DO NOT USE AVIVA
by GibCare on Jan 23, 2019
1 out of 5 stars
Aviva sent a registered letter at the end of November during the postal strike wanting us to reapply for auto insurance after we had been with them for 9 years. The forms were received just before Christmas, which were 5 pages of jargon I didn't even understand. We filled them out and sent them back, they didn't receive them until January 14th...our policy expired on the 12th. When I finally got ahold of someone after 45 minutes of being on hold 3 separate times, they told me that I did not fill out the forms correctly and they would mail them back to me to fix. I told them I can't go without insurance and asked if I could have a grace period. They said no and absolutely refused to help me. Then told me if I wanted to stay with them that it would be up to 5 weeks with no insurance before it is sorted out. Their exact words were "well, if you need insurance today, then go somewhere else". All the agents I spoke with refused to let me talk to a manager and said they would put in a note on my file for one to call in roughly 5 business days. On top of all this, I have made monthly payments with them for 9 years, not once did I miss a payment. They said that because I lapsed I am deemed a "threat" for non-payment and they want a credit card number for full payment before they even reviewed a so-called new policy. My driving record is spotless, I have zero claims and this is how they treat a customer. These people need to be reported to the BBB. What a scam to jack rates. Horrible Company. Thankfully, I was able to get insurance with another company with better benefits and customer service. DO NOT USE AVIVA.
Received a letter in November to renew my auto insurance. This was during Canada Post strike. I mailed it back, I called one week before my expiry of my current policy to see if they had received. They had not but the advisor assured me they would give an extension because of the Canada post strikes. They received my application the day of my expiry and did not process it because it was too late (even though I had been told there was a two business day leeway because of the postal strike.) Trying to speak to a manager took several phone calls and waited on hold for 1 hour 45 min when I finally did. Was told it was my fault and there was nothing they would do. Had to scramble find auto insurance elsewhere even though I’ve been with RBC Aviva for 7 years. Now my home insurance (which was automatically renewed) is with them and if I wanted to cancel, they will charge me 90% of the premium. So disgusted with the terrible customer service. This practice is so unethical. They basically made it impossible for me to renew my auto insurance. In October their media relations person said that they were making accommodations due to the postal strike. They would be offering digital documents when available and be couriering time-sensitive documents. This was a total lie. None of these options were given to me. When I called a week before expiry, there should have been an option offered to me. Instead, I was lied to about an extension. So frustrating.
I've been with RBC (Aviva) Insurance for 10 years and with RBC for 20 years. They sent me that dreaded letter too at the beginning of December stating that I would have to reapply for my insurance and must pay the year's premium upfront, which left me struggling to get other quotes. I eventually caved and filled out the paperwork, with pen and paper, and mailed in the letter on December 28 (my policy was up for renewal on January 7). Jan 7 was a Monday and the policy expired 12:01 AM that morning with the previous week being the holidays and they were closed! When I got ahold of them that morning, the operator informed me that they had not received the letter. I neglected to send the letter tracked and as soon as I answered that the operator told me that I was out of luck and they would not be renewing my policy. I was paying $1600/year for 2 vehicles with one claim 5 years old. They quoted me almost $7000/year for a new quote after cancelling my policy and everywhere else won't offer a premium under $2700/year. Who does that?? There's got to be something that the government can do to put a leash on this company.
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.
Well, where to start? I got into an accident by running a red light as a cop was pushing me through. The whole intersection was stopped except one lane. All lanes on my side were blocked with two or three cars and the cop came behind me and started to use the pullover sound, so I moved up and the cop was still pushing me, so I moved up again and he was still pushing, so I started panicking a little. I proceeded to throw the intersection. The car came out of nowhere and t-boned me. To make a long story short, my car was a write-off. They paid off what I owed on the car. So it came back as I'm at fault even though the cop pushed me through Aviva and said: don't worry about it as you have a forgive and forget, no problem. At the end of the year this person sent me this paper that I had to fill out and hand it in about a month I think it was. So I filled it out and sent it in, they said I messed up on some number or something on the document and they cancelled my auto insurance. So now I was forced to go to different insurance with a major accident paying out the nose. I'm married and have three kids: 13, 9, 5 and I'm the only income for us. Up 'till that accident I never had a claim with them or any insurance company. I've been driving since 1992, do the math. I need my car to go to work as I'm a construction worker, so I work different places every other week or two and now with this new insurance, I'm at high risk. This government in Ontario, never mind Canada, have to do something with this insurance thieves. It all good when you're with them for years and years and don't get into an accident but as long as you put in a claim, it's bye-bye. Anyway, please stay away from these guys. They don't care about anything. They don't care if you and your kids starve as long as they eat
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Overall I’ve had a great experience with the company... when they still wanted me as their customer. I got forms in December that needed to be filled out and returned within a month, these were in-depth extensive questions and honestly questions they should have all the information on from my application and my driving record. They got misplaced over Christmas and I called a day after the deadline to explain and see what I could do. I got a flat no. Either apply for a new policy or shop around. In a world where we have so many options and customer service is the best way to keep brand loyalty, I honestly feel like they just really didn’t want me as a customer, or wanted me to reapply and pay more. Obviously switching providers.
My son and I have been with RBC / Aviva for several years and we have 3 cars and home insured with them. Our policies are due for renewal, and Aviva sent my son a lengthy insurance application for his auto policy, whereby he has to re-apply to continue to be insured with them. He has a clean record. The other policies have been automatically renewed with no questions asked. We received this application via regular snail mail days before the expiry date, and we had to respond the same way; hardcopy. It was a scam. I called RBC Auto Insurance Customer Services, to ask if we can send a PDF copy via email. I was on hold for an hour. Someone finally answered the phone and provided me with an email address. I contacted them on the due date to inquire about the status of our insurance renewal, only to learn they had rejected the application and cancelled our insurance policy because they did not receive the application on time. RBC Auto Insurance Customer Services advised me that there is nothing that they can do for us. The decision had been made. This is how they take care of their good reliable customers. I am an older man with investments and insurance with RBC. My family and I will be closing all accounts and policies from RBC. Avoid at all costs!
I filled out a form which I called to have them give me all the information for this form they where requesting. Sent the form in. Never heard anything. I got a registered letter that they are cancelling my insurance in my car. They stated I missed one checkbox and they sent a letter to have fixed. They didn't send me another letter but instead a registered letter to cancel. I figured I could call to fix this issue. Nope, nothing they can do. I must reapply as a new customer. Someone how the new quote is higher than my renewal. Worst customer service. So they want to cancel one car. So now I am going to cancel all three cars, the primary home and my three revenue properties. They don’t care what so ever. Ask for supervisor sorry no is there. Ask for escalation. Two to Three weeks for a callback?! STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY.
Like the reviews below, I had a registered letter regarding my auto insurance. With no claims and no tickets, I was frustrated, so I opted to cancel my auto and home insurance. Received a letter stating cancellation, perfect. But they still took money out of my account even after cancellation and worst yet, they took double. Called in and finally was able to speak with a human, said they would refund me but will take 2 weeks. Very ticked off as I am on disability from the police force and need every penny. $471.00 out of my account when I need those funds. Cancel and they still taking funds. That's fraud. DO NOT use Aviva! I would put zero stars if it would let me.
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Similar to a previous review, we were sent out the five-page "application" to renew our auto insurance after being loyal costumers for over 15 years with ZERO claims. This five-page application was difficult to even understand what they were asking. Upon calling Aviva for help, they were very rude and stated the form was "straightforward". They offered little guidance. We also received this form just prior to our policy expiring. We thought they were updating our information for the file only to find out they were cancelling our insurance with four days notice. We rushed our "application" overnight mail to Ontario (which cost $48) to be told it was not received in time and that we did not have insurance as of today. The customer service representative basically told me that they are no longer wanting to service Alberta. They did nothing to help us despite putting us through all this stress and added work to reapply for an existing policy (which we have had for over 15 years). Once we asked to speak to a manager, we were advised it would be put in for a request and it would take 5 days to return our call. We were also advised SHOULD they renew our policy, we would need to pay the entire amount upfront (we have paid monthly for 15 years and never, not once, defaulted on a payment). They have the WORST customer service I have ever experienced. Happy to take my business elsewhere and would advise any to check around before ever using Aviva home and auto insurance.