A Notice for Your SF Customers

[chippy]

We are advising SF customers of SF's intent to stop waiving deductible by giving them a handout with relevant details and contact info (Bischoff @ SF, Insurance Commissioner's office). SF is having fits! Called and asked us to please stop.

STATE FARM POLICYHOLDERS IN TEXAS

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

WHO?
State Farm is the ONLY major insurance company in Texas to propose this change.

WHAT?
State Farm Insurance Company recently announced its intent to stop waiving your deductible for windshield repair. This means that you may pay the same premium for less coverage.

WHY?
Since the repair will no longer be free of charge, you will be much less inclined to repair it and, therefore, much more likely to need a total glass replacement later on. Your deductible will still apply for windshield replacement. That’s what State Farm wants…for you to pay for a new windshield. Your auto glass will, in effect, become uninsured by State Farm because a windshield replacement generally costs less than your deductible. State Farm will save millions of dollars as they crush the small windshield repair industry and stick you with the bill for your windshield replacement.
Will State Farm pass their big savings on to you in the form of reduced premiums?
What do you think? Is this the act of a “Good Neighbor”?

WHEN?
The proposed change will happen when you renew your policy in 2006. State Farm will send you a “Notice” buried somewhere in the renewal paperwork… knowing that it will go unnoticed by most policyholders who don’t read all the fine print. You’ll be left to find out about it when they tell you, “Sorry. That’s not covered. You have to pay for it.”

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
If you believe that paying the same premium for less coverage is wrong, and we assume that you do, we urge you to contact State Farm directly and tell them so:
Contact your agent or the State Farm Glass Unit (this is best) at:

State Farm Glass Central
Attn: Bob Bischoff
Three State Farm Plaza South
Bloomington, IL 61791
Phone: (309) 766-6000

We also strongly urge you to contact your Texas Insurance Commissioner’s office to express your disapproval as they must authorize any policy changes in the State of Texas. Their contact info is:

Texas Department of Insurance
PO Box 149104
Austin, TX 78714-9104
Phone: (800) 578-4677

[johnnyone]

Chippy Please don't STOP, You are educating your customers about Windshield repair and why insuranse companys cover the cost of the repair and now they are changing there position so now the customer is now getting less for their coverage and proably will be paying the same or more.

[chippy]

Please feel free to join in, Johnny. Strength in numbers!

In case you're worried, your SF O&A (if you have one) is a non-issue now. SF will let you run without it due to some litigation in AZ.

[johnnyone]

Litigation in AZ. Sense SF stop paying repair claims in AZ they are saving a ton of money, the free glass repair market was very agressively marketed there. I think thats why they continue to pushing back the dates of other states for continuing paying for glass repair claims.

On the other hand the claims for windshield replacement may go way up!