praisefor3 Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 I am a bit irate right now and am just looking for fellow homeschooler advice. We have had our insurance with State Farm for over 25 years since we both individually were insured through them before we were even married. We went to add our oldest dd to our insurance policy and expected to get the Good Student discount. We have a nice "professional" looking transcript as well as a copy of her ACT score of 30. I just got a call from our agent's office and was told that the company wants her transcript signed by an outside"counselor". They even asked if the people who administered here ACT would sign her transcript! (So little understanding!) I explained to them that to say that is to totally not understand what homeschooling actually is! I also said that if she got an 18 on her ACT I could understand them questioning this but for pete's sake, you don't get a 30 by making F's. (OK I know it's possible, but not likely!) I guess this is the first time that I have had to fight a homeschooling battle (thank you to all those early homeschoolers who made the road easy for me in so many ways by the battles that they fought!) I have made it clear that if State Farm as a company refuses to give the same rights and benefits to the homeschooling community as kids who go to public school that we will be leaving State Farm and this won't be the last they will hear from homeschoolers. Gosh this makes me mad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phathui5 Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 That's lame. Tell them that you're thinking about the money you could be saving with GEICO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PineFarmMom Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 That's lame. Tell them that you're thinking about the money you could be saving with GEICO. :lol: :lol:I wish we had a little "money with googly eyes" emoticon. OP, I'm mad with you. That's just not right. Can you go higher up in the company? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phathui5 Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Not to harp on it, but do shop around. I'm paying less for three cars now with GEICO than what I was paying for two cars with State Farm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Can you go higher up in the company? That was my thought as well. If this is your local agent who is giving you trouble, see if someone over his/her head will make things right. If not, Geico it is. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hathersage Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 All you need is the ACT according to the state farm website. I don't know where your agent got his information: Students who are enrolled in a home study program may qualify if they satisfy the scholastic requirement by submitting evidence that they ranked in the upper 20% on one of the following national standardized tests, administered within the last 12 months: PSAT PLAN SAT-1 ACT TAP California Achievement Test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 We have been frustrated over this for 7 years and one of my best friends is a State Farm agent. She talked to the company and they just smile and nod. They just don't get it and there isn't anything you can do about it. It isn't worth changing insurance over, for us, so we just try to forget about it because it is so frustrating. Honestly, have they seen the drivers at the highschool? Just because they get good grades does not make them a good driver. Plus they have to navigate all of the other highschool kids everyday. And homeschool kids, who um, by definition, do not drive to school? Typically don't party, drink & drive, etc. Seems like a no brainer where the bigger risk is. But, just like the college my daughter went to who couldn't process her application without a "diploma", a literal piece of paper, State Farm cannot think outside the box. The rules say they must have a piece of paper with grades from a third party so that is what has to happen. :rant: If enough homeschool parents wrote and complained they might consider changing the policy somehow, but I doubt there are enough of us to make it worth their time and money. There is another discount, if your agent offers it, where they read a book and watch a movie about safe driving and then go in and talk to the agent and sign a pledge - Steer Clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 All you need is the ACT according to the state farm website. I don't know where your agent got his information: Students who are enrolled in a home study program may qualify if they satisfy the scholastic requirement by submitting evidence that they ranked in the upper 20% on one of the following national standardized tests, administered within the last 12 months: PSAT PLAN SAT-1 ACT TAP California Achievement Test Looks like someone has already fought your battle. You just need to educate your local state farm office with this info. Paula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandellie4 Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 We were told that one of our dds wasn't qualified for the discount, but had no trouble when we changed agents. I also wrote a letter to State Farm, explaining how disappointed I was in the first agent's lack of knowledge of the company's policies -- the agent still looks away when we encounter each other in the grocery store. :tongue_smilie: Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedarmom Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Allstate takes the transcript we print from home. I would definitely shop around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxMama Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 All I had to turn in is a transcript with State Farm to get the good student discount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 If you've had a policy for 25 years, I would take the info listed here and fight it. Your stability and loyalty with the company should be more than adequate to get you further up the food chain. You could ask to speak to someone in their regional underwriting/rating department and be armed with the information from their website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Ask them to read the section in the policy hand book to you that specifically relates to homeschooling/home learning/home educating is not eligible for the discount. I just called my agent, the receptionist looked in her book and read the same passage to me that others have quoted. It took her all of 15 seconds to find it :0). I suspect your agent was just misinformed and if you ask for them to find the passage, they will discover that the test result provided is sufficient. If there is any problem, let me know and I will call the receptionist back and get a specific rule number for your agent to be referred to. My guess is that it is an honest mistake in their knowledge, and they just need to review the policy. Rules change on my job all the time , so I am all to familiar with being told one thing by corporate, and find another thing in our policy hand book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 We asked about it as well when our son was in high school, and we didn't have enough "proof" -- not even the standardized test he scored in the top 2 percent in. Now that he's in college, he has a transcript, and they accepted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 We have never had any trouble getting a good student discount from State Farm. It must be your agent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I was just coming on to tell you this same thing... I was just on their web site last night (almost have a new driver here) and a transcript is not required, just standardized test scores. I would ask them if the ACT scores are enough, or if they prefer that you take your business elsewhere... All you need is the ACT according to the state farm website. I don't know where your agent got his information: Students who are enrolled in a home study program may qualify if they satisfy the scholastic requirement by submitting evidence that they ranked in the upper 20% on one of the following national standardized tests, administered within the last 12 months: PSAT PLAN SAT-1 ACT TAP California Achievement Test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Allstate takes the transcript we print from home. I would definitely shop around Yes. No problems whatever with Allstate and mommy printed transcripts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3boyssmom Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 That is totally crazy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet in WA Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I'd take this higher up in the company. As high as necessary. We have USAA, and all they wanted was a verbal statement from me over the phone that, yep, our sons are good students. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB in NJ Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 We're with State Farm, and they gave my ds the good student discount with nothing more than our home-made transcript. There was no SAT or ACT or any outside documentation. Just a transcript signed by me and dh. It must be this individual agent. You could contact another agent's office and ask them (without telling them your background with this agent) what documentation they require, or you could simply call this agent back and let them know that State Farm agencies DO accept a homeschool transcript, and you see no reason why they shouldn't. Believe me, they do not want to lose your business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I am a bit irate right now and am just looking for fellow homeschooler advice. We have had our insurance with State Farm for over 25 years since we both individually were insured through them before we were even married. We went to add our oldest dd to our insurance policy and expected to get the Good Student discount. We have a nice "professional" looking transcript as well as a copy of her ACT score of 30. I just got a call from our agent's office and was told that the company wants her transcript signed by an outside"counselor". They even asked if the people who administered here ACT would sign her transcript! (So little understanding!) I explained to them that to say that is to totally not understand what homeschooling actually is! I also said that if she got an 18 on her ACT I could understand them questioning this but for pete's sake, you don't get a 30 by making F's. (OK I know it's possible, but not likely!) I guess this is the first time that I have had to fight a homeschooling battle (thank you to all those early homeschoolers who made the road easy for me in so many ways by the battles that they fought!) I have made it clear that if State Farm as a company refuses to give the same rights and benefits to the homeschooling community as kids who go to public school that we will be leaving State Farm and this won't be the last they will hear from homeschoolers. Gosh this makes me mad. We have State Farm and homeschooled high school. We got the discount AND credit for driver's ed since I told him I taught her driver's ed. He didn't require any proof. He said, "I believe you." No problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praisefor3 Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 Just wanted to thank those of you who gave me the "tools" to fight this battle. I printed out the info from the website and went into the office. The assistants in the office are actually extremely friendly and customer service oriented. I asked the lady who had told her that a transcript signed by a counselor would be needed. She told me that it was someone in underwriting. I asked if I could talk to that person directly. She was obviously nervous about that as I'm sure "underwriting" sits in a cubicle in the home office and doesn't deal with customers. In the end, I spent about 15 minutes making my point about homeschooling and educating her and the agent about how things work. However, they were very apologetic and I wanted to do it in a way that left a positive feeling about homeschooling with them, not a negative one. Frankly, I was in the mood to fight a battle but my demeanor was obviously going to have a big impression on them so I didn't want to ruin it for other homeschoolers. I told them that they will surely be faced with this question again in the future and I'm glad everyone in this office now knows. Oh and I did check with Geico as I would have definitely left State Farm over this issue but they could not match my State Farm rates due to the longevity and multiple discounts we have with State Farm. Without the info that I got here from this site it would have been a much longer and harder battle. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 We have our auto insurance through Farmers, and never had any problem with the good student discount. In fact, if I recall, there's a spot on the form giving the requirements for homeschoolers. You have to provide your standardized test scores. I guess if you didn't test, then there would be a problem. I would go up the ladder. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB in NJ Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Just wanted to thank those of you who gave me the "tools" to fight this battle. I printed out the info from the website and went into the office. The assistants in the office are actually extremely friendly and customer service oriented. I asked the lady who had told her that a transcript signed by a counselor would be needed. She told me that it was someone in underwriting. I asked if I could talk to that person directly. She was obviously nervous about that as I'm sure "underwriting" sits in a cubicle in the home office and doesn't deal with customers. In the end, I spent about 15 minutes making my point about homeschooling and educating her and the agent about how things work. However, they were very apologetic and I wanted to do it in a way that left a positive feeling about homeschooling with them, not a negative one. Frankly, I was in the mood to fight a battle but my demeanor was obviously going to have a big impression on them so I didn't want to ruin it for other homeschoolers. I told them that they will surely be faced with this question again in the future and I'm glad everyone in this office now knows. Oh and I did check with Geico as I would have definitely left State Farm over this issue but they could not match my State Farm rates due to the longevity and multiple discounts we have with State Farm. Without the info that I got here from this site it would have been a much longer and harder battle. Thank you! Awesome!! You did great, and I'm glad that you blazed the trail for future homeschoolers who have to deal with that particular agent's office. WAY TO GO! :patriot: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Hood Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 We also use State Farm insurance but the good news is that our agent has 2 little girls and his wife has been homeschooling them now for a couple of years. They are younger than my dds. So it could be awhile, but he is one agent who will help the cause. Not in time you, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moni Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Are you a private school? Sounds as if it is simply a time to talk to a supervisor's manager, etc. :seeya: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourOaks Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Have you considered letting HSLDA know about this? I know they sometimes like to challenge companies who have policies against homeschoolers by writing a letter or making a phone call. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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