Farmers Insurance - Identity Fraud Coverage

Example: You go to refinance your home and discover that someone has stolen your social, opened a credit card, and defaulted on it. Your credit is now ruined. What do you do?

Example: You get a letter in the mail indicating a warrant has been issued for your arrest due to traffic citations in New York. You have never been to New York. What do you do?

Example: You have a family member put you down as a cosigner on a loan without your knowledge. They default on that loan and now you are getting letters about the balance due. What do you do?

These are just SOME examples of situations that can occur that are due to Identity Fraud. Did you know Farmers' Home Insurance INCLUDES Identity Fraud Coverage. Farmers would be able to help in each of the above situations and more and it would not cost the policy holder anything!

There is NO deductible with filing a claim for Identity Fraud coverage.

Filing a claim for Identity Fraud coverage does NOT cause your rates to go up.

Identity Fraud coverage is NOT included in the majority of home insurance products available with other carriers.

We have people come to our Agency, Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency, because they have had to go through rebuilding their identity before and know it can be a time consuming, and expensive process.

If you would like to review a home insurance product that would include Identity Fraud coverage, please give us a call at 913-383-3276 or email us HERE.

More about Identity Fraud coverage can be found here:

Farmers Mobile App

We are excited for the release of the new Farmers Insurance Mobile App.  The Farmers app is a quick and simple way to access your insurance policy informaiton on the go.  Our new app will give you access to the most frequently used self-service featrures right from your mobile device.  We are making it easier and more convenient to view your insurance anytime, anywhere.

“The new Farmers Insurance mobile app gives customers phone or tablet access to our most frequently used self-service features, making it more convenient to manage their insurance needs anytime, anywhere,” said Chief Marketing Officer Mike Linton. “It’s another way we are making it easier for customers to connect with us.”

The mobile app joins Pet Insurance, the Farmers Car Shopping Service offered by TRUECar and the new Farmers Rewards Visa card as part of our suite of Smart Solutions.

With the new Farmers Insurance app you can easily view your policies, instantly view auto id cards, quickly connect with us, your agent, and pay your bill.

State Farm Non Renewing Home Insurance

Over the recent weeks, we have taken more than a handful of calls from soon-to-be former State Farm clients. The story that we are hearing is that State Farm is choosing to no longer have the calling individual as a client of theirs. Understandably, the calling individual is quite upset about it...and wouldn't you be?? One would think, "okay, well, I can see the insurance carrier's stance to some extent. That client must just be a terrible client who files lots of claims." I'll share a review of two of the most recent call we've taken.

We'll call the first client "Joe".

Joe called our office, Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency, last week. Joe let us know that State Farm is choosing to non renew his home insurance. Our first response was of course, "sorry to hear that!". Joe then went on to explain his history with them as a carrier.

Joe's parents were insured with State Farm, as a lot of ours are/were. When Joe bought his first house, he just followed suit of his parents and also became a State Farm customer. Fast forward 10+ years and Joe has been a loyal client for many years.

While Joe was continuing his business with State Farm, he was also having success in his professional career, which soon led him to purchasing a new home. Joe's new home was a $600,000 property for him and his growing family.

Prior to moving into his new home, there was a small water loss which he filed a claim for. In Joe's opinion, not a big deal. He paid a deductible and State Farm paid a few thousand to help with the clean up. Then, Joe moved to his new home and, as luck would have it, three years later had another small water loss. This put Joe as having 2 water losses over a 4 year period at two different location.

Prior to Joe's next home insurance renewal of his $600,000 home, he received a letter indicating that State Farm saw him as too much of a risk to insure and is giving him two options. Option one, carry an extremely high deductible or, option two, find a new carrier. Joe called his Agent but the Agent indicated his hands were tied. After being a client for many, many years and paying State Farm thousands and thousands of insurance premiums, they no longer want his business because of TWO claims at TWO properties no less!

Joe googled for a new insurance provider and found Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency. At Farmers Insurance, we only look back 3 years for any home insurance claim history. We did have to account for one of his water losses but were able to provide insurance for Joe and his entire household for less than he was paying with State Farm!

We'll call the second client "Mary".

Mary called Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency within the last few days. Mary had been with State Farm for 20+ years. Mary had purchased a home to retire in in 2009. Over the next 5 years, the area that Mary lived in was hit by two large storms. The first storm caused lots of shingles to be blown off Mary's roof. Mary filed a claim, paid her deductible, and State Farm helped repair her roof. Three years later, a second storm came through, bringing lots of hail with it. Everyone in Mary's neighborhood, including Mary, needed a new roof due to this storm. Mary filed a claim, paid her deductible, and State Farm replaced her roof. Both claims, as Mary would put it, were "unavoidable".

Prior to her next home insurance renewal, Mary learned that State Farm no longer wanted to insure her as she had filed too many claims over the past 4 years. Mary had been a loyal client for 20+ years and filed TWO weather related claims in the past 4 years and she is now forced to find another provider.

Mary was understandably upset and vented to anyone who would listen. Fortunately, one of those listeners told her to call Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency. We met Mary and were able to be of immense help. Farmers only looks back three years so we only accounted for one of the two hail claims. Also, Farmers Insurance offers a New Roof discount. Not only could we provide insurance, but we lowered her deductible and saved her $1000+ on her home insurance premiums.

If you, or someone you know, is going through a similar situation with State Farm or your carrier, we encourage you to give Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency a call at 913-383-3276 or email us HERE.

Joplin Tornado - May 22, 2011

May 22, 2011 is a day that will forever change how anyone in the Mid West views insurance. May 22, 2011, was a day that gave us all visibility to how bad things can get and why we carry insurance.

May 22, 2011 brought the 2011 Joplin Tornado; an EF5 vortex that reached a maximum width of nearly 1 mile during its path through the southern part of the city.  

Today is a day that we remember May 22, 2011 and the effect it had on Joplin, MO; the many lives lost, the homes and businesses destroyed, and the thousands it effected.

We constantly use what happened in Joplin, MO as an example of catastrophes that can occur that can expose gaps in the home insurance that is available from other carriers.


Many families in Joplin were effected by their policies not having full replacement coverage, not having sufficient loss of use coverage, not having sufficient personal property coverage, not having building ordinance coverage, or just the carriers themselves being too slow to respond and causing the effected to live homeless and wait for assistance from their insurance carrier.

We realize pricing is important with the home insurance we all carry. We do our absolute best to make sure that the policies we provide to our clients are at the best possible price point, but not at the sacrifice of coverage that can prove to be extremely important in times similar to May 22, 2011.

It is reasons like this that it is so important to educate one's self about the policy carried on their home.

What does it cover? 

What does it NOT cover?

Having an Agent you can trust allows one to be confident that the answers to these questions don't come as a surprise when it comes time to file a claim. If Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency can ever be that Agent for you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 913-383-3276. You can read reviews of the Agency from other clients HERE.

Farmers Insurance - Get to know the Agency staff - Zach Wood

Keep children safe from poisons in your home

Young children typically put all kinds of things in their mouths — it’s part of how they learn. Unfortunately, many household products can be deadly if swallowed, and extremely harmful (if not poisonous) when inhaled or put in contact with the skin or eyes; Children move very quickly so it’s critical to take preventive steps so your young child is less likely to get his or her tiny hands on the wrong thing.

Parents of young children aren’t the only ones who should think about poison prevention. If you’re a grandparent, or have friends or relatives with young children, you’ll want your home to be safe for children.

• Common household products — Many items generally considered harmless to and adult, such as over-the-counter medications or cosmetics, are potentially dangerous to a young child. Here are a few examples:
• Medicines — Vitamins and minerals, cold-relief medicines, allergy and asthma medicines, ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen.
• Household products — Moth balls, furniture polish, drain cleaners, weed killers, insect or rat poisons, lye, paint thinners, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, gasoline, kerosene, lamp oil — and even dishwasher detergent

Look for these warning symbols

Special symbols or pictures are put on the labels of products that are dangerous. The symbol shows a picture inside a frame. The picture tells you the type of danger.

• 

  Poison

  This symbol means the product could make you or your child very sick or even die if it is swallowed or licked. Some products with this symbol can cause you or your child harm if they are breathed in.
• 

  Flammable

  This symbol means the product can catch fire easily. Keep this product away from heat, flames, and sparks.
• 

  Corrosive

  This symbol means the product can burn skin or the eyes. If it is swallowed, it will also burn the throat and stomach.
• 

  Explosive

  This symbol means the product can burn skin or the eyes. If it is swallowed, it will also burn the throat and stomach.

Safety rules

• Keep harmful products locked up and out of your child’s sight and reach.
• Use safety latches or locks on drawers and cabinets where you keep dangerous items.
• Call medicine by its correct name — don’t confuse your child by calling medicine candy.
• Always replace the safety caps immediately after use.
• Keep products in their original containers.
• Read labels with care before using any product.
• Do not take medicine in front of small children. Children tend to copy adult behavior.

Emergency numbers

• Call 911 immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe throat pain
• Burns on the lips or mouth
• Convulsions
• Unconsciousness
• Extreme sleepiness

If your child doesnʹt exhibit any of the serious symptoms listed above, call the Poison Help Line at (800) 222-1222. This number will connect you to emergency help in your area. Keep the number by every phone, along with your doctor’s number, and enter these numbers into your cell phone as well.
Important note: Donʹt have your child vomit unless directed to do so by a medical professional.

Personal supervision

Despite your best efforts to create a safe environment for children, accidents can still happen. Your personal supervision, or that of another trusted adult, will always be the most valuable protection. Call me for more information, and share this with your family and friends so they too can keep their children and homes safe from poisons.

*Remember, if someone else's child is injured while in YOUR care, you may be liable for THEIR injuries. This is another reason to make sure your home insurance protects you properly. For a consultation on how home insurance can protect you, contact Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 or by emailing us HERE.

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