Bait And Switch Insurance

Do you feel that an insurance company or agent used bait and switch tactics to earn your business? If so you may not be alone.

Some companies and agents may offer you an insurance quote that is not based on what is truly on your driving record.

If that has happened to you please call 513-662-7000 to receive Insurance Quotes that are 100% accurate, 100% of the time.

How Bait and Switch Tactics Can Cost You Money.

The insurance business is very competitive. With more than 500 insurance companies offering car insurance in the state of Ohio we occasionally run across a situation where either an agent or a company representative will provide an initial car insurance quote that is not accurate based on claims or moving violations on the driving record.

This happened recently to a policyholder of our Cincinnati independent insurance agency.

We received a telephone call from a policyholder that had been insured with our insurance agency for many years stating he was canceling his insurance because he obtained a much better rate though another company selling insurance directly to the public. 

The Bait and the Switch by a Company that Advertises Non Stop on Television.

We asked the policyholder if the new insurance company was aware of the activity on his driving record as it did not appear the rates were accurate  based on his driving record.

He advised me the company was aware of his driving record activity. I wasn’t so certain they were charging him for the activity on his record.

Because there was such a significant difference in price for his car insurance quote I decided to obtain a quote directly from this insurance company using the policyholders information.

What did I discover?

The insurance rate quote he told me he was offered wasn’t even close to what the actual rate would be. In fact the actual price would be nearly 60% more than what they initially quoted him.

In any other business we would call that bait and switch, right? 

How to Avoid Bait and Switch Tactics by Insurance Companies

If someone claims they can save you money on your car insurance make sure they have run your credit, accident and driving record reports before you buy a policy, otherwise you might be the victim of bait and switch insurance.

If a company refuses to run these reports before you buy, don’t buy insurance from them.

Want a quote from an agency that guarantees 100% accuracy on insurance quotes 100% of the time? Click here to begin your online car insurance quote or call 513-662-7000.

Are you looking for car insurance in Cincinnati? You have come to the right place. Pathway Insurance is one of the most advanced independent insurance agencies in Cincinnati. Call us at 513-662-7000, or you can request an online Cincinnati car insurance quote by clicking here.

Insurance Is About As Much Fun As Watching Paint Dry On The Ceiling.

Okay so I thought it was a catchy title but not necessarily such an interesting topic. The general opinion is that Insurance in Cincinnati is about as much fun as watching paint dry on the ceiling, and in most circumstances that consensus would probably be right.

Why Choose Pathway Insurance?

When looking for Insurance in Cincinnati you have many places to choose from, but what you don’t know about insurance can truly harm you financially.

My name is Jack Thomas and I manage an independent insurance agency in Cincinnati. I am an author, blogger and prolific writer. The honest truth is I love to write, educate, and occasionally display a bit of dry humor in reference to insurance. (Insurance is boring but it doesn’t have to be that way.) Currently I’m working on a book that will reveal some nasty little secrets that some insurance companies don’t want you to know about. I’ll share more about that in a future article.

You’re probably aware if you live in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana that you are required to maintain car insurance. Because of that fact consumers are under the general impression that insurance policies are all exactly the same. That could not be further from the truth!

How Do We Learn about Car Insurance in Cincinnati?

In reality insurance is a necessary evil but at the same time very much misunderstood. We learn about insurance by watching television commercials. Insurance companies tells us that we are paying too much for our car insurance in Cincinnati and they alone hold the key to our salvation to cheap car insurance rates. I call this the Insurance Merry-Go-Round™.  I’ll explain in my next article the exact details about the Insurance Merry-Go-Round™.

When people are looking for car insurance in Cincinnati, they might notice a similar insurance advertising theme that is running in the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana area where our agency actively offers insurance.

State Farm Insurance in Cincinnati, through their television advertisements tells us that they offer 40% discounts, Geico insurance tops on another 15%, Progressive tells us that they can save you hundreds, 21st Century Insurance in Cincinnati tells us that if you’re with Geico or Progressive you’re overpaying by hundreds.If you were to add up all the discounts and the rate savings your insurance should be free right?

Why Do These Insurance Companies in Cincinnati Make These Claims?

Insurance commercial dominate the television advertising market in Ohio and they likely dominate in your area as well, because it makes their phones ring, and because the insurance companies running those ads are making money hand over fist! Insurance is big business, and it’s profitable as well. You may not be aware of this but did you know that Warren Buffett owns Geico? He owns Geico insurance in Cincinnati because it’s an awesome investment!

So we see insurance commercials on television because companies are convincing us to buy their insurance policies raking in millions, and billions of dollars in new insurance premiums.

But is that all there is to insurance? The company offering the best price on insurance wins?

Let’s explore this a little bit more in my next article called, What Is The Insurance Merry-Go-Round™.

Liability Insurance Basics

Liability insurance pays for damage that you may cause to other person’s property or injuries that you become legally liable due to a covered accident.  Liability insurance can also provide coverage for prejudgment interest and defense costs. Punitive damages may be excluded from your automobile insurance policy.

Car Accident Property Damage Example:

It’s a Friday afternoon the sun is shining, the temperature is a balmy 82° and your top is down on your BMW 325i convertible as you and your best friend Donovan are meandering down state Route 5 enjoying the scenery with lively conversation between two close friends.  A Toyota minivan stops suddenly in front of you as you were momentarily distracted by an off-color joke that Donovan shared with you.  You slam on your brakes, but it’s too late as you impact with the minivan. There are no injuries, but it looks like you need a new front bumper and so does the minivan.

What Happens Next?

The property damage section of your liability coverage will pay for the damages to the bumper of the minivan up to your available policy limits.  Let’s assume that your current automobile liability insurance limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per occurrence for injuries, and $10,000 in property damage limits.

The damage to the Toyota minivan comes to $4,713 in property damage.  Your insurance company will pay the $4,713 because you have room to spare on your $10,000 limit.

Who Pays When My Property Damage Liability Coverage Is Not Enough?

Let’s change the scenario and assume that the accident in your convertible BMW causes a chain reaction accident where you are found to be responsible for the damages on multiple cars?

Your policy will only pay a maximum of $10,000 for all vehicles. If the damages amount to $16,000 after subtracting your $10,000 property limit, you are on the hook to pay an additional $6,000 out of pocket!

In the next article we will discuss how bodily injury liability insurance works on your policy.

Are You Shopping for Car Insurance in Cincinnati? Call 513-662-7000 to Receive up to 20 Quotes from Leading Insurance Companies in Cincinnati.

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance-What Is Covered?

Note how one insurance company in Cincinnati defines liability coverage:  

We will pay damages for bodily injury or property damage for which any insured becomes legally responsible because of an auto accident.

Damages include pre-judgment interest awarded against the insured. We will settle or defend, as we consider appropriate, any claim or suit asking for these damages.

In addition to our limit of liability, we will pay all defense costs we incur. Our duty to settle or defend ends when our limit of liability for this coverage has been exhausted by payment of judgment or settlements. We have no duty to defend any suit or settle any claim for bodily injury or property damage not covered under this policy.                                                                                                               

Car Accident Bodily Injury Example:  

You have repeatedly warned your 18-year-old son Billy that if he gets one more ticket you are going to make him pay for his own insurance. Since Billy recently turned 18 he is not required to show up for court anymore so he doesn’t tell you about the four new speeding tickets that he got, but your insurance company lets you know by canceling your car insurance policy!  Because Billy is now considered high risk he purchases a liability policy on his own.  Because he is now paying his own car insurance he buys only the state minimum liability limits because that’s the cheapest high risk insurance in Cincinnati that he can find. 

On Monday afternoon after school Billy is driving home when he receives a text message from his girlfriend Andrea.  As he is texting a reply he takes his eyes off the road for about 2 seconds and he did not notice that a Honda Accord had suddenly stopped because a cat ran across the street.   

Billy slams into the stopped car going about 35 miles an hour!  Billy and the driver of the Honda Accord were transported to the local hospital with severe injuries.

What Happens Next? 

Billy gets sued for $500,000 from the driver of the Honda Accord.  Billy’s policy only covers $12,500 of the $500,000 judgment.  Billie is on the hook to pay $488,500 out of pocket!

When You Buy Car Insurance in Cincinnati Make Sure You Get Enough! 

Even if you have to purchase high risk car insurance in Cincinnati, buy as much liability insurance as you possibly can afford.  Any amount of money not paid by your insurance company would need to be paid by the person responsible for the car accident. 

When Shopping for Car Insurance in Cincinnati Call 513-662-7000 to obtain up to 20 insurance quotes from top rated companies in your area.

At What Point Do Insurance Companies Consider You a High Risk Driver?

It’s interesting how insurance companies in Cincinnati determine whether or not you are a high risk driver. 

Some insurance companies consider you high risk if you have more than two tickets in the last three years.  Other companies consider you high risk when you have 2 accidents or more in the last three years. Additionally if you get caught driving without insurance, or if you are required to carry an SR 22 some companies consider you high risk.

Many Insurance Companies in Cincinnati Do Not Offer High Risk Insurance.

If you are dropped by your current insurance company because of too many tickets or accidents you will learn that some of the biggest insurance companies may not take you, or they will offer rates that are substantially higher than what you can obtain elsewhere. Let’s look at an actual example. 

Massive Difference in Price for High Risk Car Insurance in Cincinnati

A person called our office recently who was insured with the Geico insurance in Cincinnati. She was paying about $180 per month. Geico considered her high risk because she had a DUI.  

We shopped around and found a company would take her for about $108 per month!  The new company also considered her high risk, but they were willing to offer the same coverage for nearly $1000 per year savings compared to Geico’s car insurance rates.

If you have been dropped by your car insurance company in Cincinnati, call Pathway Insurance at 513-662-7000 

Need Car, Home, Life, or Business insurance in Cincinnati?  

Call our Cincinnati insurance agency at 513-662-7000 or click here to receive online insurance quotes in all 50 states.

What is the The Pathway Protection Letter?™ – How Does It Benefit You?

The Pathway Protection Letter contains specific coverage scenarios that describe situations that Cincinnati insurance policyholders may find themselves in that could result in a claim denial. Many individuals that buy insurance only have a vague understanding of what insurance covers, and what it does not cover.

Compounding this problem, many agents only quote a price, and they give no advice on insurance.™

Because of this dilemma, a number of years ago we developed the Pathway Protection Letter for our policyholders.

The Pathway Protection Letter™ Benefits Our Clients in Three Different Ways:

• Our easy to understand bi-weekly newsletter explains reasons why insurance companies may deny claims based on common scenarios policyholders may find themselves in.
• It shows you exactly where to find that information in your insurance policy.
• Gives you advice on how to avoid the claim denial in the first place.

Because insurance policies are often misunderstood, misinterpreted, misapplied and then a claim might potentially be denied. ™ It’s absolutely imperative that policyholders understand their insurance plans more completely.  

The Pathway Protection Letter™ contains information from a book that will be released at some point in the future by the owner of Pathway Insurance.  As an expert within the insurance industry, Jack Thomas has detailed information, expertise, and knowledge never before disclosed to the general public.

Jack has worked in the trenches for more than 23 years.  As a true insider, Jack makes known pertinent information and facts that some insurance companies may not want you to know about. 

This ground breaking information contained within The Pathway Protection Letter™ along with his revolutionary new book will forever change the way you buy insurance.

Not having an accurate understanding about insurance is like walking through a minefield without protective gear. Doesn’t it  make more sense to allow an agency to care for your insurance needs that provides this type of service?

Contact Pathway Insurance today.

Call 513-662-7000. 

Shopping for new Car and Home Insurance in Cincinnati?

Call our conveniently located independent insurance agency in Cincinnati @ 513-662-7000 or click here to receive insurance quotes in all 50 states.

Cincinnati Insurance companies advertise nonstop 24 hours per day.  What is their message?

Where is the message… “We always pay our insurance claims no matter what”? 

You will not find that message from any insurance company. 

Why?  Because insurance companies in Cincinnati deny claims on a regular basis for policyholders.

Across the country hundreds of thousands of consumers file complaints against insurance companies each year for claim denials. Would you assume the reason is because insurance companies are greedy profit driven machines who only want to take as much money as possible from their Cincinnati insurance policyholders and payout as little as they can?

That’s not the reason.

It’s because of a lack of knowledge about what insurance covers, but more importantly what it doesn’t cover.  Insurance is a big mystery to most people.  It’s misunderstood, it’s misinterpreted, it’s misapplied and then the claim might be denied. ™

The Pathway Protection Letter™ can provide you the educational information that you need to understand your insurance policies better.

It does you absolutely no good to save money on insurance, when later it cost you money because you did not get the proper insurance advice.  You can learn more about the Pathway Protection Letter™ by clicking on our next article.

The Pathway Protection Letter™ is only available through our independent insurance agency in Cincinnati.

To discuss your insurance needs including how the Pathway Protection Letter™ can benefit you please contact:

Pathway Insurance

513-662-7000

(Are you looking for great rates on automobile insurance in Cincinnati?  Call 513-662-7000, or request an online insurance quote by clicking here.)

Is this Truth or Fiction?

It’s true, but what they don’t tell you is that you have to pay extra money for this option.

For instance Allstate Insurance in Cincinnati offers three basic policy levels on their automobile insurance policies:

 Silver + Gold + Platinum

The Silver Package is Allstate insurance basic package this option does not include accident forgiveness.

The Gold Package gives you one immediate accident that they will not surcharge your policy.

The Platinum Package gives you multiple accidents without a surcharge.

How do the various packages compare in price? (Quotes were obtained using Allstate’s online quote system which proved to be somewhat inaccurate. See explanation below.)

The Silver package- $146 per month

The Gold package – $158 per month

The platinum package- $168 per month

If you buy Allstate car insurance in Cincinnati and choose the Gold package with Allstate you are going to pay about 8% premium increase on this option. If you buy the platinum package with Allstate your premium increases over 15%.

Is it worth the extra money, or is it merely a method for the insurance companies to increase their profits?

It’s my opinion that this will increase the insurance companies ‘profit margins more so that it will benefit policyholders and that’s why most major insurance companies are pushing this option.  We also represent insurance companies in our independent agency in Cincinnati that offer accident forgiveness for an additional premium charges.

In our opinion go with the basic package, be a safe driver and practice accident avoidance.

If you are with Allstate Insurance in Cincinnati you might be able to save hundreds of dollars by switching to our Cincinnati independent insurance agency.

The insurance quote example that I used in this comparison with Allstate insurance in Cincinnati is my personal example.   I pay less than $75 per month on my car insurance in Cincinnati compared to $146 per month that Allstate insurance would charge me if I bought a policy directly from them. (This comparison quote was completed on November 23, 2010 using Allstate’s online quote system.)

Contact information for Pathway Insurance

513-662-7000

Jack@pathwayinsurance.net

Click here for online insurance quotes in Cincinnati

*Vehicles quoted were a 2010 Honda Civic, and a 2004 Honda Pilot EXL. Coverage limits were 500/500/500 with matching uninsured and underinsured limits. $100 deductible for comprehensive and $500 deductible for collision Road side assistance plus car rental is included.

There were some potential inaccuracies on the online Allstate insurance quotes that I discovered when a local Allstate insurance agent in Cincinnati called me to discuss the insurance quotes.  The online insurance quotes that I obtained for Allstate did not give you the option for a multi-policy discount, in other words if you package your automobile insurance and your homeowners insurance with the same company there is an added discount. The Allstate agent e-mailed quotes to me but they were not accurate. (I asked the agent to send me 500/500/500 liability quotes and she sent me 250/500/100, so I could not verify the accuracy between the online Allstate quote system and the actual quotes she sent to me. The quotes the Allstate insurance agent sent to me included a multi-policy discount, a future effective date discount, and lower limits for car rental, rental reimbursement and no coverage for loan gap coverage and the liability limits were significantly lower + she did not have business usage added to my policy, the Allstate car insurance quote in Cincinnati with significantly lower limits came in about $98 per month.)

Do I really know what my insurance policies cover, or more importantly what isn’t covered by insurance?

Note how one Cincinnati driver learned a harsh lesson about his car insurance policy.

“Joe” was driving in down Cincinnati making a delivery, when he takes his eyes off the road for just one moment to adjust the sound on his radio.  The car in front of him suddenly stops and Joe runs right into the back of a minivan!

Fortunately no one was injured, but Joe’s car was banged up pretty good plus the minivan needed a new bumper.  Joe calls his insurance company to report the accident and within a week he gets a letter from his company refusing to pay the claim for the damage to his car, and to the damage to the person whom he had hit.

Naturally Joe was upset about that, so he calls a local Cincinnati TV station to see if there is anything that they can do. The reporter smelling blood in the water for a sensational story quickly lost interest after finding out that the insurance company denied the claim because the policy holder used their vehicle in a way that was clearly prohibited by the policy.

Joe thought he was covered, but in reality he wasn’t.  Joe didn’t bother to read the exclusions in his car insurance policy.  He used his car in a way that was prohibited by his insurance policy and he had to pay the claim out of his own pocket.  That was tough lesson for Joe.

The absolute worst possible time to learn something isn’t covered is after the accident happens.

When a claim isn’t paid, sometimes we want to lay blame at the feet of the insurance companies,  when in reality it may have been our lack of understanding of what insurance really covers and what it doesn’t cover that caused the problem in the first place.

So it is vital that you understand completely what your insurance policies cover and what they do not cover.

Keep in mind: Insurance companies can legally deny your claim when you violate a policy term or condition, or if you forgot to add a coverage, or did not have coverage for a loss.

Insurance companies will only pay what they are contractually liable to pay and no more. That’s how it works.

If you want to know what is not covered you must take time to read your policy.  Specifically you must review the section titled:  EXCLUSIONS.  Be cautious and take time to read the details.  Not every insurance company uses the exact same limitations of coverage.  Click below to read typical EXCLUSIONS of coverage.

Typical Car Insurance Exclusions

Typical Home Insurance Exclusions

 Do you think you’re in the market to find superior prices on Automobile Insurance plans?  Contact us today by calling 513-662-7000.

Are you looking for the best rates on insurance for Teenage Drivers in Cincinnati?

Call 513-662-7000 to speak with the insurance professionals, or click here to receive an online insurance quote in all 50 states.

Did you know that some of the largest insurance companies would prefer not to insure your teenage driver in Cincinnati?  

It’s true.

They will give you a price and insure your son or daughter but what you may end up paying could be double or even triple what other companies are willing to charge for the exact same coverage!

Teen drivers account for a large number of accidents and fatalities and insurance companies compared to older more experienced drivers. 

Because of this fact some companies will increase insurance rates significantly when you add a young driver to your policy!

Sticker Shock for Parents of Teenage Drivers!

If you already have a teen driver on your policy you are already paying significantly more for car insurance. If your son or daughter is close to obtaining their license, prepare yourself for car insurance sticker shock.

What Step Can You Take to Find the Best Insurance For Teenage Drivers in Cincinnati?

Tip – The first step you should take is to obtain rate quotes from multiple car insurance companies. Car insurance rates can fluctuate by as much as three hundred percent for teenage drivers.   In other words one company may want to charge you three times more money compared to another insurance company to insure a young driver.

In our agency we have saved some parents over two thousand dollars a year compared to what their previous insurance company charged them.

Unless you invest time to obtain car insurance rate quotes from other companies, it’s impossible for you to determine whether or not you are getting a good deal or if you’re being ripped off by the insurance company.

As an agency we can provide quotes from top rated companies in your area to help you save money on your car insurance.

Click here to receive an instant online car insurance quote from top companies in your area.

What Is the Second Step to Keep Premiums Low for Teenage Drivers in Cincinnati?

Pick the most insurance friendly car for your teen driver. If you must buy a car for your son or daughter buy a four door, four cylinder low profile vehicle that doesn’t need full coverage.

Also make sure that you are getting all of the discounts you are entitled to including the good student discount for teenage drivers, drivers education, and the away at school discount for college age drivers if you qualify.

More helpful tips for teenage drivers can be found on our blog that show the best way to get the lowest prices on car insurance when you have teenage drivers on your policy.

Why Make Fat Cat Insurance Executives Rich By Overpaying On Your Car Insurance When You Have Teenage Drivers On Your Policy?

Click here if you want to save hundreds, and possibly thousands of dollars from insurance companies who are willing to give you the lowest car insurance rates in Cincinnati for your teenage son or daughter.