A Sign of The Times

Greenmountain Farmer · Oct 26, 2009

Our Telephone and Internet provider, (Fair Point Communications) which brought the Verizon landlines and Internet service, about a year ago filed chapter 11 this weekend. Can not log into email account tonight.

In today's mail I get a certified letter from 21st Century Insurance (was AIG), they are not going to renew a policy which I have had for at least 20 years. Reason Program no Longer Offered by Company.

What Next??

dave1949 · Oct 26, 2009

Greenmountain Farmer said:
[What Next??

Your credit card.

That Fairpoint deal was stupid from the get go. The only ones who believed they could take over all the Verizon subscribers were the various state PUCs, which makes one wonder just how above board it all was - or not.

Dave.

RichZ · Oct 26, 2009

I got a letter last week from my insurance company. They're canceling my home owner's insurance. They claim they JUST realized that my home is on a farm. Does the fact that I have barns, a milkhouse, tractors and livestock on my policy not give them a clue? My insurance agent has been to our farm many times. He certainly knew that my house is on a farm.

The same insurance company threatened to cancel my vehicle insurance ( I have 2 pick ups, a cargo van and an SUV) because I had 3 claims for broken windshields in the past 9 years. No other claims or tickets. They said that was excessive. Why do I have glass coverage if I can't claim it????

So, I'm now shoping for a new insurance company. If all things are equal, I'll probably go with the one that the Farm Bureau supports. Maybe they'll understand what a farm is. But then again, I shouldn't be too hopeful.

Jstpssng · Oct 26, 2009

dave1949 said:
Your credit card.

That Fairpoint deal was stupid from the get go. The only ones who believed they could take over all the Verizon subscribers were the various state PUCs, which makes one wonder just how above board it all was - or not.

Dave.

Why is it that the only ones who didn't see this coming were the people in charge? Every time a small company tries to buy out a much larger one they go belly up.
Wait and see, our illustrious governor will stick his nose in and make things worse. As our company president says "Baldacci is great at putting out fires. Trouble is, he's an arsonist!"

dave1949 · Oct 26, 2009

Jstpssng said:
Why is it that the only ones who didn't see this coming were the people in charge? Every time a small company tries to buy out a much larger one they go belly up.
Wait and see, our illustrious governor will stick his nose in and make things worse. As our company president says "Baldacci is great at putting out fires. Trouble is, he's an arsonist!"

It's hard to give Baldacci very high marks that's for sure. He is a bit of a gadfly, here and there, not much good ever comes of it. The school consolidation is a prime example.

I was only half joking about the credit card, people are getting dropped out of the blue. How is it the credit card companies can't do well on their 2% cut?
Dave.

Thomas · Oct 27, 2009

Still say there's something fishy about Fair Point dealing...time well tell also who's pockest gets line w/$$'s.

irvingj · Oct 27, 2009

Anybody besides me think that Verizon recognized a situation they could take advantage of and put the screws to Fairpoint- and laughed all the way to the bank? Granted Fairpoint seems to be a bit out of their league, but I suspect they might have been victims also.... (I've been lucky- not too many problems with phone/internet servcie. So far.) Apologies in advance if this is too "political."

BungeeII · Oct 27, 2009

What's next?

Auto warranty companies. They've always been unscrupulous, collecting premiums on policies and just when the claims start racking up, they go under and walk with the cash. Right now, you have a couple of very large players in the warranty business. How long before the first one of them fails? You know it's going to be soon and it's going to be big $$$.

As for insurance... Every company makes these stupid sweeping changes every now and again. I'm sure you'll find another insurance provider with just as good coverage for possible savings over AIG. For me it was Farmers insurance about 10 years ago. They made sweeping changes.... so did I

.

Bird · Oct 27, 2009

it was Farmers insurance about 10 years ago

In 1996, I had a tractor insured with Farmers and they sent a notice that the policy would not be renewed. I lived in a farming area and my agent had lots of farmers for clients and really had a tough job when Farmers Insurance Company quit insuring farm equipment.

dmccarty · Oct 27, 2009

RichZ said:
...
So, I'm now shoping for a new insurance company. If all things are equal, I'll probably go with the one that the Farm Bureau supports. Maybe they'll understand what a farm is. But then again, I shouldn't be too hopeful.

We switched to NC Farm Bureau years ago. They were cheaper than the company that we were using for the same coverage. And they would insure the tractor. The other company would not.

We have had some claims with them with no problems. Our Chiropractor says they have been the best company he has ever had to deal with.

If you get dropped from your insurance company give your state insurance regulator a call and see what they can do. A friend at work was dropped because of two claims. He was looking for a new company but I suggest a phone call to the state first. His policy was magically renewed.

NC FB has been great. We had three auto claims within six month.

I can say they did not raise our rates since after the second claim, which was a very bad collision, I increased our overage quite a bit and got a large umbrella policy. So I can't directly compare our costs at this point.

Later,
Dan