replacement carrier. Of course, total premium was about the same for same limits (should have been a clue). Then on one of my annual 'policy review' calls, was told that they had stopped writing new motorcycle policies, and that writing was probably on the wall. That they were 'carrying' my bikes because of my longstanding 'membership'. BTW, we are also asking that you move your 'commercial' vehicle off of the policy. It was a Grumman Stepvan that I used for moving bikes around, and it was a private vehicle with non-commercial plates as well. So I did, premium went up about 50% on Progressive.

It used to be when I'd call an insurance company for a quote, one of the first questions was always 'Who are you with now?'..... As soon as I said USAA, they would chuckle, and say goodbye. We can't compete with them. The service was always great, I was able to do everything by phone (being on the road 22 days a month). At one time, boats, cars and bikes, there were 22 vehicles insured at the same time. One driver. They rated the 21 vehicles as if I was the only driver (meaning I could not possibly be driving more than one at a time). When I moved to Nevada in 1987, they undid that. Nevada required full time rated policy. Meaning I paid for all 21 vehicles to be on the road at once. Premium doubled. I made the mistake of calling and asking about replacing a windsheild on an SL. Was just asking what was involved. They started a claim. I never did it. It showed as a claim with a zero$ payout. SAID it made no diff in ratings... right.

Was really sorry to let it all go elsewhere, they called weekly and asked why I had moved. Told each caller exactly why. Made no diff. Figured it was some new business model, like a Ponzi scheme. Make the money off of the churn.

The billing 'slip' on their part was the final straw. One of the truly great benefits of years of service went south. Kinda like everything else did.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I called USAA about four yrs. ago to ask about DE coverage. Just to ask. Mind you, I already had a DE policy when on the track, but it was expensive and I was just asking. USAA asked if I had ever had my SC on the track. I said yes, but I have a seperate policy for that. Boom. Instant drop. I protested, appealed, begged, talked with an underwriter. No dice. I had to go to Leland West just to get coverage to drive on the street between my storage garage the track. I ate up that 5k annual mileage limit pretty fast too. Really chapped my hyde.

rhjames · rhjames's Garage

I too, am with USAA.

However, one must remember that this is a very conservative company.

expecting a conservative company to cover things like motorcycles, boats, race cars, or any thing that is risky (yeah I know....everything is risky) is just not their program.

seems really odd to me though, that most of its members are ex-military, one of the most risky organizations in the world.

I guess they think driving a M1 Abrahams isn't risky.......but a Porsche with a full on roll cage, 6 point harness, firesuit, and helmet is?

think about it.......

----

Rot 911 · 08-19-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhjames

I too, am with USAA.

However, one must remember that this is a very conservative company.

expecting a conservative company to cover things like motorcycles, boats, race cars, or any thing that is risky (yeah I know....everything is risky) is just not their program.

The problem is not the type of vehicles, the problem is when they expanded their coverage a few years ago that allowed much younger members of the military to become USAA members. Younger drivers tend to have more accidents leading to more payouts by USAA. USAA's reaction is to start limiting the vehicles they cover and to increase premiums for everyone. Like some of the others here I will probably start shopping around my vehicle insurance.

k9handler · 08-19-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt V

The problem is not the type of vehicles, the problem is when they expanded their coverage a few years ago that allowed much younger members of the military to become USAA members. Younger drivers tend to have more accidents leading to more payouts by USAA. USAA's reaction is to start limiting the vehicles they cover and to increase premiums for everyone. Like some of the others here I will probably start shopping around my vehicle insurance.

I agree...

When I first enlisted in 1988 USAA would not insure me as an enlisted member, only officers could be in the club so to speak. When it finally opened up to enlisted I switched from GEICO immediately due to the savings.

Now Allstate was able to beat USAA rates due to motercycles and rv coverage.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

My dad has been a USAA member for over 50 years, he still is. When I moved away from home many years ago I started life with USAA. I was with them for many years. When I got married we checked on home insurance for our new house. USAA was LOT higher for the same coverage. With that, I started checking on car insurance I found the same thing. I never had a problem with USAA but the cost savings had vanished. I still do some banking with them but no insurance

fingpilot · 08-19-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt V

The problem is not the type of vehicles, the problem is when they expanded their coverage a few years ago that allowed much younger members of the military to become USAA members. Younger drivers tend to have more accidents leading to more payouts by USAA. USAA's reaction is to start limiting the vehicles they cover and to increase premiums for everyone. Like some of the others here I will probably start shopping around my vehicle insurance.

I believe it was that they opened their services to Non-Comms. Not necessarily younger... I didn't equate the change in direction with the change in members. If you believed their financials, the opening up of membership actually helped their bottom line; that was about 10 years ago.

The changes for the worse occurred about 5 ago.

syncroid · 08-19-2009, 06:31 PM

Wow! I had no idea that there would be so many of you that were unhappy with USAA.
My experience with them has been great. Mind you, my wife and I have only had one claim with them in the last fifteen years or so. My wife's Mercedes got side swiped by an 18 wheeler changing lanes. (still

long story) It was declared a "no fault" accident because the dirt bag truck driver lied through his teeth about it to save his driver's license.
Otherwise, I could not be happier. I have them for my auto and house insurance. I also have them for banking, some investments, and life insurance.