I get where you’re coming from with the app thing. I’ve heard a bunch of people say USAA’s tech is way ahead, but my experience was kinda mixed. The app let me upload stuff, sure, but then nobody updated anything for days and I ended up calling anyway just to make sure they even got my photos. Maybe I just had bad luck or caught them on a busy week? Not sure.
With State Farm, their website looked like it hadn’t been updated since 2010, but once I actually talked to someone, things moved pretty fast. I guess I’m still one of those people who likes to hear a real voice when there’s money involved... especially if my car’s in the shop and I’m stressing about rides.
Honestly, both have their pros and cons. If everything works perfectly, the app route sounds awesome—no waiting on hold, no awkward small talk. But if something gets stuck or there’s a weird detail with your claim (like mine was), you end up calling anyway and then it can get confusing because you’re bouncing between digital and real people. That’s where things feel more annoying than they probably should.
I guess it comes down to what bugs you more: waiting on hold or wondering if your info just disappeared into the void. For me, at least right now, I’d rather deal with a person upfront even if it means a bit of hold music... but ask me again after my next claim and maybe I’ll have switched sides.
I guess I’m still one of those people who likes to hear a real voice when there’s money involved... especially if my car’s in the shop and I’m stressing about rides.
Totally get this. I tried to do everything through the USAA app once because, hey, less time on the phone sounds great. But after uploading docs and waiting for what felt like forever, I started wondering if my claim was just floating around in cyberspace. Ended up calling anyway, so it felt like double the hassle.
State Farm’s website is definitely stuck in a time warp, but at least when I called, someone actually picked up and got things moving. For me, it’s about which headache is cheaper—my time or my sanity. If I’m already stressed about missing work or paying for a rental, I’d rather talk to a human who can give me a straight answer, even if their hold music is stuck in the ‘90s.
Honestly, I wish these companies would just pick a lane—either make the app bulletproof or make sure the phone folks are always on it. Until then, I’ll probably keep calling, because at least then I know someone’s actually dealing with my mess.
USAA App vs. State Farm Hold Music: My Maserati’s Take
- Had my Maserati in the shop last year (don’t ask, let’s just say valet parking and rain don’t mix).
- Tried the USAA app first because, hey, I figured if I can unlock my car with my phone, surely I can file a claim.
- Uploaded every doc they asked for—photos, receipts, probably my soul at one point. Then… crickets. No updates. Just that spinning wheel of doom.
- After three days of radio silence and Uber bills stacking up like Jenga blocks, I caved and called them. Got transferred twice before someone could even pronounce “Quattroporte.”
- Meanwhile, a friend with State Farm said their website looked like it was coded on a flip phone, but at least when he called, he got a real person who sounded awake and actually cared.
Here’s where it gets funny (or tragic?):
- USAA’s app is slick until you need an actual answer. Then it’s like yelling into the void.
- State Farm’s tech is ancient but their people? Surprisingly helpful—even if their hold music is basically elevator jazz from 1998.
At this point, I’d rather listen to bad hold music than stare at another “processing” screen while my car sits in limbo. If I’m paying luxury premiums, I want luxury service—or at least someone who’ll laugh politely when I tell them my car’s name.
Bottom line: Give me a human any day. Even if they’re stuck in the ‘90s with their website design... as long as they can get me back on the road before my Uber driver learns my coffee order by heart.
