Where to turn? (The answer might be especially interesting to any carrier marketing executives reading this.)

I have had a USAA credit card for decades, and I know, from the promotions slipped frequently into my monthly statements, that they offer renter's insurance. And I actually have positive brand feelings toward the company (and let's just say “positive” does not accurately reflect my sentiments toward any of the other credit-card companies with which I deal).

I called the number on the back of my card, said “renter's insurance” into the phone and was immediately connected with an agent. She had my address already and asked only four questions (one of which was why I was calling today, and I was upfront about writing about the experience for NU). The other questions had to do with my fire-alarm situation (basic); how much coverage I wanted ($25,000) and if I had any valuable objects I wanted to single out (yes, two paintings x $2,500 each).

That was enough to get a quote: $199.12/year (with a $250 deductible), which could be billed right to my credit card. Coverage against loss or theft of the paintings would be an extra $48/year with no deductible (for a total of $247.12). Liability coverage of $100,000 was included at no extra cost, plus $5,000 of third-party medical payments. Earthquakes, too, were covered, I was told (reassuring, given the recent shakings in the Northeast).

My other option? A local State Farm agent a few blocks down the street, Jeff Waddle, has been mailing me neighborly promotions for a while now—enough so that I was able to recall his name at work. A quick search online brought me to his State Farm-branded website, and with a click or two I was entering my info for a quote—way more questions than USAA. Dozens, in fact, among them my pet/wild animal status, my firearms situation, prior-loss history, proximity to a body of water and my building's construction type (good thing I've worked for architecture magazines, or I might have flubbed that one).

But after this third degree, I was offered a better rate: $207/year (including an earthquake endorsement I checked) for $25,000 of coverage, $100,000 of liability, $5,000 for medical payments to others and $5,000 worth of coverage for my paintings. But the deductible was $500 (with no option to lower that to $250).

A tough call, but for the convenience of the credit-card billing, the lower deductible, plus my loyalty to the brand, I think I'm going with USAA. I have to admit—it feels pretty good to now be a dues-paying member of the P&C club.

Bryant Rousseau
Editor in Chief
201-526-2329
[email protected]