Some 72 years ago, my parents had State Farm. I had an accident when I hit a car because the steering wheel at night returned to normal. They claimed “it was an act of God“ and refused to settle the claim. Needless to say, I have never had State Farm.
If only Barry Manilow had known when he wrote the jingle, “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” I hope you don’t find out that Band-Aid is sticking it to us in ways it shouldn’t or I’ll have no childhood jingles left to sing.
In my experience, the issues with State Farm have become standard practice with all large home insurers. They prefer the “perfume of premiums” to the “stench of claims” as one insurance executive once testified in front of a jury, to the horror of the company’s lawyers.
Just following the lead of the man who put the CON in eCONomy. The gilded age was the end of the 19th century, now the grifters age is the beginning of the 21st century. The internet bubble, housing bubble, and Covid relief program frauds all leading to the crowning of the king of grift as president in 2024. We are living in the age where what was considered white collar crime, is now becoming standard business practice.
I've been saying that it seems in order to get elected to office in these United States one must be a white collar criminal OR a rapist. Just sayin' what I'm seein'
I was an insurance defense litigator for years. State Farm was the worst and it was especially harsh with its own policy holders. Cases dragged on unnecessarily and some went to trial just because State Farm refused to settle a legit case and played a numbers game. That is no way to treat policy holders. In my personal life I tell people never ever to insure their home or car w State Farm or Allstate.
Back in the 20th century, I worked for a congressman and former judge who warned everyone in the office against State Farm as a firm that never wanted to pay up.
So much for being a good neighbor, eh? State Farm points to the dysfunction of the California insurance landscape, but its aggressive courting of the market and abrupt pullout exacerbated the situation. Like the article says, though, any potential fines over State Farm's mishandling of wildfires-related claims would be a drop in the bucket. Homeowners will feel the most pain.
Following. I have to say that I condone the behavior described, that State Farm and my agent (one of their top agents) has been very good to me. However, as a physician, I can’t say anything similar about either health insurance or the unscrupulous agents who sell Medicare Advantage and replacement policies to unsuspecting seniors.
I have State Farm as supplemental insurance to Medicare. Always pay what they promised, on time. Have never had even the tiniest paperwork hassle. In my head I joke that because they are primarily homeowner's insurance, they don't understand it is mandatory to screw over their healthcare customers.
I fear the bottom will fall out in the homeowner's insurance market. So many weather events as well as the insurance business itself, just doesn't look good.
I watch while friends rebuild flooded homes on stilts near the ocean in some states and in others, they were paid to move and the land was given back to nature. At some point insurance will become irrelevant and human beings are going to reap what they sow.
Yes, I feel terrible for anyone losing their home to fire or flood - how horrible - but we keep putting band aids on this disaster we have created. So rather than make it an individual home owner v the big bad insurance company, why not all get together and fix the problem?
Go ahead, laugh at the idealist. I'm sorry, I guess I woke up in 1999 today.
I left State Farm several years ago due to bad interactions but have found other insurers also awful: all of them aggressively trying to sell unnecessary services while bailing on the basics. It's all part of the predatory way corporations interact with customers as consumer rights are eroded.
i can only speak from my own experience but the reason i went with state farm years ago was i wanted a local agent who i could "count on" if i needed to put in a claim. when a storm came through on father's day two years ago i realized that was not the case. state farm had separated the sales division from claims....i was the one who had to go online to fill out the forms only to be told that i would only be made 60% "whole".....felt like i was in the movie "the Rainmaker".
this is not just a California problem:
"Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is actively investigating State Farm for allegedly using a coordinated, "secret scheme" to systematically underpay or deny wind and hail roof damage claims for Oklahoma homeowners. Following hundreds of lawsuits, the AG intervened in December 2025, aiming to hold the company accountable for potential fraud."
My home owners premium with State Farm has more than doubled in the past three years. It now takes more than two of my social security checks to pay them. I’m sure their CEO and members of their Board of Directors don’t have that problem. Talk about corporate greed!!!
Unregulated capitalism has brought us here.
This isn't capitalism - it's a highly consolidated, lightly regulated oligopoly masquerading as a competitive market place.
Precisely, Janet.
Some 72 years ago, my parents had State Farm. I had an accident when I hit a car because the steering wheel at night returned to normal. They claimed “it was an act of God“ and refused to settle the claim. Needless to say, I have never had State Farm.
If only Barry Manilow had known when he wrote the jingle, “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” I hope you don’t find out that Band-Aid is sticking it to us in ways it shouldn’t or I’ll have no childhood jingles left to sing.
In my experience, the issues with State Farm have become standard practice with all large home insurers. They prefer the “perfume of premiums” to the “stench of claims” as one insurance executive once testified in front of a jury, to the horror of the company’s lawyers.
Do you suppose any insurance executives drew a lesson from the United Health example? I doubt it.
Just following the lead of the man who put the CON in eCONomy. The gilded age was the end of the 19th century, now the grifters age is the beginning of the 21st century. The internet bubble, housing bubble, and Covid relief program frauds all leading to the crowning of the king of grift as president in 2024. We are living in the age where what was considered white collar crime, is now becoming standard business practice.
I've been saying that it seems in order to get elected to office in these United States one must be a white collar criminal OR a rapist. Just sayin' what I'm seein'
It is not just State Farm and not just California.
I was an insurance defense litigator for years. State Farm was the worst and it was especially harsh with its own policy holders. Cases dragged on unnecessarily and some went to trial just because State Farm refused to settle a legit case and played a numbers game. That is no way to treat policy holders. In my personal life I tell people never ever to insure their home or car w State Farm or Allstate.
Back in the 20th century, I worked for a congressman and former judge who warned everyone in the office against State Farm as a firm that never wanted to pay up.
Thank you for sharing. I will be calling an independent agent to find another insurance company.
So much for being a good neighbor, eh? State Farm points to the dysfunction of the California insurance landscape, but its aggressive courting of the market and abrupt pullout exacerbated the situation. Like the article says, though, any potential fines over State Farm's mishandling of wildfires-related claims would be a drop in the bucket. Homeowners will feel the most pain.
Insurance needs regulation. Bravo to California.
Following. I have to say that I condone the behavior described, that State Farm and my agent (one of their top agents) has been very good to me. However, as a physician, I can’t say anything similar about either health insurance or the unscrupulous agents who sell Medicare Advantage and replacement policies to unsuspecting seniors.
More ppl need to know that Medicare Advantage is NOT Medicare, and the only advantage is to the insurance company
I refer to it as "Medicare Disadvantage" to any who ask.
I have State Farm as supplemental insurance to Medicare. Always pay what they promised, on time. Have never had even the tiniest paperwork hassle. In my head I joke that because they are primarily homeowner's insurance, they don't understand it is mandatory to screw over their healthcare customers.
I fear the bottom will fall out in the homeowner's insurance market. So many weather events as well as the insurance business itself, just doesn't look good.
I watch while friends rebuild flooded homes on stilts near the ocean in some states and in others, they were paid to move and the land was given back to nature. At some point insurance will become irrelevant and human beings are going to reap what they sow.
Yes, I feel terrible for anyone losing their home to fire or flood - how horrible - but we keep putting band aids on this disaster we have created. So rather than make it an individual home owner v the big bad insurance company, why not all get together and fix the problem?
Go ahead, laugh at the idealist. I'm sorry, I guess I woke up in 1999 today.
I left State Farm several years ago due to bad interactions but have found other insurers also awful: all of them aggressively trying to sell unnecessary services while bailing on the basics. It's all part of the predatory way corporations interact with customers as consumer rights are eroded.
i can only speak from my own experience but the reason i went with state farm years ago was i wanted a local agent who i could "count on" if i needed to put in a claim. when a storm came through on father's day two years ago i realized that was not the case. state farm had separated the sales division from claims....i was the one who had to go online to fill out the forms only to be told that i would only be made 60% "whole".....felt like i was in the movie "the Rainmaker".
this is not just a California problem:
"Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is actively investigating State Farm for allegedly using a coordinated, "secret scheme" to systematically underpay or deny wind and hail roof damage claims for Oklahoma homeowners. Following hundreds of lawsuits, the AG intervened in December 2025, aiming to hold the company accountable for potential fraud."
My home owners premium with State Farm has more than doubled in the past three years. It now takes more than two of my social security checks to pay them. I’m sure their CEO and members of their Board of Directors don’t have that problem. Talk about corporate greed!!!
Is it wrong that I am relieved that today’s outrage for once did not involve The Meatsack in the White House or His Idiot Son-in-Law?
The farce is legit and the deck is stacked for the rich and powerful ☹️ small actions are all we can do to change the story here.