Progressive automobile insurance - didn't have uninsured motorist insurance - billed for $ 75,000 by Progressive

# 14 for July 17, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on July 16, 2003:

From:

RE: Progressive automobile insurance - didn't have uninsured motorist insurance - billed for $ 75,000 by Progressive

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

I can see now I'm not the only one that's being screwed by progressive. Amazing, truely amazing. Well freinds, let me tell you a story that's truely a story that will go down in history as the most absurd tale you have ever heard. Back in October of 2001 my car was in an accident. I had loaned my car out to my sister and she got into an accident with it. It was a Ford Contour. She receives the ticket, and Progressive totals my car outright. Which was just the beginning of the screwing. I actually take it quite nicely, I think I had a grimace on my face. The other people also had Progressive.

I need to take you back a few years when I first got my policy. Me... "What's this uninsured motorist stuff and do I have to have it?" Progressive Agent... "No your not required to have it." So I didn't get it. Stupid me. I was advised that it was not neccessary to have.

Well, earlier this year I get a notice saying that the accident is under investigation and it comes to their conclusion that I didn't have any liability insurance. Oh so uninsured motorist coverage is liability. Thanks for clearing that up. Than later this year I receive more mail from progressive, this ones a bill. A BILL FOR $75,000.00. That's right a bill for SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. I was like sure let me get my pen. I totally disregarded it. They can't get blood from a stone, come and get it. Then I get a letter in the mail last week.

This ones a copy they sent to The Motor Vehicle Dept./Safety Responsibility Unit. It's a request to have my license suspended! What! So I called the Office of Insurance Regulation. Their a big help by the way. The Lady on the other end pretty much told me that I was Screwed. And she has as much insurance on her car as she can afford... well so did I. I thought I had full coverage. Apparently the state of Florida doesn't require you to have liability on your vehicle, They call it uninsured motorist coverage. You know, I'm more than likely the **** here. Because I'm no insurance expert and I was made to feel like a **** by the people at the Office of Insurance regulation.

But, I don't see how they can have my license suspended, when the State of Florida doesn't require you to have that "option of insurance" on your policy. Oh yeah, there is no hope to get a temp. license to get back and forth to work. They also are going to suspend my tags!

I now have to get a good defense attorney. This is amazing. I know I can't be the only one this has happened too. As long as this Liability is not manditory than this will happen all the time.I feel like the state and this insurance company are working together. $75,000.00 dollars what a crock. Here's a email I wrote to Governor Bush: I really hate to bother the Governor with something as unrelated to his job as this gets. But, I don't know what to do. I'm having this problem with Progressive car insurance. My sister got into a accident while driving my car. She recieves the ticket. Progressive was mine and the other persons insurance. Keep in mind I was nowhere near the accident. I thought I had full coverage, when you pay close to $150.00 a month you would think you where covered.

Their saying I don't have any liability insurance. It's actually uninsured motor vehicle covered. They sent a letter to the Motor vehicle Dept wanting them to suspend my license. I asked about the uninsured motor vehicle coverage and they said that it wasn't required for me to have it. Now they want me to write them a check for $75,000.00 dollars. Like I have that kind of money. All I do is go to work and try to make my car payment and house payment, pay my taxes. And now I'm going to be ruined by a lousy insurance company that their main porpose in life is to screw people. I really don't see how they can request to have my license suspended. They call it the Financial Responsibility Laws. If I was required to have this insurance than why is it offered as an option. It seams a little strange that people can decline this addition if their required to have it. They keep harrassing me with letters. Saying that they haven't received the payment of $75,000.00. What can someone like me do. I can't afford a attorney.

They are the ones that I paid to advise me badly. Now I may lose everything I worked so hard for. I've been in the same job for 7 years now. I'm 33 years old. It would take me 2 lifetimes to pay that off. If I lose my license from this, that would really back up my beliefs in this country. Ifthis is actually required to have and everyone has the option to turn it down, then why isn't the state making it a manditory insurance when people get their automobiles. As soon as they get a policy it should be included and NOT given as a option to decline. Please Governor Bush tell me what you think. Thank you, JOHN Here is "His" Response: Dear Mr. Varno: Governor Bush has received your e-mail and has asked me to respond. The Governor appreciates you writing regarding your insurance concern.

As you may know, insurance company regulatory matters are under the administrative authority of the Department of Insurance and the Office of Insurance Regulation. In an effort to assist you, I am forwarding your e-mail to that office for review. The Governor believes insurance should be affordable and accessible and that insurance companies should be dependable, responsive, and efficient. I can assure you that any legislation reaching Governor Bush's desk that involves insurance matters receives his close attention. Thank you again for writing. I hope this information will be helpful to you. Sincerely, Eva Baxter Executive Office of Governor Jeb Bush State of Florida

MY RESPONSE BACK: Eva, Thank you for your help. I called the Insurance Consumer Advocates office yesterday and the only thing they can do is belittle you and make you feel like your a fool for not understanding your policy. Ann B. pretty much told me that she has as much insurance on her vehicle as she can afford and that its not the insurance companies responsibility to educate their costumers. Which I realize, but that doesn't give the state the right to take someone's license away from them if the type of insurance they actually needed wasn't enforced by the state to begin with. If the state of Florida doesn't make uninsured motorist coverage (liability) a part of the minimum standard insurance, than I definitely won't be the last person this will happen to. I by no means am a insurance expert and I realize now you have to be because insurance companies can and have the right to mislead their clients by not explaining or showing the consequences of not having uninsured motorist coverage.

I have no means to pay the $75,000.00 to the insurance company, so I will more than likely be forced to file Bankruptcy to solve this issue and the insurance company will still not have their money. But they will succeed in ruining my life for a while. Thank You For letting Me Vent. -JOHN In the long run there's no way Progressive will get the money from me. I don't have it. What will more than likely happen is I will be forced to file Bankrutpcy, and they will succeed in screwing my life up for a long while.

Thank you for time on this site.

-John

Comment On This

Work environment is terrible and employee turnover is massive. bleeding employees from the top Zone managers to the lowly reps. slash and burn. Suck the energy of the new hires and then spit them out after two years.

Comment On This

You sir, are poorly informed and have obviously mistaken a certain coverage on your policy to be something it is not. In the case of your accident, the Florida Department of Insurance oversees the creation and use of all insurance policies that are purchased. Your SISTER was not listed on the policy, and if there was any habitual or repetitive use of your vehicle by her, then by LAW your insurance company denied your claim. Since the SAME insurance company was the protector of the other vehicle, it only APPEARS that your own insurance company is SUBROGATING you. I award you no points, and we are all now DUMBER having read your ranted drivel. May God have mercy on your soul.