Mixed Feelings on Geico
Written: Aug 13 '00 (Updated Sep 15 '07)
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Pros: Good Service, most of the time
Cons: Low Payouts
The Bottom Line: Good service, but I wasn't happy when I filed a claim.
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| Bruguru's Full Review: GEICO Direct |
As I update this in December of 2004, I have been a Geico customer for almost ten years. For most of that time I've been very satisfied with them. When I switched from Allstate so many years ago, I managed to reduce my rates by a few hundred dollars per year while actually increasing my coverage levels. This seemed pretty amazing to me, and I recommended the company to all my friends. Who isn't happy about saving money?
Geico impressed me on other levels too. Their customer service is speedy and efficient, their representatives knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful. Their website is well-organized and allows you to make payment by pre-authorized withdrawal. You can even call them at 3 am and pay your bill by credit card if you choose. Bi-annual statements show you exactly what you are paying for each part of your service.
This is all well and good, and Geico had saved me money over the years, but in the final analysis I have been paying Geico for a service. The real proof of the pudding would come when I needed that service, and when I did, I found them lacking. My wife was involved in an auto accident, and our 2000 Saturn was struck in the rear quarter by another vehicle. The door was damaged, as was the quarter itself. Since both vehicles were blocking a busy road, my wife and the driver of the other vehicle moved their cars prior to the arrival of the police (big mistake).
This made it more difficult to prove who was at fault, so I asked Geico to send out an adjuster in the case we needed to use our collision. They did, and that's where my troubles began. After our $500 deductible, the adjuster (who was rather rude) wanted to give us about $300 for the damage, insisting we didn't need new parts. I begged to differ. By this time I had put about $5000 in Geico's coffers in premiums, and I wasn't too happy about their offer of $300 to fix my $17,000 less-than-a-year-old car. As it turned out, we ended up collecting from the other insurance company, which authorized considerably more for the repair of my car-$2000 to be exact. And I got the new parts.
My policy with Geico ran out the following September, and I seriously considered re-evaluating my policy with them as a result of this incident. It's easy for them to be nice to you when they're taking your money. What matters though is how they comport themselves when it's time to pay. In the final analysis, though I did not switch to another company.
Today, I live in Georgia, and when we moved here my Geico rates went down to and even more affordable level. That's one of the reasons I've kept them for as long as I have. And every time I call them, I am very impressed with their customer service staff.
They still do things that annoy me, though. You can call in to pay your bill by credit card, but they will hound you three ways to Tuesday about it. They seem to prefer direct debit from your checking account. Still, if you're going to give me so much trouble about taking my credit card, why accept them? They will not allow you to pay via credit card on their website.
Recommended:
Yes
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