Insurance cancelled because my HHR is a Panel???
Senior Member
Joined: 11-19-2010
Posts: 620
From: Springfield, Oregon
RV - you're getting some good advice, but I think the key here is getting to the right person to talk to.
Assuming it's an underwriting decision (which it seems to be), you need to speak to an Underwriting Department Manager or Supervisor.
Sounds like so far it's just been rubber-stamp decision making. Someone notices the word 'panel' for the vehicle description and assumes you've got something that looks like a plumbing van......
They just need to be educated, that's all. You've just got to talk to somebody that's willing to go a bit of work to make an exception. Just be all compimentary about how you love their insurance, yada yada yada, and you really don't want to go to one of their competitors, you do not use the vehicle for business, you just like the way it looks, etc. (You don't have 'commercial' plates on it, do you - that's another point...)
This can be done. You've just got to schmooze the bureaucracy.
Marshall
Assuming it's an underwriting decision (which it seems to be), you need to speak to an Underwriting Department Manager or Supervisor.
Sounds like so far it's just been rubber-stamp decision making. Someone notices the word 'panel' for the vehicle description and assumes you've got something that looks like a plumbing van......
They just need to be educated, that's all. You've just got to talk to somebody that's willing to go a bit of work to make an exception. Just be all compimentary about how you love their insurance, yada yada yada, and you really don't want to go to one of their competitors, you do not use the vehicle for business, you just like the way it looks, etc. (You don't have 'commercial' plates on it, do you - that's another point...)
This can be done. You've just got to schmooze the bureaucracy.
Marshall
Senior Member
Joined: 06-20-2011
Posts: 737
From: Savanna Illinois
The state of Illinois issued Passenger Vehicle license plates for my HHR. I've seen a whole lot of Sport Utility Vehicle type vehicles with SUV plates on them in this state.
Some of the bigger SUV's and van's have truck plates on them.
I know a lot of folks who consider my HHR to be a mini van or light truck and they have asked me how I got regular car plates for it.
I tell them that these are the plates the state issued, I did not ask for any particular plate just paid what they told me to when I showed them the title for the car.
Some of the bigger SUV's and van's have truck plates on them.
I know a lot of folks who consider my HHR to be a mini van or light truck and they have asked me how I got regular car plates for it.
I tell them that these are the plates the state issued, I did not ask for any particular plate just paid what they told me to when I showed them the title for the car.
Rest In Peace
Joined: 06-13-2010
Posts: 2,301
From: IL.
The state of Illinois issued Passenger Vehicle license plates for my HHR. I've seen a whole lot of Sport Utility Vehicle type vehicles with SUV plates on them in this state.
Some of the bigger SUV's and van's have truck plates on them.
I know a lot of folks who consider my HHR to be a mini van or light truck and they have asked me how I got regular car plates for it.
I tell them that these are the plates the state issued, I did not ask for any particular plate just paid what they told me to when I showed them the title for the car.
Some of the bigger SUV's and van's have truck plates on them.
I know a lot of folks who consider my HHR to be a mini van or light truck and they have asked me how I got regular car plates for it.
I tell them that these are the plates the state issued, I did not ask for any particular plate just paid what they told me to when I showed them the title for the car.
I had Allstate for 20 plus years we just recently switched our Auto Insurance to State Farm.
I never liked the cut rate type insurance companies, for this exact reason.
I worked in Body Shops for 12 years as a bodyman, and the cheap insurance places are cheap for a reason, they will force the shop to buy chinese repair parts, Bondo up body panels that should be Replaced, all kinds of cutting their costs at the car owners expense.
Buyer Beware as they say.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 09-11-2010
Posts: 14
From: Central Florida
Thanks again for all the advice. Gonna start on my phone calls this morning. One quick question that I'm unsure of is -- How does insuring with Progressive directly differ from going to an Agent for Progressive insurance? There is a local agent but I don't know if I could go into his office to solicit any assistance since he could look at the car and see that it's not being used commerically. I suspect I won't get much help since he isn't getting a "cut" from my policies.
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
In theory, going directly through Progressive rather than using a local agent will save you some cash. In reality, any savings are negligible and you end up dealing with a large faceless company instead of "Fred down on main street", I'd rather deal with "Fred" instead of somebody in a call center.
Since you have a local agent, a phone call to them, or even stopping by their office first may be the best way to go. And you never know, the local agent may be able to clear things up on the spot with little fuss or muss.
Since you have a local agent, a phone call to them, or even stopping by their office first may be the best way to go. And you never know, the local agent may be able to clear things up on the spot with little fuss or muss.
Senior Member
Joined: 11-19-2010
Posts: 620
From: Springfield, Oregon
In theory, going directly through Progressive rather than using a local agent will save you some cash. In reality, any savings are negligible and you end up dealing with a large faceless company instead of "Fred down on main street", I'd rather deal with "Fred" instead of somebody in a call center.
Since you have a local agent, a phone call to them, or even stopping by their office first may be the best way to go. And you never know, the local agent may be able to clear things up on the spot with little fuss or muss.
Since you have a local agent, a phone call to them, or even stopping by their office first may be the best way to go. And you never know, the local agent may be able to clear things up on the spot with little fuss or muss.
My background is working in claims directly for a major carrier, so I guess I'm slanted to go to the company to clear it up. Get as close as you can to the person that has the authority to change the decision.
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
I guess its being from a small town in the South Marshall, but I prefer to deal face to face with a human being rather than corporate entities if I can. There are times however when you have to deal with a faceless monolith in hopes of resolving an issue, that's when you become the "squeaky wheel" and escalate your complaint to management.
Managers don't like dealing with problems directly if they can avoid it, that's what the employees are for, if you get management involved your chances of a resolution in your favor go up.
Managers don't like dealing with problems directly if they can avoid it, that's what the employees are for, if you get management involved your chances of a resolution in your favor go up.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-29-2008
Posts: 727
From: Mass
Actually, Every State has a division of Insurance. Automotive Insurance companies are required to get approval to do business in your state.
Every DOI has a complaint process. This actually could jeopardize their right to do business if they are deemed wrongfully terminating policies.
I recommend informing your insurance company of this fact and if still nothing is resolved, file a complaint with your DOI through the state website.
Every DOI has a complaint process. This actually could jeopardize their right to do business if they are deemed wrongfully terminating policies.
I recommend informing your insurance company of this fact and if still nothing is resolved, file a complaint with your DOI through the state website.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 09-11-2010
Posts: 14
From: Central Florida
Well, today has been full of insurance phone calls (HHR and Homeowners). Called Progressive and went through the usual crap you have to deal with inorder to get to talk to a supervisor. Finally got my call elevated and I now have someone willing to work the problem once she realized I wasn't taking their Nonrenewal notice lightly. She gave me her name and number and assured me she would call back today or Tuesday. Went out for dinner and had a call on the phone from her supervisor because she elevated my call. So now I'm on Level 3 and he's working the issue with Underwriting and will call me back on Tuesday.
Last week sucked for insurance issues - my homeowners insurance also sent me a Nonrenewal notice. Imagine in over 40 years of insurance company dealings and I have never received a nonrenewal notice and last week I got 2. My homeowners, however, is a state-wide issue so nothing I can do about it except go with another company for almost twice the price. Gotta love insurance
Last week sucked for insurance issues - my homeowners insurance also sent me a Nonrenewal notice. Imagine in over 40 years of insurance company dealings and I have never received a nonrenewal notice and last week I got 2. My homeowners, however, is a state-wide issue so nothing I can do about it except go with another company for almost twice the price. Gotta love insurance
