Had a similar experience with an agent in Casper—she was on top of things, but honestly, I still felt like I was jumping through hoops every time I needed to update something. Maybe it’s just the nature of insurance, but I always wonder how much difference the agent really makes when the company itself has strict policies.
Last winter, I slid off a backroad near Cody (black ice, classic Wyoming), and my agent handled the claim fast, but the adjuster from the company dragged their feet for weeks. Made me realize even a great agent can only do so much if the company’s slow.
Curious if anyone’s found a company that actually gives their agents more leeway to help out? Or is it just luck of the draw with who you get?
Honestly, you nailed it—agents can only do so much when the carrier’s got rigid processes. I’ve noticed mutual companies (like Auto-Owners) sometimes give their agents more wiggle room, but even then, claims adjusters are a different beast. It’s less about luck and more about company culture, in my experience. Some places just move at glacial speed, no matter how good your agent is.
“claims adjusters are a different beast. It’s less about luck and more about company culture, in my experience.”
Yeah, that’s pretty much it. I’ve worked claims for three different carriers—one mutual, two stock. Here’s what I see:
- Agents can push, but if the company’s process is slow or outdated, we’re all stuck waiting.
- Some companies talk a big game about “customer focus” but then bury adjusters in red tape.
- I’ve seen agents try to escalate stuff, but if the claims department has strict checklists, it doesn’t matter who you know.
Honestly, speed comes down to whether management trusts adjusters to make decisions or wants everything double-checked. That’s where things really grind to a halt...
“if the claims department has strict checklists, it doesn’t matter who you know.”
That’s been my experience too, especially with older cars. I had a ‘72 Chevelle that got rear-ended, and the adjuster wanted to nickel-and-dime every part because their system didn’t recognize half the stuff. Didn’t matter how much the agent tried to help—company policy was king.
Curious if anyone’s actually found a carrier in Wyoming that gives their adjusters some leeway, especially with classic or modified cars? Or is it all just “follow the checklist” no matter what? I get why they want consistency, but sometimes it feels like common sense goes out the window...
“Didn’t matter how much the agent tried to help—company policy was king.”
That’s exactly it. I’ve had similar headaches, but with way less interesting cars—think minivans and old sedans. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a classic or just a beater, the adjuster’s glued to that checklist. I once had a bumper claim where the adjuster literally measured the scratch with a ruler and told me it “didn’t meet the threshold.” Like, really? It’s not like my family hauler is a collector’s item, but still, a scratch is a scratch.
I get the need for rules, but sometimes I wonder if these companies forget that people actually drive these cars. Haven’t found a Wyoming insurer that lets their folks use common sense, at least not on my budget. Maybe if you’re paying for some fancy premium plan, but for the rest of us, it’s all about the numbers in their system. Makes you want to wrap your car in bubble wrap...
