Choosing the right insurance provider for you!
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There are many places and ways to purchase Property, Vehicle and Commercial Insurance. Here’s some helpful straight talk about Insurance providers.
Your list of Insurance provider possibilities:
An independent Insurance Broker works for you:
A committed, top-performing independent Insurance Broker, like Costen Insurance, delivers choice, expert knowledge, value and personal service. Simply put, we work for YOU!
Your independent Insurance Broker takes the time to know and understand you and your insurance needs. Then they offer you a choice of insurance ‘products’ from several different providers, while working diligently to ensure that you’re getting the most appropriate coverage, the best value, expert advice and personal service.
Insurance is about managing risk and creating peace of mind…prudently and affordably. It’s also about great service, advice and support when you have a claim. Insurance is complicated. You’re best served by a knowledgeable and caring professional who knows you…and is on your side!
When there’s a claim: Making a claim is disruptive and stressful. This is when we ‘shine’. A great independent Insurance Broker, like Costen, will support and advise you during the claim process and act as a mediary between you and the Insurance Company, if necessary.
Direct Writers:
There are many insurance providers these days and they all claim to be the wise choice for you. Some of these insurance alternatives are called Direct Writers and include banks, captive agents and online sellers. Some of them have fancy TV ads that talk only about price.
These Direct Writers work for one specific insurance company and offer only the products and rates of that one supplier. The people you deal with online, or in a branch, are typically not insurance experts. They sell mass-market, cookie-cutter solutions based on price alone. While often attractive on the surface, these policies don’t necessarily serve clients’ individual needs…especially when there’s a claim. In fact, each year, many former Costen clients return to us after just one poor Claim Experience with a Direct Writer.
When working with a Direct Writer, you’re typically dealing with a Call Center, waiting on hold and speaking to someone new each time you call. At Costen, your call is quickly answered or returned, by someone who knows you.
Direct Writers who operate online might seem convenient, but the responsibility is then on you to choose the right coverage and deductible, and supply all the info correctly about you and your vehicle or property. Any error or omission on your part could result in denial of a future claim. An Independent Broker, like Costen Insurance, guides and coaches you on what’s best for you and checks to make sure that all your information is correct.
When calling to ask for advice about a possible claim, most Direct Writers will automatically record that as an actual claim on your record, even though no claim may be filed, and no payout made to you. But this ‘unclaim’ can negatively affect your rating and the cost of future premiums.
Furthermore, many Direct Writers, especially those who sell online, will only review your policy application when you have a claim. Then, your claim may be denied if the insurance company finds that information was omitted, or entered incorrectly by you at the time of application. So, coverage can be uncertain until after a claim is actually made. But, then, it’s too late.
As an Independent Insurance Broker, we work for you. We provide expert advice before registering a claim. In some cases, coverage may not apply, or damages could be less than your deductible. We also advise you as to how putting through a claim may impact your future insurance premiums and we help you develop the best claims strategy.
Beware! Some Insurance Brokerages, who claim to be ‘independent’, are actually owned by an insurance provider and, therefore, have limited ways to serve you. At Costen, we’re truly independent. We work with many top insurers, offer choice and experience…and are totally committed to you!
Costen delivers advice and coverage for all your Insurance needs:
Check out this great little video that explains a bit more about the differences between an Insurance Broker and a Direct Writer:
Get to know us better! More interesting info about Costen Insurance:
If you have any questions about this or anything insurance-related, we’d love to assist you!
Thank you,
Your Costen Insurance Team