Hagerty Insurance - Stay Far, Far, Away

Well, just had my first experience w/ Hagerty's alleged roadside service...and it couldn't have been any more unpleasant.

My 308 began running rough as we approached a choke point in SF/ Oakland traffic today. As the engine began missing more and more I was hoping to get through to the other side of the 24/580/880 interchange before pulling over to see what I could determine. Then a car pulled alongside me shouting "your car's on fire!". I got off at the nearest exist, 36th Street, which did not appear to be a very safe neighborhood. The fire went out but there was clearly an area in the back panel that had been singed. My wife and I were nicely dressed and quite out of character with the 'hood.

I called Hagerty to request a tow using my alleged "Premium" tow service. The first gal asked me if the tow was for the Ferrari on my policy and I said yes. I also told her I didn't know of a shop that was open today and would the tow cover a delivery to my home (about 1/2 the distance supposedly covered by the alleged "Premium" service) and then a second tow to my local shop on Monday. She said of course it would, no problem. She said they would try to get someone to my location within an hour and she would call me back in a few minutes w/ the name of the tow service.

After about 15 minutes she hadn't called and my wife was getting a bit anxious. I called again and spoke to a different gal (of course) who said they were working on scheduling a tow. One of the gals called me back about 15 minutes later and said they were sending "24 Hour Tow Service" and the flat bed truck would arrive in about 20 min.

About 15 minutes later I got a call from the truck driver. He was on his way but just received a call from his dispatcher that Hagerty had cancelled the tow, and could I call them to get it authorized. The next several minutes devolved into a series of calls between me and Hagerty, and apparently Hagerty and the tow company. From what I can tell they were each attempting to play pricing games using me as the punching bag. Never did anyone from Hagerty say to me that their customer's (THAT"S ME!) safety and welfare was their highest priority. Far from it, apparently.

Then I got some Hagerty ******* named Len. Len had a belligerent attitude right from the start. When I told him that Hagerty should take some responsibility he didn't want to know about it. He kept saying there was a disagreement between Hagerty and the tow service over price and that he or his manager couldn't authorize the tow. I reminded him that Hagerty, not I, picked the towing service and that Hagerty's primary responsibility should be for the safety and protection of their customer and his assets. But no, he wanted to fight over price and attempt to penalize and hold me hostage for Hagerty's **** ups.

I decided to pay $700 out of my own pocket to get my car, myself, and my wife safely home.

BTW, this is my first ever attempt at a claim with these sleazebags.

My advice to anyone contemplating using Hagerty: RUN!

 

Wow. Very sorry to hear this. I've had nothing but good results with them. AAA on the other hand...

 

$700 for a TOW????

We towed my wife's car from Eastern WA back home to Tacoma (2.5 hours tow time)
and that was only $575...

How far did you have to have it towed?

Jedi

 

They're also more expensive than several other stated-value classic car insurers...the primary reason I avoided Hagerty.

 

It's no wonder Haggerty didn't want to pay for the tow if the first part was $700! Not that I'm making excuses.

 

Me Too..

 

I'm sorry that your experience was unpleasant. It's not clear who the true demon is. It's possible that the towing company unjustly complicated their predetermined agreement with Hagerty and tried to muscle them into an offensive fee (e.g. $700 for a tow). Whatever the case, it's not your insurance company's fault that the neighborhood in which your car failed is unsafe. Hagerty could have acted more sympathetically, of course.

I don't see a reason to "run" from Hagerty, not without further clarification, but their representative clearly lacked professionalism.

 

Sorry to hear you have to go through all this. Next time get a AAA Auto Club card, you don't have to have AAA Insurance, anyone can get one, plus with the Premier card. you get 200 miles of FREE towing a year and it only cost $89.00 per year. I've used it so many times that's why I know. And the tow truck usually arrive with in 30 mins.

 

Hagerty is to get your car FIXXED or replaced if stolen? AAA is to get the thing towed!

 

I have CSAA premium roadside service. Used them in the SF bay area for my 328. Always show up within 15 - 30 minutes with a flat bed. Never gave me any attitude.

 

Glad you are okay. I would get AAA roadside instead.

I am not a big fan of these smaller insurance co. They have all sorts of restrictions and are very price conscience. When filing a claim, I have a feeling they would deny every claim they can. That's not worth the savings or stated value purposes compared to larger known insurance companies. From what I understand, they often don't underwrite their policy either. This means some third party is really insuring your car.

 

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. I've had two cars insured with Hagerty for over 10 years and never a problem. There were several tows involved during that time.

Memorial Day weekend last year I attended a car show with my '85 BMW 635 and when I went to leave I couldn't get it started. This was a Sunday AM and with the following day being a holiday everything was closed. I had to have the car towed first to my friend's house nearby where it could be safely garaged, then again on Tuesday to a BMW shop. Everything happened without incident, although both tow truck drivers did have some trouble getting my car onto the flatbed without damaging the front spoiler which got me very nervous. Some of those guys don't seem very experienced when it comes to handling special-interest cars, which is a bit disappointing.

I agree that $700 is ridiculous for a tow....even for TWO back-to-back tows. Call Hagerty corporate and talk to someone with some authority. They probably won't pay that much, but they might compensate you for at least part of it.

 

I am disappointed in your story, I have 4 cars insured with them and I chose hem because American Collectors wouldn't insure the car for casual use....Hagerty would.

I have never used the tow service, and Patrick Otis spoke highly of them regarding some high dollar customers and Hagerty apparently saying, and I quote, "do what ever it takes", so if Hagerty was yelp rated system looks like there would be one star and 5 stars both---

Bummer for your time and expense....and you might call them on monday and explain your circumstance to a tier 2 or higher customer service rep and get reimbursed....I would try anyway.

 

I wonder if Hagerty couldn't find anyone that would go into the neighbor hood you were in. ($700 is pretty high for a tow.)

 

+1. I have used AAA as an emergency tow and keys locked inside the car and out of gas in the middle of nowehere type of company and I am satisfied with their service.
I have Hagerty as Insurer of the 308, but have never used them as tow service.
I have used AAA to tow my son's car simply because I was driving it. No complaints with AAA. sorry to hear about your ordeal. It must have made you concerned about yourselves and the car being in a tough neighborhood.

 

wow, sorry you had to deal with this. Hagerty should have had you as their top concern. That being said, tow companies in the Bay area are like legalized mafia, really unbelievably crooked companies in that area. ABC towing is probably the biggest group of thieves out there.

 

And for you AAA CSAA Northern California guys, I worked for this company in their litigation defense department for 6 years. Good company, reliable and very fair. If you live in Nor Cal, I would carry their insurance. They hire only the best defense guys in your area should some unfortunate at-fault incident befall you or anyone on your policy.

 

I had my 308 flatbeded when a water hose blew on the interstate for $75 and the insurance sent to check that week. Is it possible the tow the company was under the impression they were bedding a $500,000 Ferrari and not a basic 308?

 

Seems to me that the issue isn't Hagerty.

 

Care to elaborate? I grew up with the family that runs one of the tow companies there. Given that there will be some shady charactors in every industry.

I know they will not service some areas at some times of day or days of week due to driver safety.

As you can imagine SF is not a cheap place to operate a bunch of large trucks and a storage facility.

OP, sorry for your experience, it's tough to get stuck in the middle of a contract dispute when you need a timely resolution.

 

We have had State Farm Insurance since 1990, never a single problem with them. In addition, my wife and I have AAA and have not once had a problem. They are fast, honest and courteous. I locked my keys in my Porsche, they came out in 20 minutes. When my Ferrari fried it's alt/water pump belt, AAA was there with a flat bed within 30 minutes.

 

Allstate - insurance and corporate run roadside assistance (anyone can sign up for basic roadside at no charge)

 

+1

 

If the op's policy with Hagerty had a towing option in it that is a contract between the OP and Hagerty, service for fee. If Hagerty failed to provide the contracted service in a timely manner then they are in default of their contract. Submit the towing bill to Hagerty and if they don't pay up take them to small claims court. Hagerty's inability to come to terms with a tow operator is their problem and does not excuse them from performing under the terms of the contract.

 

Unless Hagerty sold you tow coverage as well.