OK guys, I just have to rant (vent) here for a minute.

Been a GEICO policy holder for over 10 years. Over those 10 years, I have had one collision claim (I was rear-ended a couple of months ago - thread on the forum here somewhere), two paint claims (peeling clear coat on one side, water damage (spots) on the other side), and the usual glass claims from rock chips.

No moving violations, no other accidents.

I tow a trailer for our fire department...we take an EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operation Course) "Precision Towing" course to be qualified to tow the rig. We don't drive code or install sirens - just normal driving rules apply.

I notified GEICO when I started volunteering with them (almost 7 years ago now) to make sure they wouldn't just up and cancel my policy on me...they said no problem. When I sold my Expedition and bought my Excursion, I told them again - again they said no problem.

Saturday I received a "Business Usage Questionnaire". I called today to ask what prompted it and they said the accident I was in (yea, the one I was not at fault on).

I explain I don't get paid for the services I provide and that I'm a volunteer. They say they "can't accept the risk" and will be cancelling my policy.

...

Talk about supporting volunteers who literally risk their lives and don't ask for compensation. Way to support those that donate their time, fuel and money to help those they don't even know. I checked my time and I found I have put in 271 hours of just training time this year alone (not counting the administrative time I put in). And GEICO out of the blue says "too bad, you can't do that anymore" and has now literally crippled our ability to respond by cancelling a policy if you decide to volunteer as a prime mover.

In my opinion, GEICO has gone from fantastic (the way they helped me with my claims over the past 10 years) to repulsive.

I'm seriously hoping whoever made this decision needs help from teams like ours and that they don't get it when they need it the most. Live in a flood prone area? Hope you can swim, bitches! Live in a wildfire area? Better start training for a marathon so you can outrun the fire line! Live in an earthquake area? Hope you like being trapped in our house until we can walk all our gear to your city!

 

Sorry to hear this Robert, glad your able to vent here.

 

Sorry to hear about the headache, reasons like that are why I left them about 10 or so years ago. If you are prior military, give USAA a look, there is no better insurance company out there IMO.

Good luck with everything.

 

Amica is an awesome company, if they do business in Cali. It is also a mutual company that pays dividends if you have no claims.

 

Rob-
You should call and talk to a supervisor or higher- it sounds like you got an idiot who's making decisions for the company that aren't in the company's best interest. If you want to stay with Geico, you should question this decision... they should value your 10 years patronage more than this! Good luck.

 

OMG THIS!!!


and also this:



But mostly this:

 

I had geico once about 12 years or so ago.
I'll never ever use them again. They can kiss my ****.
I had to have a sr22 due to being stupid so I called geico up and set up a policy with them and stressed that I needed an sr22. Rep sets everything up says I'm good to go.
I cancel my other insurance policy at this time. (shopping for better rates)
10 days later I get a letter from the DMV, my license is suspended for not having the SR22 anymore.
I flipped the eff out on geico over that. Got my payment back from them and will
never recommend them to anyone and will always relate this story.
Can't stress enough how much I stressed to them to set up a SR22.

 

This sounds like the perfect kind of story that should go viral.

Twitter GEICO and see what kind of response you get. I've had a few issues ironed out when you call them out in public.

But it sounds like it's time to move on a salt the earth behind you.

I love how when you're shopping for insurance you get this great pitch at how fantastic their services are, then when the time comes for them to pay out it's ALWAYS a song and dance why your coverage doesn't cover things.

 

^^^ THIS ^^^
My Bride works for an insurance company ( not Geico), you need to call and speak with a manager, calmly explain your role in the Dept, the training and qualifications involved and how all of this info was already presented to them over the years multiple times. This approach is the best possible avenue to getting things sorted out with the Gecko.
Good luck Robert. I had a lot of fun making sure my insurance carrier was cool with my running code with reds and siren while I was Deputy Chief of our local Fire Dept. Everything worked out OK for me once everything was explained to someone higher up the totem pole.

 

Not trying to be a dick but it sounds like a legitimate gripe on their end, I could see how they would be concerned over you using your personal vehicle in emergency situations. Does seem weird that they didn't wait to get your answers to the questionnaire prior to canceling your policy.

 

I had them for a wile, but dropped them because they wouldn't cover one of me pickups because they found out I go off-road with it. I thought it was a bunch of BS.



I know you will find a better company that will treat you better.

 

Go with USAA! They've been great with me, my papa and my grandpa. Never once have we had an issue with them and they are quick to take care of us whenever we have an issue.
My papa had GEICO before because he was a government employee and got a deal with them but once his 3 sons showed up on his policy they wanted him to pay something ridiculous like $1000 a month. Then they promptly dropped him when my mama was rear ended by some lady who was too engrossed in her cell phone to be bothered with driving her car.
I say tell GEICO and their gecko to go fly a kite....plenty of other insurance companies out there willing to provide service....especially to people like you who give of their free time and energy to keep the rest of us safe.

 

I have progressive right now hoping to switch to USAA here soon once my grandfathers military information gets taken care of.

hope you can find another carrier that takes care of you correctly.

 

USAA is the best insurance company I've come across, also use them for banking and life insurance. Will be switching to them for health insurance come open enrollment period.

 

yup usaa, only thing good about geico is the commercials.