Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Day 2: Not so good!


This year has already demonstrated it will be very, very defiant and be very mean because it can. It's already flexing its muscles, and boy, can it kick. The 1st was very tough and the 2nd's just moving right along with the plan. But no worries, I'll let it rage until it tires itself out. Hopefully soon!

Anyway, onto some insurance stuff.

5 or so months ago, I mentioned I went into the Progressive Snapshot program. For those of you unfamiliar with it, Progressive (car insurance) offers a discount based on your driving habits. You plug in this device in your car and it tracks certain things. In my mind, I was thinking, "you know, my parents got an 18% (out of 30% possible) discount on this particular car, under my driving (plus theirs). They look at 3 things: times the car is driven, hard stops and average miles. Considering my parents were driving the car at absurd hours of the night on a daily basis, for at least 150mi/day average and clocking in over 20 hard stops per 5mi drive, I can do a lot better!"

And so I did. I finished with 21mi daily average, 11 hard stop per week average and only 17hrs of risk-time driving total. My parents got an 18% on that particular car with a lot worse stats. What did I get? 4%. I was ticked off. I know I should be like, "free money!", but yeah. No. I wanted an explanation.

Long story short, the first rep was condescending, since I already have pretty much bare-bone coverage. Then transferred me to one who was not very helpful, but pretty much told me that because my rate is so low already (one driver, one car, close to minimum coverage), I get a lousy discount.

Never mind I'm a decent driver; they can only discount the rates by so much. Ok. Fair enough. I wish they would've told me 6 months ago, so I wouldn't stress and get upset at the hard stops I made by mistake (like 3 mornings ago), or trying to hoard the car away from my parents so they wouldn't put unnecessary miles.

4%, I'll take it, I guess. It comes down to a $8 reduction off my 6-month policy. Not content, but I'll take it. I wouldn't have stressed out about it, though. I probably would've skipped it altogether. I'm very ticked off, and if it wasn't because all extra money I get this year is going into savings, I'd go buy myself a $8 dessert to make up for it. Progressive, you suck.

12 comments:

  1. I could never do that!! Why allow them to see how you truly drive lol

    HS

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    1. Because I drive carefully... other than the soft/slow braking, I am a pretty safe driver. They don't track speed or GPS you. Just the miles put in, hard brakes and off-hour driving time.

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  2. Personally every person I know who has had progressive has hated it. I have been with geico for years and love love love it

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    1. I checked Geico, but they were so much more expensive... for right now, I just want minimum coverage, until I can build some wealth. Probably will shop around for better insurance (even if it's not the cheapest) once I get my own car.

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  3. Just another gimmick. Insurance companies make up the rules as they go along.....
    Will that $8 pay for your high blood pressure meds that they will cause you to have to go on?lolol

    Sorry you had a bad experience.

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    1. I was just hoping/expecting the discount to be bigger than my parents'... I would've totally taken a 10%, wasn't even asking for the full 18% we got with much, much worse driving habits!

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  4. I'm with Judy. Everybody I know who has Progressive, can't stand them and especially customer service.

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    1. The other people who have it hadn't had much issue... probably because we're in the same age group and are willing to put up with things in the name of convenience. Oh well, I'll add it to my to-do list.

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  5. I'd be ticked off too buddy. It really would feel like a waste of time and focus. If it makes you feel a bit better. My new year started(technically my old year ended) with car problems; radiator problems, the cost is going to be like $200 to fix but I'm trying not to stress it to much.

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    1. That definitely doesn't make me feel better! Hope you can get those problems fixed and that's the end of them for 2013.

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  6. We have Allstate, and get a check every 6 months that we don't have any incidents. It is usually between 25-30 bucks. We pay $121 a month for 2 cars.

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    1. Wow! That's even better than my rate... and I pay $240 every 6 months! I need to shop around for sure...

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