I’m working with some very large companies. A number (but by no means all) know that I am pretty busy and they feel happy that I am working with them. Apparently, we are supposed to send in itemized bills for meals as well as the charge slip when we submit invoices. I’ve never done that and no one complains (I didn’t know I was supposed to send in the itemized receipts) – but when some of my colleagues didn’t submit itemized receipts, we received complaints. When I go out to dinner either separately or with them, it is likely to cost more than room service.
We don’t often work for governments or smaller companies but when we do, I am more conscious of costs.
Incidentally, @bookworm and @HIMom, when you buy lunch or coffee for a non-profit board meeting, I think you could probably claim a charitable deduction for this. You can certainly do this for travel to the board meeting.That of course has limited value due to the 2% (?) of AGI floor on deductions.
How’s this one to put a bee in my bonnet? After getting taxes done and ready to work on better things, our insurance agent (homeowner’s since 1980, auto, umbrella, jewelry rider) said company won’t renew us, underwriting said too many claims (DD had a $8000 auto accident in Dec), they won’t reconsider after agent’s appeal. Only would keep our jewelry policy. Fortunately now have a member number with USAA (thank’s to FIL’s military service; my dad served but is deceased) and I expect will get a good bundled deal including the jewelry policy when we can get quotes tomorrow. Had checked with a national prior auto insurer, and a water damage claim (2013 for $4200) on our house made our house not insurable with them. Thank God for USAA Insurance. I don’t think they will disappoint me. Agent told me in the 3 years she has worked for them, has never had a policy denial for a homeowner policy quote. Years ago I was rear-ended by a student with USAA insurance, and their claims handling was great. Also Consumer Reports gives them good rating.
We have USAA for decades and have been pleased with their customer service although their rates aren’t the bargain they used to be years ago.
We haven’t had any claims at all except for an auto claim 10 years ago when a big buck jumped out in front of me (husband still thinks it was my fault, ya right) but did shop around a few years ago to see if there was something cheaper for homeowners and some insurers weren’t adding policyholders in my area. I guess they had too much exposure to our region and there had been many ice storms causing claims. I would imagine climate change might cause more of that.
@SOSConcern – I will be interested to hear how your rates come in from USAA. I had heard such great things about them that I went through the process of setting up an account. (Father served in military.) Their car rates were quite a bit higher than I pay with GEICO.
I sense that I am paying too much to Chubb for Homeowners’ Insurance but then Chubb’s umbrella policy was significantly less expensive than GEICO’s.
Perhaps carriers just want to be in specific markets and price accordingly. Chubb can’t match GEICO’s car rates.
We have USAA and have noticed that they aren’t as great as they were. But they have been good. DS and his then fiancée were in an auto accident a year or so ago. She had Geico at the time. I think USAA has been easier to deal with than GEICO in this ongoing saga ( it was a 3 car accident but being treated ad 2 accidents b/c they bumped the car in front of them and then were were rear ended by a car which sent them into the front car again.). The front car passe gets were fine and didn’t go to a hospital or anything., but later claimed injury. Sigh.
@CT1417, Chubb seems expensive, and it is, UNTIL you have a claim to file. Their customer service while paying out is as polite as when they’re taking your premiums.
Years ago, when we had a nanny for the kids, our nanny totaled a minivan. I was on the phone with Chubb, had a number in mind, all prepared to argue my point. Their initial offer was $2k higher than I had hoped. Short conversation at that point.
Over 20 years with USAA, almost no claims, and then they started messing with us. Apparently they have decided to “reevaluate” people with higher priced homes, and pretend like they cost double of what they actually do to rebuild them. I’ve heard this is a problem from several people. Am now paying less than half the price they were charging us for homeowners at Armed Forces Insurance, and half the price for auto at Geico. Been very happy with AFI and Geico.
USAA was much better back when you really did have to have military background or be married to someone who did. Then they started adding children, etc. Now it’s getting as big as other companies and the service had not been the same. But for us at least, still cheaper and better service than any other company I’ve tried. All three of our kids go through them. Including the ones who really did a lot of research into it.
I just noticed that my 401k contribution page now offers to let me do catch up contributions…the ONLY good thing about hitting 50 this year!! Wooohooo!
Oh, bless you @dstark ! It seems silly, but since I saw the catchup link, I just daydream about retiring!!! (Even tho I’m guessing I’m 17 years away from it!)
@busdriver11 Same thing here with USAA and my homeowner’s insurance. The number they threw out to rebuild was ridiculous and they won’t budge. I already dumped their auto to go to Geico(1/2 the price). We have one of the nine breeds of dog that makes most insurers shun us, so it’s tough to change homeowner’s insurers, but I need to give it another try.
We did have Geico with auto before, but they denied us when I called for homeowner’s due to the water damage claim in 2013. The insurance that canceled us: State Farm.
Will let y’all know after my call!
I think with so many natural disasters homeowner coverage costs are getting tough with everyone.
I did like Geico when we had them for auto for a number of years. State Farm lured us with new bundled price and a big savings on our home. Our State Farm agent not only felt terrible for us (their office was great and I knew all the staff) but also a sign that he may have a tougher time making his living.
My sister had a devil of a time getting homeowner’s after her policy got canceled, and she eventually found something with an independent agent.
I’m happy our agent gets all our policies. She knows which insurers will work with you if you need to make a claim and gets us good premiums. It’s worth the peace of mind to have a cooperative company instead of an adversarial one.
“Same thing here with USAA and my homeowner’s insurance. The number they threw out to rebuild was ridiculous and they won’t budge. I already dumped their auto to go to Geico(1/2 the price). We have one of the nine breeds of dog that makes most insurers shun us, so it’s tough to change homeowner’s insurers, but I need to give it another try.”
@Parent1337, if there’s any way you’re eligible for Armed Forces, I’d check them out. No hassle, no funny stuff, cheap and straightforward like USAA used to be. When USAA informed us that rebuilding costs for our home had gone up $700K in the five years since we bought it, appraising our basement space rebuild to be like high end custom, I got pretty angry, and found AFI. If they hadn’t have done that, we’d have just paid their overpriced policies forever. Stupid, they lost customers who kept paying the inflated prices, with few claims!