I confused about American Family. I'm in Oregon and they cancelled my homeowner's insurance about two years ago for "unsatisfactory credit", kept my auto though. I thought maybe things had changed, but I just went on line to get a quote and sure enough they are asking for my SS#. Why do they need that if they're not going to pull??
Probably do different things in different states. So it is likely that they do pull. But I don't know for sure. I wasn't able to find a site for Oregon, like I found for MO. 30ft.
Okay, I just hung up the phone with American Family. First of all, the change is nationwide, so it should be effective in Oregon. Second, they *are* still pulling credit scores; they just aren't rejecting anyone based upon credit. A better score simply entitles you to their more preferred rate "tiers". Basically, as it was explained to me, you'll get what amounts to a discount if you have excellent credit, but you won't be turned away no matter what your credit looks like. I don't know about Oregon, but AmFam has pretty competiive rates here in Arizona for auto/home packages. You might want to contact them again (but you can't have had any claims on your homeowner's insurance if you want the decent rates). Contact a local agent, though; don't go through their web site. As opposed to some other companies, AmFam agents do have some "pull" to a certain extent if you have any situations that need to be specifically addressed.
If Erie Ins. is in your area, use them. They have fantastic rates, great customer service and DO NOT pull a hard inq. The only one's who can do better are USAA but you have to be a member to use them.
Sweet, I'm in the process of buying a house and am getting my homeowners insurance through State Farm who I also have my car and renter's insurance with. To my knowledge they have never pulled a credit report and I have checked all of them in the past 6 months (my other policies are less than 2 years old). Good luck!
IF THEY ADVERTISED THEY DON'T PULL CREDIT ~~~NOT SCORE BASED...THEY WOULD MAKE A KILLING!!! My question is~~~what would it take (other than a law)...or loss of business to DUMP THE SCORE GARBAGE??? NEVER HAD A TICKET OR ACCIDENT OR CLAIM FOR 20 YEARS...VERY LOW RATES, RIGHT...NOPE!!! you have ROTTEN credit, you MUST pay SKY HIGH RATES!!!
Thanks for all the info folks. I'm in NC and the insurance company has to be licensed HERE to be able sell. USAA is here and American Family also. The only reason I wasn't going to go with State Farm (who I currently have a renter's policy and who did not pull my credit to do so) is because they have a moritorium on issuing new policies in the state. But I have a friend who works in insurance who told me that I can convert my renters into a homeowners and get around the moritorium. I have my auto with Liberty Mutual (less than a year) and they did pull my credit but the rate he quoted me was the same they charged and I believe they pulled EQ (my best at the time). I have a few options and I will try them. Additionally, my state has it's insurance website also and lists the companies licensed to sell and their complaint ratios.
I hope you waited to cancel your existing policy until your new one is actually issued. The binder is for 30 days guarantee only, and if your "nick" means you are in Fl. LOOK OUT!!
Ask your State Farm agent whether they can do that before you give up shopping the other companies. Some companies can convert your renter's to a homeowner's policy (Farmer's will), but others can't (American Family can't). I am not sure about State Farm's practices in that regard. I do know they are *real* touchy about letting there agents write any new business right now, so they may have stopped doing this kind of thing even if they have done it in the past. Also, if you do decide to convert your renter's into a homeowner's policy, and they will let you do it, keep a "plan B" on hand for at least 60 days. State Farm has been known to tell someone they'll accept them and then turn around and issue a cancellation a month or two later, having "changed their minds". Ask your State Farm agent about all the "ins and outs" of making the move before you do it.
Be careful with State Farm as well b/c they have pulled out of Florida and NC isn't too far away. Shop around, my fiancee just dumped SF b/c their rates are crazy. She was a perfect driver, 40 YOA(she won't like that being released to the public) and drives a minivan. Erie beat SF by over 300 a year with the very same coverage. She has been with SF for over 15 years. My mother just dropped them as well, same reason.
The person I spoke with regarding conversion works for State Farm and I was told that they would convert but they aren't writing new policies. They are not about to pull out of NC...I got the inside scope but was told to keep my lips shut. I'm not ruling out anyone - but if I already have a State Farm policy and they will not try to pull a hard inquiry on my CR but I'll stick with them before going through the trouble of asking everyone and their mother "Do you pull credit" and having issues with that. My CU has insurance also so I definately have options - I have until Sept 17. I'll take my time.
In CA Allstate pulls hard. Sometimes insurance companies pull a INQ if you have a suspicious claim too. If your credit is bad they try to say you have a fraud claim. Not sure if it holds up in court.
Someone please fill me in on this, since I am pretty new to all these credit laws. I thought that inquiries weren't *allowed* to be hard unless they were actually involving an application for credit. In other words, I thought that any inquiry for a purpose other than to obtain credit was automatically supposed to be a "soft" inquiry. Is this not correct?
Inquiries See http://creditscoring.com/#inquiryinquiry1 So goes the controversy. You aren't seeing things; no, it doesn't make sense. So, here's their problem: They goofed, and a mea culpa now would mean changing all the files. So, they won't fess up because it will cost them dearly.
If your credit is bad they try to say you have a fraud claim bigmon ============= Racketeering at it's best. They use the bad credit as an excuse to jack your premium then use the credit again to weasel out of paying claims. Nothing like jacking your rate for coverage they have no intention to provide.
Yep, you've hit that nail on the head. I'm in the insurance business, and this whole credit things has been a scam in my opinion right from the start. I hope there are enough law suits to put a stop to it, but I'm not holding my breath.
Bad credit doesn't mean it won't be paid, but they will use that as a reason to jerk you around. If they suspect fraud then they will really use it against you. An example would be having expensive things stolen and they see you have a bunch of collection accounts they will assume you may be trying to scam them to pay your bills. You'll probably win on court, but it's a hassle.
