Speaking of Insurance

Everyone’s passionate about something. For some it might be painting, writing the great American novel, or open heart surgery. But all Erie Insurance agents are passionate about one thing: insurance. It can seem a little strange, I know, but I love reading about insurance, learning more about insurance, and telling other people about insurance.

Sometimes it may seem like you need an interpreter to understand your insurance. Luckily, all ERIE agents are fluent in insurance, and I'm here to help you translate. Got a question? No need to go hunting through your policy to find the answer, just let me know, and I’ll get you the answers.

You have enough going on in your life without having to become an expert on insurance, too. You just want to know you’re covered when the unexpected happens. But with an ERIE agent, you can relax and know that there’s someone there – just a phone call away – when you have questions.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes, really?  He's going to talk about snow?  It's April, I don't even want to think about snow for a long time.  Don't worry, it's just a metaphor.  Read on...

We all know that no two snowflakes are alike. But since snowflakes tend to melt pretty quickly, it’s more important to remember that no two people are alike. For instance, some people love to talk on the phone, while the mere thought of a phone chat makes others turn green. Many people prefer to do everything on the computer, while some like an old-fashioned face-to-face meeting.

And that’s cool with me. You can get in touch with me any way you want. I'm always here for you, to answer questions about your policy, make a change to your coverage, or file a claim. Personalized attention is never more than a phone call away.

But if you prefer a cruise down the information superhighway instead, I can help with that, too. Erie Insurance agents can be reached via e-mail (but remember, never send me private information this way). If you prefer to the do-it-yourself route, you can file claims online at http://www.erieinsurance.com, look at Frequently Asked Questions, get an auto quote, or pay your bill with a few clicks of your mouse.

You should never dread getting a call from your insurance agent. So let me know: how can I contact you? I’ll listen.

Achieving Excellence in Customer Service: The Brands That Deliver What U.S. Consumers Want

A report released February 2011 by J.D. Power & Associates listed Erie Insurance as one of the top "Customer Service Champions" among 800 companies analyzed.  This report examined companies from several different industries, from financial services to utilities.

For the full report:  http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/Corp/Store/DocumentDownload.aspx?PDFFile=11-US-ServiceExcellence-SR-sample.pdf&Category=SpecRpt

Some excerpts: 
Despite this period of record-level uncertainty, some companies have successfully weathered this storm. They recognize that a reputation for high-quality service is a powerful market differentiator in the face of changing economic conditions.

Five critical-to-customer features, or the J.D. Power 5 PsSM are key to achieving excellence in customer satisfaction and advocacy. Companies, regardless of the industry, must outperform their competition on some or all of the core areas in order to retain and attract customers.

Insurance in the "News"

I have MSN.com as my homepage, and I don't know why.  I guess I like the layout and random tidbits of information to quickly glance over.  More recently, I have become a little frustrated with the site.  Mainly because of the articles they link to from MSN Money or wherever.  I troll common sites to find articles to share on facebook (or here) that contain interesting or pertinent information which my clients could find useful.  Lately, all it's been is "10 things your insurance company won't tell you" or "Top 10 most expensive vehicles to insure".  The latter usually contains exotic sports cars which you and I will never drive, let alone own or insure.  But the first example is where my frustration stems from.  The writers of these articles do little research and offer less insight or helpful information.  Sometimes they just paint the entire industry as legalized theft.

You may have noticed by now that I take insurance seriuosly and I want you to also.  A wise consumer should investigate their company and agent to make sure they are getting the best value for their money.  Don't believe everything you read on the internet.  If you have a concern, talk to your agent.  If you have a concern about your agent, talk to the company.  If you have a concern about both, talk to your state's Department of Insurance.  They have a direct line phone number.  I've called them and they answer the phone.

What I'm really saying is find an agent or agency that you trust and really want to do business with.  Ask your friends, relatives or neighbors.  Personal recommendations go a long way with me.  Your agent should be interested in you and how to best protect what's important to you, not how to profit from you.

What to do in a winter accident

Nasty weather is NOT just around the corner.  It is here.  Do you know what to do in the event you get into an accident during these frigid months?  If you need a refresher, here are just a few things to get you through your accident troubles.

• Make sure everyone is safe.  The very first thing you should do in an accident is assess the situation and make sure everyone in your vehicle is all right.  Maybe you just slid off the road and are a bit shaken.  Take some deep breaths and calm down.  In the event there are injuries, be prepared to handle the crisis in as calm of manner as possible.  The calmer you can stay, the easier it is for everyone involved to stay cool.
• Make your calls.  There are a few people you are going to want to call right away.  If this is a multi-vehicle accident, or there are injuries, call 911 right away.  If this is something as simple as sliding into the ditch, then call your auto insurance agent to see if they can help get a tow truck sent to you.  If you cannot reach your agent, call the 800 number found on your insurance card for service.
• Bundle up for the long wait.  You should have some extra blankets or clothing in your car for these colder months.  Time to break them out.  While your auto insurance agent may be able to get you help, it's going to take some time for emergency crews to arrive.  Hypothermia is very dangerous, especially in colder climates.  Wrap up in some blankets and stay warm.  If you can safely keep your car running for heat, even better.

Winter may be pretty and white, but it's also a time to step up your accident handling plans.  Make sure your agent's or insurance company's contact info is current and readily available during these stressful driving times.  You never know when you may need it.

Don't be afraid to call your agent

It is always important to keep your insurance agent "up-to-speed" on any changes in your life. You may think them insignificant, but there are many things that happen which can affect your insurance policy and the premiums you pay. A lot of people think that, as far as the insurance company knows, no news is good news. Policyholders fear that if they contact their agent for any reason, they may be subject to a rate increase due to account review. While it is possible that your premium will go up, it is also possible that you are over-paying and your premium may go down. If you mileage to work has decreased (or been eliminated), it is true that you will save money. Annual mileage plays a big factor in rating a policy. As far as online courses and safety training discounts, ask your agent what is available. Every company is different, and there is no standard of 10% for completing such a course. It's free to ask and can be a simple way of saving money.

We want to hear from you.  As an agent, I want to be the source of insurance information for my policyholders.  If they have any question within the realm of insurance (or outside of it as well) I encourage them to call.  It is a level of service I expect from other institutions which I do business with, so I make it a point to deliver on it as well.  I am not only the guy who reviewed your insurance and offered you a better rate than a competitor, I am your risk manager.

Thinking about buying a car?  Call me.  I will tell you the impact of which type of vehicle you are considering.

Thinking of moving?  Call me.  I can explain all the rating factors that go into a home that may affect the premium.  I know that inground pool looks like a great feature for summer fun, but it also is an attractive nuisance and better have a locked fence around it.

Thinking of buying a motorcycle?  Call me.  I want to go riding with you.  But first, you should take a rider safety course to get a discount.

Remember to shop around

When I worked as a manager in the retail environment I got so used to the customer shopping around and finding the best price on a product.  It wasn't rare, in fact it was daily, when someone would point out the difference in the price of a product I sold.  Even when the difference was less than 1%!  The consumer did not want to pay a penny more than they needed to get the product they wanted.

Now, in insurance, it's completely different.  The consumer, or at least 90% of them, cares nothing about the competitive price.  This is made clear by the fact that they refuse to shop around for the best rate.  It can be argued that the lowest premium does not equal the best value, and I agree.  However, I am literally stunned when a propective client hesitates to switch insurance carriers to potentially save 10-20% on their annual premium when everything else is equal.  Coming from a retail background, this is mind-boggling (and quite frustrating).

I have come to learn of the intangible loyalty most insureds have with their carrier or their agent.  Most people don't want to switch their insurance and save money because that means they have to "break-up" with their current agent.  This is unpleasant to them and they avoid it.  Who wants to call someone to tell them they are taking their business elsewhere?  There are few other places in the consumer world where you have to do this.  It is to the point that the insured may not even know the agent who they are giving their business to.  They don't know what he or she looks like or where their office is.  I find this unsettling.  I believe everyone should have a strong and trusting relationship with their insurance professional.

I urge everyone to do more research and be more active in your insurance.  Shop around.  Ask questions.  Figure out who you want to give your business to and why.  Get the best value for your dollar and make sure it's with someone you trust to take care of you when you need it most.