1 /5 Robert Czikall: Very disappointed in the rate hikes. Its understandable that there will be rate increases due to circumstances beyond our control. When I first got insurance at this agency under (Gary Blatter) was the agent he gave me a wonderful rate at around $600 plus some change for an annual premium. Then the next year it went to around $800. I went with it and didnt complain. Now, going into June of 2026 my annual premium is just over $2,500! Every person I have spoken to including my Credit Union has even agreed this kind of rate hike is insane. At this point I am trying to see what options are out there and reported this rate increase to the Office of The Insurance Commissioner of Wa State to see what they say. I called this office to see exactly why my rates had risen to such an absurd amount and basically nobody gave me any explanation but just the run-a-round to write a formal letter to Allstate asking why. I would be very careful choosing Allstate. What started out great got worse and worse with each passing year and a markup of well over 200% is not acceptable. Also understand that back in 2022 the courts overturned a law that said Insurance companies cannot use your credit score to determine things involving your insurance. Now that it has been overturned this gives insurance companies even more ability to do what they want to policy holders.
I highly advise everyone to contact the WA Sate legislature and speak out against the reversal of allowing insurance companies to base rates on credit. By allowing this to happen it will only backfire and cause low income, the disabled, minorities or those who may have suffered a setback from a loss of a job, illness ect to have even more of a burden to carry. Speak out. Below are the reasons why I believe allowing credit based insurance is a bad idea.
Many consumer advocacy groups argue that using a persons credit score to determine homeowners insurance premiums is unfair and can have negative consequences
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Here are some arguments raised against this practice:
Disproportionate Impact: Credit scoring in insurance has been criticized for disproportionately affecting low-income individuals, minorities, and those who may have experienced financial setbacks due to unforeseen circumstances like medical debt or job loss.
Lack of Direct Correlation: Critics argue there isnt a direct causal relationship between a persons credit score and their likelihood of filing an insurance claim. They question whether a lower credit score automatically equates to a higher risk of home damage or other insurable events.
Exacerbating Financial Hardship: Homeowners with lower credit scores may already face higher mortgage rates, and charging them higher insurance premiums on top of that could further strain their finances, potentially making it harder to afford and maintain their homes.
Lack of Transparency: The specific formulas used to calculate credit-based insurance scores are often proprietary and not publicly disclosed, making it difficult for consumers to understand how their rates are determined and challenge potential inaccuracies.
Potential for Errors in Credit Reports: Credit reports can contain errors, and using potentially inaccurate data to set insurance premiums can lead to unfair rates for consumers.
