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Message
What do local insurance agents actually do?
Posted on 11/13/25 at 8:56 am
Posted on 11/13/25 at 8:56 am
I have a situation where I need to talk to my local agent but they won't seem to return emails/calls for days. This is with one of the big boy agencies (i.e. State Farm/Geico/Progressive) but I'm curious... are these local offices nothing but a middleman? Do they do anything other than just forward claims?
Right after Katrina, I remember a situation where my roof was leaking and I needed to file a claim. I called my agent at the time and he ended up giving me an 800 number to call. I was like "Wait, why aren't YOU calling them?" and he was like "well you'll get quicker service just going direct." We ended up leaving him after that. And I really haven't needed anything from them by and large ever since. Now I have a situation with a car and I'm getting a bunch of hassle. I've spoken with more people people on 800 numbers than my local agent who doesn't seem to be bothered not fighting for me or doing anything.
It's beginning to dawn on me - what do these people actually do? Just hustle business and then pass you off up the chain? They seem pretty useless other than being a pretty face on a billboard or a bus stop advert.
Is this one of those FOR SURE soon-to-be casualties of the AI revolution? Because they aren't really doing themselves any favors.
Right after Katrina, I remember a situation where my roof was leaking and I needed to file a claim. I called my agent at the time and he ended up giving me an 800 number to call. I was like "Wait, why aren't YOU calling them?" and he was like "well you'll get quicker service just going direct." We ended up leaving him after that. And I really haven't needed anything from them by and large ever since. Now I have a situation with a car and I'm getting a bunch of hassle. I've spoken with more people people on 800 numbers than my local agent who doesn't seem to be bothered not fighting for me or doing anything.
It's beginning to dawn on me - what do these people actually do? Just hustle business and then pass you off up the chain? They seem pretty useless other than being a pretty face on a billboard or a bus stop advert.
Is this one of those FOR SURE soon-to-be casualties of the AI revolution? Because they aren't really doing themselves any favors.
28
Posted on 11/13/25 at 8:59 am to Giantkiller
Rack up hundreds of thousands of OT posts
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:02 am to Giantkiller
quote:
They seem pretty useless other than being a pretty face
Thank you!
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:06 am to Giantkiller
We have State Farm, and the same agent from 99-25... we always appreciated their facilitating our needs and claims. Our lady retired and we haven't had cause to be in contact with the man that took her business over, hopefully the service remains the same.
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:13 am to Giantkiller
Depends if they are worth a shite or not. I spend a ton of time dealing with FS cases and claims
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:14 am to Giantkiller
quote:Pretty much. They are in sales. They don’t draft policies and exclusions and they don’t really manage claims. Good ones might understand policies and exclusions enough to give you some advice. Otherwise, they are the same as real estate agents but for insurance instead of property.
Just hustle business and then pass you off up the chain?
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:16 am to Chad504boy
I know you're printing money over there Chad
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:17 am to Giantkiller
Hey now, those rounds of golf aren't gonna play themselves.
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:18 am to Giantkiller
quote:
What do local insurance agents actually do?
Marketing which includes making you think you have a buddy right down the road in case something goes wrong.
Once it does, they give you an 800# or refer you to file your claim on-line.
PROFIT
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:19 am to Giantkiller
They sell you shite the gov makes you buy, try and sell you other shite you don’t need.
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:22 am to Giantkiller
quote:
What do local insurance agents actually do?
Collect commission from your premiums and hit the links.
That being said, anyone got a tee time this afternoon?
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:23 am to Giantkiller
I had my investment property go through a local agency a few years back. One say I was curious if the liability covers for dog bites of tenants. So I called and asked the agent, and he said “maybe”. That wasn’t the answer I was looking for.
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:23 am to DCtiger1
quote:
I know you're printing money over there Chad
All my helpless customers left me cause I told them it’s best for them to call in claim directly after I done gave them the company phone numbers policy numbers and information cause you know “I don’t know where my policy is” so they can best streamline information to the carrier and they too can receive appropriate claim information upon reporting. Now I’m stuck with only a pretty face w a jackass harassing me about car issues cause I’m supposed to know he bought a car 4 months ago and told nobody.
This post was edited on 11/13/25 at 9:27 am
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:24 am to Giantkiller
Golf mostly
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:25 am to Giantkiller
Get commissions.
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:25 am to Giantkiller
been with State Farm my entire life... when my previous broker retired (Jude Guidry, TYFYS), i got shuffled to a new local guy up here in Dutchtown... i don't even remember his name... 
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:29 am to Giantkiller
If you're asking this question, you already know they don't do shite except chase incentives to get that month long business class trip to Europe for their family next summer. It's their job to send your wife a birthday card every year so she tells you she feels "safe" with Chad the State Farm agent.
Rant-tards like to feel as if the fact they see their local agent's face on a billboard and drive by the office 3x a week, it somehow means their roof is going to get fixed. It's all feel good bullshite. They won't be a casualty of "AI" anymore than searching for homeowner's quotes on the web killed State Farm commercials (they didn't, obv.)
Rant-tards like to feel as if the fact they see their local agent's face on a billboard and drive by the office 3x a week, it somehow means their roof is going to get fixed. It's all feel good bullshite. They won't be a casualty of "AI" anymore than searching for homeowner's quotes on the web killed State Farm commercials (they didn't, obv.)
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:30 am to Giantkiller
quote:
It's beginning to dawn on me - what do these people actually do?
We deal with people who bitch and moan about insurance on a daily basis.
Also, any agent that passes you off on a 800 number for a claim or anything else is definitely worthless. I’ll personally help a client in a claims situation and assist with anything I can until that client is satisfied that’s what I get paid to do. Also I am the agency owner as well so my daily routine goes beyond just hustling new business.
This post was edited on 11/13/25 at 9:40 am
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:35 am to The Torch
quote:
they give you an 800# or refer you to file your claim on-line
Carriers manage that themselves-for a reason. They try to cut the agent out.
Posted on 11/13/25 at 9:38 am to DarkDrifter
bascially just to put a likeable face on an unlikeable industry. goes to Rotary club, gets to be known as an "OK" guy or gal......
our SF agent just retired. We never got a notice. some other name suddenly started showing up on our payment notices. In the past She was actually in the office the few times I went by but never a chance of actually speaking to her (too busy shuffling papers, I guess), just the office girl who was dumb as a box of rocks.
our SF agent just retired. We never got a notice. some other name suddenly started showing up on our payment notices. In the past She was actually in the office the few times I went by but never a chance of actually speaking to her (too busy shuffling papers, I guess), just the office girl who was dumb as a box of rocks.
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