Yes - I know this is not the best place, but I have read some decent responses to legal questions from lawyers here and figure I would take a shot.


Situation - Car Insurance with Progressive

- Paid for a 6 month policy - $550 - no problems.

- Called to renew and was told the next 6 month policy would be $500, so I paid in full right then.

- Next day I receive an email that I owe another $50

- Call to have them correct their mistake and am told their is NOTHING they can, or will, do at all.

The End


Other details:

I use the "Snap-Shot" which gives a percentage back for good driving - up to 30%. I will be getting 25-30% sent back, BUT they will take out the $50 dollar mistake they made.

I specifically asked if my balance was $0 on the phone when I renewed and was told yes.

I have an email detailing that I had to pay $500 to renew.

Progressive admitted, multiple times, it was a mistake on their part.

I have an email with payment confirmation.



I explained that I should not be held responsible for their mistakes. I explained that they should be accountable for their mistakes.


I used some analogies for them:

If I bought a car for $30K and then a day later the dealership contacted me and said I owe another 1K - that would be illegal / not my responsibility.

If I went to dinner, ate and paid $60 - then on my way out the restaurant owner said I owed another $20 - that would be illegal / not my responsibility.


I know it is not a large sum of money, but it is the principle of the matter.

I am willing to go to small claims court. Maybe a lawyer knows some way this is highly illegal, or some angle that they can use, to can make a large amount off of them?

Any advice or experience would be appreciated.



Flame on and thanks in advance for any relevant information / advice.

Pay the $550 for $550 worth of insurance.

Or call Geico for a quote and tell Progressive you will switch if they don't match it. Then switch.

I had the same problem with Nationwide. I called Progressive (ironically) and they gave me a new policy (same coverage) at an even lower price. Insurance is competitive!

I had Geico and paid $350 for 6 months on a vehicle - I forgot to renew on timae and tried to pay 4 DAYS LATE and the premium went up to $759 - no change in driving tickets, anything.

4VNxp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes - I know this is not the best place, but I
> have read some decent responses to legal questions
> from lawyers here and figure I would take a shot.
>
>
> Situation - Car Insurance with Progressive
>
> - Paid for a 6 month policy - $550 - no problems.
>
> - Called to renew and was told the next 6 month
> policy would be $500, so I paid in full right
> then.
>
> - Next day I receive an email that I owe another
> $50
>
> - Call to have them correct their mistake and am
> told their is NOTHING they can, or will, do at
> all.
>
> The End
>
>
> Other details:
>
> I use the "Snap-Shot" which gives a percentage
> back for good driving - up to 30%. I will be
> getting 25-30% sent back, BUT they will take out
> the $50 dollar mistake they made.
>
> I specifically asked if my balance was $0 on the
> phone when I renewed and was told yes.
>
> I have an email detailing that I had to pay $500
> to renew.
>
> Progressive admitted, multiple times, it was a
> mistake on their part.
>
> I have an email with payment confirmation.
>
>
>
> I explained that I should not be held responsible
> for their mistakes. I explained that they should
> be accountable for their mistakes.
>
>
> I used some analogies for them:
>
> If I bought a car for $30K and then a day later
> the dealership contacted me and said I owe another
> 1K - that would be illegal / not my
> responsibility.
>
> If I went to dinner, ate and paid $60 - then on my
> way out the restaurant owner said I owed another
> $20 - that would be illegal / not my
> responsibility.
>
>
> I know it is not a large sum of money, but it is
> the principle of the matter.
>
> I am willing to go to small claims court. Maybe a
> lawyer knows some way this is highly illegal, or
> some angle that they can use, to can make a large
> amount off of them?
>
> Any advice or experience would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> Flame on and thanks in advance for any relevant
> information / advice.

So, you're right. Just pay it. It's only $50 and you have said that's what you thought it would be. Don't you have enough trouble? $50 is a small price to pay to get a chance to give someone a break. We all need a break sometime

Besides, they probably don't have any legal way to write off that $50. I'm sure the feds are all over them re premiums. Like a 365-days-a-year every year, forever. But I don't know. Just guessing.

I vote take the high road. Be nice.

That is the problem - I take the "High-Road" 99% of the time.

I really feel like doing something this time. I will feel like if enough people start not accepting getting screwed over, these companies will have to make changes.

It is not the money, but the principle. Maybe I should have lied in the OP and made the amount like $250, then see how others respond?

Your best bet is to file a complaint with the BBB and the state insurance regulator. Progressive will be asked to try to resolve the complaint with you and will likely refund the $50. But try to keep things in perspective. Sometimes people fuck you over. It happens. You can choose to let yourself get worked up over $50 or you can let it go and try to make sure it doesn't happen again. If you feel like it was done in bad faith, switch insurance companies and don't do business with them again. Small claims court is a waste of your time.

Btw, your leverage is greatest when you are calling to cancel. Secure a policy with another company and then call to cancel. If you can't find one for a lower price then you'll know you aren't being screwed anyway.

Perspective2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Your best bet is to file a complaint with the BBB
> and the state insurance regulator.

I think this may be the best bet - not too time consuming and could make somewhat of a difference.

This is why I deal with insurance companies that have agents.

I had a nationwide agent, for all the good it did me.

The OP must be a Jew. They always see a mistake as a way to profit from it. "Principle" my ass. If the Op had an accident and he didn't get every nickel, he'd be here crying about that.

EDpN9 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had Geico and paid $350 for 6 months on a
> vehicle - I forgot to renew on timae and tried to
> pay 4 DAYS LATE and the premium went up to $759 -
> no change in driving tickets, anything.



That's because if you don't renew on time they treat you as a new customer.

Just switch. Insurance is the only industry I know of that gives huge discounts for switching companies. They always ask about your previous insurance and give a giant discount for changing as compared to a new customer who didn't have a car or from another country or something.

Money shouldn't be the only criteria in selecting who to do business with. I have had progressive along time and have had excellent service. Have heard tons of horror stories involving geico trying to get out of paying claims!

Louie Chevrolet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Money shouldn't be the only criteria in selecting
> who to do business with. I have had progressive
> along time and have had excellent service. Have
> heard tons of horror stories involving geico
> trying to get out of paying claims!

You can find horror stories for every single insurance company in existence. My criteria for insurance is PRICE PRICE PRICE. They all offer the same shit and are all held to the same standards in the UCPA (Unfair Claims Practice Act).

The best insurance you can get is the kind you never have to use.

IANAL but I don't believe Progressive is under any obligation to honor the earlier price. You can't prove any damages--it's not like you decided to go with them because of the offer. Nor are they obligated to keep you as a customer; they haven't had to deliver on the policy yet.

"Offer and acceptance" is the hat you'd be trying to hang your hat on here, but there's also what's called an honest mistake. There was no reason for them to be trying to mislead you, so it's likely to come under that category.

Bottom line, it might be lousy business, but as others have suggested, I'd suck it up, pay it, and debate over whether to complain to the BBB or not. If you do, I'd be unsurprised to find that you get dropped at next renewal...

Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> they haven't
> had to deliver on the policy yet.

What do you mean by this?

The policy is paid for and I am insured by them right now.

Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IANAL

> there's also what's
> called an honest mistake. There was no reason for
> them to be trying to mislead you, so it's likely
> to come under that category.


I Am Not A Moron, but...
The incentive for them to mislead you is extra profit.
If they do it a lot, it's not an honest mistake.
Either you misunderstood, or they are fucking you.
It is not a mere "mistake".

4VNxp Wrote:
> Situation - Car Insurance with Progressive
>
> - Paid for a 6 month policy - $550 - no problems.
>
> - Called to renew and was told the next 6 month
> policy would be $500, so I paid in full right
> then.
>
> - Next day I receive an email that I owe another
> $50
>
> - Call to have them correct their mistake and am
> told their is NOTHING they can, or will, do at
> all.

when they saw your driving data uploaded they decided to torture you for being an idiot

full of shit. i tried that several years ago.

you didn't get your $50 because you didn't return their dongle yet

Former Nationwide Customer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had a nationwide agent, for all the good it did
> me.


I deal with a lot of insurance companies as a contractor.
Nationwide is not on your side. They're always digging for a reason not to payout. They're always the slowest company to pay, and the one with the most excuses on why to not pay

Haha a contractor who deals with insurance compnaies?

Who's the bigger crook.