In brief: One star is a generous score for this office, and Ross personally and professionally, who…read moreshould be removed as an agent.
In detail: 23+ year plus state farm client, and a client of Ross for easily 10 years or more. I pay my bill, never file claims and is essentially the perfect insurance client. The only claim I have had in decades was with a recent deer strike in my car this year.
At every stage of the claim, Ross and his office was polite incompetence:
Towing, I had it handled within hours of the event and yet was told if I didn't use their recommended company it would be "much harder". The emphasis was that if I didn't use their recommended service, even though I could (bad tone) use someone else, it would be better for me. They were wrong, and clearly trying to guide me poorly almost with a sense of cronyism to a certain company.
Rental car: I was able to setup a car quickly but found out my rental allowance hadn't been adjusted in over 10 years, even though this office claims to review the policies. Their response? Ooops.. and adjusted the value upwards but did me no good whatsoever as the claim happened before the adjustment. Even though it was their mistake, me having a rental for a couple of days when the car would be down for several months, was MY problem to solve.
Repair: Again, heavy blatant overtones that if I don't use their recommended shop there will be problems. The selected shop is the only manufacturer certified shop in the entire region, and the only choice. Every step along the way, of the claim, the information, the repair quotes was a fight but a fight on my part to handle. If I hadn't escalated to SF leadership, it would have taken longer, been done with subpar used parts, and completed at a subpar shop. Ross and his office was not only no help, but took the tack with me that I should just accept whatever I get and that my policy authorized used parts in repair. Keep in mind, a senior state farm leader was unable to find the quoted price OR availability of the used part that was quoted, and approved the repair with all new parts after that was pointed out. I went through the quoted appraisal line by line with a senior SF leader and we found multiple mistakes and misquotes. Keep in mind that happened because I did the work, the research and phone calls. I spent easily 40+ hours over a month ensuring that my repair was done correctly, not Ross or his office in any way. I cannot stress more clearly, if I hadn't put in the work to ensure my car was repaired properly, it wouldn't have happened and Ross and his office not only didn't make that easier, but they also actively made it harder every step along the way.
Change of coverage: After that claim was closed successfully entirely due to my hard work and time, I sold the car. I had a detailed conversation with Ross directly about coverage of a new car, to ensure that in the event of a similar experience, no issues would arise. The conversation devolved very quickly as according to him, the previous experience was completely fine, acceptable, and only went well due to "his hard work and that of his office". He also then made it clear that a customer with my expectations was not a good fit for State farm, and implied his office, and should look elsewhere.
If your expectations are that your insurance works with you, and your alleged agent is working with you, then Ross is absolutely right, I should look elsewhere and already have. I was able to EASILY setup the right kind of insurance coverage for my car, which he told me is not possible. It was quick, easy, and absolutely possible.
I have filed a formal complaint with State Farm and the WA insurance commissioner, as he and his office deserve to be thoroughly investigated.
State farm has lost a quarter century customer due to Ross Olive personally, and I cannot recommend his office in any way shape or form.
