Allstate Policy Holders and Victims Should Know They Are Not in Good Hands
In legal circles, insurance circles, and amongst colleagues of both sides of the coin, plaintiffs and defendants, there is an on going understanding of how awful Allstate Insurance claims adjusting and case evaluations are in comparison with reality and fairness.
I tell everyone that comes in my office how bad Allstate Insurance company is when it comes to providing a fair or reasonable offer on their personal injury claim. Again, truth is an absolute defense to any potential libel or slander claims so I want to put forth the TRUTH about Allstate:
- Insurance adjusters for other insurance companies have resolved their portion of a claim with me and said, "Good luck"; "I wouldn't want to deal with them", "I don't see how they haven't been shut down by the state", in reference to resolving the other portion of the claims with Allstate;
- I have been told by an Allstate insurance adjuster that regardless of what my client's treating physicians said they were not paying the claim because she didn't think my client was hurt. (She may have had a college degree but no medical training or certification);
- Allstate insurance representatives (in SC) have openly discussed with me how bad the company is run, how ridiculous the claims process is for them to get any authority, and how a machine (Colossus) tells what your claim is worth, not a person;
- Allstate adjusters have told my clients (prior to my representation), that they can't possibly be hurt because of the collision they were in and need to settle the case because an attorney can't help them;
- A year or two ago they use to have a system to try and move cases and it didnt matter what happen or what injuries the client received. It was based solely on medical bills. From $0-2,500 they would offer $500; $2,500-7,500 a $1,000 and so on but no more than $2,000 regardless of the amount;
- I have had numerous cases where they offered to settle for less than or equal to the medical bills and then I file suit and go through the litigation motions only to settle for a reasonable value and absolutely no facts, medical bills, or circumstances arose that would merit such an increase other than the fact, I filed suit. (one such instance was so ridiculous that my client had a $15,000 offer and absolutely nothing changed but litigation was initiated--we settled for nearly half a million); and
- More than half a dozen defense attorneys I work with have made this specific statement when discussing Allstate cases, "Well Trey, you know this is Allstate........." (No other insurance company is mentioned in that regard).
Why do I hate Allstate Insurance Company so much?
- I do not believe they conduct their insurance practice in good faith;
- Their commercials grate on every nerve I have when I know how poorly they treat their own insureds (what you are if you have Allstate Insurance), much less victims injured by their insureds; and
- Consumers (you if you buy anything) are not educated on the front line about what they are buying and then they are being taken advantage of by their own insurance companies.
My solution:
- I have decided to fight Allstate regardless of the time, resources, and value on the claim;
- I educate every person I see, regardless if they become a client, on insurance and how bad Allstate conducts claims;
- I remain an active voice for those that have been deceived, manipulated, talked down to, and dejected by uninformed, uneducated, and ignorant Allstate representatives; and
- I blog when my blood pressure gets sky high because an Allstate adjuster just offered me $1,200 over medical bills of $12,800 and did not dispute that their insured was at fault or the injuries my client received. When I asked the reasoning for the offer and he gave some BS answer I made the comment that I don't know why I even ask anymore and he said, and I quote verbatim, "Yeah, I don't know either. I came from another claims office and it just seems like a waste of time."
I am always open to hearing the other side of this issue or in lieu of no one having anything good to say about Allstate either, more war stories of how bad they are.
Trey, you are absolutely correct. I worked for a different insurance company for years as a defense trial attorney. I dreaded having a co-defendant insured by Allstate. It always made it much more difficult to resolve the case fairly. I also had represented plaintiffs in personal injury suits between 1995-2000, and Allstate was using a similar strategy then too. I've heard all the same things and experienced the same problems you have had with Allstate.
Trey,
Unfortunately, this is how Allstate does business...and it's pathetic. Keep spreading the word about just how bad things are with Allstate. People need to know they are "not in good hands" when they're insured by that company.
Tony
I am glad to know that I am not the only one who has that reaction to Allstate's TV commercials. My wife has told me to stop screaming "LIAR!!!!" at the TV set when they tell people they are in good hands with Allstate.
It just kills me when potential clients call and are trying to decide whether they need a lawyer or not and say something along the lines of, "Well .... at least I am dealing with a pretty good company on the other side. The guy who hit me was insured with Allstate." That's the kind of misinformation that millions of dollars of advertising will buy Allstate.
I am trying to put my hands (eyes) on the infamous Mckinzey Documents that Allstate tried so hard to hide. They posted them on their web site in 2008 until the current storm blew over, then they disappeared again. There were supposed to be 150,000 pages of stuff. Any help would be appreciated.
Song title: You're not in good hands:
Below,my song I wrote about our 14 year fight with allstate insurance company.
Let's expose this criminal insurance company and hold them accountable.
Layla Fanucci
www.laylafanucci.com
http://www.youtube.com/laylafanucci2
Had a recent experience where I got renters insurance for the first time after having a break in. The break in I had items total $700 value taken, glad not alot was taken so I went to get insurance. After getting insurance the criminals came back and got the rest of my things ($18k worth of things)again while at work again. I know who stole my things it was the neighbor across the street so they easy can see when Im at work and not.
Allstate rejects my claims saying I state I had no Losses or Damages over the past 5 yrs on the contract the agent filled out. I told them I was under the impression that meant if I had any claims in the past 5 years. Did not know I was to list every time someone had taken anything from me in the past 5 yrs. $700 loss I can recover from but $18k isnt that easy. Everytime I have anything missing from a penny on up is a loss. Mentioned the first break in to the agent and the agent never told me that they have to cancel me of any types of loss I have had. regardless of amount.
Agree....i bought policy over phone and it was 1100...
some time later they send me the coverage plan with 2100...
I am not sure why did they chanrge 1000 extra...The result is due to dispute they sent it to collection... its black email....I just have one question to them prove me that I agreed to but the plicy for 2100 , not 1100..yet to get answer...
I used to kind of like that actor who is the spokes hole for Allstate. Now I wouldn't go and see anything he's done if someone paid me. I want to reach through the TV and knock some sense into that poor man.
I got 2 checks from allstate ins. The first was for damaged carpet and tile remove and replace .the second check bounced! I thought it was for the extra elec and damaged items that where in my basement and cleaning it was not. It was for the cleaning service however I had been told by the allstate agent that a check would be sent directly to the cleaning service that i did not need to worry about it. Allstate then sent another check to the cleaning service and stopped payment to the one sent to me. Allstate did not call or send any letter telling me this.I had no reason to believe that this check was not for me. I put the check in my checking account. And a few days later my checking account is in the hole over 1300 with bad check fees and negative balance fees now I am in a panic.I called allstate and was told it was my fault that I should not have put that check into the bank.I asked what about the check I was supposed to get for my damaged items and the extra electricity. I can get no answer on that and I am told my claim is closed. I now get the runaround every time I call. I also have large increases in my premiums in 07 $460 in 08 $535 09 $791 in 10 $ $883 are these normal increases? I have only filed 1 claim.
RESPONSE:
Contact your state Department of Insurance and file a claim.
Wow. I had no idea Allstate conducted business like that. Do they even disclose that they won't pay realistic in small print? Don't they have to? I thought insurance companies were highly regulated.