Posted On: June 7, 2006, 5:37 pm CDT

Posted By: OC Agent

Wow, I have to say reading this made me start to laugh out loud at the jealousy from unappointed agents, or just pure ignorance from "preferred" agents. Agencies in California have it made once they get the Mercury appointment. They have is so made that when reps from other carriers come in to visit and find out Mercury has recently appointed that agency, they actually congratulate them sincerely!

I have a five year back ground with Allstate, great company, BUT I heard just as many complaints about their claims service as I do Mercury. Most of the complaints we hear about Mercury claims are from the other party who wanted more payout then was given/deserved. But Mercury has been very honest, complete and decently quick in most cases. Remember, Mercury has grown so much in the last few years that they were having growth issues. It's hard to hire enough underwriters, claims adjusters, and other inner office staff for a company that is growing so fast. Once you get a few hundred ready to be thrown in the fire, you find out you are already 100 short.

The Texas MVR issue is Texas, not Mercury.

Trust me; those of you who aren't mercury appointed would be right here with the rest of us if you could sell them. Why wouldn't you sell a carrier who pays you 20% commission, and is usually 10-30% less expensive then the competition? Then you get their home, umbrella and landlord policies too!! That equates to more policies, more business, and more commission......NO BRAINER! PLUS, you get a contingency bonus option at the end of the year.....I see why you're all jealous!!!

From the relationships I built with Allstate, I do business with many preferred agents, (Allstate, State Farm, Farmers, AAA); many of these agents will refer their customers to me once they get non-renewed due to a DUI or accident. (They do this hoping the customer doesn't find a random agent who will take all their lines of business.) Then I hear the same question over and over again...."Why would a huge carrier like State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, and AAA cancel me after 30+ years of collecting my money, and me having one bad year behind the wheel?" They feel so upset and betrayed that once the DUI or accident has cleared up and they are eligible for the preferred carrier again, they refuse to go back, and then try to get me to write all their lines of business. (Which I don't, that's the agreement I have with the agent who referred it)

Don't bad mouth Mercury because your carrier can't compete, just enjoy the market when it sways your way.

Down bring them down to make you look better!