Upon renewal after my first year of homeowners coverage with Farmers in Fort Worth, TX, I was surprised at how much my rate had increased so I called my agent who told me that an extended coverage package had been added to my policy. I never requested any extended coverage nor did I recieve any notice of a change in coverage that they normally send (I was with Farmers for over 20 years in two previous houses in other states), just a two-page renewal notice with the new rate. Had I simply paid the bill that came in the mail as many busy folks do, I never would have known that this new apckage had mysteriously leapt onto my policy. Even after he removed it, I still had much higher coverage levels than I had previously until he went back in and tweaked something. I thought of asking Farmers to investigate but without knowing whether this originated locally (my agent claims he has no idea how it happened) or not, didn't think that was the best route to take. I'm sure agents get incentives for selling coverage extensions but not to receieve a change in coverage notice is really strange; those things are usually automatically generated. Before sending them my cancellation, I went online and saved to my computer all the documents in my file there to document how it was before, when the change occurred and after. I think this fits the legal description of an attempt to defraud. Any one else have this happen? What was the explanation and outcome?
Oh and when someone from the Farmer's office (not my agent) called to inquire after my premium that was due and I told her I'd switched, she said I had to send a notice, which I then did, and that they needed a declaration page from my new insurer! I told her it was really none of their business who I was doing business with now. She back-pedaled and said, "Well, they just want to make sure you have coverage. I guess it matters more with auto." As if they were some government agency or something! Even with auto, it's none of their business who you choose when you leave them. One has to wonder what they use these declaration pages for. When she requested it, she acted like it was the most normal thing to require that. I swear, if they try to charge me for the days between when my policy expired and when I sent notice (about a week), I'm going to file a formal compalint with the insurance commision.
