USAA - Covers All Your Needs
Written: Feb 14 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Encompasses all your needs
Cons: I can't think of even one
The Bottom Line: Anyone who doesn't currently do business with USAA should seriously consider starting
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| doddaa2001's Full Review: USAA |
I used to be considered a military dependent, so it was easy for me to default to USAA for my auto insurance needs when I got my first car.
Since opening up that first account; however, I've invested with USAA, I've banked with USAA, and I still use them for all of my insurance needs homeowners/auto etc.
At some point I wondered if I really was getting a good deal and if my loyalty to USAA was deserved so I did some price checking with other insurance companies, looked around at some of the best investments out there, and even opened an account at another bank.
What I discovered was that for the insurance rates, you can't get any lower than USAA, and you don't necessarily have to be or have been attached to the military, though some people believe that you do. For example, I have an account, and I'm getting ready to get married here soon, so I called to ask USAA about getting my fiance an account and having him added to my insurance. Apparently, he had applied earlier to USAA and already had an account, he didn't need to be added to my insurance to be able to obtain the account. He's never been in the military, his parents have never been in the military, but it was a relief knowing that USAA was taking care of not only me, but those I care about without my having to ask.
As for the bank, USAA offers some really cool features other banks charge you for. For instance, they offer free web bill pay (which is becoming more and more common); they also offer rebates on debit purchases and I figure I've got bills to pay anyway so why not get a little something back; they offer free checks (I've not run across any other bank that offers free checks as one of its standard services except for USAA); there are no charges (ATM or annual); and they have no minimum balance. For all of these reasons, I went through the hassle of switching from a credit union that I had since I was in high school over to USAA. They simply offered more.
I also recently started a new job and needed to roll over my IRA. Not knowing exactly what I should do, I called USAA's free financial guidance support line and the gentleman walked me through a financial analysis, recommended a mutual fund and even set up the account for me. I received an email with the documentation that I needed to sign, which I did electronically, I sent back the form and a few days later rolled over my account. I later decided after watching the market to go with another mutual fund investment since I decided I wanted to go with something that took a bit of a higher risk, but it was both helpful to receive the advice without feeling like I was talking to salesperson.
Last but not least, when I was sick this past year and wasn't able to talk (due to having surgery in my mouth) I wrote USAA an email explaining the situation, as I also have a credit card with them. They deferred the payments on the card for 3 months while I recuperated, it wasn't a hassle, I didn't have to write a lengthy letter as I had to with some other companies, I didn't have to call them and verbally tell them what I needed, they just took care of it. For that I'm ever grateful and feel my loyalty to the company is well deserved.
I love the fact that I'm able to hop online and look at all of my activity in one place, I can pay my bills, I can get account balances, I can see how the stock market is doing, I can email USAA about things that I would typically have to express verbally or write about to other companies, such as a suspect duplicate charge on my credit card, and USAA just takes care of it, causing me the least hassle.
While I'll admit that there are times that I think USAA's customer service is slipping from what it was a decade ago or so, after doing business with other companies, they still far surpass any of those companies (like for instance, Capital One) in Customer Service and products & options available to consumers.
I would highly recommend that if you don't already that you see what USAA can offer you.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
doddaa2001
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Reviews written: 65
Trusted by: 2 members
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