Allstate Comes Up Empty-Handed
Allstate can't sell new auto insurance insurance policies in Florida. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Florida Insurance Commission has revoked their certificate of authority to write new business because The Good Hands People refused to hand over documents on how they set rates in light of the company's relationships with trade groups and risk-modeling and insurance-rating firms. Allstate faced the same situation in Missouri and opted to pay fines rather than submit similar documents to a court. In the near term, industry experts don't expect Florida's actions to have much effect on the company. But Allstate's strained relationship with the state's regulators could impact them over time. Allstate said it was "surprised" by Florida's actions and is "evaluating its options."
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they already were smacked over using credit ratings to set rates for homeowners. Some companies continue to do so (I won't do business with them) as long as they can get away with it. Allstate agents admitted that almost no one qualified for their tier 1 rating which had nothing to do with actual credit ratings. The idea was to quote a low rate then move it higher after the "credit check" was done. Silly consumers fell for it.
As a Florida resident - this is all about homeowner's insurance and documents related to the rather nebulous practices of Allstate's homeowner's policies (that Allstate refuses to provide), not their auto policies. And they're being asked for the documents because they're jacking homeowner's rates 40 percent a couple of months after agreeing to lower them 14 percent. That's a 54 point swing - far larger than your average margin of error. But our governor decided to hit Allstate where it hurt - by eliminating their very profitable ability to write new auto insurance policies. Good for him. After literally being smacked by the eye of two hurricanes in 14 months, I can tell you there is really nothing good about nost insurance companies doing business in Florida, homeowners or auto, but Allstate is by far the worst (of the ones that didn't just fold up and die).
Well, if you get smacked in the eye of two hurricanes in 14 months, expect to pay a lot for insurance. Your choices are: 1. Pay up. 2. Move someplace a little less disaster prone.
The rates did go up - 100-300 percent in most cases. And I pay them - (and not Allstate - they wouldn't even write a policy in the high risk area I live in). But the state allowed all insurers special exemptions allowing them to insure for lower costs in exchange for lowering rates a whopping average of 14% (obviously not lower than pre hurricane disasters). Allstate took the money and then actually raised the rates, then refused to provide documents to the state when requested.