Mr. Martin you are introducing an annual policy like it is something new. I was told seven years ago by Wilshire Boulvard that Farmers rigths seperate six month auto policies and it\’s the key to their success. Well since you have dropped from #3 to #8 you think this will\” bring you back to where you belong\”. You will also need to start paying your claims, lower your rates,higher better managers and agents, and get rid of your arrogance. Good luck, however, until that happens this will only create another distraction for your already depressed agency force.
Dear Fig agent- Your new CEO was hired to finish the job Mr. Feinstein would not do, kill the contingents. Mr. Hopkins is not new, as a VP he was instrumental in many of the non agent friendly programs. Now, he is leading you to 1800 24/7 customer service, do you really believe that this is pro agent. Geico, 21st century, Auto club, Progressive, to name few already have customer service handled by novices. Do you really believe that after your clients quit calling you for service that they are really not going to lower your commissions. You really need to look at the big picture, Mr. Feinstein did, and guess who no longer has his insurance with Farmers Insurance. Why would an ex-CEO, and Farmers policyholder cancel all his insurance. I am really sorry and I understand your defending Farmers Insurance, but your livelyhood is at stake and you should really ask your DM these hard questions. You won\’t ask him out of fear, because even though these are facts they are negative. Please ask your underwriters,service reps., adjusters why do they not insure with Farmers Insurance. I have also talked to many Farmers agents and no they are not growing, they are getting hammered with lower income and PIF losses. Farmers Insurance went from #3 to #8 in five years, they owe it to their agents to provide better rates, and claims service. They got fined in January 2006 by the DOI 1.25 million dollars for too many complaints, and I have not seen any improvement in their claims handling. One example, was a simple auto claim where the insured hit an object on the road. That\’s a no-brainer comp loss with any other carrier, not Farmers they charge it as a non-fault collision (a much higher deductible). FIG agent be honest with yourself, the fact is Wilshire Boulvard could care less about you, and are working to lower you contract value.
Farmers is on a long road to nowhere. It is a shame to see what happened to the good company I new in the 80\’s and early 90\’s. This change for the worse can be attributed to Zurich and its termendous appetite for money.
Corporate greed is killing American corporations. Enron was the first to die with more to come. One of these will be Farmers Insurance group.
You can\’t get kicked if you\’re not laying on the ground.
Come on Agents. You have alternatives. There are many many well-run regional insurers with products, service and management that can see farther than next quarter\’s results. Look around your own back yards, find one and start doing your job of educating the consumer to be savvy beyond a false savings of premiums. This in no way means all regionals are higher priced alternatives to nationals.
The sooner you get off your butts and sell value over low price, the sooner you\’ll find better customers and find the respect of your customers … for life!
Quite whining and start selling. No wonder direct writers are eating our lunch in personal lines.
Since when does renewing every 6 months with most large companies take \”time and paperwork\”? I always just get yet another bill and poof, it\’s renewed… nothing time consuming. If they want to save my time and paper, give me free insurance, HA.
Unfortunately, this company is cluless on Wilshire Blvd. Zurich is bleeding them for 1.5 billion in management fees, and they have no clue what needs to be done to correct their slide. They need to invest in better managers and agents, then start paying their claims. I doubt that Zurich will lower their management fees and if they did they have no idea what to do, as none of the current management team was thei when it was great. Good bye Farmers
Sorry IA crowd. Things have not been this good for Farmers Agents in a long time. We have got better rates and better products than independents. Go ahead and run down what you don\’t know. Ask a FIG agent if they are not getting their share of growth lately. New CEO takes care of agents too. Lots of changes and lots of improvements for customers and agents.
You must not be in California where you are underinsuring homes by as much as 100% and telling your clients that the extended replacement cost endorsement will cover it. Claims is still denying clims at a record pace, and none of your employees are insured with your companies. Please explain where you are kicking b…….., as I beat your rates daily. Commercial vehicles are misrated for personal use just to try and save the business.
This will save a few trees in the Pacific Northwest (so the Spotted Owl can live there & eat the Beatles)!!!! You go Farmers!!!! Write those annual policies!
Mr. Martin you are introducing an annual policy like it is something new. I was told seven years ago by Wilshire Boulvard that Farmers rigths seperate six month auto policies and it\’s the key to their success. Well since you have dropped from #3 to #8 you think this will\” bring you back to where you belong\”. You will also need to start paying your claims, lower your rates,higher better managers and agents, and get rid of your arrogance. Good luck, however, until that happens this will only create another distraction for your already depressed agency force.
Dear Fig agent- Your new CEO was hired to finish the job Mr. Feinstein would not do, kill the contingents. Mr. Hopkins is not new, as a VP he was instrumental in many of the non agent friendly programs. Now, he is leading you to 1800 24/7 customer service, do you really believe that this is pro agent. Geico, 21st century, Auto club, Progressive, to name few already have customer service handled by novices. Do you really believe that after your clients quit calling you for service that they are really not going to lower your commissions. You really need to look at the big picture, Mr. Feinstein did, and guess who no longer has his insurance with Farmers Insurance. Why would an ex-CEO, and Farmers policyholder cancel all his insurance. I am really sorry and I understand your defending Farmers Insurance, but your livelyhood is at stake and you should really ask your DM these hard questions. You won\’t ask him out of fear, because even though these are facts they are negative. Please ask your underwriters,service reps., adjusters why do they not insure with Farmers Insurance. I have also talked to many Farmers agents and no they are not growing, they are getting hammered with lower income and PIF losses. Farmers Insurance went from #3 to #8 in five years, they owe it to their agents to provide better rates, and claims service. They got fined in January 2006 by the DOI 1.25 million dollars for too many complaints, and I have not seen any improvement in their claims handling. One example, was a simple auto claim where the insured hit an object on the road. That\’s a no-brainer comp loss with any other carrier, not Farmers they charge it as a non-fault collision (a much higher deductible). FIG agent be honest with yourself, the fact is Wilshire Boulvard could care less about you, and are working to lower you contract value.
Farmers is on a long road to nowhere. It is a shame to see what happened to the good company I new in the 80\’s and early 90\’s. This change for the worse can be attributed to Zurich and its termendous appetite for money.
Corporate greed is killing American corporations. Enron was the first to die with more to come. One of these will be Farmers Insurance group.
You can\’t get kicked if you\’re not laying on the ground.
Come on Agents. You have alternatives. There are many many well-run regional insurers with products, service and management that can see farther than next quarter\’s results. Look around your own back yards, find one and start doing your job of educating the consumer to be savvy beyond a false savings of premiums. This in no way means all regionals are higher priced alternatives to nationals.
The sooner you get off your butts and sell value over low price, the sooner you\’ll find better customers and find the respect of your customers … for life!
Quite whining and start selling. No wonder direct writers are eating our lunch in personal lines.
Since when does renewing every 6 months with most large companies take \”time and paperwork\”? I always just get yet another bill and poof, it\’s renewed… nothing time consuming. If they want to save my time and paper, give me free insurance, HA.
Unfortunately, this company is cluless on Wilshire Blvd. Zurich is bleeding them for 1.5 billion in management fees, and they have no clue what needs to be done to correct their slide. They need to invest in better managers and agents, then start paying their claims. I doubt that Zurich will lower their management fees and if they did they have no idea what to do, as none of the current management team was thei when it was great. Good bye Farmers
THIS WAS ONE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SUCCESS STORIES – NOW GONE TO THE WOLVES OF EUROPE
Sorry IA crowd. Things have not been this good for Farmers Agents in a long time. We have got better rates and better products than independents. Go ahead and run down what you don\’t know. Ask a FIG agent if they are not getting their share of growth lately. New CEO takes care of agents too. Lots of changes and lots of improvements for customers and agents.
You must not be in California where you are underinsuring homes by as much as 100% and telling your clients that the extended replacement cost endorsement will cover it. Claims is still denying clims at a record pace, and none of your employees are insured with your companies. Please explain where you are kicking b…….., as I beat your rates daily. Commercial vehicles are misrated for personal use just to try and save the business.
This will save a few trees in the Pacific Northwest (so the Spotted Owl can live there & eat the Beatles)!!!! You go Farmers!!!! Write those annual policies!