Transcript:

Doug: I’m so pleased you could join me on the first episode of the InsureSource podcast. Here’s where we talk about current events that affect the way you buy auto insurance in Oregon. I’m your host, insurance agent Doug Hartley of InsureSource Agencies, with over thirty years of experience. Together with me in the studio is the brilliant insurance agent Shelly Campbell, owner of Pulse Insurance. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be here with me today.

Shelly: My pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Doug: Tell me a little bit about you. How did Shelly Campbell get into this wonderful profession we both share?

Shelly: You’re right, Doug, it is a fantastic profession where we get to help people protect themselves from all the perils that life throws at us. I got my start in the financial services industry on the life insurance and annuity side of the business, working for a firm in downtown Portland Oregon, at a fairly early age. Then, in 2005, I took a leap of faith and started my own insurance agency from scratch, and I haven’t regretted it for one moment.

Doug: That was a bold move. Do remember the first insurance policy you ever sold back then?

Shelly: Yes, and he’s still my client twenty-one years later. A huge shout out to Steve if you’re listening! So, what would you like to talk about today?

Doug: Interesting that you would ask. I received a phone call from a former client yesterday telling me what she’s been through the last few years. She had a low-stress job a mile from home, was married, and had a pretty ideal life.

Shelly: Uh-oh. I’m sensing something dramatically changed in her life.

Doug: Your feeling is correct. Her spouse got sick, she lost her job while she spent time carrying for him in the hospital. He passed away about a month later. After dealing with his estate, she had to start working again in a job that required her to travel quite a bit.

Shelly: Poor thing. I can only imagine what that must have been like for her. Hopefully, you were able to help her with her insurance needs.

Doug: I did. Adding to all her stress, she had selected one of those pay-per-mile insurance plans. That was fine when she drove a mile to work, but when she suddenly had to start taking her husband to doctors’ appointments and then visit him in the hospital every day, she really started racking up the miles.

Shelly: And who has time to go shopping for insurance when you are on emotional overload like that?

Doug: Exactly. Then, having to deal with funeral arrangements and estate business, she had even less time to deal with the brewing storm that was her auto insurance policy. There was a bit of a lag in reporting to the pay-by-the-mile insurer how many actual miles she drove during all of this crisis. By the time she received the bill, her mileage had exceeded the threshold by so much that her premium was nearly five times the normal amount.

Shelly: Five times? For one month? That’s insane.

Doug: Yep. It wasn’t until she started her new job in the third month that she realized she’d be exceeding the policy limit of miles she could drive without being charged extra.

Shelly: Let me guess, that made the next month’s bill even higher still.

Doug: You got that right. I was able to put her into a plan that was a little more per month than what she was paying before all the changes, but the company won’t care whether she drives one mile or a hundred each day.

Shelly: You know, I can see where a pay-per-mile plan might work for someone. There are so many things in life that we pay for by some unit, like liquids by the gallon, or things by the inch, foot, or pound. It would make sense for someone who truly doesn’t drive that much and occasionally might need their car for a road trip.

Doug: Yes. Our insurance agencies both have a few companies that reward excellent drivers who don’t go far using special plug-in devices or phone apps to monitor driving behavior and mileage. But when circumstances change, like what happened with my client yesterday, we’re here to help take some of that pressure off by finding a more reasonable solution.

Shelly: Well, I’m glad you were able to help her save money in the future. And if you, in the listening audience, would like Doug to review your pay-per-mile plan to be sure you are still getting the best price for the miles you drive, call him at 503-693-2852.

Doug: Thank you so much, Shelly. And speaking of saving money. You should also check out Shelly and her podcast over on Pulse Insurance Podcasts for more tips on how you can lower your insurance costs. My favorite episode is the one about boiling frogs. Thank you so much for joining me in the studio today.

Shelly: You are welcome. I’m happy to help when I can.

Doug: This has been an InsureSource Podcast, and I’m your host, insurance agent Doug Hartley. I hope you’ll come back and give us a listen next time when we share more helpful information on how to make your insurance dollar go further.