West Bend Car Insurance Review

General thoughts on pricing initially are positive, but substantial rate increases and policy cancellation practices impact long-term value, according to forum users:

"After 6 years with them and never making a claim my agent informed me they were upping my home and auto rates by 38%. So West Bend... In case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight!"

"I have been with west bend for several years and claim free. When my policy renewed it sky rocketed. When I questioned the increase I was told it was due to my 'careless driving ticket'. I explained I've never been charged or convicted of such an offense."

Most customers report extremely mixed experiences with how West Bend handles claims, with some praising quick resolution while others face extended delays:

"Over 500 days since my claim was filed. Over 365 days since it has been stalled with zero movement. Living in limbo like a gypsy, in a makeshift rental, hoping each day we can begin the process to return to our family home. No solution, action, help, movement in sight. I hope no other family has to go through this experience."

"I have had them for years and made a few claims. Never a problem. I had a auto claim and received a quote for repairs that was less than then West Bend figured. They gave me their figure and I didn't have to pay the deductible. Never any problems."

"Right from the beginning West Bend had someone out there immediately assessing the damage and connecting us with our claim specialist Joe Rathsack. He helped us find a rental home and they took care of 12 months of rent right away so we didn't have to worry about anything."

Agent service shows notable inconsistency across different experiences, with particular issues noted in third-party claims handling:

"Customer service not only unresponsive but extremely rude. I would never use this company. They should not even be in business. The way that they currently do business is criminal and I hope that they go out of business soon based on the way they treat people."

"A West bend mutual insurance company client ran a stop sign and struck my vehicle. I have been dealing with this for going on six weeks. I have attempted to reach the insurance adjuster multiple times with no return phone calls."

"I was in an accident where the driver admitted fault (he had West Bend) and I had GEICO. Working with West Bend was a nightmare---they did everything they could to delay estimates, repairs, reimbursement, etc. They only paid up to 80% and said 'they would send that to me in the mail, if I didn't agree with it, what I do is up to me.'"

West Bend's online resources receive generally positive feedback, with customers appreciating mobile app features and online claim tracking capabilities:

"West Bend Insurance offers a user-friendly mobile app designed to streamline the insurance experience. While claims cannot be filed through the app, policyholders can use it to track the progress of their claims, upload pictures, and access policy information."

Regulatory data shows below-average complaint ratios, but customer experiences reveal concerning patterns regarding policy reinstatement and claims handling practices:

"We called our insurance company and made a payment for the full year on Friday 8/5/2022. On Saturday 8/6/2022 we had our first incident, which would not be considered major. West Bend will not reinstate our policy because the payment was 10 days late. I believe 120% that if we did not have an incident, they would have kept our money and continued to let the policy stay active."

"West Bend received an overall complaint index of just 0.24, notably less than expected" with regulatory data showing fewer complaints than their market share would predict."

People appreciate the coverage options available, but report issues with policy reinstatement practices and strict underwriting that may disadvantage customers during claim periods:

"Most insurance companies will give a past customer a grace period on late payment, or if payment is received, the policy will be reinstated. WARNING!!! Stay away from a company this shady."

"I specifically asked if I could get some advice without filing a claim and was told that yes, I could speak to an adjuster and no claim would be filed. An adjuster calls me back, we have a conversation, he answers my questions and then at the very end as I am about to hang up he says that he has to file a claim and investigate the accident."

West Bend is a legitimate car insurance company that ranks 15th in our comprehensive car insurance provider study. The insurer excels in affordability and coverage options, placing 11th nationally in both areas.

In Wisconsin, West Bend car insurance ranks ninth for most drivers.

Adults pay an average of $497 annually for minimum coverage and $1,054 for full coverage through West Bend. Annual premiums range from $431 to $3,718 for minimum and $783 to $6,691 for full coverage.

West Bend’s claims reputation is mixed. Some customers report fair processing and reasonable settlements, while others describe extended delays and communication challenges during more complex claims.

Note: This represents limited information based primarily on forum reviews.

West Bend ranks well for drivers with bad credit, earning 6th place overall for affordability among insurers in this category.

Yes, West Bend raises car insurance rates over time due to inflation impacting repair and medical expenses, plus increased claims from distracted driving and severe weather. Rate adjustments also reflect updated risk assessments, regulatory changes, and individual factors like credit score shifts or age-related risk categories.

West Bend isn't the best choice for young drivers. The company ranks 14th for affordability among the insurers we reviewed, making it expensive for an age group that already pays high premiums.