sheghan’s Blog

By Daren Singh

When you’re looking for the right auto insurance plan, it’s hard to tell which companies are helping you get the best car insurance quote and deals, and which ones are overcharging for their services. The good news is there are hundreds of car insurance companies to choose from; you can get dozens of offers, compare insurance company ratings, and find out which insurance company can get you the best rate.

The bad news is, many auto insurance companies don’t disclose their application process in detail, and may be ranking and rating you to raise your auto insurance quote. Knowing which auto insurance companies can get you the best deal involves research, exploring car insurance news, and knowing when to shop around. Here are just five things your car insurance company doesn’t want you to know:

1. The model of your car affects your insurance rate. Few auto insurance companies won’t tell you exactly how they calculate their car insurance quote and rates, and most rely on a grading and ranking scale for different makes and models. This largely depends on the safety and reliability of your car; if a car is at risk for theft or has a low safety record, your car insurance quote is likely to be much higher than average. The best way to avoid overpaying for car insurance with this in mind is to ask about the range for your vehicle. If you’re in the market to purchase a car, you can also find out which cars are considered to be the most expensive in your area.

2. They can cancel your auto insurance during the ‘binding period.’ The first 30-60 days with your car insurance company is a special time where they will review your account and watch for any claims you file. This is a critical time where the auto insurance company can cancel your policy for almost any reason. State laws vary on how long this binding period is, and each insurance company works under different guidelines on regulations on what is acceptable during this period – and what isn’t.

3. You won’t always get the whole amount if your car is totaled. The collision policy on your car insurance can very considerably depending on auto insurance provider, and not all companies will cover the total value of your car. Some insurance companies only offer complete reimbursement for specific cars – knowing if your car qualifies beforehand is an important item to consider when you’re trying to make the right choice.

4. They only work with select body shops. Many auto insurance companies work with only a few body repair shops, and you’ll be required to visit these shops if you want reimbursement. If you go to an ‘out of network’ body shop, there’s a good chance you’ll have to pay for most of the repairs yourself. It’s a good idea to make sure the body shop you prefer, or one that’s in your area, is covered by your car insurance provider.

5. Your credit report has a lot of weight in calculating your car insurance quote. Few people realize that their credit rating has an influence on their premium and final auto insurance quote. Making sure your credit report is clean and clear of errors is important when applying for car insurance, so you may need to contact the credit bureau to check for errors before submitting your application

Daren Singh writes for http://www.myinsurancedeals.com specializing in Insurance.

When I was growing up manners were driven into us.  We addressed people as mister, miss, or misses.  Of course, we got into our own little mischief and made fun of our authoritative figures, but not to the extent that the youth today do.  I remember after pushing our disrespect to the limits, our parents would reinforce that this behavior is not acceptable. Nowadays, younger people don’t have any fear of punishment from parents and feel free to express them self anyway they seem fit.
 
However it is not only the youth, but people of my generation and older that have seem to forgotten the manners instilled upon them.  They carelessly bump into you and tell you to watch yourself. What happened to “excuse me” or “I am sorry”?  If an accident happens, people act as though the person responsible should be vaporized from the face of the Earth.  In department stores people fight over clothing; in grocery stores people fight over bananas and hamburgers.
 

As we are talking about shopping, what happened to customer service? I remember when I had my first job at mall and it was mandatory that we exhibit excellent customer service. There has been many times when I have walked into stores and been glared at by store associates as if I was interrupting a very important conversation.  And what about food servers?  You are afraid to inform them that your chicken is underdone as fear they will spit in your food.  On the other hand, customers generally are not appreciative.  They expect that the server goes out of their way to provide and do not recognize this.  I have witnessed many times a server does a job well done only to be disrespected from their customers.  Why can’t we say thank you anymore and stop treating others as if they were scum under a shoe?
 
I remember a time when you went to work to get ahead and provide for your family. Now it is a popularity contest and filled with politics. What ever happened to going to work, sitting at your desk, doing a job well done, and coming home. Now, you go to work, hope that you are in the right circle, fear that the person sitting next to you is not running to your boss spreading untrue rumors about you, and hoping that you can just make it through the day.
 
Does please and thank you not exist anymore?  What about basic manners such as allowing an older person have your seat on the bus, or allowing the car in the next lane move over?  Or calling to reschedule or cancel an appointment instead of allowing the person who is expecting you wait around wondering where you are?  I guess all that I have left to say is thank you for taking the time to read this. 

Lisa F.