on mar 12, 2004 at 7 pm, I was leaving a grocery store. I was driving my 1993 nissan altima. I backed my car out of a parking stall and started driving down an isle toward the exit. while I was driving down the isle, I was hit on the drivers side rear by a chevy truck that was backing out of a parking stall. the driver wasn’t looking behind when backing up, so he hit me. I called his insurance company (GEICO) the next day and filed a claim. 2 days later R. Harding, a Geico liability adjustor contacted and interviewed me about the accident. he said as soon as we have a GEICO claims adjustor inspect the damage to your vehicle, I can let you know how much Geico will pay for the damage. I was certain GEICO would cover all repair costs since I was backed into while driving down a DRIVABLE LANE. it seemed like a pretty simple case to me. I get the car inspected by a Geico claimers adjustor (B. Hurst) 2 days later (march 18th). and the repair estimate was $2034.05. the damage extended from the driver rear door back to the headlight (over 4 foot wide area). I had been hit by the back bumper of this truck. the deepest dent was to the driver rear door (right on the door handle). the second deepest dent was right above the driver rear tire (quarter panel area). it was clear from visual inspection these 2 damaged areas were a result of ONE IMPACT. there was also a scrape from the gas cap area back to the tail light. this occured as a result of me moving forward while impact was made. the bulk of the cost to repair the vehicle was dues to replacement of the door and replacement of the quarter panel. At the beginning of the next week (on tuesday) I called Mr. Harding (Geico liability adjustor) and he says, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY (when being hit), YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 40% of the DAMAGE. I asked for clarification. he said, had you stopped immediately, the only damage done to your vehicle would of been the rear door. otherwise, he’s saying there would of been NO DAMAGE to the QUARTER PANEL. IT WAS AT THIS POINT I KNEW THIS LIABILITY ADJUSTOR WAS NOT GOING TO BE FAIR, HONEST, OR ACT IN GOOD FAITH. he said he could mail out a check immediately (for a little over $1200) if I’d like. I said no thanks, I’ll hold off for now and hung up. I was upset to say the least. I then looked at the GEICO repair estimate and noticed the quarter panel repair was one of the most expensive areas of the vehicle to repair. the geico liability adjustor knew that if his driver was responsible for ANY DAMAGE of the quarter panel AT ALL, then GEICO would end up paying for MOST (IF NOT ALL) REPAIR COSTS. I can see now why he denied accepting the damage to any of the quarter panel. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACCIDENT ITSELF. It has everthing to do with the cost to repair that damaged area. I was very dissappointed my claim had not been treated fairly. I called Mr. Harding back a week later and said, what you’ve told me doesn’t make any sense. (I was still trying to reason with him thinking he might actually come to his senses.) I repeated, it is obvious from looking at pictures (which he had) to my car that the damage done to my rear door and quarter panel area (above the rear tire) WAS A RESULT OF ONE IMPACT (this damaged area is about 18 inches wide). I told him to call the geico claims adjustor (bradley hurst) that inspected my car and he would agree.

 

Mr Harding then changed the subject and said, well our driver also said you MAY NOT have had your lights on. it was clear MR HARDING WAS NOT HEARING ANYTHING I SAID. he had told me NOTHING about my lights having anything to do with the accident UNTIL NOW. In fact he had already told me that had I stopped immediately when hit, geico would cover all repair costs. In other words Mr. Harding is telling me that the other driver is 100% responsible for the collision. yet, now he’s telling me “hearsay of the other driver” is what he based his decision on. So Mr. harding is now telling me the geico driver is 100% responsible for the collison but IS NOT 100% responsible for the damage to my car. now, geico and mr harding are saying of the approximately 4 1/2 foot wide damaged area, GEICO is responsible for only an 18 inch wide area (the damage done to my rear door). let’s say I did as Mr. harding says (not that it is relevent or matters) and I did stop immediately (one second after being hit which is faster than many people would react) and I was traveling 5 mph. that would mean I was traveling 26400 feet per hour, 440 feet per minute or 7.33 FEET PER SECOND. Gee that means if I stopped in one second, the other drivers back bumper would of scrapped against my car for 7.3 feet. WOW, so if I use Mr. harding’s logic STOPPING IMMEDIATELY would of caused a wider damage area than 18 INCHES…..MUCH WIDER SAY CLOSE to 7.3 FEET!. isn’t that amazing. had I told mr harding this, it wouldn’t of made any difference. he wasn’t interest in the facts. DISHONEST PEOPLE aren’t interest in the facts.

 

the next day, I even went out and got a written statement from one of the local autobody shops saying the damage to the door and quarter panel area (above the rear tire) was the result of ONE IMPACT. I could of gotten written statements from the other 3 autobody shops that did estimates confirming that also but I haven’t (YET). it wouldn’t matter to Mr. harding or GEICO. He’s already decided what GEICO is going to pay ****PERIOD**** (and not a penny more).

 

He isn’t interested in the facts to this accident if it doesn’t benefit them. I know what the Geico liability adjustors job is…. to shift blame from his/her driver to me. however I thought he had to be somewhat fair when conducting an investigation. WAS I WRONG. in fact, My insurance agent (from Progressive) told me Mr. Harding had called him up and suggested a 50/50 split in liability was good to him. so am I suppose to think mr harding dropped my liability from 50% to 40% out of the GOODNESS OF HIS HEART. I don’t think so. again, this re-affirms the fact that Mr. Harding is more interest in make money for himself (and GEICO) than conducting an HONEST, FAIR investigation. I did request a check from geico for 60% of the damage ($1220.43). the repair cost was $2034.05. Mr. Harding was looking forward to getting it sent out to me. I have been

shorted a lot of money. ******GEICO OWES ME $813.62************* AS FAR AS I’m concerned, what has been done to me is the equivalent of STEALING. I know I have NO LIABILITY whatsoever is this accident. GEICO HAS NOT ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. from what I’ve read about GEICO since this accident, geico WILL NOT TREAT YOU FAIRLY IF YOU FILE A CLAIM against one of their insured (as I did). they deny the claim or lowball it to make sure they keep the lowest rates in the industry. If geico knows that the amount they owe you is small enough that you can’t afford to hire an attorney or may not be worth taking the time off of work to fight it in court they will GLADLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU. over the past month in dealing with this claim THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT IS A FACT! I’ve lived it, I’ve experienced it.

 

I will never own GEICO insurance (even if it was offered free, I don’t do business with dishonest people). my kids will never own GEICO insurance. after I talk to my friends, many of them WON”T OWN GEICO INSURANCE. AFTER I POST THIS MESSAGE ON VARIOUS COMPLAINT WEB SITES, many current/potential customers who view this message WILL NOT OWN GEICO INSURANCE.

 

Blyth A

Kaysville ,UT blythea

Geico Doesn’t care about families, livelihoods, or customer service.

As if getting in a horrible accident isn’t bad enough, Geico and its customer service representatives seem to go out of their way to make sure your experience is a bad one. On December 20th of 2006 I slipped on a patch of black ice and rolled my truck in a farm field. I crawled out of my wreck in the pitch black and freezing cold and search for my cell phone which has landed somewhere in the field. As soon as I found it I immediately called Geico and started my claim. During this first phone call I was disconnected and had to call back and start everything over. I’m fairly forgiving and can understand when things like this happen, I only bring it up to demonstrate that they have been a nightmare since day one. A week later I am sitting at home out of work since my remodeling business depends on a vehicle to transport my tools, and Geico has not even sent and adjuster out to look yet. I called to ask why and they told me I needed to contact the adjuster directly and that they have no control over when the adjuster is sent out. Huh? When the adjuster finally called me back more than two days after my first call to him he lets me know he will be looking at it that afternoon and calling me in the morning. The next afternoon and no call, I checked geico.com for the status of my claim and the adjuster had been switched!?! When I called the service center they told me I needed to call the new adjuster to see why- not them, since they have no control. Why can’t an insurance company keep track of things like this? The new adjuster told me the other guy had gone on vacation for the New Years’ holiday and that he would be going to see my truck soon. So I wait, still out of work, through New Years for a figure and confirmation of a total loss. A week later the adjuster confirms everything and lowballs me for my truck and flat refuses to count my loss in tools, but what am I going to do? Say it’s unacceptable and take even longer for my wife and kids to be able to buy groceries and pay our utilities? Not to mention we’ve already had the worst Christmas ever. So the next week I call Geico several days in a row and finally confirm that they have the figures from the adjuster and ask about getting a check overnighted to me. They let me know that there was still a form I needed to sign releasing the truck to them. I asked them to overnight that and let them know I would overnight it back because I needed the money ASAP. I get the forms the next day and overnight it back that same day certified. When I hadn’t heard from them the following Monday, I called and they said they hadn’t gotten it, even though I had confirmation and a signature assuring me they did, and that it might be somewhere in the mail room and call back Tuesday. I call and still they deny having it at all. Later that day and many offices, supervisors and departments later, they finally found it, though only after I gave them the confirmation number and name of the person whom signed for the papers for the inth time, and promise me they will overnight me a check. Next day no check. I call, they claim they missed the Fed-ex deadline and it will be sent that day. Next day no check. I call, they say, it was accidentally put in the regular mail and that they were pulling it out then and overnighting it. Next day (today 1/12/07) no check, and I am at my wits end. I call, THE CHECK HAD NOT EVEN BEEN ISSUED YET! Again they promised me today it would be overnighted and get to me tomorrow. When I ask for a tracking number, no one can provide me with one, and I’m given even more of a runaround. I have spoken to at least six supervisors in three states and four cities and no one can explain why I had been told what I was told and no one seems to communicate with anyone in any other state, city, office, or even department, and they make things up as they go along. I have been put on hold more than 30 times, have been hung up on more than 10 times, lied to, jerked around by everyone I have spoken to, they have my truck, and I still have nothing. Through this all, this is the same company that advertises nationally that they have top quality customer service, and they get you money fast. Well, my bank account and clients disagree. And the worst part of this whole thing is how my children are suffering as a result of their negligence, lack of intelligence, and lack of communication. Do they offer apologies? Do they offer anything but more frustration? I haven’t seen anything to make me hopeful. Avoid Geico insurance company! RUN don’t walk away from them!

On June 03, 2005, I was involved in an automobile accident involving just my car. I had went off the road and was thrown from my automobile, injuring myself very badley.

 

I filed a claim with my insurance carrier GEICO GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, for my medical expences. I had excellent coverage, under my PIP/ policy $ 30,000.00 to be exact. At first my medical bills were paid with no problem, and then my claim was re-routed to a differnt adjuster, by the name of Barbara Giammetta. This lady was very rude, unprofessional. At some point GEICO started questioning my medical bills, saying that my injuries were not a result of my accident. They even denied on statement and then later paid the matter. I was receiving letters from the Adjuster that had been doctored and altered in date. Example: On October 07,2005, the adjuster wrote a letter that did not arrive until October 21, 2005, the same day a letter dated October 19, 2005 had arrived. It took that one letter over 14 days to make it to myy home when the 2nd one took only 3. She denied this ever happening however I made copies of the postmarked date, as well as the letters. When I felt I had enough of her behavior, I confronted the adjuster who would hang up the phone on me several times. Finally she contacted me back and informed me that she was sening out somone to look at the accident scene. This was not a problem until the date I met with the lady she sent out. This lady accused me of being drunk, several times, ” She stated. ” Come on you know you may have had just a little bit to drink” The fact was, I DID NOT. This lady was more interested in taking pictures of my aunts dog than, to find out what really happened. I instructed her to leave at once.

 

If that was not enough, my insurance carrier sent me for an exam with their own private doctor. This is not uncommon, however their doctor states that I had reached max improvement. Based on his report, my carrier stopped paying for treatment that my Neurologist and Family doctor feel is required. Thats right. My own doctors who have treated my injuries since June 03, 2005 and more familiar with my condition has documented a need for on-going treatment and Therapy. However becuase their doctor who examined me for less that 30 minutes , ( and of course was paid by the insurance company) stated I had reached max inmprvement, they are now refusing to pay for any additional medical.

 

Geico has harassed witnesses, called them liars. I filed a complaint with the Department of Insurance concerning their behavior. It is still pending. Geico has called my healthcare providers and lied and made up false information concerning my claim and treatement. I am more than likley going to sue my own carrier for their actions.

 

I want everyone to know that if you have ever had a problem with GEICO or any other carrier, please contact the Department of Insurance in your state. They can assist you with most problems that you may have. For those who are thinking about changing carriers, please research their complaint ratio online with the state. They will tell you how many complaints have been filed in your home state.

 

The next time you see that little green Geiko on TV that wants you to switch to GEICO, think long and hard about doing so, until you have taken the time to research this company. They are bad news!!!!!!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

E. Shawn Rice

Lexington, Kentucky

GEICO refused to cancel my insurance and then billed me for insurance I had refused

July 7, 2006

I have heard of insurance companies refusing to renew a policy, but I had never heard of an insurance company that refused to cancel a policy. Thus, after 5 years as a GEICO customer, I was shocked that GEICO kept refusing to cancel my insurance. I had sold my car 2 weeks before coverage was supposed to end. I waited a few days to give the buyer a chance to get his own insurance. Then I called GEICO to cancel my the policy. They refused, saying they need a confirmation number from the DMV that I had surrendered the license plates. I said I have not paid the premium to renew the policy and will not be doing so because I have sold the car and do not want insurance on it anymore. They would not budge. I waited a bit, called back again, and still they refused to cancel the policy without a DMV confirmation number. Seeing that I had no other choice, I had to hassle the car buyer for the license plates to surrender to the DMV. I finally got the license plates and went to the DMV and got the confirmation number on the day my insurance was supposed to have expired. I called GEICO to confirm that the insurance has been cancelled due to expiration. They said no. They did agree to cancel the insurance after I gave them the confirmation number, but they said that since the policy expired on midnight of that day (less than 24 hours before), they would charge me $10.97 for that day’s of insurance coverage. I never asked for this coverage; in fact, I had explicitly asked to cancel my policy days ago. Now they have sent me a collection notice for the $10.97. I DID NOT WANT TO RENEW THIS POLICY. GEICO WAS THE ONE WHO REFUSED TO CANCEL MY POLICY. Furthermore, the fee for less than a day’s of coverage that I had explicitly rejected should have been around $1, based on the premiums I had been paying for 6 month terms, rather than almost $11. I did pay the collection bill to prevent my credit from being trashed, but I want a refund from GEICO. As a result of this experience, I plan not to do business with GEICO again in the future, but for the sake of GEICO’s current and future customers, I would suggest that GEICO cancel a customer’s insurance when the customer asks to cancel. It is one thing to advise a customer to take care of matters with the DMV, but totally uncalled for to refuse to cancel the customer’s insurance and then bill the customer for coverage that was refused. — KJ,

Buffalo, NY

Geico used “Bait&Switch”

 

On 9/28/04 - I added my Honda onto an already existing Geico policy that insured my cadillac.

 

My Honda had full coverage with glass with my other insurance company whom I was not satified with and that is why I switched.

 

On 10/18/’04 I was hit in the rear. No visible damage. I did not go anywhere for three days after the accident. On the third day I took it on a long ride on the high way and noticed the car whines.

 

I called Geico…..to make the claim at which time the informed me I had NO collision or glass coverage. But, I can get it for EXTRA charge.

 

I told them the sales person made a mistake. I have always had collison & glass as this car only has 72k on it……mint condition inside and out.

 

They told me it is no mistake their paper work shows, no coverage.

Common sense dictates that a mint condition car must have collision….and that I must have requested it as I have always had that coverage…….why drop it now. It would not make sense.

 

The only thing that would make sense is if they pulled a “Bait and Switch.”

 

They gave me a price. Made me belive that I had all my former coverage for the price that they quoted……….and then when I need to use my coverage they WANT more money if I want to be covered!!!!

 

Because I have no tapes of the intial agreement they have been smug and arrogant, and without saying it verbally have indicated, “Too bad, up yours, cough up more money if you want coverage.”

 

Well, I have four full cassette tapings of them showing they lie, obfuscate, four five different supervisors all contradicting each other.

 

These tapes will be going to State Agencies, Federal, and media and whoever else I can think off. Geico has been getting away with breach of contract and bait and switching for too long.

I, like many others, have received GEICO direct mail advertisements

(henceforth referred to as “junk mail”) addressed to me in the hopes of

soliciting my business. I generally find junk mail to be a waste of time,

paper, and money, as I never, ever respond to any advertisements of that

type.

 

In 2004, I was a Private First Class in the US Army and was stationed at

Fort Lewis, Washington. Somehow, GEICO discovered this fact, and started

sending military-themed junk mail to me at the base. These were addressed to

me by name and rank, even though I carried an out-of-state driver’s license,

drove an out-of-state registered car, and had no civilian documentation

indicating I was living in Washington. At first, I simply discarded them.

Later, as it became evident that the mailings would not stop on their own, I

called the number contained in the material within the envelope, politely

indicated I was not interested in their advertisements or service, and

requested to be removed from their marketing lists. They apologized for the

trouble, and said I would be removed at once, though I may receive one or

two more mailings as they’re prepared in advance. “All right”, I said, as I

was willing to deal with one or two more letters as long as they stopped

after that. The mail did not stop, even after several months. I received

military-themed junk mail from GEICO every few weeks.

 

In November of 2004, I was honorably discharged from the army and returned

to my home in California. Somehow, GEICO knew this too, and started sending

me junk mail to my home address. These pieces of junk mail were both the

normal civilian letters, as well as military-themed letters. Both of which

were addressed to me by name and rank, even though I was no longer in the

military, and had no further affiliation with the military. Somehow, they

even found out about a last-minute promotion I received immediately before

being discharged from the army and addressed me by my new rank.

 

I called them again and requested to be removed from their mailing lists,

indicating I had made a prior request while in Washington. They assured me

that I would cease receiving mail within a month or so, and apologized for

the mailings.

 

The mailings continued without stop every two weeks or so. It was not

uncommon for the military and civilian junk mail pieces to arrive on the

same day and be addressed identically. I grew annoyed, and over the next two

years I made at least half a dozen calls to GEICO to politely request, and

then later politely demand to be removed from their mailing lists. Each

time, I was assured I would be removed immediately, and I may receive one or

two more letters before they would stop arriving. Each time, I continued to

receive the mailings like clockwork.

 

Fast forward to August, 2006. The junk mail at my home in California

continued unabated. With a little bit of money and some academic credits, I

moved to Tucson, Arizona and am completing my college degree at the

University of Arizona. I rent a private apartment (no roommates) about two

miles from the university. Within days, before I could even file a change of

address form with the US Postal Service, I started receiving military and

civilian themed GEICO junk mail addressed to me by name and rank (even

though I’d been out of the army for two years). Disappointingly, one of the

first calls made from my apartment was to GEICO to remove me from their

mailing lists. Again, they apologized and assured me I would be removed

immediately.

 

Unfortunately, my previous auto insurance provider could not offer

affordable rates in Tucson, and I unenthusiastically switched to GEICO, as

they were the cheapest insurance provider in town. One would think that the

junk mail would immediately cease, as I was now a customer and there was no

reason to continue to solicit me. One would be wrong.

 

As the mail continued, now in greater volume than before, I wrote two formal

letters of complaint. One to Tony Nicely, CEO, and another to Richard Kidd,

Vice President, GFR Sales Management / Military Department. I received no

response from Mr. Nicely, though I did receive a response within a few days

from Mr. Kidd apologizing for the mail and saying he would look into the

matter. Other than continuing to receive junk mail, I detected no change in

GEICO’s marketing policies. (On a side note, rather than send me all my

necessary documents in one large envelope, they sent me six separate

envelopes, some with duplicate information that I had already received, with

all my policy information. Very inefficient and difficult to sort.)

 

With junk mail continuing, I called GEICO in mid-January, politely explained

the situation and my frustration, and gave them an ultimatum: the next day I

received a piece of GEICO junk mail would be the last day I would be a GEICO

customer. I informed them that I would cancel my GEICO policy that very day.

The agent said that she would add my address — again — to the do-not-mail

list they maintain, as well as pass on my request to their home office for

further review.

 

Today, the first of February, 2007, I received another piece of GEICO junk

mail. In keeping with my word, I called a competing insurance company,

arranged for a policy with identical coverage effective immediately, and

paid for the coverage over the phone. I then called GEICO, had them pull up

my file, pointed out the note in my file about my promise to cancel my

policy upon receiving another letter, and informed them that I would like to

cancel my policy effective immediately, and have the remaining credit

refunded as soon as possible. Rather than efficiently comply with my

request, they attempted to convince me to remain a customer, even going so

far as asking if there was anything to do to keep me. I indicated that they

could have stopped sending me junk mail the very first time I requested it

three years ago, or on any of the 10 or so occasions in the interim that I

had called them to request that they stop sending me junk mail, or once I

became a customer, or once I wrote formal letters of complaint to their

executives, or once I gave them the ultimatum. I assured them that there was

absolutely nothing they could do to keep me as a customer, as I had given my

word that I would close my account, and I would do just that. They conceded,

apologized (I’m sick of being apologized too — I just wanted the junk

stopped.), closed my account, and said they would refund the credit on my

account within one week to my credit card. We’ll see if they actually follow

through.

 

In conclusion, I have never received junk mail from any insurance company

other than GEICO. GEICO has badgered me with an ever-increasing volume of

mail for three years, at three separate addresses in three different states,

even when I’ve changed my state driver’s license from a California one to an

Arizona one. They continued to address me by name and rank, and sent me

military-themed junk mail years after I had left the military. They clearly

knew who I was, as they had the ability to know my name and rank and prior

military experience wherever I moved. There was zero excuse for continuing

to send me that much junk mail after years of requesting that it be stopped.

There was even less of an excuse once I became a customer.

 

GEICO’s indifference to requests to stop junk mail on request, even from

paying customers, has alienated me to such a degree that I will no longer

conduct business with them. I will not recommend them to any individual or

company. I have very strong loyalties to companies that offer a good service

at a reasonable price, and will remain a loyal customer for years. By

failing to perform the simple act of *not* sending me junk mail, GEICO has

lost a customer and has gained an opponent. They will never again see a dime

of my money.

 

Pete S.

Tucson, Arizona.

Geico Insurance Complaint

September 24, 2005

Subject: Car Insurance Surcharge; Insurance Company: Geico; Policy #: 01sssss Date of Fire: May 24, 2003; Automobile 2002 Nissan Altima Dear Sir or Madam: My name is Pellegrino A. Perrone, the reason I write this letter is inquire about “insurance surcharges” on automobile insurance.

On May 24, 2003, while driving on the Staten Island Expressway coming from Brooklyn, NY and heading to New Jersey, the bottom of the automobile I was driving, a Leased 2002 Nissan Altima, burst into flames. Four passengers and myself, vacated the automobile and I called 911. The fire department arrived on the scene and the fire was extinguished. There were no injuries. The car was towed to Bay Ridge Nissan, 6501 5th Ave., Brooklyn, New York 11220.

The insurance adjuster examined the car. The adjuster reported that the fire was caused by the car hitting a bump in the road. Based on that evaluation, the occurrence was classified as an “accident”. Please bear in mind, there was no collision with another vehicle and neither I nor the passengers in the car felt the car hit a bump. It was clearly a “no fault” accident but a serious malfunction in the 2002 Nissan Altima that put the passengers in the car and myself at risk.

The cost of the repair, estimated by the insurance carrier, was $1,721.46.

Since May 2003 Geico has charged me with a “surcharge” every time the policy is renewed, which is every 6 months. Thus far, I have paid $1,087.80 in “surcharges” and I was told that this surcharge remains in effect for three years!

There is a provision in the insurance policy under “Good Driver Plan” which explains why there is a surcharge (see copy of policy attached). The fire that happened beneath the automobile on May 24, 2003 is classified as an “accident”, and, therefore, Geico’s policy incurs a surcharge to the policyholder based on that classification. THIS SEEMS UNFAIR AND UNJUSTIFIED.

Is the provision legal or am I the victim of an insurance irregularity or scam? As stated earlier in this letter, the total cost of repair was $1,721.46 (with a $500 deductible). The check received from Geico to cover their portion of the repair was $1,221.46. Geico claim number regarding this incident is 011 503 36sssss

Please advise at your earliest opportunity.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,