Progressive Insurance

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Select an insurance Auto and Home Auto Home Life Health Long Term Care Are you currently insured? Yes No Enter ZIP Progressive Insurance • Claim disputes • Rates • Why do they call it that? --- News • Progressive Settles Rate Quote Complaint

Progressive has an appealing ad campaign and presents itself as a hip, cool and -- for lack of a better term -- progressive insurance company. Maybe it is but the consumers whose comments appear in this section would beg to differ.

A few of the more recent complaints ...

Paul of Lake Dallas, TX October 28, 2009

David B. (Progressive Insurance: North Texas Lines Manager) denied my claim based on unfounded evidence that he falsified. I hit a stump with my boat motor which is covered by my policy. The damage was obviously from hitting the stump but he claimed that a mechanical failure within the lower unit was the problem which is not covered. He did this after 2 of his own adjusters had claimed it was "Impact Damage" and it should have been paid by the policy.

After fighting Progressive, they finally paid the claim but the false evidence that David claimed was the reason he denied the claim has never been seen and he was not held accountable for knowingly engaging in a dishonest practice to avoid paying a claim. The first reason he gave for denying the claim was mechanical failure of the pinion gear. He said this was obvious due to a "Failed Bearing".

There was no "failed Bearing" and he has never showed a photo revealing the "Failed Bearing" even though he never saw the damaged motor except in photos. After he was asked to provide proof of the mystery "failed bearing", he changed the reason from a "Failed Bearing" to a "Rusty Seal". That also was a false statement that was proved false and documented when an independent marine surveyor showed that the bearings and seals were in excellent condition.

If a policyholder submits a false claim they are held accountable and prosecuted. Are Claims managers not held to the same standard? Wouldn't his falsifying evidence be just as fraudulent as an insured lying to fake a claim? Is there no accountability for his deceit? How many claims has he falsified data in the past to avoid paying a claim? And with immunity for these types of actions how many more will he do in the future?

Progressive has asked why I am not satisfied since they paid the claim. They believe by paying the claim this can all be dropped. Progressive needs to be responsive and address what David B. has done. By sweeping it under the rug they are condoning it and are just as unethical as Mr. B. The claim was eventually paid but only after challenging the Insurance company to provide proof of the reasons given for denial. The person who falsified the information was never held accountable for engaging in a dishonest practice to avoid paying a claim. The evidence the damage was due to impact damage is clear. 3rd party survey report proves there was impact damage. The acknowledgement from 2 of Progressive's own adjusters that it was impact damage (certified letter from one of the adjusters that states it was not "Mechanical Failure"). Mechanic that replaced the lower unit and has over 25 yrs experience says it was undeniably impact damage that caused it. Progressive has now admitted it was impact damage and paid the claim. My nephew and I both were witnesses in the boat when the submerged stump was hit. The evidence that Mr. Burkamp knowingly falsified data to deny the claim is even clearer. • 3rd party survey report that proves there was no failed bearing or rusty seal that David has repeatedly said was the “smoking gun” that led to his denial. • Mr. Burkamp has never provided evidence to support what he said he saw and has changed his original reason as to why the claim was denied. This is documented through a conversation he had with his manager. • Progressive will not release the data involving the initial denial of the claim proclaiming that is proprietary information. • After asking for the data that supported the denial of the claim, the claim was closed and re-opened under a different claim number without notifying the insured. David later said it is not company policy to notify the policyholder of a claim closing and reopening under a different claim number. I am now unable to see the old claim. And after contacting the claims hotline was told that it is company policy to notify the insured if a claim is closed and re-opened under a different claim number. • Mr. Burkamp has sent sensitive personal information by mail without using a return address or company letterhead to my residence in an attempt to intimidate me. David has admitted to sending the information to my residence to his manager but says it was not to intimidate and his reason for not including anything in the letter with Progressive’s name on it or a return address is that he figured I would know who it came from. I have the envelope and contents and it seems unlikely that the North Texas Multi-Lines manager would think it is acceptable to send confidential information without any explanation or reference of Progressive or a return address. • I received two contradicting certified letters from Progressive on the same day from two separate employees that report to Mr. Burkamp. One acknowledging that it was impact damage that caused the damage and another denying it was impact damage. Mr. Burkamp has said this was just a simple mess up. If someone has any ideas as to what else I could do to bring light to this situation please speak up. I have sent a formal complaint to the Texas Department of Insurance and they are looking into it. But based on what I have read about these incidents the Insurance company and employees that are involved in knowingly using dishonest practices to deny claims are seldom held responsible when caught.

Gene of Calabasas, Ca, CA October 28, 2009

I was traveling on the 101 North (Oct 22, 09) and got off on an off ramp with total right of way, no other cars in my lane, green light at the end of the ramp (two lane exit ramp). In the left side lane there were 3 cars stopped and about to proceed as the signal just turned green. The 3rd car, a 2000 black Escalade, decided he wanted to be in the 'clear' lane, and from a complete stop, cut me off by just darting into the clear lane that I was in, right in front of me. No signal and admitted, didn't even look or see me.

I slammed on my brakes, causing my ABS to react, jolting my car wildly, I hit the dash with my knee and my head went to the steering wheel. In order to avoid him smacking me T-Bone style into my driver door, possibly causing serious auto and physical damage, I was able to veer to the right and ran over the curb, causing sever damage to my undercarriage and front end lower bumper. I have a Jag XKR, very low to the ground. Oil exploded all over the car and smoke entered the cabin, I had to stop after driving around the exit. He U-turned back as he noted he freaked out, apologized for having his mirrors poorly adjusted and we traded info. He said he was responsible and would take care of everything. Progressive told me yesterday, they have reversed their standing and since I had no car to car contact, they are denying they are at fault. Scum.

I will sue and this driver (AND insurance company) are not only a liar, but a very unsafe driver and may have been drunk. At this moment the damage caused by this unsafe and maybe drunk driver exceeds 3,000. and may be a few thousand more when the car is fully examined. I have some physical injury as well.

danny of panamacity, FL October 23, 2009

had accident on 8/11/09 took 30 days for immediate responce to even come look at vehicle and after2 months the vehicle is not repaired to pre collision condition allmost 3 months now!

Keri of West Jordan, UT October 19, 2009

I was in a parking lot accident a few weeks ago with someone that was insured by Progressive. The other party admitted numerous times to me and to my insurance company that she did not see me while coming around the building/drive-through. I was in the process of leaving the parking lot (pretty much already backed out - ready to leave) when the accident occurred. I spoke to Progressives 800# the day of the accident (it was a Saturday) - given the name of the local agent who would handle everything. I spoke to the agent on Monday, who seemed nice enough, gave my account of the accident and was told that they needed one of their adjustors to look at the damage. I did this on a Thursday at a local per their request, and was given an estimate. The adjustor told me at that point they had not heard from the other party and still needed to look at her vehicle.

Monday I call the agent, still no word from their insured. Wednesday my husband calls, still no word from the other party. Friday morning at 8:30 I receive a call from the local agent (who is now very terse and rude) telling me that Progressive has deemed the accident totally my fault, they are not going to pay for anything and if I have a problem to take it up with my own auto insurance. He also informs me that this decision was based upon the other party's statement and a video tape that shows me "clearly" backing up into their insured. I'm so taken aback by this. I call my own insurance company, who tells me that the other party admitted fault to them and that in cases of a video tape most stores will only release it by a court order.

My auto company had two more quotes done on the damage to my vehicle. The Progressive adjustor did a very low ball estimate and did not even note some of the damage that the other two shops noted. So, as it stands now - I have to pay our deductible to get the car fixed and our insurance will go after Progressive. So my advice, if you are in an accident with Progressive - deal with your own insurance company first!

Maria of Weston, FL October 19, 2009

My car was damaged while parked in the Autonation corporate building in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The person who hit my car provided me her insurance information after the accident. I recieved a call from the prgressive agent (Jamie) to take the car in for repair. I told her given the damage I preferred to take it to an authorized Nissan Collision center. I took it to Maroone Nissan Collision in Fort Lauderdale. I took my car in on Thursday, October 15th as per the Jamie (Progessive's request). She assigned me case# 095337535.

As per my discussion w/ Jamie, I left my car and proceeded to rent a car down the street while my car was evaluated and repaired. I was told by the Nissan Collision store that the progreesive adjuster did not show up as schedule on Thursday, October 15th. He (Mike P.) would stop by on Friday, October 16th instead. I checked w/ the body shop the following day on the progress. They progressive adjuster had not yet shown up.

The adjuster did not show up until late in the day and he took pictures. No physical inspection of the vehical, just a pictures. He stated he would followup with his boss. This was on Friday. On Monday morning I received a call from Mike stating that my rental would expire on Monday and that the collision center was over charging and delaying the repair. But that I had the choice of moving my car to a Progessive approved facility.

My question is how can any body shop have a green light to start work on a Friday and have it finished by Monday morning? And yet Progressive is so willing to allow time to relocate my car to another facility for repair and willing to extend my rental if I do so? WOW talk about a sham. What can I do? They seem to not want to pay the labor and retail price of parts as per the law. Not sure if I need an attorney yet?

Buffie of Arlington, WA October 15, 2009

May 29, 2009 Our 2004 Ford F150 was stolen out of yard. We contacted the police dept who found it down a ravine and it had been stripped. Three weeks later the adjuster contacted us wanting bank statements, copies of all our credit cards, homeowners policy, paychecks dating back one year. I was working 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week. we also had family member that were dying.

I felt that I had been insured by this company for over 4 yrs always paid my policy on time and that the company was asking way to much. I owed less than 8,000. on my truck. we chose not to send them our financial records as it was none of there business as they were asking for way more information than we had to have to buy our house. Not to mention the time that it took to get the paperwork that was being asked for.

I have now received paper work in Oct that we comitted Fraud. Im mad as gee, I wasnt late on a single payment to the insurance company, was not late on truck payment and still got treated like a criminal. I dont even have a ticket on my record.

Libbye of Durham, NC October 8, 2009

When a deer hit my car in December 2008, my Mazda3 sustained extensive damage to the left side and front end. Progressive suggested that I use one of their "preferred" body shops but failed to disclose, which they are supposed to by law, that they have a financial interest in doing so. (I found out later that they were supposed to disclose that.)

They towed my car to a body shop that did shoddy repairs and also listed repairs that they didn't even do. I had a post-repair insector examine my car, and he found several problems. So I called my Progressive rep, and he blamed it on the body-shop manager, who blamed it on his "guys." So they attempted to fix my car again.

I took the car to the inspector again, and he found more problems. I asked to have my car taken to a different shop, so they took it to a local Mazda dealership. They found a lot of problems--for example, the previous body shop had used a non-OEM hood that wasn't even from a Mazda vehicle, so it didn't fit right. They did a better job, but by this time the repairs reached 75% of the value of my car, the threshold at which they should have declared my car a "total loss."

To keep from reaching that threshold, they undervalued the repairs and overvalued my car. Just a month earlier, I had decided to sell the car to get out of the payments. Carmax had offered me 8,500, and the very dealership where I got the third round of repairs done offered me 9,500. Progressive said my car was worth 13,700! They did this to avoid declaring my car a total loss.

Also, they counted only the original round of repairs toward the repair cost--they said the supplemental repairs didn't count toward the 75% threshold, which is ridiculous because the first round of repairs was incomplete and unsafe. They even tried to straighten out a damaged upper frame rail instead of replacing it, which is what they're supposed to do to restore the car to its pre-accident condition.

What happened next is unfortunate. I was going to take the car back to my inspector a third time when I lost my job. So I really needed to sell the car then, to get out of the payments. That rendered me unable to pursue the matter further. But according to my inspector, this happens every day, with every insurance company. In fact, 99% of the vehicles he has inspected had unsafe repairs to them. In only four years in business in a small town called Salisbury, North Carolina, he has gotten 1.5 million worth of vehicles bought back or totaled by the insurance company. That is what should have happened to mine.

I had consulted a lawyer about my case, and he wanted to review a synopsis, but then I lost my job and sold the car. Also, my car obviously suffered diminished value, but Progressive told me that they do not honor diminished value -- the concept that your car is worth less after an accident, even if it is repaired properly. I ended up with a damaged car that was never fixed properly and sold the car for much less than I could have sold it for if they had fixed it correctly. They should have totaled it or bought it back. But I ran out of time.

Ron of Naples, FL October 5, 2009

I applied for auto insurance in person asking for a better rate than I was getting with another company (Approxemitley 750.00/year). I was given a quote around 360.00. I told Kim that I would call her back when got home and checked on line for other quotes. I checked with Geico and got a quote of 202.00/6 months. Wanting to get the lesser of the two I went with Kim's quote. I called her back and gave her my debit card number thus concluding our transaction. After getting an e-mail back showing the policy number and brief policy explanations I noticed the quote was for 6 months not 12. I immediately called back and cancelled the policy. This was on 9-22-09. Kim confirmed the policy would be cancelled as of that date and a check would be sent to me for the pre-paid amount(I paid the whole premium). This did not make me very happy because they had deducted the amount directly from my account not 15 minutes earlier. I was obviously stuck with the "It's Progressives policy to issue checks" explanation. It is now 10-5-09 one day short of two weeks and I have not received a check. I called Kim and was told Progressive would send my check out 10-7-09 (2 weeks and a day since the original transaction). In spite of the fact that I feel I was deceived from beginning I would to know if there is a time frame for refunds as set up by the Florida Insurance commission and if so, how long? As for any future business dealings with either one of busineses I will certainley steere and suggest any one reading this do the same.

Julio of Union City, NJ October 4, 2009

I insured my vehicle with Progressive a couple of Month ago. This company now icreased my polizy for a reason that I do not understand, I had no accident, my record is clean.

Lisa of Yermo, CA October 2, 2009

I changed my home owners ins. from Allstate to Progressive because the premiums were lower. 729.00 per annum. Then when renewal time came, it went to 1057.00 a yr. I called Progressive and you say that "you have a program to automatically calculate the replacement cost to rebuild my home". According to this program, replacement used to cost 169,000, now, it would cost 219,000.

I asked for an adjustment and they said they wouldn't adjust the rate. I disagree that it would cost 219,000 to rebuild. The cost of labor and material have gone down. And, my house is only 1092 SF. Insurance companies arrogantly do whatever they want to and we have no control over it. This is wrong and I want it investigated. My house payment has gone up, making it difficult for me to make the payment. I am depressed and I feel like I have no control over my finances because of this company.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |