Complaint Review: Geico General Insurance Company - Washington District of Columbia

1. GEICO does sign over mail to the USPS - meaning the USPS accepts responsibility for the mail after it leaves GEICO property, so if someone has not received their mail in a timely matter they need to speak with the USPS. If a policyholder presents a letter from the USPS stated the letter was not sent or sent in a timely matter due to post office error, GEICO will review the policy for reinstatement without a lapse. 2. GEICO does not charge fees for sending cancellation notice. The amount you paid was for coverage that was extented to you without payment, and the amount of a new 6 month policy period beginning the day you make a down payment. It is possible for your rate to increase after a lapse because the insurance company may find they need to rate your risk differently for a variety of reasons including lapses, new driving activity, number of claims, etc

If someone doesn't pick up the certified mail, there still is proof that it was sent. The sender can show a judge the USPS card and have the judge open the envelope to prove that they attempted to notify the receiver on a certain date. The best way is to send a copy certified AND one regular mail. Even if the certified is refused you can argue that the addressee knew what was in it because they received another copy by regular mail. Most state laws require cancellation notices be sent by certified mail. So it is a necessary cost of doing business to the company.

Macdane, thanks so much for the enlightening response! When the employee of a company comes on here to support the company, and in doing so, bashes the customer, yes, it creates a terrible impression, and just further supports the original writer's claims of company incompetence. Spouting off inaccurate information in a condescending matter, such as with Nicole, serves only to infuriate even NON-customers, such as myself. If you could possibly influence Geico in any way to make sure their notices of cancellation DO NOT appear to be junk mail' - that would sure be a service, that much is clear. I realize that's a tall order, lololol, but as an employee, you would probably have more ability to contact such people than any customer. Very nice to see there are employees at Geico who do care about informing consumers, and being professional while doing so.

Having recently been employed at GEICO for nearly 5 years I can understand the confusion around mailing of cancellation issues. I have worked in Customer Service, Sales, quality control and finally as an underwriter and I may be able to shed some light on this confusion. . GEICO does not typically send certified mail for cancellation due to non-payment due to the amount of cost that is involved with the billing issues of 7 million policy holders. However, Geico does send certified mail for underwriting decisions that have negative consequences (i.e., cancellation for underwriting reasons or non-renewal). This is done because cancellation for underwriting reasons is regulated by each state's insurance commission and each state expects GEICO to be consistent in applying the agreed upon underwriting guidelines. The certified mail that Nicole made reference to does not have to be certified that it has been received by the policy holder, but rather certifies that the piece of mail has been delivered to address on the letter by the post office not UPS . This is why some people miss cancellation letters since cancellation letters unfortunately look like junk mail from GEICO that policy holders get all the time and this process in my opinion is counterproductive. Finally to the GEICO employee who is responding to these posts. You cannot convince people that they are wrong when you accuse them of being essentially stupid or lazy. Remember, you have insider information working for GEICO and that makes you an expert on the inner workings of GEICO; however that knowledge comes with a responsibility to be an ambassador of goodwill and not to rub it in consumers' faces. I understand that dealing with policy holders is hard and this website gives you pulpit to voice you opinion, unfortunately your opinion comes off as condescending and that will convince no one that you have anything of great importance to say.

I sure hope Nicole isn't in Customer Service, telling people that an insurance company would send all cancellation notices CERTIFIED mail. That is ludicrous, on its face. What if someone refuses to accept it, it would then be not delivered, and what position would that put the insurer in? The insurer spends an exorbitant amount of money each day, sending cancellation notices certified mail via USPS, and if someone refuses to accept it, then the CUSTOMER has proof, thanks to the insurer, that the customer was NOT notified of cancellation, as the USPS has proof the notification was refused or not picked up, and therefore not delivered to the customer. So, where would that leave the insurer? There's undeniable proof that the notice of cancellation was positively never delivered. Seems like an extremely sticky situation for the insurer. Adding in the costs of mailroom personnel to complete all those certified mail forms, plus the costs of legal fees for all the people who could rightfully prove they never received notice of cancellation - those are just two of the sticky widgets I can envision coming from certified mail notices of cancellation. Maybe the insurers SHOULD send them by certified mail! It'd be something to help the customers, for once!

I just can't believe that a rep of Geico would get on here and lie. I got it straightened out with Geico. They reimbursed me the money because it was their fault. I am happy again! Plus the supervisor who talked down to me called and apologized for the inconvience. Another thing we need to discuss is that Geico does NOT send out certified letters to let you know that your insurance has been cancelled. I called Geico after reading your little comment. They told me they couldnt send out certified letters because, there are to many people who get cancelled daily for non payment. So next time you decide to stick your nose into something you should probably have your facts straight.

You stated that you have had a policy with GEICO for 8 years, yet you dont know your payment schedule? Are you on a monthly pay plan? Or a 4 pay plan? This is what normally happens, we send out a bill and once we dont get a payment a cancelation notice is sent with a deadline date on it. Every state requires that insurance companies send out these notices prior to canceling a policy. There was one sent to you. If you didnt open it or read it that can not be blamed on the insurance company. If you made a full payment in April like you said there is no way for your policy to cancel without another notice being mailed. By the way these notices are sent out certified mail from the USPS.

You stated that you have had a policy with GEICO for 8 years, yet you dont know your payment schedule? Are you on a monthly pay plan? Or a 4 pay plan? This is what normally happens, we send out a bill and once we dont get a payment a cancelation notice is sent with a deadline date on it. Every state requires that insurance companies send out these notices prior to canceling a policy. There was one sent to you. If you didnt open it or read it that can not be blamed on the insurance company. If you made a full payment in April like you said there is no way for your policy to cancel without another notice being mailed. By the way these notices are sent out certified mail from the USPS.

You stated that you have had a policy with GEICO for 8 years, yet you dont know your payment schedule? Are you on a monthly pay plan? Or a 4 pay plan? This is what normally happens, we send out a bill and once we dont get a payment a cancelation notice is sent with a deadline date on it. Every state requires that insurance companies send out these notices prior to canceling a policy. There was one sent to you. If you didnt open it or read it that can not be blamed on the insurance company. If you made a full payment in April like you said there is no way for your policy to cancel without another notice being mailed. By the way these notices are sent out certified mail from the USPS.

You stated that you have had a policy with GEICO for 8 years, yet you dont know your payment schedule? Are you on a monthly pay plan? Or a 4 pay plan? This is what normally happens, we send out a bill and once we dont get a payment a cancelation notice is sent with a deadline date on it. Every state requires that insurance companies send out these notices prior to canceling a policy. There was one sent to you. If you didnt open it or read it that can not be blamed on the insurance company. If you made a full payment in April like you said there is no way for your policy to cancel without another notice being mailed. By the way these notices are sent out certified mail from the USPS.