Is your insurance company consumer friendly?
Price is obviously a big factor when choosing an insurance company. But it's not the only factor. You want to make sure that company will be there for you, if you have a problem and need to file a claim. One way to judge that is by the number of complaints filed against a company.
A new database launched today by the Office of the State Insurance Commissioner lets you get those numbers and compare the information from company to company. The Complaint Comparison Guide (fortress.wa.gov) has data for health insurance, home insurance and auto insurance. The database goes back to 2003. It's real easy to use.
You'll find the number of complaints filed in that year and how that compares to other companies on the list. This Complaint Index is the real key to the chart, because it levels the playing field.
For instance, State Farm Mutual had 94 complaints last year and a ratio of 0.47. That's good.
A ratio of 1 is considered average. So State Farm is better than average. GEICO General, Safeco, and PEMCO also did better than average.
On the other hand, Allstate and Farmers were below average. Allstate had 94 complaints and a ratio of 1.02. Farmers of Washington had 173 complaints and a ratio of 1.11.
Just one more way to research an insurance company before you decide to go with them.
A new database launched today by the Office of the State Insurance Commissioner lets you get those numbers and compare the information from company to company. The Complaint Comparison Guide (fortress.wa.gov) has data for health insurance, home insurance and auto insurance. The database goes back to 2003. It's real easy to use.
You'll find the number of complaints filed in that year and how that compares to other companies on the list. This Complaint Index is the real key to the chart, because it levels the playing field.
For instance, State Farm Mutual had 94 complaints last year and a ratio of 0.47. That's good.
A ratio of 1 is considered average. So State Farm is better than average. GEICO General, Safeco, and PEMCO also did better than average.
On the other hand, Allstate and Farmers were below average. Allstate had 94 complaints and a ratio of 1.02. Farmers of Washington had 173 complaints and a ratio of 1.11.
Just one more way to research an insurance company before you decide to go with them.
