Allianz

I have lived in Portugal for over 3 years - I moved here from the US.

I am not a golden visa expat, but a retired man who moved here to live in peace in a peaceful country.

My first major purchase was an almost new auto 3 + years ago and the dealer advised I use Allianz for insurance - I purchased the best complete coverage.

Each year Allianz raised my premium even as I had no incidents or claims.

This year Allianz raised my premium an amount that seemed exorbitant to me given my exemplary driving record and no claims experience - and when asking them about this in email and receiving no bonus discount for my clean driving record Allianz basically said we need to be profitable and if you don't like it we don't care.

As part of discovery about auto insurance in Portugal I learned that there is a Portuguese car insurances system of No-Claims Bonus (Prémio Bonus Malus) for good drivers who haven't had an accident for three years from the beginning of the time when they start their policy.

Allianz never offered this to me and my only rational way to explain this is it seems Allianz understood it needed to reward my 3 years safe and no claims driving experience with a significantly lower premium but instead spiked my annual premium which I now believe was intentional to drive me to look for an alternative.

I have asked Allianz and their ombudsman service - BTW it is an Allianz associate who actually receives this type of complaint email and is a buffer between the customer and the "ombudsman" entity so forgive me if I feel this is a fox in the hen house sort of system - about this in email and the emails are courteous but basically request even as an ex customer I work through a generic info at Allianz email that was the place I started with and the ones who told me they need to be profitable and my ridiculous hike was their only choice.

In the only way I understand to be helpful in suggesting ways Allianz could improve based on my 3 year experience I offer the alternative I found that is such a different experience than Allianz.

The terrible customer service was a blessing in disguise because I was led to Abbeygate Insurance.

I now have the same complete insurance package and at a price way better - let me say that again - way better as in Euro 400 less than Allianz.

Price is always important but so is "Customer Service" and what a difference in the service I am receiving from Abbeygate.

Emails are returned right away - phone calls are returned right away - WhatsApp replies are received right away. This is much different than my former business experience that took days to get replies to emails - phone calls were never returned.

And in English - as much as I am working to learn Portuguese I do "need" English especially for documents, which Abbeygate provides in such detail.

I am so impressed and pleased with Abbeygate.

I see from reviews of the larger Allianz corporate offices in other countries that customers seem better satisfied and offer more positive reviews than I can based on my direct experience.

So my experience to be clear is only with Allianz auto insurance in Portugal.

14 months ago, I had a bad water leak, which ruined by fully equipped bedroom and ensuite in France. Lucky for me, it was in my next door house which I used for my visiting friends and relatives, and it was disused at the time. It was insured with Allianz France regrettably, and it took them a full 2 months to inspect the damage, of which the ceiling came down, the walls ruined, black mould set in, and all my expensive contents, broken, and ruined. The female agent, who didn't actually talk to you, but in a argumentative tone, seemed to agree with most of the claim, but thought I should have dragged the sodden bed mattress outside to dry. What was the point, it was soaked with dirty water, and it would take 10 days for it to dry (we never get more than 3 days without rain), and then all it would be fit for is to burn, it can't be cleaned. When my brokers contacted me, they said I would get nothing for my contents, because I didn't take enough action to save them, and they only agreed to a small proportion of the builder's costs. I asked them to explain to me what, and how I could save my furniture. I then got an email agreeing to pay half my contents of my then 3,000 contents claim, at 1030 euros, and was paying that amount into my account. Where did they learn to count? I seemed to hit a brick wall, my brokers did nothing, and I couldn't contact Allianz. I then got lucky, and contacted Allianz UK, after being shunted around a few times, I came across Roy Exton, head of Allianz international claims, and a really nice man. He got Allianz to send another agent around, and not only did he agree to everything, but spotted building work I hadn't claimed for. Allianz agreed to pay for the full building work, and give me 2000 euros for my contents. The content bill actually by then rose to 4,600 with other items I hadn't initially spotted. Again, they were not paying the vast majority of the replacement costs, using the same excuse. I asked the to tell me what I could have saved, but they didn't bother to reply. It's a bull$#*! excuse to avoid paying the full costs, and I reminded them it took their original agent 2 months to turn up, they're useless. This had dragged on for 14 months and counting. So whilst you think you are insured with Allianz, you're only partly. I have seen many other instances of Allianz's use of fake excuses to not pay out, they're a micky mouse company, avoid them, use a reputable insurance company.