1/9     AAA is raising my homeowner's insurance premium up by $200+ to
        $1040 a year.  I tried to switch to State Farm but got turned down
        because I had a claim in the last 3 years.  Am I screwed until the
        3 year passes?  Anybody know of another company that offers HO
        insurance and doesn't check or doesn't mind if I had a previous claim?
        \_ Good luck buddy. Insurance companies are now looking at the
           bottom line to keep their stockholders happy. If you've made a
           claim and they haven't dropped you, consider yourself lucky.
           \_ What's the point of having insurance if you can never claim it?
              Then they're just taking your money and offering nothing
              in return.
              \_ yes. smart for them huh? the only reason is for the really
                 huge claims.
        \_ Somewhat along the subject: anyone know of a cheap renter's
           insurance company?
        \_ California is so incredibly anti-insurance company and anti-business
           in general, you're lucky to have any insurance at this point.  I
           only got mine because my parents were personal friends of the guy
           making the decision.
           \_ The last couple of big CA disasters really  slapped around the
              insurance companies. The new threat during the current housing
              boom is mold. Think near total loss for a relatively new house.
              VERY bad for insurance. They hiding until they can find a way
              around the mold problem.
              \_ It's nothing to do with that.  It's more about the non
                 existent interest rates and stock market gains they can
                 make on your premium dollars.  My motorcycle policy
                 renewal had an eightfold increase requested, so I had
                 to shop around for another carrier.
        \_ Damn. I have Allstate with no claims. I pay about $400/year. My
           house is worth more than the median in LA. $1040?! Damn. --dim
        \_ Ok, I am getting shafted for good.  I called around to several
           other insurance companies and they all gave me the same story.
           Had a claim in the last 3 years?  Fuck off.  I strongly advice
           everybody NOT to file a claim unless it's for some big loss.
           I've gotten AAA to lower it by $200 by choosing the $1000 deductible
           option.  That's still around $800 a year.  FUCK!  My only
           consolation is that my wife is self-employeed and keeps a home
           office so this premium is deductable as a business expense. -OP
           \_ Raise your deductible even more. You won't want to make a
              claim unless there's many thousands in damage anyway. Try
              $2500. This isn't your car where you want a $500 deductible.
              You shouldn't use this insurance much and when you *really*
              need it you won't mind the extra $1500. --dim
        \_ Insurance is meant to prevent you from financial ruin with a loss,
           it's not meant as a home warranty.  Keep your deductables high,
           and don't claim anything short of a major loss and you will be fine.
        \_ Look in the Yellow Pages for a local "Insurance Broker", they can
           shop around some of the smaller insurance companies to get you a
           better price/any coverage since you have a claim.  That's what
           I had to do when buying my house since there previous owner
           had made a claim a couple years ago. --randal