By TJ January 19, 2012
Mark Steenland never paid my commercial insurance when i asked him to pay both commercial and auto coverage over the phone with my credit card. This caused my policy to lapse. Continuing on as I thought it was current, i had a claim about three weeks later. I was out $1,000 as I wasn't covered. I then recently get a bill from a collection agency trying to bill me for a late charge again stemming from when he failed to pay what I asked. I asked him to pay this late charge. He was short, cold, passed the blame along, and refused to pay it. I would run from this agency and am currently with a professional agency berends hendricks stuit who are nothing short of fantastic. ...read more
By changeisgood at Citysearch January 13, 2012
I found the agent, Doug Zuidema, to be very helpful when my husband and I stopped by last month. He was thorough with his information and explained things very well. Nice man, genuine.\t\n ...read more
By Proverbial G at Citysearch September 24, 2011
I tried to find a rating less than 'awful', like HORRIBLE! I have been with Kacos for nearly a decade if not more. In fact, my mother was with them first. I have never been so unhappy with a company that is supposed to be looking out for my best interest. \t\n\t\nThey changed my insurance carrier without my prior permission stating it will save me money! When I had questions, I received a less than informative response. They never notified me that someone was coming to my home to do an inspection afterwards. So I get a random call from someone I had never heard of wanting access to my 'box'. It moved from my 'box' to the water heater, to the furnace and so on after the person had access in my home. Finally, we get a so-called courtesy call from Kacos saying we have to do some repairs by March!!! Whoa! So, this is going to save me money!\t\n\t\nNote to Kacos; when you have a client, you make them aware of what they potentially may expect (i.e., a call from the insurance carrier wanting to do an inspection, the possible results of the inspection and how that may affect you and so on).\t\n\t\nI hoped to discuss the issue and offer possible solutions with Kacos. So, I decided to drive all the way out to their office to discuss my issues face to face. But apparently I am not very intelligent and cannot speak for myself or do not understand what it means to be a client. So every time I opened my mouth, the more intelligent lady in the office spent our dialogue having a monologue TO me. I patiently waited for her to finish her rebuttals and tried to get a word in, to no avail. To date, I have not heard back from them to resolve my issues. In fact, they have not even contacted me to find out 'what my issue is'. That is a problem with me. \t\n\t\nUnlike some others, I rarely contact the office. I pay my premium in one single payment so there is very little interaction with the office. So I FEEL LIKE A NUMBER! I have not heard from a single person from Kacos. Apparently, business must be going very well for Kacos. They are not concerned with losing a client. I am researching now to find a replacement. I am sure another Insurance agency can use my money. I can give someone else my money for BAD SERVICE. If anyone asks me about an insurance company for consideration, I will be sure to mention my recent experience with Kacos.\t\n\t\nI TELL YOU WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT I SENT SCOTT A COPY OF MY REVIEW (9/18/2011) AND HIS ORGANIZATION HAD NOT RECEIVED A REVIEW SINCE 2005! NOW OUT OF THE BLUE, TWO ADDITIONAL REVIEWS SHOW UP. REALLY SCOTT? YOU HAD TO FIND A CLIENTS TO ADD REVIEWS? IF THE SERVICE IS SO GREAT, WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO SOLICIT REVIEWS. THE SERVICE AT KACOS IS NOT LIKE IT WAS WHEN HIS DAD RAN THE BUSINESS HANDS DOWN!!! HIS DAD CARED ABOUT HIS CLIENTS AND BUILT HIS BUSINESS ON RELATIONSHIPS. NICE TRY SCOTT BUT PEOPLE IN WESTERN MICHIGAN ARE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK. I POSTED MY REVIEWS ON SEVERAL SITES TO WARN PEOPLE OF WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT IF THEY DEAL WITH YOU.\t\n\t\n(9/24/2011) and Scott is still having customers add reviews??? You can listen to people that recently switched to Kacos or you can listen to someone that has been using Kacos since before Scott took over. I have history on my side. A credible agency would not need to call clients/friends and ask them to post reviews. I review positively or negatively without being requested to do so. I finally heard back from Scott only because I emailed my review as a courtesy. Still there was no apology for the lack of service, disrespect and there was no admission of wrong. To date, he has not explained why he did not want to meet with me. Only, 'tell me what you want me and I'll SEE what I can do'. When I explained everything to him, his response is to have clients add reviews. SO IF YOU ARE SHOPPING FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY, ASK YOURSELF IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT FROM YOUR AGENT? ...read more
Problems Caused by Undisclosed DriversThe tale of theUndisclosed Drivercontinues to cause problems for drivers in Michigan. Each person of driving age living in your home should be listed on your insurance policy. If someone is not listed, they are at risk of being an ‘undisclosed driver.’ Unfortunately, many people only list themselves because they think that is all they need to do. Even though you may pay your agent handsomely, it is still your responsibility to know the insurance policy.If you have a child in college, roommates or a sixteen-year-old son or daughter, they should be listed on your policy. If they are not, your insurance company might rescind your insurance and deny a claim. If anyone living in your household is not listed on your policy, you may not be sufficiently covered.It remains vital that you find a good agent to go over your insurance policy with you. If you already have a good agent, honestly answer any questions they may have to make sure that you will be adequately covered at a time of a loss. Paying years of insurance premiums only to have a claim denied because of a technicality can be frustrating and costly. Educate yourself on your policy, know your coverage and find an agent who will help you understand your options.For any questions, comments or concerns, please contact me or call me directly at 616-723-8025.The information provided here relates to general situations and questions concerning specific risks and may not apply to all situations or individual circumstances.Grand Rapids Insurancedoes not issue insurance contracts or bind coverage. We do not endorse or recommend any companies or insurance policies, and we do not provide insurance, tax or financial advice. ...read more
By Grand Rapids Insurance November 11, 2012
Rental Car Insurance&Diminished ValueMost rental car coverage simply extends your regular vehicle coverage. As a result, only you, a spouse, a resident relative and a ward or foster child — as listed on your personal auto policy —are covered.The majority ofinsurance companiesdo not cover ‘Diminished Value’ — also known as therental car gap. Rental companies reserve the right to sell their vehicle as is if you damage it. For example, if you rent a car that is worth $21,000.00and you are involved in an accident, the rental company can sell that vehicle as is for $15,000.00. Your insurance company will pay for the full repair cost of $4,000.00, for a total of $19,000.00. Since this is $2,000.00 less than the original value of the vehicle, the diminished value you owe to the rental company is $2,000.00. Cases of diminished value occur frequently and are usually upheld by the court.Most insurance companies have adjusted by offering additional coverage options, but not all of them address the problem of diminished value. At this point in time, only a few insurance companies offer decent coverage for the rental car gap. Talk with your agent to make sure that you are adequately covered.Another option is to try calling your credit card company, because many of them offer coverage for diminished value. Otherwise, you can always take the insurance from the rental company. However, rental companies often self-insure, which allows them to decline claims for simple reasons like negligence.The information provided here relates to general situations and questions concerning specific risks and may not apply to all situations or individual circumstances.If you have any questions, please contact me or call me directly at 616-723-8025.The information provided here relates to general situations and questions concerning specific risks and may not apply to all situations or individual circumstances.Grand Rapids Insurancedoes not issue insurance contracts or bind coverage. We do not endorse or recommend any companies or insurance policies, and we do not provide insurance, tax or financial advice. ...read more
By Grand Rapids Insurance November 11, 2012
Advantages to Working with an Independent AgentPurchasinginsurancefor yourself and your family through an independent agent offers numerous advantages. Nevertheless, there are some questions you should ask yourself to help you determine if one agency is better than another: Are you paying a reasonable price for the product? Is the policy premium adversely affected by your insurance score? Are you receiving all the available policy discounts? Does your agent respond to you in a prompt and timely manner? Your ability to get answers to these questions will allow you to make a well-informed decision.Because of their complexity, insurance products can be difficult to quote. All of your insurance needs can be met by an independent insurance agency. They can provide you with annual policy quotes to make sure yours is up to date and competitively priced—preventing the hassle of switching companies only to find that there were no true savings. If you switched companies and found out that the only reason you saved money was because you lost coverage, would you still have switched? If one company is too high, independent agencies offer options through other companies that can provide you that additional service. Independent agencies significantly simplify the process for you.Despite the controversy surrounding insurance scoring, independent agencies allow you to use it to your best interest. Insurance scoring provides you with a lower premium, and allows insurance companies to get an edge on the competition. If one company gives you a low insurance score because you don’t fit the image of their “ideal client,” another company may see you as their best client and give you the highest score.Companies go after different demographics of people—so certain companies will fit you better than others. Independent agencies allow you to find the best rate by having so multiple companies available to them. Because the agent can do all of this for you, you don’t have to call a bunch of 1-800 numbers in order to find the best rate.When used correctly, policy discounts can cut policy premiums in half. Basic discounts include: multi-policy, multi-car, group, insurance score, loyalty, non-drinker, mortgage free, and non-smoker. Independent agents and direct writers use policy discounts. If they do not apply the maximum discounts, agents will make a higher commission.Separating yourhome and auto insurancebetween two different carriers can deprive you of a 15-25% discount. Also, certain companies offer multi-car discounts up to 40%. Some carriers don’t apply discounts up front, so give your carrier a call to make sure you’re not missing out on any discounts available to your policy.As agents gain experience in the business, their client base grows as their knowledge of the business increases. They could be serving 1000 or even 2000 clients depending on the size of their agency. As such, individual agents may not treat you the way that you deserve. If you notice that your agent isn’t meeting with you face-to-face or making time to accommodate your needs, it might suit you better to find an agent that will. Of the masses of agents available, many will make the time for you and your policy.It could be that direct writers and online writers suit your needs and your policy well. Ultimately, your agent and company should make you feel effectively covered. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns on this article or other insurance related questions feel free to contact me or call me directly at 616-723-8025. ...read more
By Grand Rapids Insurance November 11, 2012
Having motor insurance gives you peace of mind, and looking for motor insurance involves carefully comparing motor insurance. Comparing motor insurance will ensure that you receive a good insurance rate and a provider that will provide quality service when you need it most. ...read more
When you have booked a cruise, the last thing on your mind are the things that can go wrong. You probably are more concerned with the fun times ahead. Unfortunately, cruise travel insurance should come to mind, as not having coverage can create problems such as lost items or trip cancellation problems... ...read more
