Farmers Insurance Group was founded 80 years ago as a customer service oriented company. But in 2011 MSN Money-Zogby poll, over 29% called Farmers’ customer service poor. Further inquiry reveals Farmers drops customers, refuses claims, and employs unresponsive adjusters. State of Washington Insurance regulators intervened with Farmers Insurance refused a claim because an at fault driver had road rage.

Farmers Insurance declined to respond specific polling results, sent a written statement in which it questioned its inclusion in the survey because the Farmers brand has exclusive agents in only 30 out of 50 states. The Farmers Insurance Group has different affiliations to distribute insurance, under different names, like 21st Century Insurance.

Farmers is the 3rd biggest home / auto insurer in the US, with over 20 million policies Nationwide. They are now owned by Zurich Financial in Switzerland.

In 2007, Farmers Insurance filed a request from the state of California to raise its rates because they improved rankings at J.D. Power from “below average” to “slightly above average” over the last 3 years.

After the California Department of Insurance denied the company’s rate increase request, the JD Power ranking dropped substantially. Farmers posted profit over over $1 billion in 2010.