ComplaintsforThe Foster Agency

• Initial Complaint

  01/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was acquiring a vehicle insurance policy through this organization after moving to *****. Though I never failed to pay my previous insurance or allow insurance to lapse while I maintained possession, I had sold my personal vehicle knowing a cross-country move was coming and I would need to take my company fleet vehicle, resulting in a 5 month personal coverage lapse.They quoted me several prices but told me due to maine state law, stating a 30-day+ lapse for any reason would result in a higher price, unless I could get the bill of sale proving I sold the vehicle. I distinctly told them on multiple occasions this was not possible, and would need to pay the higher rate.Eleven days after the policy had already become active I was told the price I paid included the discount for prior coverage, and unless I provided the bill of sale, my price would go up by about significantly.I told them I would be moving to a different company, as I didnt appreciate the after-sale price increase and I never would have signed on with them for new price, as I had already received several competing offers below that value. Approximately 10 days later I cancelled my service and asked for a proration. I had paid appx $371.5, half the policy balance for 6 months of service. This comes to a total of appx $4.06 per day. After only 38 days of coverage, the total coverage cost should have been $154.29 against a payment of $371.5, resulting in a refund of ~$217.00 My prorated refund amounted to only about $12.00, shorting me appx. $205 worth of my prorated payment. When I attempted to contact the insurance company, they told this could not be fixed, and sent me to the agency. The agency then ignored multiple attempts to contact them. I still have not receivers the correct refund value.I can forward any email based documentation via email to a case manager, if necessary.

  Business response

  01/20/2023

  I am grateful that ************** and his wife contacted my agency to help with the purchase of an automobile policy upon moving to ********* is always disheartening when we attempt to help people with insurance,and it doesnt work out. We have taken the time to review the situation as we do whenever we have a dissatisfied customer.  We certainly want to do what we can to resolve the situation.  After our review we found the facts to be as follows: 
  
  We proposed to insure the vehicle for ************** for a total premium of $554.00 for 6 months.  He paid half the six-month premium of $277.00.   This premium included a prior coverage discount on the condition that we secure proof of prior coverage, which is common in the industry.  After several attempts to secure documentation of either proof of prior coverage or proof of sale of the previous vehicle the writing company surcharged his policy $708.00.  The six-month premium that was $554.00 now became $1262.00. 
  
  Knowing that we were not able to secure the proper documentation we encouraged ************** to shop to other carriers as the coverage may be able to be secured at a lower rate with another agency.  ************* decided to secure coverage with a different carrier after 35 days of coverage with our company.  Of the $277.00 that ************** paid in premium $17.00 dollars was returned to him.  Since the total six-month premium was $1262.00 divided by six months the monthly premium was $210.00 per month. ************** used up a little over a months premium of $210.00 and the writing company returned $17.00 dollars to him.  The writing company kept the remaining $50.00 as a short rate cancellation fee.   
  
  We wish ************** and his family the best. Please feel welcome to contact me with any further questions. Thank you.

  ****** Foster 

  Agency Owner

  
  

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