I've been with Jim Fuentes' agency for about 10 years. I have my auto, home, and an umbrella policy…read morewith State Farm. I've been to his office many times, I've seen him three times, and spoken with him twice. For some years he had a wonderful, knowledgeable, and very helpful lady working for him (Marge, I believe?) whom I dealt with when I needed assistance, but she seems to be gone.
State Farm is a reputable insurance company that has been wonderfully helpful after auto accidents and wind damage to my roof. Because I liked them so well, I made an appointment with Mr. Fuentes to meet with myself and a business owner friend of mine to see if my friend might like to move his insurance to State Farm. Mr. Fuentes did not take the time to sit down with us, but happened to be walking into the office (the second time I saw him, actually). He walked up to us, greeted my friend, ignored me, and said, "Good to see you again." My face was in my palm and, needless to say, my friend did not move his considerable insurance coverage to State Farm.
Recently I had a fender bender and called the office to report it. I got their voicemail at 4:20 on a Wednesday afternoon. I reached a person (not Jim) Thursday morning to proceed with my claim. I called the office again Friday before 4 pm, and the following Monday at 3:23 pm. No answers. No call back on Monday after leaving a message.
Sheer inertia is the only excuse I have for still being with this absentee agent. The company handles the claims itself, and there isn't much for the agents to do, except BE THERE for their customers when they need an agent to help them out, or somebody wants to purchase insurance. At Jim Fuentes' office, a customer can't even reach so much as a staff member on the phone during business hours.
So, I'm sticking with State Farm, but I've left Mr. Fuentes, finally, regretting the money he has made from my accounts without personally making any effort, when another agent who actually cares about his customers should have been profiting by actually doing the work.