My review of NYCM is from not only a prior customer of theirs but also as a long time independent insurance agent that has sold their products. FYI- I AM NOT RELATED TO ANYONE AT NYCM.
I stumbled across the 2 reviews of this company and felt the need to write a "response."
First off--Many insurance companies use agents/brokers to sell their products and DO NOT deal directly with the customer. YES--commissions are paid to the agency/agent for these sales. (Much like when you buy a car at a dealership.) These commissions are payment to the agency to handle all servicing for the customer. This gives you a representative who in essence is working for YOU, on YOUR behalf. These are the people you call when you have a question. The people you call when you have a problem. The people you can call to make a payment. OR imagine this, you can WALK into their office, sit down and have a discussion with them about what you need instead of waiting on hold for the next available representative. If you don't want someone who is licensed and understands insurance to help you, call GEICO or the GENERAL or PROGRESSIVE DIRECT. These companies do have a niche and they may suit your needs better.
NOW--NYCM is a local NY company that writes business in NY only. They are not a huge National company. They have an amazing group of people that work there. Being this company is smaller they are able to listen to their agents---who contact them about their customers---and work with them to find a solution if it is at all possible. HOWEVER, if you are a poor payer, have a bad driving history, have a lot of claims--then of course they are not going to be flexible. NYCM is NOT Progressive or GEICO. They don't accept everyone and they won't take you back if you fail to live up to your end of the insurance contract that you sign. So if you miss that payment and your policy cancels--they are under no obligation to reinstate your policy. AND furthermore, if they get money AFTER your policy cancels, they will keep what is owed to them for the coverage they DID provide. EVERY insurance company has this practice. It only makes sense.
I used NYCM for many years for my auto and renter's coverage. They had great rates. They, like most companies, had a rate change and at that time I shopped my coverage and changed companies. They weren't a BAD company for that--it's just how things work. Insurance companies are businesses after all.
LET'S TALK CLAIMS: When it comes to claims, NYCM is NO DIFFERENT than any other company. If you're driving around a 10 year old car and wreck it, you aren't going to get the same amount as you would if your car was only 5 years old. Cars lose value--plain and simple--and no, you won't pay less for your insurance as your car gets older. There's just no way for this to happen in the real world. So just because you think you could get $5000 for your car based on a blue book evaluation, that doesn't mean the insurance company is going to pay that. That is unrealistic. They have factors and calculations that they use--they use the same ones for every claim--so they are all treated equally. Additionally, EVERY claim you have will impact your insurance in some way. Even deer hits or glass claims. A claim is a claim.
The beauty of the insurance market is there are TONS of options out there. Every company has their own rates. Every company has their own guidelines. Reality is that insurance is something we all have to have for our cars here in NY. COLD HARD FACT--Insurance is NOT NICE.
I have worked in the industry for 20 years and I have never met a single person who has said "I am so happy to be paying for insurance." This includes those that work IN the insurance companies! But, there are many people, including myself, that have had claims and have been glad to have had the coverage there when it was needed. You may not agree with how a company handles something, but guess what, you have many other companies you can use if that is the case. Posting reviews about a company that make them sound as if they are doing something wrong isn't doing anyone any good. NYCM is a reputable company. Your local agents/brokers are knowledgeable people that are there TO HELP YOU with your insurance. We have the schooling and licensing for this reason--so you don't have to know this stuff!! If you have questions about NYCM or any other company, it is the agent/broker that offers their products that can tell you about them--the good and the bad. We work for the customer--not the companies!
Bottom line--NYCM is a good company. Agents/Brokers are good too! read more