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AARP/Hartford Auto Insurance

Trinidad of Moreno Valley, CA May 28, 2009

We were insured for many years through AARP and even tough we had no accidents, our insurance kept going up each renewal period. Then my daughter was put on our policy, and unfortunately had an accident. Our insurance went from188.00 a month up to 1,475.12. We had to verbaly cancel the policy because we both are retired and living on a limited income. Hardford sent us a letter stating they were canceling our policy.

They then turned us over to collections, who stated we owd them a couplethousand dollars for periods 10/04-10/05. I have all the receips for that period however tey were not interested and my husband believed them, setting up payments of 50.00 a month, which we have been paying for a couple of years now. I recently sent them a letter asking them to put in writing the exact reason for being charged this additional money. (4/18/09). and as of this complaint, still no responce.

Ralph of Tucson, AZ May 15, 2009

I called for an auto insurance quote. I am 60 years old and no traffic violations or accidents. AARP Hartford auto insurance was 1,500.00 more per year. What a scam operation, making senior citizens think they are cheaper than other insurance firms.

nancy of east orange, NJ May 8, 2009

they are scum made up some crazy excuse and dropped me and refused to reinstate my policy said that i needed to re-sign a nj residence form i had signed it but had signed it in an additional place as well received letter on a sat and they can not be reached @nites or weekends contatcted them on the following mon said i needed to re-submit this stupid form and they had to to receive it by the following tues which gave me a week surely enuf time for the us mail honestly thinking back on the conversation they had no intention of reinstating me and were using that as an excuse i have never even heard of or seen a nj residency form b4 and had auto ins previously w/another co i did notate on the application that i would not authorize a credit/consumer report even thou my credit is impeccable so is my MV record and i feel it is discrimanatory to base ones ins rates on their credit they lied and said that nj does not require that actually they broke the law when they ran one w/out my knowledge or consent y'know how they say this conversation will be recorded???? can u say lawsuit????????????

randy of atlantis, FL April 26, 2009

I called AARP/Hartford insurance, on 4-25-09, to change my current Hartford auto insurance and umbrella from my private agent to AARP. The savings would have been 2000 a year. The AARP agent took my information and said my wife and I had an excellent driving record. They asked me several questions to qualify for the umbrella policy and all was in order. The AARP agent then put me on hold saying that he had to get approval from the underwriter. He came back and apologized and said that he had one more question.

Since I am a physician, he asked if I had ever published or will ever publish any scientific article. My response was yes. He then put me on hold and came back and said the underwriter was denying me my umbrella policy because I have or may publish an article in a medical journal.

I explained to the agent that I am a hospital employee and any article written would have to be approved by the research committee at the hospital and that the hospital also carries a liability policy for me. I even offered to fax the policy. I even suggested they exclude or put on a rider excluding any articles written. The agent went back to the underwriter and claimed to have gone to his boss as well. The response was still NO. I asked how they can possibly exclude everyone in the scientific community who will write or will ever write an article. He could not answer. This seems like a ridiculous and discriminatory reason to deny a policy. It seems like that they were looking for any minor excuse to deny the policy.

What I found most interesting is that I already have an umbrella policy with Hartford. I was looking to change to Hartford under AARP to save money on my auto insurance. The umbrella goes with my auto insurance so I could not change. I did ask the agent why Hartford/AARP denied me while Hartford with my private agent had no problem giving me the umbrella. He could not answer me.

Also what relevance does my professional work or professional life have to do with my personal umbrella since I have separate liability insurance through my place of employment? He could or would not answer the question. In addition he would not let me speak with the underwriter.

Kathy of Central Point, OR April 23, 2009

I have been with AARP/Hartford for over ten years and have never had an accident or made a claim. Back in 2001, we ran into serious financial difficulties when my husband lost his job due to the spotted owl issue and the resulting timber mill closings in the Pacific Northwest. Our credit suffered as a result. Because of our financial difficulties in 2002, they have raised our rates every year as we are considered a "bad risk" and irresponsible. Again---in ten years, not one accident. Actually, we've had no accidents or claims at all over the last 20 years. As would indicate by our driving history, we are very responsible drivers. I've held the same job for 18 years; after he finally found another job, my husband has held the same employment for over 8 years now. How is this possibly a good and fair way to treat good loyal customers?

Mary of Oklahoma City, OK April 7, 2009

We have had auto insurance with AARP Hartford for more than 10 years and had coverage in New Mexico, Utah, Montana, and Oklahoma for two vehicles, full coverage on both, no accidents, good credit rating. In May 2005 we sold our Cadillac El Dorado and had it removed from our policy when we moved to Oklahoma from Montana. In Montana the annual premium for both vehicles was 1,013.00 as of November 1, 2004. Six months later and minus one vehicle the annual policy premium was 1,028.00. The premium has been rising each year even though we have had no accidents, no change in coverage, no changes in vehicles, no changes in drivers.

We received our renewal policy a few days ago and the renewal premium is 1,443.00. I called Hartford and asked why the premium is so high for one vehicle and has always been higher than it was for two vehicles. The explanation is that 1.)my husband is the principal driver and males are more costly to insure than females; 2.) we had a multi-car discount of 51.00. I asked the customer service rep, Brian, to figure what the premium would be at this time if we still had the Cadillac on the policy. He informed me the truck premium would be lowered to 1,116.00 and the Cadillac premium would be 394.00, which means the two vehicle policy would cost 1,510.00 compared to the one vehicle policy cost of 1,443.00.

In other words, we can insure two vehicles for the price of one. Prior to calling Hartford I went online and got quotes from other companies. Safeco and GEICO both came in with policies of 800-900 annually for the exact same coverage on the truck that we have with Hartford. My questions are, if Hartford can charge 1,116.00 for coverage on a pickup if there is another car on the policy, why can't they charge this same amount when there isn't another vehicle on the policy? The vehicle hasn't changed, the coverage hasn't changed, so why does the premium change? Are males being penalized with higher premiums than females even after they turn 25? My husband is 67 years old with a perfect driving record. Why can other isurance companies provide the exact same coverage on the same vehicle for 500-600 annual premium less? Isn't that an indication that Hartford is overcharging to begin with?

Marlene of Ranchos De Toas, NM April 1, 2009

hartford thru the aarp offered us a good savings,we subsequently joined AARPand bought the auto insurance, over the net. Paid by credit card and instructed hartford to withdraw electronicly. We never received any I.D. cards contacted them several times and was told that our paperwork was not sent back to them on time and they were cancelling us for no payment. Got that straighted out and they faed the papers to us 6 days before it had to be maiied back, couldn't fax it! We got cancelled out of something we never had in the first place

We were left uninsured on a vehicle that needs full coverage. We lost out on money and insurance. As the rest of us are saying I will guarentee that any one I can talk out of getting Hartford insurance I will. They should be put out of business and the AARP endorses them. What's coming out of the seniors pockets that they don't even know about?

Joseph of Humble, TX March 23, 2009

I cancelled my new policy 3 days before it was to go into effect. Thee AARP reprsentative assured me over the phone that it was cancelled and that I could expect my refund in 10 days.

I received an AArp policy in the mail. I called to verify that it was cancelled and the representative told me that it was not cancelled and that I could not cancel it over the phone. She said that I had to send in a declaration page from my current insurancce carrier showing that I was insured on the day that theyer policy was to go in to effect.

I have not received my refund. I also think that this is unfair business practices.

Ellen of Fort Wayne, IN March 14, 2009

I called the insurance company, about one issue and discovered to my horror, that they are canceling our auto insurance at the end of March. According to them, when I paid on line the past 2 months, I made some error, and they could not withdraw the money. I asked them to tell me what the error is and they can't. The money is absolutely there. It was there when I made the payments. I also pay my renters insurance there as well, and there has been no problem. So, for this reason they are canceling us. Their only alternative was that I let them set it up so they can take the money out of my account, which I would not allow anyone to do.

The insurance we will have to change to is over 300 more a year.

John C. Vance of North Huntingdon, PA March 11, 2009

Have had auto insurance from AARP The Hartford for several years and recently received a Information Letter thanking me for being a member. You are receiving a unique combination of savings, benefits and service designed exclusively for AARP members. However, the policy price increased by 209.00 for the year. A call to CS stated that the rates of the state (PA) had been increased. I am very dissatisfied with this and would like to know, with the present economic downturn, why are they increasing their rates? I haven't read anywhere that the CEOs are reducing their salaries or bonuses - no, that would be unthinkable! Thank you for your time - A Disgruntled Customer

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