03/08/14 11:18 - ID#58772

Allstate doesn't love us.

Our insurance company, Allstate, is going to cancel, nay, strike that, non-renew (I don't understand the difference but all the Allstate people insist that it is important without actually telling me why) our home owners policy unless we complete what I think is completely unnecessary electrical work. Full disclosure, I was working apprentice electrician in my mis-spent youth. But that is what it is. Allstate says jump in the lake, we jump in the lake. Or find another insurance company.

So brothers and sisters and distant cousins, I beseech thee. Can you recommend a good electrician? And more importantly, can you recommend an insurance company and/or an independent insurance agent that is willing to insure 100+ year old homes on Buffalo's west side?

Please and Thank you

uncutsaniflush writes at 11:46:31 03/09/14 - Comment #71419: Thanks for the heads up on American Modern. Right now, I don't want to have anything to do with Allstate or Allstate related companies. I have been insured by Allstate since 1990. I've never filed a home owners insurance claim. I feel f#cked over. I would rather pay some other company more money than deal with Allstate. Given the reality of the insurance market in the slums of Buffalo (not my description) , I know that there is a chance I might have to eat my words. I find it hard to believe that Allstate (and it's minions are the only companies that are willing to insure houses on the West Side.

janelle writes at 10:51:49 03/09/14 - Comment #71418: Allstate dropped their insurance on one of the rental properties we own for pretty typical big house non-emergency issues and the agent I used shifted us to another insurance company. Apparently when you get cancelled by Allstate your Allstate agent will push you to this company: :::link::: so you can check them out.

uncutsaniflush writes at 10:09:07 03/09/14 - Comment #71417: Thank you (e:janelle) and (e:jessbob) for the responses.

(e:janelle) - what you say about cancel vs. non-renewel makes sense. It would have been nice if someone from Allstate explained it to me that way. Btw, I've been in touch with Bill.

(e:jessbob) - I'm not sure that your experience makes me feel better about continuing to be insured by Allstate. I think I may take and post a photo of why Allstate wants to drop us to show how trivial it is. Someone painted the electrical wiring on the exterior of our house. Some of the paint has peeled.

janelle writes at 08:04:42 03/09/14 - Comment #71416: While the impact of cancel versus renew in practice is the same in that it leaves you with no insurance, I think I understand the importance of the difference to Allstate - and possibly to you. I would guess that cancellation would be a red strike against you in the future because a cancellation would mean that you did something wrong. And then it would be difficult for you to get insurance with someone else if you have a history of cancelled policies. A non-renewal of your insurance plan would not necessarily imply that you were at fault for anything.

I use Allstate too and have had issues along that line. If you want advice, Bill and Jen also had to work through issues on their house per their insurance company.

Good luck!

janelle writes at 07:58:21 03/09/14 - Comment #71415: Ask your neighbors down the street, Bill and Jen. I think Bill would have a recommendation for you.

jessbob writes at 03:25:07 03/09/14 - Comment #71413: I don't live in Buffalo anymore, but I had a similar problem with Allstate dropping my homeowners insurance for bs (the sidewalk in front of my house is uneven - but that is city property, not mine). I have heard similar stories of Allstate being persnickety. I have State Farm now - more expensive, but they haven't jerked me around so far.