I get where you’re coming from about keeping records, but honestly, I’ve found that sometimes even the best documentation doesn’t stop the back-and-forth. With State Farm, I had every call and email logged, but they still “lost” my estimate twice. I’d say it’s just as important to set reminders to follow up—don’t assume they’ll call you back when they say they will. And yeah, negotiating is possible, but it can drag things out. Sometimes I wonder if pushing too hard just makes them dig in their heels more...
USAA VS STATE FARM: WHICH CLAIMS PROCESS IS LESS OF A HEADACHE?
That’s wild about State Farm losing your estimate—twice? I’d lose my mind if they did that with my car. I totally get what you mean about documentation not being the magic bullet. I keep a spreadsheet with every call, date, and even who I spoke to (I know, a little over the top), but it still feels like you’re playing phone tag with a black hole sometimes.
Do you think it’s just the bigger companies that get bogged down, or is it just the luck of the draw with which adjuster you get? I’ve only had to file once with USAA (knock on wood), and while it wasn’t exactly fast, at least they didn’t “misplace” anything. But I did have to nudge them a couple times, and I swear, if I hadn’t set calendar reminders, my claim would still be floating in limbo.
Ever feel like the more you push, the more they stall? I tried being super polite at first, then switched to “firm but friendly,” but it’s like there’s some secret threshold where if you cross it, they just start stonewalling. Maybe there’s an art to being persistent without being annoying... or maybe they just want us to give up and go away.
I’m curious—did you ever try escalating to a supervisor, or does that just make things worse? I’ve heard mixed things. Part of me wonders if it’s worth the hassle for a fender bender, but when it’s something major (like when my S-Class got rear-ended), I’m not about to let them off easy.
At this point, I half-expect to have to send smoke signals just to get a response. Maybe next time I’ll try carrier pigeons... Think they’d lose those too?
I’ve seen both sides of this—sometimes it really is just the luck of the draw with your adjuster. I had a client with State Farm who got a super responsive rep and everything was smooth, but another time, it took three weeks just to get a call back. Escalating can help if you’re polite but firm, though I’ve noticed if you come in too hot, things can get weirdly slow. It’s frustrating how much follow-up is on us... almost feels like a full-time job sometimes. And yeah, I’m convinced some paperwork just vanishes into the void regardless of the company.
Honestly, I’ve had more headaches with State Farm than USAA, but neither is perfect. Last year, State Farm lost my estimate twice—felt like I was sending it into a black hole. At least with USAA, I got actual updates instead of radio silence. Still, both make you chase them way more than you should.
Last year, State Farm lost my estimate twice—felt like I was sending it into a black hole.
- Same here. State Farm “misplaced” my paperwork and then tried to blame me for not sending it right.
- USAA at least picks up the phone, but you still gotta push them for answers.
- As someone with a couple tickets, both companies seem to drag their feet more if your record isn’t spotless.
- Honestly, neither one’s great if you’ve got anything on your driving record.
- At this point, I just expect to spend hours on hold no matter who I’m with...
