Insurance Journal Forums

If someone has a Melife appointment in California please share your thought. Are they easy to do business with? Hows the u/w? Do they have any niches? I have a lot of appointments already I am deciding if they would be a good fit for the agency.

Thanks,

Porter

Well I don't have a Met appointment in Ca, but I do have one in Texas. In my experience, they do not offer anything that you can't elsewhere, and their website is awful. If you have other companies that you are writing business with, I would say you probably don't need them.

I looked into a contract with them a couple years ago. They did some quotes for us and they were very similar to other preferred carriers - Hartford, Encompass etc.

I looked for local agents on their website (AZ) and talked to several of them. They all said that the website rating leaved a lot to be desired. Ask your CSR's who they want to quote and if the websites are a pain, they will get looked at on a lot fewer quotes.

I have been using MetLife in Illinois for many years. I have also been writing with Travelers, Hartford and Encompass. MetLife's website has been always been better than the others.

The following is in reference to MetLife’s GrandProtect product.

MetLife consistently introduces coverage enhancements first with everyone else following suit.

MetLife has had credit restoration service as part of their Identity Theft coverage for many years. Some companies are just offering it now while others simply offer just the reimbursement.

MetLife does not cap their replacement cost coverage.

Loss of use is actual loss sustained for 2 years.

MetLife offers $1,000,000 uninsured/underinsured motorists bodily injury coverage on their umbrella for an additional $170 annually. If a company is going to pay policy limits on an auto policy it’s going to be um/un BI.

They will extend premises liability to locations rented or owned in Mexico.

Worldwide automobile liability coverage.

Corporate owned vehicles can be listed on personal auto policy.

It’s not all roses-

They will not put multiple state risks on the same policy. If your insured has stuff in four states they will have four separate policies.

Billing….

Underwriting philosophy/appetite is inconsistent among the underwriters.

In Illinois – MetLife is a great product with an easy to use website.

Thanks for your input.

I have heard that Met's rates are VERY competitive in California for the preferred market, but I have yet to run quotes with them.

Their rates are in FSC. The auto is really good for clean drivers. The home rates are average. I did some sample rating and thought they were worth looking into.

I am not a huge fan of their rating system but I use EzLynx so most of the information is populated and ready to go. Their auto rates are VERY competitive in CA for clean drivers and they have some nice selling features. Their HO rates are average at best but the Auto rates are low enough to allow them to compete. They are a well known brand and I have cross sold some term life insurance because of their life/auto discount. Their rating system could be easier but overall I have been happy working with them.

I do not know about Metlife. But If you would like to try a different P&C carrier you may want to try Commerce West Insurance company a subsidiary of MAPFRE USA (provides competitive rates). If you would like to make a connection, then I can direct you to our Marketing VP for the western region.
Thanks
VJ

I can tell you from a first hand experience that Metlife has smoking hot auto rates in CA!
They also got a home owners rate reduction which includes a 20 or 25% package policy discount.

Where is your office located?
They do not write state wide as of yet.

I am located in San Diego and Los Angeles. I am working on becoming appointed right now.

They are tight on underwriting and all preferred. they will write in San Diego and the surronding area. however they do not write in Downtown LA. The closest they write to LA is Corona & Riverside.

If you get the appointment, congratulations If not contact me and I can share additional info regarding the appointment.
Brian@SoftechInternational.com

Ya, for some reason they don't want us to write in LA, but that is one of our bigger markets. I have heard that their rates are so low in these areas that they wont let anybody write it.

How do their rates compare to some of the other carriers like Mercury or Travelers?

How easy is it to get appointed with Metlife in ca