When I first took my business to Ideal, I had great service. Calls were returned in a timely…read moremanner, I could ask for policy reviews, all my questions were addressed and so, in short, I felt like valued customer. At the present time, I have given them my business for one home, one condo, three autos, an umbrella coverage and flood insurance (in other words, a good bit of business!). Over the past couple of years, service has been less than "ideal" -- almost dismal, with e-mails going unanswered for days at a time (sometimes weeks) until I have to "remind" the agent that I had sent one days earlier or pick up the phone. My agent seems mostly e-mail-averse (which is not helpful as I prefer to get answers to important questions IN WRITING) so I find myself feeling I have to practically beg for "yes or no" answers to questions that, in fairness may require a more detailed response. I knew I had finally had enough when I sent an e-mail regarding an issue with the carrier for one of my policies. I had paid the policy renewal more than six weeks PRIOR to the renewal date, on-line (through the carrier's website), but when I went back to the website just one day after my renewal period in order to download my renewal documents, the carrier's site said the policy had not been renewed. I knew this was not accurate, but just to be sure, I double checked my payment on my credit card (it HAD gone through) and so I reached out to my agent at Ideal Insurance because clearly there was a problem that required their intervention. I will add that I already knew that this particular carrier (Federated National) is NOTORIOUSLY SLOW at updating payment information and providing renewal documents but we're talking OVER SIX WEEKS here! I was not able to speak directly to my agent, so one of the other staff (also an agent) responded to my request that they please look into this "snafu" and confirm my payment and tell me how I could access my updated/renewal documents. This woman (who shall remain nameless for her benefit) is ALWAYS rude and dismissive. Why she is still with the agency is a mystery to me, as she is very UN-professional. When I explained my concern, she blew me off as usual by saying simply that she could not see anything amiss on her end (i.e., on her computer), but when I asked how I might then get updated documents, given that my only access to them is through the Federated National on-line site that tells me my policy was not renewed, she heaved a big sigh and said, "Ugh, I'll see what I can do and get back to you." (which was fair enough, though far from "welcoming"). The next thing I know, I have an e-mail that says ONLY this (and the following is the entire e-mail, a "cut and paste"), "The policy is active, like I said it before." Yep, that's all she could do for me. So basically, NO help at all. I then wrote (again) to my agent (a very NICE guy) and after the salutation said, "Just curious as to whether you are still with Ideal?" (because he had not answered the e-mail I had sent over a week previously). I did (surprisingly) get a prompt reply to my e-mail but only to say (and this is another complete "cut and paste"), "Thankful to say I am still here, very busy, with a reduced staff today. Can we talk on Monday [please]". That was LAST Friday. It's now Thursday afternoon of the following week. There was no follow-up on Monday, no phone message, no e-mail and nothing since. I don't honestly expect to hear anything more as this has happened before (sadly) and seems to be the "new normal" at this company. I therefore have decided I will be taking my business elsewhere and would recommend that if you are reading this, you do the same.
