Progressive Insurance class action suit

[Cliffy777]

Anybody else out there insured by Progressive? Did you get the notice of the Class Action suit?
I am not sure how to respond to it. Coincidently, I just re-read King of Torts by John Grisham. My ill feelings about class action was confirmed on the website when I read that the law firm representing the suit has agreed not to collect fees in an amount "over 4.5 million". Hah! The people who were affected by the wrong actions of Progressive MIGHT get a free credit report and a rate reduction and maybe some damages (right, after the lawyers collect their 4.5).
My gut says to not register as a claimant. Any opinions????

[Dawgmiester]

I also had gotten that same letter in the mail. I must say I am a bit nervous to fill in the information and send it in. My thoughts were to toss it away. What are you going to do with yours.
:dunno

[username]

if youre a happy progressive customer, fight back. write a letter to these attorneys and tell them to suck someone else's blood. copy progressive on it. state that youre happy.

note that the above comments are in light of the fact that i have no idea what progressive is accused of, etc. i do know that they have enough customers out there that you could fill a book with people who got good service and people who are pissed. thats the nature of large datasets, IMHO.

[JetDoc]

The only ones making money from class action suits are the lawyers (on both sides!) Even if the complainants loose the suit, the defendant is damaged by having to deal with the time and expense of defending themselves. The only thing we get is higher rates to pay for it all.

Shakespere was right... "First thing, let's kill all the lawyers!"

[Usedtopilot]

I just purchased my insurance from Progressive last week and don't know if I will be a happy customer or not... time will tell. What are the details of the lawsuit?

[knary]

FWIW, Progressive was very nice to me over the past few years. They paid out far more than I ever paid in premiums. Of course when they decided to raise my rates to recoup some of their losses, I went shopping and found other insurance.:brow

[JetDoc]

Originally posted by flash412
Snip> And then lawyers wonder why people think they should be used for experiments instead of lab rats.

Because no matter how hard you try, there's some things that rats just won't do...:boldpurpl :boldpurpl :boldpurpl

[Cliffy777]

This kind of class action suit sucks canal water. I like the idea of telling the lawyers to $%^& off and sending a copy to Progressive. My brother and his wife had two claims on two different motorcycles within about 6 months with them. One vandalism (some pukes knocked his Kaw Concours down in a parking lot) and a total (she was cut off in traffic, thank God she wears boots, gloves, jacket, helmet).
Progressive paid both claims quickly and in a fair manner.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Why won't sharks eat a lawyer?? Professional courtesy!:evil

[jgr451]

Hmmm...something doesn't sound right here.David takes on Goliath and wins,gets paid only if he wins .Many others who were being systematically gouged and ripped off,get recognition,acknowledgement and a stop to the ripoff procedures,and yes,maybe 87 cents for doing nothing but returning a letter(prepaid;or maybe it cost a stamp);and David is the bad guy???

The insurance companies(Goliath in this example) have obviously done a masterful job of turning the truth on its head.

Sure kill all the lawyers.Then call an insurance company executive at home at midnight to ask what you should do about this inconvenient arrest for suspicion of DUI or parking tickets or...

Did you hear about the Western Union class action?Seems they were gouging their millions of customers on foreign exchange,a dollar here,a dollar there...they settled up and yes,the lawyers who pursued them got paid...course WU puts it out that though they "voluntarily" coughed up millions,they did nothing wrong...another fine example of good PR,winning over the minds of intelligent people who should know better.

Then there was the class action about silicone implants,another invention by some lawyers to get rich.Never mind who they took on and beat and how many women benefitted....

Yep ,it's the lawyers...or is it the Zionist bankers?Or the Right Wing?

[Braddog]

And yet no letter in the mail regarding a class action suit.

I've got no issues, should I be concerned?

[jgr451]

I don't know anything about a difficulty with progressive.
I have progressive shocks and fork springs though!

:)

[JetDoc]

Originally posted by jgr451
Hmmm...something doesn't sound right here.David takes on Goliath and wins,gets paid only if he wins .Many others who were being systematically gouged and ripped off,get recognition,acknowledgement and a stop to the ripoff procedures,and yes,maybe 87 cents for doing nothing but returning a letter(prepaid;or maybe it cost a stamp);and David is the bad guy???



It's true... David is not the bad guy, and should be compensated for his loss, but why should the law firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe make millions of dollars on the deal, when David walks away with pennies? Who really gets ripped off in this scenario? The rate payers whose insurance rates go up to pay the ridiculous fees and awards generated by the lawyers.

[jgr451]

Jetdoc,it seems that you and a lot of folk fail to comprehend that the bad guys have been caught with their fingers in the cookie jar.They have been exposed to the satisfaction of a judge,as participants in massive schemes to rip off you,the nameless,faceless,but existant public.The poor insurance companies who get caught so,then have the effrontery to pass off their deceit as a ripoff by lawyers;THAT is the wonder of PR,the power to influence the minds of good,right thinking people,who did not know they were being ripped off;and so,you blame the lawyer who is simply saying look,the emperor's new clothes are a deceit!How much did the insurance companies pay adverising agencies last year?Why was that exactly?


What do you not understand about that?It is NOT the lawyers who cause these prices to rise;it is the insurance companies etc,who have been forced to disgorge their illicit profits.They will have you,meaning us,one way or another.

Do you really think that corporate America occupies the high moral ground?Please go back to the 70's and read Unsafe at Any Speed.That is where Ralph Nader came in.

Ripley's Believe It or Not.You have heard of Enron?

[jgr451]

And BTW David in the scenario I described is not you,or me,or the millions of humans called consumers who are bilked daily of their pennies,which add up to the billions in illicit profits.

David is the lawyer/law firm which risks financial ruin to right a wrong.He is your neighbour.He is not some corporate fat cat with a golden spoon in his mouth.He believes that his skill,knowledge , éxpertise and experience can be employed to make the world a bit more fair for the small guy who thinks "Ït's not fair,but there is nothing I can do about it."

These people risk their and their families' financial lives to correct an imbalance,and yes,the reward should be commensurate with the risk.These settlements are approved by judges,mostly federally appointed for life,not elected.Do you so mistrust your judges that it is so easy to sneer at and demean lawyers?

[Cliffy777]

Maybe the problem isn't strictly the lawyers. I'm pissed off because the people getting burned are not going to realize any benefit.
You asked if we had heard of Enron.
Have you read of the millions that law firms took home in the tobbacco suits? Any smokers you know get compensated in any way? The states took home millions that was earmarked for one thing and spent in other areas (I live in one).
The Class Action system is a joke. Granted, it can be expensive to mount a lawsuit - but the more "victims" who sign up, then the more the law firm makes. Getting a free credit report is something I am offered 7 days a week by 10 different internet site. To think that I will have a credit on my insurance bill and NOT see a corresponding rate increase to pay for the attorney bills seems to me to be pretty short sighted.
Generally speaking lawyers make money off misfortune. I just got divorced 4.5 years ago. I basically walked away from a home full of furniture, etc. Why? Cuz I wasn't willing to spend thousands of dollars to a lawyer in an attempt to "win" some furniture that would cost about the same - provided I could prevail over the lawyers my ex-wife might have employed.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by JetDoc

Shakespere was right... "First thing, let's kill all the lawyers!"

Maybe next time you get divorced, a plumber can get you visitation with your kids. How about when someone turns left in front of you and knocks you off your bike, you get the local butcher to represent you. When you're trying to buy that piece of property down the road and you need some help with managing the county's zoning laws, maybe you can get a guy out of McDonald's to help you figure out how to get it done.

Maybe the company you work for should start negotiating their own contracts and interpreting the tax, sexual harrassment and employment laws. Either that or they could hire a librarian to do it.

Lawyers play important roles in your life in ways you may not immediately see.

[JetDoc]

Originally posted by KBasa
Maybe next time you get divorced, a plumber can get you visitation with your kids.

I've been divorced twice... Got the short end of a very dirty stick both times. Maybe I would have been better off with a plumber. At least they perform a useful service and don't charge you $200 per hour just to talk with you.

[Cliffy777]

The reason I am insured with Progressive in the first place is because their rates were the best. Plus, as I mentioned, I know of two claims that were paid fairly and quickly.
If Progressive was somehow "overcharging me" in some illegal manner, then I don't know how they managed to beat everyone's price. This is a free country - if I don't like the rate I am paying somewhere, then I can just shop around for another insurance carrier. If Progressive managed to "overcharge" me AND still had the best rate (with good coverage), then what the &^%$ do I care cuz their price beat everyone elses? How can they "gouge" me with the best rate? One of my Harley riding friends saved over $200 a year by switching to Progressive. Someone should sue on his behalf??? Poor Kevin - he thought he was getting a great deal until he found out from the law firm in New York that he wasn't. He can get a free credit report and MAYBE a credit on his premium plus his close friends in Merrick, NY will make 4.5 million.
ps - I do recognize that lawyers perform needed work Kbasa. My point is that this kind of lawsuit is probably going to result in higher rates from a company that, at least in Michigan, has damn good rates NOW. 4.5 million paid out to a law firm is going to be reflected in the premiums.
If Progressive did something illegal, then it is a matter for the criminal justice system, not the highly lucritive tort machine.

[Rhino]

knary - Lawyers play important roles in your life in ways you may not immediately see.

Oh yeah, they sure do. I work at a Municipal Court. I watch as each lawyer arranges plea bargains for misdemeanors all day and rakes in the cash from their clients. Not to mention the guy with 7 DUI's plead out to 2 with a fine only. Got a conscience? They surely take care of their own.

Please, put the fiddle away. The clerks do all the work, all the lawyer does is show up.

[jgr451]

Actually Rhino you are quoting Kbasa,not Knary.

I would be interested to know what you do in municipal court that causes you to be so cynical?
I have been a lawyer for over 20 years and while this may sound naive,I am not as cynical as you seem to be.
I too have been divorced twice and have sustained losses;but why would I blame the lawyers or the "system"? If we don't like the system,we can change it.This may be the worst system of justice in the world;except for all the rest....

" All the lawyer has to do is show up".Yeah right.Well in my opinion,success is based 99% on showing up. If you don't show up,you are counted as out.


Rants off.

[Rhino]

Your right, wrong person sorry about that.

What is that phrase? Dangle a hook and you'll catch a fish?

Are you a prosecutor or Defense attorney?

I am sorry for sounding cynical. I was a bit off the thread and like you, managed to use it to vent about a recent incident.

Sorry if I offended anyone.

Rhino

[Cliffy777]

"if youre a happy progressive customer, fight back. write a letter to these attorneys and tell them to suck someone else's blood. copy progressive on it. state that youre happy."
Thus wrote the wise old (young?) sage Username
Since his logic seemed sound I wrote:

Progressive Fair Credit Reporting Act Settlement
The Garden City Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 9000 #6242
Merrick, NY 11566-9000

RE: Class Action Suit against Progressive

Dear Garden City Group,

There is no way that I want to be included in your charade. I notice on your website that your law firm is going to cap your fees at 4,500,000.00. How nice of you. You people are another fine example of what is wrong in America these days. There will be two things which will come from your lawsuit:
1. Your firm will make a hell of a lot of money.
2. The insurance rates for those of us insured by Progressive will go up in order to pay for your lawsuit on behalf of those of us insured by Progressive.

Even though I am really tempted by your swell offer of a free credit report and maybe some refund, I will pass on this opportunity to line your pockets.

Is it any wonder that people think of lawyers as something you might want to scrape off the bottom of your boots? Why don’t you find something good to do with your time?

Cliff Yankovich
Progressive Policyholder #38063156-2
address here

Cc: Progressive Michigan Insurance Company
P.O. Box 94625
Cleveland, OH 44101-4625

[kbasa]

Originally posted by Rhino6207
Your right, wrong person sorry about that.

What is that phrase? Dangle a hook and you'll catch a fish?

Are you a prosecutor or Defense attorney?

I am sorry for sounding cynical. I was a bit off the thread and like you, managed to use it to vent about a recent incident.

Sorry if I offended anyone.

Rhino

I've worked at civil law firms for nearly 25 years. Those firms represented both sides of the equation; plaintiff or defendant.

Have a great night!

[jgr451]

I certainly took no offense Rhino;everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and to state it out loud.

Thanks in part to those do gooder liberal (add your own expletive) lawyers like Alan Dershowitz, and any number of others,who defend civil liberties,often for free.


:beer

[jgr451]

Originally posted by flash412
You got that right. Congress is infested with lawyers. Congress votes on social security. Congress neither pays into nor draws social security. Serve ONE TERM in congress and you'll draw that salary for the rest of your life at retirement.

The only way to fix social security is to have the lawyers that are congress start paying in and drawing it, rather than sucking the taxpayers dry.

Sure. Like THAT would ever happen.

You may not immediately see how screwed you will be at retirement because of the lawyers that are congress. But KBasa is right, you sure will eventually. If you're eating dog food after retirement, thank a lawyer. (He'll be the one spending your tax dollars on roast beef at the club that won't even let you in the door.)

Yawn.Flash put the word Black or Jew or woman wherever you just put lawyer and listen to how you sound.You may very well have a problem.But it may not be the one you think it is.

[flash412]

Originally posted by jgr451 Yawn.Flash put the word Black or Jew or woman wherever you just put lawyer and listen to how you sound.You may very well have a problem.But it may not be the one you think it is. Really!? I was unware that Jewish black women were that well represented in the US Congress. I am SHOCKED! I thought the place was run primarily by rich, old, white, male lawyers. Is there a website that supports the demographic information presented by jgr451?

The real problem is with who is in congress and how they go about "representing" their constituency. With a few notable exceptions, the REAL Golden Rule has always been, "Those with the gold make the rules."

[kbasa]

If you're eating dog food after retirement, you did a lousy job getting ready for it.

Even you can't blame a lawyer for that.

[edge51]

err...... in the midst of all the lawyer bashing and defending has anyone got any info on what this suit was about ?

[username]

Originally posted by edge51
err...... in the midst of all the lawyer bashing and defending has anyone got any info on what this suit was about ?

hmmm, let me see if i can put it together for you...

some lawyers retired. they realized they had no money, and they had to eat dog food. then they realized they were actually retired senators, and were quite well off. they brushed their teeth to remove the dog food breath, and decided it would be a good idea to sue progressive insurance. why progressive? because the only thing americans hate more than lawyers, elected officials, taking responsibilty for their own actions, and critical thought is insurance companies. insurance companies, very skilled at settling issues far below market value are negotiating to provide a free credit report (something we get anyway) and a check for some money, so we can buy dog food when we retire.

personally, i'm hoping it's enough for the moist kind. i know the dry stuff is better for my teeth, but over mashed potatoes, the wet stuff tastes like the meat loaf they had at my grandma's nursing home and brings back fond memories of my youth.

i hope this clears it up for you.

[Visian]

Originally posted by flash412
But if Fidelity (the largest single holder of Americans' retirement funds) goes tango-uniform, I am screwed, along with millions of others.

Diversify. It works for insurance companies, too (especially if you have an issue with performance driving awards :burnout).

... I'll get three hots and a cot and free medical for the duration.


Now there's a retirement plan. :)

Guess I am in the middle on this. *Serious* tort reform is needed. And so are lawyers.

Ian

[username]

could you roll some of your 401k out of the employer plan and into an IRA? i have no idea if you can do this while still working there, but i know that if you change jobs that's an option.

[Cliffy777]

Originally posted by edge51
err...... in the midst of all the lawyer bashing and defending has anyone got any info on what this suit was about ?

The way I understand it the suit is because Progressive used credit bureau information in a wrongful manner and therefore Progrssive customers are entitled to a "credit" and a free copy of their credit report. While the free copy of the credit report is locked in the "credit" may or may not happen because the lawyers get their fee first.
Which gets me back to my point. I picked Progressive because they had the best rates in Michigan. If they "overcharged" me I was not aware of it. If they want to "overcharge" me and still have the best rates, then more power to them. I sure am glad some law firm figured out a way to make 4.5 million - I will sleep better now.

[kbasa]

You can easily move your 401K to an IRA with another company. You can't recieve a check from Fidelity, however, the funds need to be transferred directly from Fidelity to the new account. You won't pay a tax penalty on the transfer.

I've done this a couple times as I've left companies and moved my cash out of their 401K.

Of course, you could consult with a tax attorney. :D

[Kaltzg]

Hey Folks:
I haven't recieved any e-mails about a class action suit against Progressive, but I would like to comment about the company. I have all of my motorcycles insured through Progressive. Granted, I have not had the misfortune to make a claim, so I can't comment on how that might go. I live in Florida, and as you know we have been smacked with two hurricanes in as many weeks. Just hours before each hurricane I have received an e-mail from Progressive providing me with all the information that I might need in the event that I did suffer some loss. Needless to say I was shocked that an insurrance company would be so on top of things, and obviously willing to take care of me. Class action suit? Why would I even consider it?

Gail

[JetDoc]

Originally posted by flash412
You got that right. Congress is infested with lawyers. Congress votes on social security. Congress neither pays into nor draws social security. Serve ONE TERM in congress and you'll draw that salary for the rest of your life at retirement.

The only way to fix social security is to have the lawyers that are congress start paying in and drawing it, rather than sucking the taxpayers dry.

Sure. Like THAT would ever happen.

You may not immediately see how screwed you will be at retirement because of the lawyers that are congress. But KBasa is right, you sure will eventually. If you're eating dog food after retirement, thank a lawyer. (He'll be the one spending your tax dollars on roast beef at the club that won't even let you in the door.)

Another rant from Flash based on inflamitory and untrue information.

This from Snopes.com urban legends reference pages:

"It is not true that Congressmen do not pay into the Social Security fund. They pay into the fund just as most everyone else does. (A few odd exceptions to the Social Security program still exist, both inside and outside of government.) "

"It was true prior to 1984 that Congressmen did not pay into the Social Security fund because they participated in a separate program for civil servants (the Civil Service Retirement System, or CSRS), but that program was closed to government employees hired after 1983:"

"In 1983, Public Law 98-21 required Social Security coverage for federal civilian employees first hired after 1983 and closed the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to new federal employees and Members of Congress. All incumbent Members of Congress were required to be covered by Social Security, regardless of when they entered Congress. Members who had participated in CSRS before 1984 could elect to stay in that plan in addition to being covered by Social Security or elect coverage under an 'offset plan' that integrates CSRS and Social Security. Under the CSRS Offset Plan, an individual's contributions to CSRS and their pension benefits from that plan are reduced ('offset') by the amount of their contributions to, and benefits from, Social Security."

"It is not true that Congressmen "continue to draw their same pay, until they die." The size of their pensions is determined by a number of factors (primarily length of service, but also factors such as when they joined Congress, their age at retirement, their salary, and the pension options they chose when they enrolled in the retirement system) and by law cannot exceed 80% of their salary at the time of their retirement."

"The figures given as an example for Senator Bradley (or Senator Byrd, or Congressman White, depending upon which version one reads) — $7,900,000 over the course of his and his wife's lifetime, culminating in a top payout of $275,000 — are simply outrageous amounts with no basis in reality. There is no conceivable way Senator Bradley (or any other Congressman) could draw anywhere near that amount of money though the Congressional pension plan."

"It is not true that Congressmen "paid nothing in on any kind of retirement," and that their pension money "comes right out of the General Fund." Whether members of Congress participate in the older Civil Service Retirement System or the newer Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), their pensions are funded through a combination of general tax provisions and contributions from the participants. Right now, members of Congress in the FERS plan must pay 1.3% of their salary to FERS and 6.2% in Social Security taxes."

"As of 1998, the average annuity for retired members of Congress was $50,616 for those who retired under CSRS and $46,908 for those who retired under FERS. Not bad, but not the highway robbery this piece makes it out to be.":brow :brow

[jgr451]

Originally posted by username
hmmm, let me see if i can put it together for you...

some lawyers retired. they realized they had no money, and they had to eat dog food. then they realized they were actually retired senators, and were quite well off. they brushed their teeth to remove the dog food breath, and decided it would be a good idea to sue progressive insurance. why progressive? because the only thing americans hate more than lawyers, elected officials, taking responsibilty for their own actions, and critical thought is insurance companies. insurance companies, very skilled at settling issues far below market value are negotiating to provide a free credit report (something we get anyway) and a check for some money, so we can buy dog food when we retire.

personally, i'm hoping it's enough for the moist kind. i know the dry stuff is better for my teeth, but over mashed potatoes, the wet stuff tastes like the meat loaf they had at my grandma's nursing home and brings back fond memories of my youth.

I'm with you , username.
Come on,let's go get a beer with Gambrinus.

i hope this clears it up for you.

[lorazepam]

The "justice" system we have in this country used to be the best in the world. It has been so perverted over the years, that one is now at the mercy of lawyers, who are the ones that have perverted the system to their benefit.

A company I worked for some time back was named in a lawsuit simply because we supplied a part to someone else that worked properly. The homeowner who royally screwed up, and then sued for damages had a really great team of lawyers who did a lot of research, and charged the hell out of someone, just so we could get a lawyer who charged the hell out of us to get our company removed from the suit.

I have the feeling that the lawyers from both sided kicked back on some really nice island and toasted everyone that made it possible for them to be there.

The last time I was in an accident, I recieved letters from 4 lawyers wanting to represent me, even before I was able to get a copy of the police report. It was a fender bender that had no real damage, and absolutely no injuries. Seems to me that they are looking make a bundle over a minor accident, if I am willing to play ball with them. I bet they even have buddies that are chiropractors or doctors that will testify that my neck has problems that are worth a really hefty settlement.

do I like lawyers? No. Do I think we need them? Probably about 10 percent of the actual number out there. Do we need tort reform? Absolutely.

I think the absolute max a lawyer should get is 10 percent of the take in a lawsuit. and if someone is suing for pain and surffering, it should be based on a percentage of what that person has for life insurance. If you have 50 k in life insurance, that is what your life is worth. if you are injured and not killed, you shouold recieve a percentage of what you think your life is worth.

[DarrylRi]

Originally posted by lorazepam
if someone is suing for pain and surffering, it should be based on a percentage of what that person has for life insurance. If you have 50 k in life insurance, that is what your life is worth. if you are injured and not killed, you shouold recieve a percentage of what you think your life is worth. I don't want to be disagreeable, but I disagree that this is the way to judge either how much someone should get for pain and suffering, or what they think their life is worth.

Let me point out that life insurance costs money, and a lot of people don't have a lot of that to spare (1.3M more people in poverty, 1.4M more uninsured this year over last (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5829707/)). They might buy more of it if things like food, clothing, medical coverage, shelter and transportation didn't come in higher on the list.

Also, life insurance is not about what your life is worth, but what it takes to protect whoever is left behind. I have no children so most financial advisors would suggest that I need less insurance than someone who has got kids. A similar line of reasoning applies to those who are married vs. those who are single.

As regards how much someone should be rewarded for pain and suffering, I have no idea. How do you value 6 months of not having to go through "Pain & Torture" (Physical Therapy) exercises, or not walking with a cane for the rest of your life? There's a value, but reasonable people could easily disagree about what might be, exactly.

For every problem, there's a solution that's simple,
straightforward - and wrong. -- H. L. Mencken

[lorazepam]

I just got my form to mail into the bonanza of a free credit report from Progressive. I switched from them to Beemerinsurance.com because Progressive wanted 1100 dollars a year, and Beemer wanted 315.00. Guess they like the folks in Michigan better than Ohio. I will not pursue getting any money from Progressive, I feel that cancelling my policy was good enough.

[Cliffy777]

how insurance rates can vary from state to state. i shopped the beemer insurance people after you told me about your rate in July and Progressive kicked their booty in my case....

[username]

Originally posted by DarrylRi
[snip]

Let me point out that life insurance costs money, and a lot of people don't have a lot of that to spare (1.3M more people in poverty, 1.4M more uninsured this year over last (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5829707/)). They might buy more of it if things like food, clothing, medical coverage, shelter and transportation didn't come in higher on the list.

[snip]


darryl,

first, it is a well-known fact that poor people are worth less than rich people. i dont think that even merits a debate. also, in our forthcoming ownership society, these poor people will finally have the tax breaks they need so that they can stop buying food and rent, and be motivated to invest in insurance, the stock market, and health savings accounts, like rich people do.

another well-known fact is that that reason poor people do not adequately plan for their own healthcare and retirement is because there are not attractive enough tax incentives for them to do so.

:D