As I understand it, insurance "agents" are merely salespeople. They sell policies and can shop around for different insurance companies. But, they do not participate in setting rates or in determining whether a policyholder's premium will increase, decrease, or be cancelled based on a claim. I think that some agents like to pretend that they know more than they do to impress their customers. But, all decisions about premium rates are made at the insurance company headquarters. The agent has nothing to do with it and is not consulted or kept in the loop. When I switched from Allstate to State Farm because of a 32 percent increase, my Allstate agent for 27 years said that there was nothing he could do and advised me to make the switch. At least he was honest.
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