Don't Call Progressive

I just hung up the phone on a Progressive Auto Insurance representative. I know it wasn't her fault to ask these questions, but I had to immediately end the call when she started to ask for my social security number.

I need new auto insurance. My current provider, Unitrin Direct, doubled my rates. Progressive was the next one on my list of many providers I needed to call.

Why Do You Need My Social Security Number?

While on the phone, the Progressive rep began to ask the standard questions: name, birth, address, etc. Then she asked for my email...okay. Then if I was single...okay. Then my social security number. Whoa! Back up. I asked if this was necessary and she said, "Yes." I began to give it to her and then asked if she'd be doing a credit check? She said yes, the quote would take about 15 minutes. I immediately cut her off and hung up.

Are you kidding? 15 minutes for a quote on auto insurance. Oh Good Grief! What really bothers me is that they needed my SSN and were going to do a credit check. First let me know approximately how much the rate or premium will be and then if I decided to go with Progressive, then you can know my life history and subject me to a credit check.

Wouldn't it save Progressive time (and money), if they just provided a simple quote first, instead of going through the long and tedious process of pretty much signing me up on the spot?

Oh Good Grief!

P.S. I went to AAA online and got a quote in less than 3 minutes with a rep to call me tomorrow. And it was inexpensive.