As a small business owner, I value the relationships I build not only with my clients, but my business associates as well. Tim Maurer, managing director of commercial property & casualty, obviously doesn't feel the same way.
We had arranged a phone call to discuss my insurance needs and unfortunately, something came up unexpectedly on my schedule & I was not able to call him when we had arranged. I called & emailed him early in the day letting him know something had come up and asked when we could reschedule for. After a few days of not hearing back from him, I again called and left him a VM & emailed him - still nothing. After a week of no response to multiple attempts to reach him, I reached out to a friend of mine that works in his office (different department) - explaining that Tim was MIA and asked if there was anyone else that could help me as I simply wasn't comfortable working with Tim any longer. Within minutes of my email to my pal, Tim was calling me. I was not in my office to take his call however. By the time I got his VM, it was WAY after business hours. His VM to me apologized and he said (and I quote) that he "dropped the ball" in getting back to me. I awoke to an email from him this morning saying he had left me a VM yesterday (which he did) but would be out of the office all day today. I emailed him back explaining that I simply wasn't comfortable working with him at this point and asked if anyone else was available. He responded saying he had made several attempts to contact me....a LIE! In fact, his VM clearly states that he dropped the ball and never got back to me. He "cc'd" my pal on this email and I think was trying to save face.
My pal is a gem......if I were able to work directly with him on my needs, I would give Bensman Associates another try, but because he is unable, I am taking my business elsewhere. In a time when we have choices and when the economy is in such a state, I am shocked & disappointed in Bensman and especially in Tim Maurer. Maybe my business wasn't big enough for him......maybe he has so much business rolling in that he doesn't need new clients/accounts........maybe he has a bridge to sell me too.
I would suggest to anyone that they NOT take their business insurance needs to Bensman Associates or Tim Maurer - not when there are so many other companies out there showing that they value the small business owner. read more