[mrdarcy]

HH Insurance in St Pete got us a good policy at a fair price. Ours only went up $250 when we renewed.
CONTACT US
ADDRESS
3443 1st Ave NSt. Petersburg, FL 33713
PHONE
(727) 498-5551
(727) 601-0988
E-MAIL
sales@hhinsgroup.com
csr@hhinsgroup.com

--I am so grateful to those of you who recommended Blanchard Insurance! We've used The Villages Insurance since purchasing our home in 2016. Our car insurance was extremely high for my husband's older pick-up truck with insurance only for the other driver. Joe at Blanchard Insurance worked with us and now we'll be saving nearly $1,000 for the wo policies, and perhaps more when we get our homeowner's renewal. I'm SO glad I followed through and called!
--I worked with Joe Gadoury...407-788-8640. . Wonderful service! Blanchard insurance 999Douglas Ave. Altamonte Springs FL 32714 407-788-8640.

Self Inquiry:= via AMICA:
TRUE Insurance: 833-749-1599

[Velvet]

This was a year ago, I too had to be called back by the Villages agent or person or whoever they assigned to my property insurance. I waited - no call. I call back to remind them I am waiting. A day or two later, I get a call from someone who has taken over my file from someone who used to handle it. Good. I explain that the premium is too high, please help me lower it. They ask me my priorities. I tell them and about how much I’d like to pay in premiums. The agent said she’d look around. Two days later I get a call, same person, she got my premium down (somewhat) with changes but with the same insurance company. They send it to me both email and post. I agree. It is done.

[xkeowner]

If you or almost any family member have ever served in the military you may qualify for USAA insurance (USAA.com, 800-531-8722). I have been with them for 50+ years and they have covered our auto, renters when we were overseas and homeowners insurance needs with a phone call or electronic communication. I do get frustrated with their ID verification process at times but every time I have checked with other companies about changing insurers they ask who I am currently with and when I reply USAA they politely end the call stating they can't beat their rates. Full disclosure , I haven't even tried other insurers for over five years.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I would have gone right to that office and had a face to face “come to Jesus” discussion with her. And I’d bring a box of tissues since she would be in tears by the end of that conversation

No walk ins you have to have an appointment.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

I probably should have waited a day or two before posting my experience, but I just called my "insurance agent" at The Villages Insurance Partners. The phone rang for some time, then auto hold came on. I expected that. I listened to 17 minutes of really irritating music, loud, strange, not your usual background music. Finally after 17 minutes what I thought was a receptionist came one, but no, just a human voice telling me how important they consider my call (yet strangely, nothing about staying on the line or how much longer the wait may be, but adding they are there for me 24/7. Again, strange message ?

I have been with them for years. Never heard from my agent since ! Never an annual call just to say "hello" and ask if I needed to reassess any policies, limits, etc. Have never encountered that with any other broker/agent/company, but thought, welcome to the new world of eliminate as much personal contact as possible. After another 7 minutes a receptionist answered. She asked why I called, said I would like to set up a person to person meeting with my agent, and explained since I've never had contact with him since, I was hoping she could look that up and give me his name. She didn't bother to cover her irritation that I did not have the information, but with a DEEP audible sigh, she said, well do you HAVE your policy number ? I told her I had my policy in hand, gave her the number, agent number (there was no name, only the agent number), address, etc. etc. She asked me to spell my name again. I did, slowly and distinctly. I do not have any speech or hearing impairments, and am used to giving such information slowly and clearly over the phone. Regardless of how many times I repeated it, she continues to confirm back adding a "P" to my name. I was very patient and just repeated, never said anything about how many times I had repeated it. She continued to tell me they have no record of me ( over 10 years their customer now. She continued to check and came back to ask my lot number. I gave it immediately. She checked on that and came back and said she'd found it. So I asked her to make the appointment, she VERY POINTEDLY ask me what I wanted to discuss with my agent ! I kept very calm and light but said, "well, actually there are several things I'm considering and it might get a bit too complicated to give an accurate synopsis on the phone, actually, that's why I called to get a sit down appointment."

This seemed to infuriate her, but I kept calm and friendly. She finally gave me an appointment, but was clearly "putout", perhaps over worked and there was a string of people on the phone "hold" system ? Then the real problem started. She asked for my phone number so they could call me if the agent had to change the appointment, etc. Understandable. But, I had to explain that I had just canceled my land line and was in the process of buying a new cell phone AND changing providers, so explained I was on my adult son's cell phone, but he would not be able to help her if she called him as he could not call me and relay the message. She went absolutely ballistic on me, as the teens say. HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO GET A HOLD OF YOU if we need to, she actually she LOUDLY said into the phone. I said, well unfortunately for a day or two, you'll have to use email. Until I get the new phone activated, I am keeping my laptop on with my email up round the clock (reminded me of the career years...but I digress, LOL !) Another loud deep sigh, purposely not muted, and she said, is ____. gmail. com still your correct email address. I replied that no, I have never had a gmail address, and gave her my correct yahoo address I've probably had for 40 years ! Instead of saying just on civil word of, okay, thank you, "we must have entered it wrong", she very curtly said, "WELL that's what YOU gave us when you first became a customer." I assure you I have NEVER written down my email address on any form and added @gmail.com. But she became really angry then, asked ME if she should change it in their records. I said, "personally I would like to have it correct in the records, but I can't tell you how, or that you must change it." She said if I didn't tell HER what to do, she "was going to hang up" ! ! ! I said, I would like to have the email corrected in the records, NOTHING else, and she, HUNG UP ! I was left stunned. I am a very calm person, undemanding, and always understanding that people who work on the phone day after day do get so short tempered, but not having a phone for a few days, together with not being able to find my correct email, nor address, policy number, etc. just sent her into total explosion and a string of "you" messages, something I learned long ago should be avoided in conversations with clients; NO "YOU" didn't give us the correct information, YOU didn't spell your name correctly, YOU can't give us a phone number, YOU, YOU, YOU.
So now that I've vented on our Villages site, do I feel any better ? Not sure. Right now I am asking for RECOMMENDATIONS for an insurance agency that has offered you some civility, friendly communication, and where you don't feel punished for even being a customer. I'm not the entitled, demanding, type, but I really don't want any more of the attitude there. Who would others recommend ?

You should reach out to someone in authority in that office and find out if they record phone calls. If so, tell them the date and time and let them hear it for themselves.

[villagetinker]

We have used AAA for several years, very pleased.

[MSchad]

I have State Farm on Warm Springs Road. Always friendly and very helpful.

[JRcorvette]

They are a terrible agency and I stopped using them years ago. Go find a privately owned agency like Frank Slaughter Insurance or someone else. Even State Farm if you must.

[dano121]

I had an awful experience there as with about anything with "Villages" in the name. I appreciate all of the suggestions and will definitely try them next time.

[Grinchie]

USAA has been very pleasant to deal with & they have always responded quickly to my questions or reports. I’ve been with them for about ten years, 9.5 in another state. I have always had to call at least once a year - large company, so no assigned agent, different departments: car, homeowners, umbrella, claims, etc but they keep detailed notes re prior calls & were always very pleasant & paid immediately when I totaled my 18 day-old car.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Tried today with State Farm, on Warm Springs Avenue, and the response was that "For a house built in 2019, we can't write you a policy unless you have had a State Farm insurance policy previously anywhere else."

So, no go there. . . and the search continues. . .

[Nevinator]

You have a lot more patience than I. This person needs to find a new line of work ASAP and I would make it my mission to try to make her departure from her current employer a reality.

After hanging up the phone on me, my next stop would have been their office asking to speak to a manager, the broker, or anyone else in authority.

Like others in the forum have suggested, I recommend trying USAA.

[Sandabern]

I rarely give recommendations like this, but our insurance agent (Kim Levesque) is incredible. My neighbor was having problems and asked me for my agent. He loves her, too now. I have no connection with Kim (she's not a family, friend, business partner or anything like that) other than she's the best insurance agent I've ever had and I've gone through about 6-7 the last 35 years or so.

Kim covers both personal and commercial for us. She's independent (not tied to any company) and very smart. I've referred her to three other people and they've all told me what a great job she does. I couldn't agree more.

Kim Levesque
We Insure Group
813-489-4733
407-312-6996
877-677-4063 x7400

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

I probably should have waited a day or two before posting my experience, but I just called my "insurance agent" at The Villages Insurance Partners. The phone rang for some time, then auto hold came on. I expected that. I listened to 17 minutes of really irritating music, loud, strange, not your usual background music. Finally after 17 minutes what I thought was a receptionist came one, but no, just a human voice telling me how important they consider my call (yet strangely, nothing about staying on the line or how much longer the wait may be, but adding they are there for me 24/7. Again, strange message ?

I have been with them for years. Never heard from my agent since ! Never an annual call just to say "hello" and ask if I needed to reassess any policies, limits, etc. Have never encountered that with any other broker/agent/company, but thought, welcome to the new world of eliminate as much personal contact as possible. After another 7 minutes a receptionist answered. She asked why I called, said I would like to set up a person to person meeting with my agent, and explained since I've never had contact with him since, I was hoping she could look that up and give me his name. She didn't bother to cover her irritation that I did not have the information, but with a DEEP audible sigh, she said, well do you HAVE your policy number ? I told her I had my policy in hand, gave her the number, agent number (there was no name, only the agent number), address, etc. etc. She asked me to spell my name again. I did, slowly and distinctly. I do not have any speech or hearing impairments, and am used to giving such information slowly and clearly over the phone. Regardless of how many times I repeated it, she continues to confirm back adding a "P" to my name. I was very patient and just repeated, never said anything about how many times I had repeated it. She continued to tell me they have no record of me ( over 10 years their customer now. She continued to check and came back to ask my lot number. I gave it immediately. She checked on that and came back and said she'd found it. So I asked her to make the appointment, she VERY POINTEDLY ask me what I wanted to discuss with my agent ! I kept very calm and light but said, "well, actually there are several things I'm considering and it might get a bit too complicated to give an accurate synopsis on the phone, actually, that's why I called to get a sit down appointment."

This seemed to infuriate her, but I kept calm and friendly. She finally gave me an appointment, but was clearly "putout", perhaps over worked and there was a string of people on the phone "hold" system ? Then the real problem started. She asked for my phone number so they could call me if the agent had to change the appointment, etc. Understandable. But, I had to explain that I had just canceled my land line and was in the process of buying a new cell phone AND changing providers, so explained I was on my adult son's cell phone, but he would not be able to help her if she called him as he could not call me and relay the message. She went absolutely ballistic on me, as the teens say. HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO GET A HOLD OF YOU if we need to, she actually she LOUDLY said into the phone. I said, well unfortunately for a day or two, you'll have to use email. Until I get the new phone activated, I am keeping my laptop on with my email up round the clock (reminded me of the career years...but I digress, LOL !) Another loud deep sigh, purposely not muted, and she said, is ____. gmail. com still your correct email address. I replied that no, I have never had a gmail address, and gave her my correct yahoo address I've probably had for 40 years ! Instead of saying just on civil word of, okay, thank you, "we must have entered it wrong", she very curtly said, "WELL that's what YOU gave us when you first became a customer." I assure you I have NEVER written down my email address on any form and added @gmail.com. But she became really angry then, asked ME if she should change it in their records. I said, "personally I would like to have it correct in the records, but I can't tell you how, or that you must change it." She said if I didn't tell HER what to do, she "was going to hang up" ! ! ! I said, I would like to have the email corrected in the records, NOTHING else, and she, HUNG UP ! I was left stunned. I am a very calm person, undemanding, and always understanding that people who work on the phone day after day do get so short tempered, but not having a phone for a few days, together with not being able to find my correct email, nor address, policy number, etc. just sent her into total explosion and a string of "you" messages, something I learned long ago should be avoided in conversations with clients; NO "YOU" didn't give us the correct information, YOU didn't spell your name correctly, YOU can't give us a phone number, YOU, YOU, YOU.
So now that I've vented on our Villages site, do I feel any better ? Not sure. Right now I am asking for RECOMMENDATIONS for an insurance agency that has offered you some civility, friendly communication, and where you don't feel punished for even being a customer. I'm not the entitled, demanding, type, but I really don't want any more of the attitude there. Who would others recommend ?

[arbajeda]

You will get poor service as long as you will put up with it. When Progressive cancelled our homeowner's insurance our Villages Insurance agent offered two recent startups that only sold in Florida. Instead I called State Farm (Kelly Matz, 4386 Warm Springs Ave, 352-661-3456) and worked with Wylene Parkman. I ended up also cancelling our auto policy and "bundled home and auto" and saved quite a lot over what I had been paying in the process.

Sadly, your experience isn't the first I have heard of, and not just The Villages Insurance. Their bank also has rude "customer service representatives."

[Sabella]

Don’t understand why anybody still does business with the villages insurance. It has been my experience that when you go there they tell you what unknown Insurance company you can get your insurance with., You have no choice. You used to be able to walk in there - talk to any agent if you had questions or needed information. Now I guess the insurance agents that work for the villages have been elevated to queen status. You don’t need a middleman handling your insurance -try going to a company that you can deal with direct you’ll be a lot happier.