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        • Menomonie
        • 420 Main Street E
          Menomonie, WI 54751
          Phone: 715-235-6479
          Fax: 715-235-8860
          Email: info@burstadinsurance.com

           

        • Medford
        • 1154 W Broadway Ave
          Medford WI 54451
          Phone: 715-748-6262
          Fax: 715-748-4730
          Email: info@burstadinsurance.com

        • New Richmond
        • 1225 N Knowles Ave
          New Richmond, WI 54017
          Phone:  715-246-6988
          Fax: 715-246-6965
          Email: info@nr-ins.com

        • Chippewa Falls
        • 2396 Hallie Road Ste 5
          Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
          Phone: 715-723-0600
          Fax: 715-723-0900
          Email: info@burstadinsurance.com

        • River Falls
        • 215 North 2nd Street
          River Falls, WI 54022
          Phone: 715-425-1382
          Fax: 715-425-0363
          Email: info@burstadinsurance.com

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Should I File an Insurance Claim?

May 5, 2020 By Monte Burstad

Small dent in the rear fender of a car

Before you file an insurance claim, it’s usually a good idea to talk to your insurance agent first. Even when your claim seems straightforward, you need to understand how it will affect your policy in the future. Continue reading to find out what you should ask your insurance agent.

What’s Your Deductible?

Double-check your deductible for that specific type of claim. Remember that some types of insurance policies have higher or lower deductibles for certain types of claims instead of always using your primary deductible. For example, auto glass claims often have a lower or no deductible, while home insurance policies might have a higher deductible for hurricane losses.

You need to know your deductible to see how much money you’d be able to get and if it would be worth filing a claim.

Will You Lose Discounts?

You may have discounts on your policy for having a claims-free history. Ask if you’d lose them and for how long. The discount you lose decreases the value of your claim payout.

Will Your Rates Increase?

Losing discounts isn’t the only way your premium might go up. The actual rate can also increase. Not all customers get the same rate. Instead, the insurance company calculates it based on your risk factors, including your past claims history. This may seem like two different ways of charging you for the same thing, but this is why you always need to compare the entire insurance policy when you’re comparing insurance quotes.

Keep in mind that not all rates increase your insurance premiums equally. As a general rule, you can expect higher rates for more claims and more severe claims. One minor claim might not increase your rates at all, but a few of the same type likely will. Even a single significant claim after years of no claims can lead to a substantial premium increase.

How Long Do Rate Increases Last?

Rate increases last as long as the insurance company considers the claim important. Many include claims from the last three to five years. Some go as far back as seven years. It might also depend on the type of claim. Once your claim is older than whatever cutoff the insurance company uses, your rates should go back down.

Does Switching Insurance Companies Help?

If an insurance company raises your rates, your natural reaction may be to shop around. The bad news is that insurance companies share their claims history, so you can’t switch insurance companies and have the new insurance company treat you as someone who has never filed a claim. The good news is that each insurance company has their own way of setting prices, so you could still find a lower quote somewhere else.

What Can Your Insurance Agent Do?

Your insurance agent works for you, not the insurance company. Your insurance agent can provide a neutral source of information to help you decide if it’s worth filing a claim and how to get the best price on insurance afterward. Burstad Insurance has insurance agents ready to help you in Menomonie, WI, with additional locations in Chippewa Falls, Medford, River Falls, and New Richmond, WI. Contact us now to get help deciding what to do with your claim.

Filed Under: Car

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Refer a Friend!
I really appreciate their friendly, prompt and knowledgeable assistance. We have been with them for years, and are consistently happy with their service.
Jeanne R.
Jeanne R.
17:46 14 Dec 22
Valorie provided excellent service and quickly found us the best insurance policy and rates available. Thank you, Burstad Insurance!
Roxanne S.
Roxanne S.
00:39 28 Aug 22
Family and Burstad worked their magic and found insurance even cheaper than what I was paying. They are very responsive when adding or changing things to a policy and they stick up for their customers when a bank may try to manipulate the home insurance for no apparent reason. Well done Burstad. I highly recommend.
Mindy A.
Mindy A.
09:30 24 May 22
Good service they work at finding you the best insurance
Jason W.
Jason W.
19:14 01 May 22
Easy to work with
Dale B.
Dale B.
00:39 08 Apr 22
Good insurance company
Carla O.
Carla O.
18:49 31 Mar 22
Easy to work with and great rates. Sent a lot of friends here. All are happy with it!
Happy Home I.
Happy Home I.
16:05 29 Mar 22
Melissa and her staff have always treated me right! Often finding better rates for me! Thanks
Dave T.
Dave T.
22:06 11 Jan 22
They are very responsive in addressing all of my insurance needs, and I always feel they are doing what's in my best interests.
Kevin J.
Kevin J.
02:40 11 Jan 22
Great place
Peter T.
Peter T.
20:32 10 Oct 21
Monte and his team are great to work with. They were extremely helpful in getting our business up off the ground and getting the needed items to be successful. I would highly recommend them for your business!
Jeremy M.
Jeremy M.
13:57 29 Apr 21
Great to work with!
Denise V.
Denise V.
18:57 12 Mar 21
Everyone here has been very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly! Whenever I contact them, they get back to me quickly and are sure to get me the best rates possible. Thank you! The Baldwins
Dawn B
Dawn B
23:02 30 Jan 21
Have had my insurance for different vehicles and homes for many years, always friendly and am very satisfied.
Randy Chico J.
Randy Chico J.
16:48 25 Aug 20
Great response time, #1 in the area
Joshua E.
Joshua E.
15:50 22 Jul 20
good business and friendly service. highly recommend giving them a call to see what they can do for you.
Dustin W.
Dustin W.
14:51 21 Jul 20
Very responsive all around good business and friendly service. Highly recommend.
Wedam Enterprises L.
Wedam Enterprises L.
14:49 21 Jul 20
Excellent customer serviceKent Elkin goes above and beyondAlso the rest of the staff is very accommodating
Lee B.
Lee B.
23:08 20 Jul 20
Prompt and courteous service. The good people at New Richmond have always replied to my queries and helped solve my problems. Thanks for seven years of good service.
Gordon D.
Gordon D.
18:25 20 Jul 20
They are professional and responsive
Barbara B.
Barbara B.
00:14 11 Jul 20
EXCELLENT customer service!! Missy Kraemer at the Medford office takes care of absolutely everything for me! No worries and best rates to be found. Highly recommend.
Mary Ellen W.
Mary Ellen W.
15:37 12 May 20
EXCELLENT insurance company! I have my personal and business insurance with Monte and have for over 20 years. When we had the tornado in Colfax in 2014, Monte called me and was at my restaurant door within an hour after it hit. Amazing service.... Thank you Monte, Penny and the whole staff at Burstad Insurance.
Rich J.
Rich J.
11:55 16 Apr 20
New Richmond Insurance consistently saves me money on my policies year after year. Excellent customer service with most of my questions answered the same day.
Valerie C.
Valerie C.
01:57 16 Apr 20
great place and nice service
Li K.
Li K.
20:20 15 Apr 20
Great place. Emily is very helpful as well as all the rest of the people I have encountered there.
Stacy C.
Stacy C.
03:06 04 Jan 20
Best prices. Best customer service!
Bill I.
Bill I.
12:49 16 Nov 19
Top notch service. Will recommend to all.
Steven G.
Steven G.
13:19 01 Nov 19
Yes! I want to tell you something. If you need a car insurance - this is the place where you will find the best offer.Have done car insurance for two trucks. The price was so good, even less than I expected.My agent was Angie. I want to say thank you for caring! She is the nicest and kindest person ever!Definitely will return for the nest year insurance
Ana B.
Ana B.
00:39 29 Aug 19
Excellent rates and service. Friendly staff and helped in a timely manner
Jason L.
Jason L.
03:56 13 Jun 19
Neil is awesome!
Alicia B.
Alicia B.
15:05 23 May 19
Very helpful agents and staff. They got me a great deal on homeowners and auto insurance.
John A.
John A.
12:01 12 May 19
I have had policies thru the Agents, at the Menomonie office.Their prompt response, patience, amazing customer service and thoroughness, is the greatest I have ever had with an agency!
Jody L.
Jody L.
01:29 10 Apr 19
This is my insurance agency. I have been treated very well and my premiums are responsible.
Mitzi M.
Mitzi M.
11:25 25 Jan 19
They are the best I have ever used. Any time you need something, they have your back. Never had an issue with the company , and I would recommend Kent Elkin to any one and everyone. Thank you for all your services New Richmond insurance agency. Been with them for 3 years now.
Natasha R.
Natasha R.
04:28 30 Nov 18
Great staff!
Valorie M.
Valorie M.
20:54 13 May 18
I have been a customer for many years and love the personal customer service experience that they provide. I know that when I call, I will get a real live person! I also know that the person I am working with will have an understanding of my history and my policy. Highly recommend! Thanks and keep up the good work!
Brian H.
Brian H.
18:21 21 Sep 17
I have been a customer for a long time and love the personal customer service experience they provide. I can reach out anytime and know that I will get to talk to a real person that has the background on my policy and will be able to help me. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Brian H.
Brian H.
18:13 21 Sep 17
Corey Burstsad Insurance is great!! Neil always goes out of way for his clients, very trustworthy and efficient.
marcy M.
marcy M.
20:19 13 Jan 17
Very friendly and helpful. Got is a great deal and we were refered there by a good friend after not being able to find what we wanted elsewhere. They made the process very easy and didn't mind us popping by last minute to get the details figured out.
Soleil
Soleil
20:52 05 Jun 16
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Don’t Forget Renters Insurance

To illustrate why one might want to consider renters insurance, we would like to share a short story about a young couple and a recent experience with their apartment. Like most modern couples, this young couple, let’s call them Mike and Mary, got up that morning, had a quick breakfast, and left for work. Shortly …Read More

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