A Shameful Company
by Unhappy52 on Sep 4, 2019
1 out of 5 stars
Rear-ended December 2018. Opened claim, car towed from the driveway and provided with rental. Made several attempts to contact the insurer, eight days after opening the claim was told via email the car was a write-off and offered a ridiculously low settlement and that we needed to release the car, collect plates, and return rental within three days. Emailed our adjustor over the next few days, to arrange a phone call. Finally, scheduled time, he failed to call us. Call finally happened, we got nowhere. The adjustor was only interested in selling us insurance for our next car. Refused to budge on the return date for our rental, even after we pleaded, as it was the holidays and we didn't have the cash flow to go out and buy a new car. Cancelled weekend plans and went car shopping. The new car would be ready in five days, rental car was due back in three. We had to extend rental at our own cost. Researched comparable cars for sale, to negotiate a fairer settlement. Immediately found three comparables with higher selling prices, and sent those through. Two of the three were rejected as they were located out of province, we had never been told that would be a qualifying factor. Also, then told we needed to find at least TEN comparables. We found nine more and sent them through, eight of which were rejected due to "special features". We were told that our settlement would remain the same, even though it very well should have gone down. A cheap scare tactic. We took a closer look at the initial valuation report that had been sent through that calculated the initial settlement offer, and we found that many of the so-called comparables that they had used included the very same "special features", with a $25 deduction applied. We sent the same set of cars we'd found back, with the same $25 adjustment, and asked for our settlement to be reconsidered. Discovered snow tires hadn't been included in the valuation. Calculated a depreciated value of $600. We pointed this out to the adjuster, to which he replied that no value would be added. The only way we could get value out of the tires would be if we switched them out ourselves before releasing the car to the insurance company. Contacted the auto body shop that was holding our car. Advised us they did not have the equipment to switch out tires. Suggested we have the car towed to a mechanic, switch the tires then tow the car back to them, at our own cost. This would negate making the switch in the first place. We tried one more time with the adjuster for the value of our snow tires to be reconsidered, along with the ten cars we had sent. Furthermore, we also noticed they had failed to calculate mileage adjustments for their ten cars, so they were comparing our car with below-average mileage to much lower-priced cars with higher mileages. After days of waiting, we finally got an increased offer. It still wasn't enough, but it was an improvement. Based on the comparables we sent through and all the discrepancies we pointed out in their valuation, we got the value of the car increased by about $750, and they also added in $225 for the snow tires "as a goodwill gesture." We calculated the offer and hoped for a little bit more of an increase, but were stonewalled with a dispute letter. We contacted GIO to see if we had a case, but we were pretty much at a dead end. We sent the Proof of Loss form to our adjustor, finalizing our settlement. We didn't hear anything from the adjustor, followed up a few more times. He said we were "welcome" to collect our personal effects and plates whenever we felt like it. A week after we finalized the settlement, we asked our adjustor for an update on the delivery of our cheque, ONLY THEN he told us that we HAD to go and release the car in person before he would release our cheque! Received a letter from RBC Insurance detailing that our policies had been cancelled at our request, but we owed them money. Our policy had always been on a pre-payment plan, so it would only make sense that they would owe us a refund for the unused portion of the month. A "final notice" arrived only TWO days later advising if we didn't pay up, a collection agency would come after us. I paid the $100 balance owing, but only in protest. It then took over a month to get our correct refunds. They owed us around $300 now - even after acknowledgment of our cancellation, RBC continued to deduct our monthly payments. The cheque arrived at the end of January but we were told by our adjustor that we would be liable for a $500 deductible if we could not provide the police report with the other party's insurance details. We protested this sudden deductible appearing out of nowhere, as our paperwork indicated that we had a $0 deductible. The adjustor apologized and claimed he'd been "looking at the wrong file." In mid-February, another cheque arrived for the $500 deductible, which had been factored out of our initial settlement and was owed to us. Also received a $300 cheque from our cancelled policies. Still outstanding at this point is the liability of our case. We emailed the adjustor the week after receiving our settlement outlining what had clearly happened in the collision once again and with the police report attached. Months later, we still haven't received any confirmation on how our case was ruled, but we assume the case is now closed and that we would have heard something by now. It certainly would have been nice for our adjustor to let us know.
It is true that their customer service is good... but everything stops there. When you have a change in insurance coverage, good luck trying to understand their calculations. If you have a claim, they will act on it promptly... but... they will nickel and dime you to death. They will tell you their procedure, not the one you are legally entitled to. They will low-ball you for your claim. Advice? Fight for your numbers. Get prices of similar cars and send them to the "adjuster". Request your claim be sent to the supervisor. And, never, ever accept the first or second offer. Always accept the third!!!
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Their premiums might seem more affordable but do yourself a favour and pay the extra $100+ if you must. Aviva has to be the worst insurance company in the world. First, they do not like paying out for damages, blame you for an accident that is no fault of yours, even if you have a solid proof. Their lawyers are scammers, who make up stories to get you thrown off during interviews. They undervalue your property threatened you to comply with their policy though you are in the right. I had an accident where I suffered a concussion, physical injuries, developed anxiety & depression but they are claiming my injuries are from other sources though there is nothing in my medical file stating I had these issues prior. I wasn't at fault for the accident yet they blame it all on me. This company is a crook company that should not be in operation. I have a 1 star to Aviva because I cannot go any lower.
I had both Auto and House policy with AVIVA for over 15 years. My rates increased last year. This year I got the notice that I was selected randomly to reapply for my policy renewal via email from my broker? I asked my broker why and they said AVIVA are randomly reevaluating auto policies in Alberta. You have to reapply and AVIVA will decide if you will even get a policy or not, plus you have to pay entire years policy, no monthly plan. I got the six-page form by registered mail today, just like starting from scratch, they already have all this information. I am a -15 grid rating driver, which is the best rating. I am the type of driver that AVIVA should be providing policies for since I am the lowest risk. Being treated like crap doesn't work for me, bye bye AVIVA. I also have a home policy which is getting switched to another insurance provider. AVIVA is the only company I know that doesn't want your business. Avoid them like the plague! I would rate AVIVA lower than one if I could.
I, along with thousands of other Ontarians, have been sent the "5-page demand letter" from Aviva. They requested that I re-apply for exact same coverage I've had for 24 years without issue. I've never had an accident claim, nor a ticket. I've read the hundreds of comments from others in the same scenario. Aviva is sending out overly complicated forms that regular consumers would not know how to complete. They are asking for information that they have had for years. They give an arbitrary deadline to complete and mail back. After reading the reviews online, I decided not to take the chance and spent hours with my broker filing these out in every single detail possible. My broker sent them directly, and I also sent a hard copy via registered mail to the address provided in their letter. Aviva rejected my broker's application 3 TIMES! They also redirected the registered letter. On my brokers 4th attempt Aviva demanded a detailed explanation of why I owned 2 vehicles, demanded I put my nephew on my insurance (16 yr old that is only a G1 driver in driving school) and demanded a copy of friend's license that I lent my vehicle to ONE TIME (she even lives in a different town). They also had entered a claim on my vehicle as Third Party Liable - no claim on my record without my knowledge, with no communication with me. This should be illegal. This is a predatory practice by Aviva to all good drivers in Ontario. Everyone is saying the same story. If you qualified for accident forgiveness, expect the same letter. Not a single person I know has been able to successfully renew their policy. It's a clear "bait and switch". Aviva has refused to respond to me, or to anyone else in the same situation. Aviva must honour their "accident forgiveness" advertisement that they used to sign up their clients. They must reimburse those who they've cancelled with this fraudulent tactic.
Did you know that on average Ontario drivers with good driving records pay $1,805/year in auto insurance? Is your insurance rate higher? Get a free car insurance quote and start saving today.
I recently received a registered letter that was very adversarial in tone. After 20 years of being with RBC, Aviva has sent out a 5-page form that I must complete or my insurance will be terminated. This form is not intended for consumers to fill out; it is very complicated. I have 3 vehicles worth over $80,000 with no debt, an excellent driving record with 1 speeding ticket... I've spoken to the Government Agency here in Alberta and they asked me to send all documentation to them, including the letter. I've since learned that Aviva is intentionally trying to dispose of all the customers who have 1. Free Accident coverage 2. Lower deductible for loyalty 3. Lowest rates for good driving. They are compelling these customers to leave by threatening them. Please contact Alberta Superintendent of Insurance to complain. They informed me that they can only legally ask 13 questions, and if answered cannot legally cancel your policy for Liability, but they can cancel my comprehensive. After reading how they have dealt with claims from other customers, I am likely going to change anyways.
So I have been with Aviva thru RBC for almost 4 years and it has been the worst experience ever. I rolled my truck over on icy roads but didn't hit anybody. I didn't file a claim, I wasn't insured for that. She made me remove my insurance and said to call back when I get another car. Got another car, call them and now 'cause she removed my insurance, I'm like a new customer, so I had to do the whole process again and will have to wait 3 or 4 weeks to get the paperwork process. Also, I did monthly payments before my accident and she told me the guidelines had changed and I will have to make a full payment of $1000. This is craziness!!! Ya right, I have been with no car for a month and they want me to wait another month and pay a full year, no way!! I'm with a different company now and glad to be done with them. I wish they shut down and usually it happen when I do. I do believe in karma and karma will be back on them. If I could, I would not get any star at all but I can't, I'm just saying.
Had a 5,000 claim in 2015, in 2017 Aviva partnered with RBC as the underwriter and then they cancelled my insurance 1 month before my renewal!!! RBC said AVIVA sent me a re-application via snail mail (which I never received). Because I didn't "reapply within 2 weeks, they sent a "registered" letter informing me my policy is cancelled and they no longer want me as a customer. AFTER 15 years of being a customer, never missing a payment! No changes in my vehicles or driver rating. (They actually said they would NOT cancel my House insurance! LOL). BEWARE, Aviva now RUNS RBC insurance and the complaints line I called said they are targeting longtime customers and snuffing them out as most have a declining deductible clause (my $500 deductible was at $0 because of my 15 years of "Loyalty"), haha. They ACTUALLY said I qualify for the exact same coverage after the RBC agent issued me a quote and I would have NO lapse in coverage, HOWEVER, there would be $150 rate hike and I would lose all accrued loyalty benefits such as my declining deductible, which was at $0, so re-set to $500. RBC's bait and switch predatory practices are despicable, I don't believe they ever mailed me any re-application/renewal forms and obviously by not emailing me or calling me to notify me about pending policy cancelation (they had my email and home phone number on file for years) they obviously targeted me and are looking to get rid of long-term customers. The RBC insurance Rep apologized for AVIVA's unscrupulous corporate tactics as this is new to RBC, she sounded embarrassed after admitting she is getting multiple calls from longtime customers with similar complaints. Note RBC does not target new customers, within the last 2 years, rather longtime loyal customers they want to get rid of. Good luck RBC, I'm lodging a complaint with the Ontario Insurance Ombudsman and notifying my Union, my workplace as well as my friends and family to steer clear of RBC! AVOID the renewal cancellation hassle by RBC auto insurance.
Horrible customer service - long wait times on phones, lots of being switched around because they don't know what they are talking about, my advisor stopped responding to my emails and voicemails all together making it taking months to process a claim. Horrible Value - payout they offer is way less than value of car. Had a new car totalled by another driver, found not at fault, and still lost thousands of dollars. Disgusting that a multibillion dollar company is trying to ripe innocent people off. Claim was horrible - car accident in November and still haven't received my settlement check which they said was sent out weeks ago. Settlement value was horrible, way below value of the car - they admit to calculating the value in the lowest way possible. My advisor had no idea what they were talking about and would lie to me and would be corrected by someone else.
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After years of being a customer of RBC insurance and then Aviva, I have left because of the shameful treatment I have received. On the Friday of the holiday weekend, I received a letter from Aviva saying that my auto insurance was cancelled because I had not filled out an application for insurance form. Why did I need to fill in this form that apparently was sent to me but admittedly on their part was returned in the mail? Because that was there "new" policy. Never mind that I was left with no auto insurance over the long weekend, nor let's not consider the fact that all the information they requested they already had. This was clearly an effort to raise rates. Then to add insult to injury when I phoned them after the long weekend, they said that now I would have to play by a new set of rules which would take another two weeks to put in place. When I mentioned I've just spoken to their representative three days before the long weekend on another matter and there was no mention of this, they said perhaps I should contact an insurance broker.....and I did. Thank you for the advice, now I have the same coverage for much less money. Shame on you, AVIVA.