Don't trust Mercury Insurance

[Camfab]

Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Before I purchased my Viper I thoroughly shopped Insurance companies since I wanted to change my policy for all my vehicles. My previous insurance Co. was GE, but they were bought out by AIG in California. The rates were jacked up considerably so I decided to shop around.
One of my concerns was that if and when I purchased a Viper it would be insurable through them as well as reasonable in cost. They quoted my policy and gave me an estimate of approx. $1200 per year additional for a 2000 Viper. They told me that Mercury made no additional premium surcharge for an ACR.
Well I went ahead and purchased an ACR in early November.
I have been calling the insurance agent every couple of weeks asking him where my Insurance bill is. He assured me everything was fine and that it takes time.
First of all no insurance company I've dealt with takes more than a couple of days to process the doc's and send them out.
Get this, I got the premium today....It's freakin $7,000 per year. I would not have got Insurance from them if I had known this in the first place. Second I would never buy a car costs $7,000/year to insure.

I'm calling the Insurance Commisioner tomorrow and reporting them, in the meantime does any one have reasonbly priced insurance in SoCal. Married with a clean record.

 

[Newport Viper]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

AAA insurance
Christopher Rusk agent 949-823-3835
3800 Birch
Newport Beach 92660

37 married
one ticket had one ticket when I signed up muti car discount
two cars
2002 jeep liberty $907

1995 Viper $1260

This should help!

 

[vipergts2000]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

I use Wawanesa Insurance out of San Diego.....I know the name is dumb but I have referred so many people to this company and they have awesome insurance.

My Viper is 600 a year from them as a pleasure vehicle....
29 not married, no tickets

http://www.wawanesageneral.com/

 

[Mazman]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Classic Automobile Insurance Agency:

http://www.classicins.com

I just signed up at a reasonable rate ($800/yr, 3k miles/yr) but rates depend on how much you drive your Viper and agreed value. Was pretty easy process and quick also.

 

[Tiepilot]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Camfab,

$7000 a year is there way of telling you they want you to go away.

They do not want your Viper business at all, the agent should have knew his companies underwriting guidelines. Unless he thought that getting all of your business would sway the underwriters to giving you a decent rate on the Viper, and they didn't.

 

[paulv]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Camfab,
AAA, Laguna Hills, 949-951-1400
96 GTS, 250 deductible, multicar, 3000 mile per year limit
$840
Paul

 

[2000GTS]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

If you don't use the car as a daily driver try Hagerty. They insured my 2002 GTS for less then I pay Allstate for my 98 Ram truck!

I'm working with them on a claim right now. So far they have been great. I will let everyone know how it turns out.

Bill

 

[tarfungo]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

I have no tickets and no accidents - 44 y/o. I pay $920 a year for my snake with a 5k driving allowance through CSAA combined with multi car and home insurance discounts. I’ve been with CSAA for over 25 years. My policy levels are 300k/500k/250k @ $500 deductible.

Hagerty quotes $733, but at only 15k/30k/5k @ 500 deductible. Guess how fast 30k can be eaten up as a result of a serious accident? A: Faster than you can read this post!

I own a house and support a wife and child. Any GOOD CFP will tell you that if you own your house and choose to only buy ‘bottom feeder’ levels of insurance coverage you are playing roulette - especially if you are ever ‘at fault’ in a major accident. Just because you have insurance, that won’t prevent someone from coming after your house or any other personal assets should you be found ‘at fault’ in a major accident that includes bodily injuries. So, if you are unmarried and without any assets beyond owning your snake, maybe basic insurance is the way to go for you. What glitters is not always gold!

I take the $500 deductible because I don’t make insurance claims for what would basically be dings and bumps. Insurance is for serious stuff, not for getting your windshield repaired or fixing a bumper scratches. I pay for minor repairs out of my pocket. All it takes is a few claims over a short period of years and you’ll be on the ‘dog’ list with most insurance companies.

Be careful when buying insurance. Cheaper is not always better.

(P.S., I am NOT an insurance salesman!)

 

[jimster]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

What I want to know is how you guys keep from getting tickets.....

 

[tarfungo]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Luck I guess? In fact, I have never even been pulled over by any law enforcement officer. (Knock on wood!) As a general rule, I’m a pretty ‘aware’ driver and I DO regularly drive ‘a few’ MPH’s over the speed limit. (Fastest was just over 150MPH)

My wife gets pulled over in her Subaru Outback regularly, but always seems to get out of the tickets. Hmmm…????

 

[Cop Magnet]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

What I want to know is how you guys keep from getting tickets.....

Avoiding the ticket is only half the equation. Plenty said regarding ticket-defensive driving here, so I won't repeat it. The other half is taking the time and effort to go to court and get a fine with supervision, or some other non-points judgement, so your insurance company will never know. Just don't get a ticket more than once every three months, or whatever the supervision period is. I avoid going for the driver's school option. Save that for your last possibility before points.

 

[BobK898]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

I would like to see your liability limits too on some of those low cost policies. Posting your deductible is not enough info to compare.

 

[joe117]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

tarfungo says,
"$500 deductible because I don’t make insurance claims for what would basically be dings"

Check with them to see if you can get $1k deductible. I have it and it is cheaper.

I look at the insurance the same way you do. It's not for little things.

I have 3 cars with Allstate, $724/year for the 94 Viper.
Liability $250k-$500k-$100k, same for uninsured motorist.
Actual cash value for collision and comprehensive.

The rate I have is based on less than 7k miles/year on each car.
I have no recorded tickets and I'm retired.

My home and two boats also are with Allstate.
I've been with Allstate 42 years. Does that make me old?

 

[jrkermode]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Camfab,

You have indeed been scammed by Mercury.

I currently have a complaint under investigation with the California Department of Insurance for the same thing.

The scam works like this.
1. Mercury lies about the premium to get you signed up.
2. Mercury delays telling you about the real price (the law allows them 60 days).
3. About 45 days in, Mercury sends you a bill for an "adjusted" premium.
4. You scream bloody ****** and cancel the policy (leaving you scrambling for insurance, BTW)
5. Mercury says, so sorry for the inconvenience, just pay us for the 45 days at the originally quoted rate.

It's quite a scam because it is, unfortunately, all legal.

The law allows 60 days for an insurance company to adjust premiums to account for "errors" in the original underwriting. After 60 days, the rate is locked. This was intended to allow for correction of honest mistakes, like a mis-entry by the agent.

As you have seen, Mercury found a whole new way to use this law.

I strongly suggest you file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance. They will try to talk you out of it, citing the 60 day rule. Ask for the paperwork anyway.


I haven't gotten all my money back yet, but, with the help of the Department of Insurance, I have gotten more than Mercury originally offered.


P.S. Amica is rated #1 by JD Power, and their rates, for me, are even better than Mercury's "quoted" rate.

 

[sun diego]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Mercury got me too on the bait and switch with the Viper. Since switched.

 

[Steve Miehe]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

I am with Progressive Insurance - $787 per year with $250K per person, $500K per accident and $100K property damage. PLUS for an extra $271 per year I add a $2 million dollar umbrella.

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

P.S. Amica is rated #1 by JD Power, and their rates, for me, are even better than Mercury's "quoted" rate.

No $hit !! Thats great !! I have been with them since I was 16 !! im 2 times that now !! and they ahve been great by me all these years !! Few people really know that name, but once your with them, you never forget them !!


Jon

 

[Camfab]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Thanks guys, called Christopher Rusk, real nice guy. Checking a couple of other quotes as well. Funny thing was that the forum really has selling power, Christopher told me numerous people called him today and they were all Viper guys, he even saw the thread. Again thanks very much for all the quick responses, I will post my rates when I'm locked in.

 

[Brian 95 RT]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

I am with Progressive Insurance - $787 per year with $250K per person, $500K per accident and $100K property damage. PLUS for an extra $271 per year I add a $2 million dollar umbrella.

Have you ever had a claim with Progressive? Pray to God you don't. I had a $2,100 claim with them before (the only claim ever in my life at that point) and I felt like I was being interrogated by the FBI. Yes, they were cheap, but cheap isn't always the main factor I found out the hard way. Since then I'm with AAA, have had one claim with them - no questions asked, no hassle, had a check cut within a week - that's the way I like it!

 

[Newport Viper]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

I would like to see your liability limits too on some of those low cost policies. Posting your deductible is not enough info to compare.

$500 de.

 

[Steve Miehe]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Brian:

No, I haven't had a claim with Progressive as of yet - I didn't go through the internet - I had the insurance written through an agent that is located about 3 miles from my office. If I ever do have a claim, I will make sure he is with me every step of the way. Plus, I don't care if they ask a bunch of question as I am in claims myself and understand the system. By the way, have a $1000 collision deductible!

 

[smfettig]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

29
single
No tickets, one accident in 1999
Two Cars
1993 Ford Ranger $600/year
1994 Viper $600/year/$1500 mile cap (they dont ask, I dont tell)
Insured through Safeco

 

[WANTED]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Thanks guys, called Christopher Rusk, real nice guy. Checking a couple of other quotes as well. Funny thing was that the forum really has selling power, Christopher told me numerous people called him today and they were all Viper guys, he even saw the thread. Again thanks very much for all the quick responses, I will post my rates when I'm locked in.

can someone give me this guys number.

my insurance is going through the roof, i'm with allstate and have been for
over 25 years.

03 viper $1600 per year

i'm paying $800 per month for
03 viper - less then 5k per year
01 cad deville - wife's car
99 durango - ram rod - every day driver
04 GLI jette - brand new, 16 year old son's car

insurance total come's to $10,600 per year WOW

NEED SOME NUMBERS GUYS - HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

thanks tom

 

[joe117]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

WANTED,
I've also got Allstate and my rates are not near that, not even close.
I have 3 cars with Allstate, $724/year for the 94 Viper.
Liability $250k-$500k-$100k, same for uninsured motorist.
Actual cash value for collision and comprehensive.

The $1600/year for your 03 Viper doesn't seem too far out of line for an expensive car but.........

What the heck did you do to deserve $10.6k/year?
Is it the 16 year old?

 

[WANTED]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

WANTED,
I've also got Allstate and my rates are not near that, not even close.
I have 3 cars with Allstate, $724/year for the 94 Viper.
Liability $250k-$500k-$100k, same for uninsured motorist.
Actual cash value for collision and comprehensive.

The $1600/year for your 03 Viper doesn't seem too far out of line for an expensive car but.........

What the heck did you do to deserve $10.6k/year?
Is it the 16 year old?

the 16 year old is only 2k / year

in 25 years, we have never made a claim.

my home itself without the land is valued over 1 million and the rate which is
with allstate would floor you as well. i'm getting killed with premiums. i own
a building company and the general liabilitie premium is really high to. man i
need to find some resonable rate's, i think i'm just getting screwed.

 

[BobK898]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Gee, you should see what has happened with medical malpractice rates. How would you like to see your rates triple, yes triple, in one year even though no claims occurred?

 

[Newport Viper]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Thanks guys, called Christopher Rusk, real nice guy. Checking a couple of other quotes as well. Funny thing was that the forum really has selling power, Christopher told me numerous people called him today and they were all Viper guys, he even saw the thread. Again thanks very much for all the quick responses, I will post my rates when I'm locked in.

can someone give me this guys number.

my insurance is going through the roof, i'm with allstate and have been for
over 25 years.

03 viper $1600 per year

i'm paying $800 per month for
03 viper - less then 5k per year
01 cad deville - wife's car
99 durango - ram rod - every day driver
04 GLI jette - brand new, 16 year old son's car

insurance total come's to $10,600 per year WOW

NEED SOME NUMBERS GUYS - HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

thanks tom

AAA insurance
Christopher Rusk agent 949-823-3835
3800 Birch
Newport Beach 92660

 

[jrkermode]

Re: Don\'t trust Mercury Insurance

Update:

With the help of the California Insurance Commission, I was finally able to get a full refund on my Mercury Insurance scam/policy. It took 6 months, but it sure feels good.