Conference 7.286::digital

>    I *strongly* believe Metpay should issue monthly or quarterly
>    statements, much like bank statements, showing each payment (weekly
>    payroll deduction), any additional charges (surcharges, etc) and
>    total account balance.  I currently insure 2 cars, 1 motorcycle
>    and 1 condo thru Metpay, and tend to make a lot of changes to the
>    coverage.  My payroll deduction seems to go up and down at random,
>    and I never feel like I actually know what I'm paying for.


 I recently got a card from Metpay and sent it for all of my deductions,
 they sent a detailed report of all my deductions.  The card came in the
 mail with the policy statement.

Reggie

    I also insure with Metpay, and agree with your concens.
    
    One way around this:
    
    >    -  It is extremely difficult to get through to them on the phone
    >(especially PKO) - the phone is always busy.  I would prefer a message
    >that all lines are busy, please hold.
     
    Use the busy extension callback feature, if your phone is so equipped.

     
>    Use the busy extension callback feature, if your phone is so equipped.

That's a big if. Many in-house 'switchboards' don't support automatic redial,
or only in a limited area. Many local exchanges don't support touch-tone
phones, which means no auto redial. But enough people have auto redial to
keep phones like Metpay's continually busy. So the only solution is for Met-
pay to improve its phones, or for people to forgo the small DEC discount and
get their auto insurance from another company.

        There is a MetPay corporate liaison person, who you can reach at
        DTN 251-1232.  I doubt that whoever fills the position knows about
        or follows this conference.  If you have specific problems with
        MetPay that you want addressed, taking them to the Corporate
        Liaison has some hope of getting them dealt with.  Writing about
        them in this conference may make you feel better, but it almost
        certainly will NOT get the changes made. 
        
        Tom

    Re: .3
    
    Note that the "DEC discount" from Metpay is not universal.  I think it
    is primarily offered in MA - I know it is NOT offered in NH.  I found
    that in NH, Metpay had one of the highest rates for auto insurance I
    could find.  I went back to DEC's former insurance company, Liberty
    Mutual, which has always treated me with respect and I never have
    any trouble getting through to them.
    
    					Steve

    	I know this is an old note but it seemed the most appropriate. I am
    currently not, and have never been, involved with Metpay. This is for
    one primary reason, cost !!!
    
    	Supposedly, Metpay gives DEC a discount. Even with this supposed
    discount, they still do not appear to have competitive rates in any
    area of insurance I looked at (i.e. home contents, auto/motorcycle).
    
    	Why is this ? I would think that they should be much more
    competitive. One of the reasons that I've heard of people going with them
    is the convenience of direct payroll deductions. This should allow Metpay 
    to offer an even greater discount. 
    
    	So does anyone know why DEC continues to deal with Metpay in spite
    of their high premiums ?

       I received a notice from my insurance company that my rates
    where going up from $229 per 3 months to $251.  This is for just
    liability for a beat up '78 Olds stationwagon.  They wanted another
    $500 per year to add a '80 beatup Chevy Citation.  Or in other words
    I was going to have to pay around $1500 a year for those two cars.
    That comes out to a little over $4 per day for the priviledge of 
    driving a car in Colorado.
       When I called Metpay I received a quote of about $720 per year
    for the combination of cars, and the same coverage.  So now I am
    down to about $2 per day for the priviledge of driving in Colorado.
       Metpay may not save people from other areas of the country much
    money, but in my case here in Colorado, and others out here I have talked
    with , it does reduce our payments to the ripoff insurance companies that
    Coloradoans are forced to pay by law.
                                            Flavius
    

    	re:7

    	Just out of curiosity, did you check with other insurance agencies
    in the area as well? If I look around here in N.H., I can probably find
    an insurance company with rates equal to or higher than Metpay. More often 
    than not however, the insurance companies I've called have been less than 
    Metpay in auto, motorcycle, and house contents insurance.

    	People that I've talked to in Mass. have reported similar results.
    These are usually the people that say, "I go with them for the
    convenience". As I said, the convenience of direct payroll deduction is
    also a benefit to Metpay. It is something that they should be giving a
    considerable rate break for as they are much less likely to incur late
    or missed payments.

    what's the cost of switching?  There's no guarantee that if DEC
    switched to a company with "competitive rates" today, that they would
    be competitive 5 years from now.
    
    You, the consumer, have the ultimate choice.  If you want convenience,
    Metpay is fine.  If you want the cheapest rates, you find 'em yourself.

    	I may be wrong but I would guess that this cost would be less than
    what it cost to switch the Worker's Employee Credit Union over to the
    DEC Credit Union.
    
    	I would also suspect that a company the size of DEC would have some
    significant barganing power such that it could put some on-going rate
    checks and balances in place to control costs.
    
    	Perhaps they could just allow another vendor to come into DEC and
    compete for customers while offering the same conveniences. Then there
    would be minimal (if any) switching costs that DEC incurs.

    I live in Mass. and have had my insurance through Metpay for 4+ years.
    At the time I switched, they were cheaper -- not even counting the
    "pay-as-you-go" (through payroll) aspect.  I have been satisfied 
    and haven't done any price comparisons since then.
    
    I currently have 3 cars, homeowner's, and umbrella.  Last spring I
    got approximately $300 in dividends (or whatever they called it)
    back from them.

    I have been a happy "metpay camper" for many years as well.  I started
    with auto around 84(?) and they were the cheapest i found, plus gave me
    very good advice on the coverage i was carrying...meaning they not only
    beat the price but also beat the coverage.  I have since added home (as 
    cheap as i found anywhere else) and recently boat (which was also very
    competitive). 
    
    Special note on the bike:  I DID NOT insure my motorcyle with metpay,
    as they DID NOT have the cheapest rates/best coverage.  They were
    WAY off the scale.  I spoke with the metpay agent about the quote, and
    the response (off the roceord, of course...) was that Metropolitan does
    not want to be in that business.  No problem for me, I insured my bike
    with another company, Hurt and Forbes (not kidding, their name is HURT)
    in laconia.  they insured my new harley for about $300/12mos.  Metpay
    wanted $850 to insure a 1978 Honda 500 for liability.
    
    Jim

    what is this dividend stuff, anyway. I've insured my apartment
    and Old Mustang Convertible since January.  What can I expect 
    from them this year.  when?
    
    

    re: .13
    
    It's when they overcharge you up front and give you some of it back at
    the end of the year...or it's when you give them an interest-free loan
    for a year.
    
    Bob

    re.:14
    The dividend is really a rebate of monies paid in the previous year.
    
    After the year is over, METPAY looks at the total revenue from the DEC
    group compares that with the paid out and needed reserves. If there is
    any surplus, there is a check that gets sent out to the policyholder.
    
    The only other insurance company that ever did that for me was one with
    Farm Bureau in the name.
    
    Try an actual comparison of coverage vs cost. I am very happy with the
    cost of my auto and umbrella polies.. My homeowners [11 rooms, <2000 sg
    ft, 3 outbuildings, full replacement with inflation rider] is only $235
    per year. (Also check out how they really respond to a claim, I am very
    happy.)
    
    Howard

                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:      06-Oct-1992 06:15pm EDT
                                        From:      DICS_DIST 
Printed:   07-Oct-1992 06:49am                     DICS_DIST@NEST@MRGATE@NROMTS@NRO 
                                        Dept:       
                                        Tel No:     

TO: Distribution

Subject: METPAY PROGRAM COMMUNICATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS    

DIGITAL/METPAY PROGRAM ENHANCED

Since 1978, Digital Equipment Corporation has made the METPAY program 
available to our employees.  Through METPAY, Digital employees now insure 
more than 38,000 personally owned automobiles and 18,000 homes at special 
group rates available through Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance 
Company and affiliates (Met P&C), a subsidiary of MetLife. 

Under a new agreement with Metropolitan, this popular program has been 
expanded to reach the widest possible segment of the Digital employee 
population. 

Subject to state availability and applicable laws, a full range of auto,
homeowners, renters, boatowners and other types of personal insurance is now
available to virtually all Digital employees.  (Of course, applicants may be 
excluded in certain circumstances such as failure to pay premiums, failure to
maintain a valid driver's license, or an auto or boat DWI conviction.)

In addition to benefiting from special group rates and the convenience of 
payroll deduction, Digital employees in the program are also eligible to 
receive an annual dividend (subject to state insurance department approval).  
In 1991, eligible Massachusetts employees received back 13% of their personal 
insurance premiums, including auto, paid through METPAY during the dividend 
period!

For more information about the METPAY program, see your on-site METPAY 
representative or call 1 800-GET-MET 1 (1-800-438-6381).  The Digital METPAY
liaison can be reached at DTN 223-8920 or (508)493-8920

    re:16
    	
    	That mail message is what prompted my question in the first place.
    Since there is no way to determine what a dividend check (if any) will
    be, I have only the initial cost to go on.
    
    	As far as comparing apples and apples, I know how to read a policy
    to determine what I have for coverage, so I'm not comparing a lesser
    policy to a greater policy. Maybe their rates have dropped for this
    area but when I checked a few years back, they were so far out of whack
    with what was available locally that it completely turned me off to
    Metpay.
    
    	I've heard from some people that say that Metpay was actually
    cheaper for them, but when I asked if they had shopped around, the
    answer I got basically was that they beat their old policy. When I'm
    looking for rates, I think nothing of picking up the phone and calling
    at least a half dozen places for quotes. Perhaps in some areas, this is
    not possible.
    
    	In the greater Manchester area, there are many different insurance
    companies to choose from. This, along with the fact that insurance is
    not required by law in N.H., seems to equate to more competition than
    Metpay wants/has to contend with.

    re: "allowing another vendor to come into DEC"
    
    Hey, I'd love it.  And I'd also like Au Bon Pain next to the cafeteria,
    and how about a 2nd credit union?
    
    Where does it end?

    
    Re: .18
    
    So what's wrong with that?  Ever been to the Reading, England site.
    They've got a bank, a travel agent, and a retail store.  Perhaps
    more.  It provides great convenience for the employees without having
    to leave the site on personal errands.
    
    Steve
    

    I called Metpay a few years back and asked whether I should consider
    switching to them for car insurance. Once they heard I live and drive
    in Massachusetts they told me not to bother; their rates wouldn't be
    lower than other insurers. I never switched.
    
    FWIW, I get dividends from my insurer, Amica, but only for life
    insurance. They stopped giving dividends in Massachusetts for car
    insurance years ago.
    
    

    In California I had Metropolitan for all my insurance needs; home,
    cars(5), & life.  However when the "climate" got too risky, they "took
    a hike" and left me looking for another carrier and State Farm accepted
    my business and now have it all.  The reason cited by MET was that due
    to unclear direction from California lawmakers, etc. they were ceasing
    all insurance business in this state.  Actually, they did not want the
    auto insurance and the state said if you quit that then you have to
    cease all sales, so they did.  Now that they realize that there is a
    climate for profit they are crawling back and using MetPay as a
    vehicle.  I get better rates from State Farm, as well as better service
    and real people to talk with.  
    

    re:18
    
    	Another restaurant or a credit union would likely be restrained by
    available space at most sites. What does the Metpay rep get, a part time 
    office ?
    
    	Ray

    I called yesterday.  MET PAY was lower 13% lower on homeowners
    (assuming a 13% rebate) and significantly higher on car insurance. 
    Since the rebate is only good as long as long as you are a DEC
    employee, I don't think its a particularly good idea to switch.

    I also called yesterday.  They were about 10% lower on homeowners, but
    30% higher on Auto.  I'll stay where I am.

    >         <<< Note 517.20 by ICS::HSCOTT "Lynn Hanley-Scott" >>>
    >
    > I called Metpay a few years back and asked whether I should consider
    > switching to them for car insurance. Once they heard I live and drive
    > in Massachusetts they told me not to bother; their rates wouldn't be
    > lower than other insurers. I never switched.
    >

    In MA, the auto insurance rates are mandated by the state government,
    thus eliminating any price competition.  It costs the same regardless
    of who you buy it from.

    (This, in large measure, helps explain why the MA rates are so damn
    high compared to elsewhere.)

    METPAY, though, has a loophole (probably because of the group size) that
    allows them to charge 5% less than the mandated rates.  So, METPAY is
    5% cheaper than anyone else if you live in MA.

    Factor in the periodic rebates, and I'd say METPAY is one of digital's
    best benefits for MA residents.

    L.

re: .25

I believe it's not a loophole, but merely that the state only sets upper
limits, not lower limits.  Companies are free to charge as little as they want,
so there really is competition in that sense.  

The high overall rates are partly because the state keeps the rates for high-risk
areas artificially low, forcing rural and suburban car owners to subsidize
people living in the high risk areas.

   Gary

    
    I stayed with MET coming to Colorado since they are cheaper
    than the rest of the CO insurance companies.
    
    As for homeowners, I have a renters policy now that covers replacement
    cost on contents that is competitive.  With the extra discount for
    having my autos in there as well this rate is pretty good.
    
    I'm working on a deal to build a house north of the Springs and needed
    to line up an insurance company to cover the house.  When MET talked
    to me on the phone they wouldn't even insure the house since it
    was in a rural area without fire hydrants......they claimed too much
    risk and EVEN referred me to a local allstate or state farm office to
    get that type of insurance........
    
    overall I've been very happy with them and their rates, and just wish
    I could get thnew house insured through them too.
    
    bert

If  you live in MA, here's the current Metpay savings:

1. Auto group discount is 7%.  
   It was 5% but was increased to 7%,

2. Weekly payments over the 
   year vs one lump sum upfront:  2-4% depending on how you calculate 
   it and the interest rate assumed.

3. dividends for 1991  13% for auto, homeowners, etc.

Metpay is about 22-24% less expensive.  

Gim

    re:-1

    	That is, if you don't count the increase in motorcycle insurance
    (as someone already mentioned). I calculated the increase this year for
    someone in my group that used to insure their bike with Metpay. His
    rate jumped up 267%. 

    	I gave him the name of the insurance company I used this year and
    he got bike insurance for almost 100% less then his Metpay rate BEFORE
    his 267% increase.

    	IMHO, this was a pretty poor implementation decision. If they
    didn't want to carry bike insurance, they should have just sent out
    notices to that effect. If someone with direct insurance payroll
    deductions missed this for a little over a month, they would have wound
    up paying as much for that short time than what my insurance company 
    charges for the whole season.

    	You just can't help but wonder what else a company like this will
    do when you see these kinds of things going on. Doesn't exactly give me
    that warm fuzzy feeling.

    	Ray

    This is one time I'm gald DEC does have an agreement with MET.  Since
    I'm going back to Plan C, and haven't had insurance, most insurance
    companies wouldn't even touch me (preferred rate that is).
    
    I talked to MET and got a quote that is 50% cheaper than anything I
    could get in New Mexico.  The MET rep said that MET has to give DEC
    employee's a preferred rate, and with the letter from fleet stating
    I've been covered by Liberty Mutual, I now have decent car insurance
    once again.
    
    I also got renters insurance from them since they have replacement
    cost.  As others have noted, I didn't change other policies over to
    MET.  And you can be sure that next year I'll once again review my
    rates and get quotes from other companies.

    It being that time of year (open enrollments, etc) I decided it was
    also time to review all my various insurance policies.
    
    Called Met about my car insurance; during the conversation, it came out
    that apparently they are now offering a 10% discount for folk who have 
    been Digital employees for ten years or longer.
    
    Dave

    re: .-1
    
    "offering"? Does that mean we need to "accept" the offer, or will they
    assume we would accept it?
    
    Do we need to do something to make this happen?
    
    /Thorgan

re .31

I called Met at PKO (DTN 223-8932) I was told that there is no truth to this
statement, at least as far as Massachusetts employees are concerned. There is
an 8% discount below Massachusetts state-set auto insurance rates for ALL
digital employees.

--RS

    All I can say is call them... 
    
    I live in Ohio; I was getting a 5% discount for payroll deduction,
    off of the special Digital group rate.
    
    Now I'll be getting an additional 10% for being with DEC > 10 yrs.
    
    Next Feb at renewal time, due to driving record, I'll get another 
    5% for 'superior driving record' (36 month mark for the policy).
    
    The number I called was 800-541-8483
    
    Dave

I was curious too (having just had my 10 year annv) so I called.  I was told
that there is a discount for "tenure" (read 10 yrs.) and that it did vary by
state.  I'm in Michigan so it seems I'm not elegible [^(.