Progessive Insurance Customer Service sucks

[Momz]

Damselfly was riding her GoldWing to M/C Instructor class this morning when all of a sudden she was sprayed with hot coolant and it overheated at 6:30 AM on I-696. Luckily her instructer saw her and took her to class.

I drove to where the bike was and called Progressive Roadside Service; was on hold for about 45 minutues before a customer service rep answered the phone. I clearly gave her the location and description of the bike. She said that a tow truck would arrive within 2 -2 1/2 hours. When he showed up he said that he was not insured to tow motorcycles and left. I got back on the phone and called again; they said they would have a tow truck out within one to two hours.  When the truck finally showed up he said that he could only tow it to the nearest dealer. That was "Detroit HD" and asked what model HD it was,......I screamed "I'TS A HONDA GOLDWING"! He said that he was only supposed to tow HDs. I gave up on Progressive Roadside Service.

I called AAA Gold Service and the driver arrived within another hour, but he didn't feel comfortable towing a motorcycle, so I had to do most of the work loading the bike as he grumbled about not liking towing bikes. and as soon as it was secure he hopped in his truck and took off.

Well wouldn't you know it my pickup truck wouldn't start because I had the 4-way flashers on for hours now. Called AAA again and they sent out a service van within 45 minutes and jump started my truck.

I raced all the way to the service shop in Bellville MI (36 miles) as the bike was unloaded. The shop normally closes at noon but they know Pam needs it to complete her MSF Instructer Certification next weekend stayed open and diagnosed the problem to a faulty temp sensor and thus the thermostat was also to be replaced (after all 162K and 28 years old). It will be ready midweek.

What a way to spend a Saturday!

[Momz]

Forgot to mention she got a ride home on the back of the bike of her dreams.  Another instuctor candidate had his Yamaha Stratliner Silverado. She liked it much better than her instructers HD police bike.

[Jim]

I have foremost out of Grand Rapids, and have use them twice with great results. Just got my bill for the year and it's only 139.00. With  1 service call last year I think that's a pretty good deal.

[R J]

Progressive, if you are the policy holder does suck 99% of the time on a claim or service.

Progressive, if you are the poor party hit by one of their policy holders, look out, they will bend over backwards and kiss you where the sun no shine.

Been there done that.

[PAVALKER]

For me Progressive Insurance Customer Service is great... I can get to talk to a real person most all the time and they take care of most of my needs.  That being said, their Roadside Assistance does suck however. I had a late nite rear tire blow out and they could not get someone to me til the next mid morning .  Phone service sucked in the area I was in as well.  Fortunately I borrowed a portable phone from the bar owner of the stone parking lot I pulled over in.  I also called HRCA and they could not get anyone out to assist me at that time either (10pm Friday night).    It was a long night and I was on my way back to the bike with my truck and trailer first light when I got a call from a tow service asking if my bike had all that fiberglass on it.  I laughed and said not too much but based on your question I wouldn't let you touch it now anyhow.  In the daylight I fixed the flat temporarily and rode it home while a friend followed in the truck/trailer. 

I have seen better response from AAA providers and that is what I have now.... AAA Plus RV so all my vehicles are covered, my bike and the trailer I pull behind it are covered or if I am in my truck with a bike in the trailer behind the truck they are covered as well.     I have yet to test the response time of the AAA providers tho..... and hopefully won't need to.

[R J]

Most of the time in an area, it is the same tow service provider for all of the policies you can have.

They are all under the same contract service.

Maybe no so with AAA.   I know way back when you had to have an exclusive contract with them.

[alph]

this will be my third year with progressive, that is if i renew.  the first year they gave me a good price, then it went up $40, i'm waiting to see what happens this year.  if it goes up again, i'd be better off going with the same people that do our house and other vehicles.

[MP]

I have Progressive.  Price went DOWN this year.

I used their tow last summer with my sidecar rig.  Excellent.

ALL the cos. use the same tow companies.  They do NOT have their own rigs.  So, if you had had any other insurance, probably the same truck would have showed up, and turned you down just the same.

MP

[sheets]

Progressive; its been a few years since I've needed the roadside assistance. What I found/learned at the time, the call center is out of state someplace far far away. They use a mapping program to try and figure out where you are. Then they call around in search of a tow who is willing to respond. The roll-off rig eventually showed up, but the driver didn't know how to rig a MC. I carry four soft-tie straps. If I didn't have them we would have gone nowhere. I tied down my own rig. He drove the truck. It was on a Sunday afternoon, miles from nowhere. I convinced the Progressive call center person to allow the driver to deliver me to a friends house some fifty miles distant rather than dropping me at the nearest Honda dealer over a hundred miles away... who would have been closed by the time we got there. And closed Monday. And me still a hundred miles from home. It all worked out. Carry your own soft-tie straps. Yrmv,

[Trynt]

Never used their roadside service, but I have had both a motorcycle and auto claim and their service was excellent.  As usual, it comes down to personnel.

[Chrisj CMA]

I have had Progressive on my Valkyrie for 5 years now.  Price keeps going down.  Havent used the roadside assistance for a few years now (so things may have changed) but the two times I needed to call them for a flat tire the truck they sent was a cleen medium flat-bed and an operator that knew bikes.  Yes, they were supposed to take me to the nearest dealer, but......I didnt have to tell them HONDA dealer, he figured that one out on his own....I have nothing but good things to say about my experiences with Progressive customer service and roadside assistance

[Gunslinger]

AAA with the + and RV addition will cover 100miles of towing, and they don't require that it be dropped at a dealer.

I have had some really good and really bad experiences with tow truck drivers, but the AAA customer service has always been good.

[The Breeze]

That was "Detroit HD" and asked what model HD it was,......I screamed "I'TS A HONDA GODWING"! He said that he was only supposed to tow HDs. I gave up on Progressive Roadside Service.

GODWING??   ???


Can you say...... KARMA

[Fudd]

My issue with Progressive is with its chairman, Peter Lewis.  I don't care for his politics.  Google up his story sometimes for some interesting reading.