Founders Insurance
Reviews and Complaints

On December 27, 2011 my parked vehicle was involved in a apparent Hit and Run. The "accident" happened in front of my neighbor's house while they were standing on the driveway in plain view of the Hit and run. They were able to get the license plate number of the car that hit my vehicle, thankfully, i was able to file a police report. The police send a letter to the driver and he acknowledged that he hit my car and provided an insurance Card from Magnum Insurance. While trying to file a claim with Magnum they, Magnum Insurance, transferred me directly to Founders Insurance. I was able to file a claim and they did send me to a "body shop" to get an estimate. The shop is nothing but a large garage not confidence inspiring at all. Once the Estimate was done, I was told that I will be contacted by someone from Founders to finalize the details. That was over 5 weeks ago and none has called. I tried calling them on January 17, January 24, and February 6 and all I was able to do leave a message on someones Voice Mail. i tried using their automated service but my Claim Number was not recognized.
This is the worse possible insurance company that i have ever heard of.

Founders insurance is the worst insurance experience in my life. I got into accident and its been 2 and a half week. I have been trying to contact them Nobody ever answered their calls. So i decided to pay a visit at their office. And had to wait 2 hours in order to ask about whats going on, which they say i didn't have appointment. Well I would've had an appointment if they do answer their phone calls. How many times a called them and left a bunch of voice-mail. Finally I sat down and talked about an hour the process of the claim. She said she would after estimate comes out. She never called me back. I would never suggest anyone to FOUNDERS insurance. If anyone is dealing with who has founders insurance how unfortunate for you.
WORST customer service rude people and liars! I bet a lot of people would definitely agree with me.

Founders insurance does not provide service. Our claim was denied since the insured would not provide a statement? We were not at fault & do not carry Founders, Now they (Founders) will have to pay State Farm (our company) and the insured ( Wilfrido Suarez) will also have to pay more than if they just made good on their responsibility.

I got backed into by a founders insured driver and it's been 3 weeks and I haven't got a return call I sent them everything they requested and still nothing. This is bull ### my car is a show car and it has over 1800 in damage and all I want is the money to fix it and when I call them I get voice mail every time and NO call backs I am going to get my lawyer involved I wasn't but I guess I have to

It sounds like Mr. Wagner is willing to help from Founders. Please post on here to let us know about the results. Thank you!

I, too, was involved in an auto accident (11/2010) with the other driver being insured by Founders. I was stopped at a light behind another dozen cars when I got rear-ended by someone driving too fast for a rainy evening. Myy car was only 2 weeks old - smashed the rear end which they paid for after two weeks of making calls to the claims adjuster who never returned my calls. Now being a little over a year, I have been trying to settle for doctors bills, pain and suffering and inconvenince. My med bills are not being paid and they said that I did not receive a "referral" for going to the doctor I went to. First of all - I don't have to have a referral from Founders. Again, it took over two weeks before anyone would return my call so did they expect me to sit in pain for that long? I think not. I missed work to go to doctors appointments, had to have a babysitter to accommodate doctors appointments, spent time on the phone trying to get thru to them or get someone on the phone because one of their insured parties was not paying attention to the conditions or her driving. She was cited - I was stopped completely at a red light - how can you turn this on me and make me feel like the guilty one and on top of that refuse to pay the medical bills - and I might add for injuries that may never go away. I have friends in the insurance business who when I told them which carrier this driver had, cringed and commented "GOOD LUCK IN TRYING TO GET THEM TO PAY". Also hearing what the above person mentioned, "the worst sub standard insurance company in the state of Illinois." I believe Founders is acting in "bad faith" and should realize they are adding stress to an already stressful incident in people's lives. Losing precious time holding my grandchildren and being unable to run and play with my children has been been time I will never get back - Presidio (and I may be spelling the incorrectly and I apologize) is the claim adjuster's manager that I have had to work with who has treated me like I did something wrong...I did not ask to get hit. Remember - I AM THE VICTIM. Do what is right, Founders. Take responsibility for your clients actions - isn't that what we teach our children? Now I am too having to obtain and attorney which is just going to cost more money and take time on my end and ultimately Founders end. Good Luck to you, Pito.

Pito360 – Thank you for raising your concerns. On behalf of Founders Insurance Company, I would like to apologize for your inconvenience. I can assure you that upon receiving your claim number in regards to your accident, I will personally follow through internally to rectify any ongoing discrepancies. I would also like to assure you that by no means does Founders want to brand itself with your statement of being the “worst insurance company in the world!”. It is our goal to provide prompt service, including extending fair and equitable offers based upon all of the facts surrounding the claim. While the situation you describe is unfortunate, we look forward hearing from you with your name and claim number so we can check into the circumstances to respond to your attorney regarding your enquiry timely. Please contact me directly via email at twagner@foundersinsurance.com

my future wife was involved in a wreck her car is covered on my policy which is founders. their claim services is very slow in getting to your claim i have found it very upsetting when they dont respond to call about my claim. finally my wife car is at the bodyshop and is waitin on mr blake to come and revalurate is intial apprasal of the veichal when every thing thing is finally done it will be 3 week since she had the wreck. which my insurance didnt even fight the decision. founders insurance shouldnt be allowed to even sell insurance, and i am seriously thinkin about legal action against them

I am experiencing the same exact issue. I was sitting at a stop sign when a much larger truck tried to gun through the intersection at a high rate of speed to make the turn to beat another car. The driver who spoke no English took the entire front end of my Mini-Cooper off.
A policamn was sitting right there. She came to aid and found that driver totally at fault.
This was 3 weeks ago and I filed a claim with their office. Thus far in 3 weeks I have heard ONCE from someone who spoke very little and very broken English saying that they did not think it was their driver's fault based solely on what that driver said and NOT on the police report. They claim the police officer misunderstood his English.
They refuse to even LOOK at my car which clearly shows I was hit head on by a much larger car.
Now no one at Founders will so much as RETURN my phone call let alone help me.

I had to hire an Attorney because of the same situation, I filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Insurance where I was not successful. I also called the Governor of Chicago where I was told that the only thing they could do is send my complaint to the Department of Insurance which I had done. But now I feel confident that this is going somewhere my attorney sent UAI and Founders a letter to show up in court.
My accident was in August 2013
My attorney is Todd Heller this is his office number([protected]

Joel smith

Joel smith 5230 w legrande av Indianapolis in 46241. [protected]

I'm a Founders client and was very offended about the comments made. I will copy and paste them below:
1. (shows you the mentality of a Founders customer).
2. (you should see this place ... it should be called BondoWorld and it is on Ogden Ave. in Berwyn.
3. By the way, all of these people are hispanic, including the driver of the other car. I am not saying this to be racial, because my wife is also hispanic.
4. So my advice is 2 fold ... do not get Founder's Insurance and if you have an accident with a Founders policyholder, GET AN ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY ...
I would like to point out that you are being racial and judgemental because a business is located in a certain area or the employees are hispanic. Things don't always go as planned and delays are not accounted for with any claim. You were in an accident. Did you hit your head or was it always messed up?

While I understand that the complaints that the claimant has. An injury isn't worth three times your specials. Thats simply not reasonable. There was no ambulance ride, no ER and very light follow up. Where is the proof of your injury other than your subjective complaint. Quite frankly there is none. Although you are certainly due some recovery but certainly not the amount you have set your sights on.

Now speaking on your commenter who is utterly ignorant on how claims work. They only had liability insurance... Hm. Well it is certainly no one's fault but your own to choose to not have adequate insurance coverage. Your rental policy you agreed upon with agent so your rental will only be as prescribed on your declarations page, probably 20-25 dollars a day maximum. Any mount additional to that is your responsibility, whether you have State Farm, Farmers, or Founders. You can rent a car in your daily rental amount, no Insurance company is going to pay the "collision" insurance on a rental. This again is your fault not the insurance companies. In addition, when you are struck by an uninsured vehicle you do have to prove certain things. Until you have met the burden of proof, which is not the insurance companies responsibilities. In addition, did you make a police report did you have the other persons name etc to prove if they do or do not have insurance. If there is information the insurance company must write to IDOT to determine if someone is uninsured, that process can take 1-5 months depending on how quick IDOT wants to work. This certainly is an unfortunate circumstance but it is what it is.

Bottom line, insure yourself adequately. Don't blame someone else because YOU CHOOSE to not have proper coverages or inquire with your agent what certain coverage means. Uninsured motorist claims have a significant amount of proof you must provide as the insured person. Be realistic and reasonable. Ask questions to learn more.

I too am a victim of Founder's Insurance. I was parked on August 16, 2009 at a friends' house when I was rear ended. I too have two eyewitnesses who saw the person hit my car. I called Founder's the next day to report the claim and was sent information about the accident which I have filled out and returned to the company. It has been 4 weeks today since the incident and still nothing. I called "The Department of Insurance" and also founded out that I can not leave with any of our vehicles covered under "FOUNDER'S INSURANCE COMPANY the state OF ILLINOIS because they will not be covered if involved in an accident and that my son, nor his wife are allowed to drive our vehicles, also if we were to have to rent a car we would have to pay the renal car insurance because FOUNDER'S will not. Also, it can take up to 6 months maybe a year to settle this claim depending on the outcome of the court date and what happens to the person who hit my car.
The person who hit the car doesn't have insurance and just because we only have liabilty we have had to do all the foot work for this company. SO COMSUMERS BEWARE OF FOUNDER'S INSURANCE COMPANY!Also my damages are $552.00
Sincerely,
Y & L Champlin

While driving north on Interstate 94 in the Deerfield, IL area, a car insured by Founders Insurance swerved into the side of my car. We exchanged insurance information but made no police report - the local Police Department said response times were two hours and longer due to the poor weather (by the end of the day, nine inches of snow in the area). I contacted Founders Insurance, filled out the requisite paperwork, went and got damage estimates to fix my car. After waiting six weeks, I was told they were denying my claim because their insured driver was not at fault. I asked how they felt it was conceivable that their insured was not at fault - he hit my car, I didn't hit him! Their response was that because their insured was swerving to avoid another car, it was the fault of this first car and not their insured. My argument that I had been hit by their insured, not by any other car, and that this was the direct cause of the damage fell on deaf ears, literally. I asked if they would then blame the Illinois Tollway for not keeping the road surface clean and dry, or blame the sun for shining in their insureds eyes. The insured could have avoided both my car and the other car by braking, but instead hit my car. Once again, Founders Insurance simply repeated that they were denying the claim because their insured was not the direct cause of the accident. Leaving me out time spend filing out their paperwork, submitting repair appraisals and making numerous calls to Founders. Not to mention my own deductible to be paid, paperwork that I now have to fill out for my insurance company, etc.

My experience with founders has been similar.

I have my insurance through State Farm, but was struck nine months ago by someone insured by founders. I was fully stopped at a red light, and their client rear ended me at 50 mph. She was arrested for DUI at the scene.

Thankfully, after Founders made it clear that their game was to stall until I became desperate, and because their adjuster wanted to put good money (my settlement money) after bad repairing a clearly totaled vehicle, I went through my own insurance.

Still, nine months later, Founders has not paid State Farm and I'm still out my deductible. I'm told that Founders doesn't believe their client was at fault, despite the DUI, multiple witnesses, the police report and common sense all suggesting otherwise.

Founders as an A- rating on BBB. I can't complain.

Unfortunately you looked up the law incorrectly. Insurance is supposed to put you in a position you were previous to an accident. Your car probably had over 60 K miles and that car is completely undeserving of a new part. Unfortunately you are ignorant to the insurance practice. Also insurance needs to useLKQ parts not OEM, your car didn't qualify for OEM parts. Your old car with many miles on it does not make your car new which is what an OEM would be. They would be putting you in a better spot that what you were previously. It is unfortunate that you feel the way you do but you need to do more research. There are also plenty of other circumstances, is your policy new? did you file a police report? did the other party stop and give you their information? did you cooperate? did you give proper information when signing the policy? Many things that could have lead to a delay. Again get your facts straight. It is unfortunate at the time period but again we don't know all the different scenarios that impacted your claim.

I have called 20 times and still no answer... ...Can you guys ...
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... stupid answer the phone ... why does it have to be so long in order for you to read it...

Savvy suggestions ! For my two cents, if anyone is interested a a form, my business used a fillable document here https://goo.gl/CM8iub.

That's the way to go, I had to do the same thing my attorney is Handling it well.

I've dealt with these people for close to a year now over damage to my property. I've submitted photos and police reports also..After numerous calls to the company I got the run around and excuse after excuse of why they haven't paid their claim. Now after more calls they say they've mailed the compensation check..After two weeks of not receiving a check and blaming it on the post office for a busy season, I can't wait for next excuse...I've documented every phone call and person I've talked with, I guess it's time to pursue legal action...shame on you founders..you should change your name to flounders insurance because things are truly fishy dealing with you people...

I agree with all the complaints because it happened to my husband Founders is a scam trying to get away from paying the claims. I filed a complaint with Illinois Department of Insurance and was not successful, don't trust them, I had to hire an Attorney but he is hesitating to get the case, due to Founders have lots of powerful people in the State that will cover for them.

We all need to do something about these scammers out there. Not sure where Justice is, but if anyone out there knows of anyone that can help please submit a post.

I trust in God and I know that his Justice is better that ours.

Me and my wife brought a 2002 Chrysler 300m as soon as we had got our taxes. We decide listening to a friend because she said she been involved with them for 10years and was treated rite by them. So out of good faith we went ahead and gave them a try. Neediness to say that that was the worst mistake i made. On 6-9-2015 at 3:39am i was woked up by Peoria police put and handcuffs telling me i was involved in a hit n run. I was like then how was i involved when i was sleeping at the time and my car was park in front of my house. Well when i got that cleared up i reported it to founder and keep in mind we had full coverage so i really wasn't mad intill founders gave me a call telling me they ain't going to pay and they are just going to give my refund back and i was like the f***if you r. I put and as well a class action as well. Don't not go to founders they are no good

I was struck from behind while in my parked car and forced into another parked car by a driver with Founders insurance. Founders answers no phone calls always voicemail. They do claim responsibility. 33 days later all I have is an unfair offer for the value of my car. No rental car at all or cash out on rental. No reimbursement for towing vehicle from the scene. They won't provide a declaration of benefits. Moreover they want to charge me $1000 to dispose of the scrappile that litters up my yard. Pray you're never hit by a Founders insured. Their answer to everything is "You can just urn it in to your insurance company" complaint to be filed with Ohio Bureau of insurance.

I realize people purchase the insurance they can afford but this company should not be in business. One of their clients hit me and they refused to pay for all of the damage. They will nickle and dime you to death. Also, If there is a Class Action lawsuit I'd be glad to join it. Their customer service is poor. Agents never return calls and I assume people work there just because its a job!

Also, be forewarned about the insurance industry in Illinois. There are lots of loopholes these companies find to avoid paying. One lady's car was totaled and because she could never get in contact with the person who hit her they didn't have an obligation to pay! This is for people with liability only. Ask your agent.

I just recently had a accident with insurer who was insured by founders insurance on December 23, 2013. The lady T boned hit me and I was on the road first and she made a right turn into my lane without looking first and hit me. I have been battling it out with founders insurance for the last 2 months and they are only wanting to pay for 50% claiming that I was at fault for the other 50% but will not tell me how I was at fault. The police report stated who was at fault based on evidence and Founders said that the police report was inaccurate based on their insured. To make matters worse on Founders claim form they they asked their insured to draw a picture on the accident and clearly based on THEIR insured drawing she painted a crystal clear picture showing she was at fault. I m sure Stevie Wonder could have seen it for himself. Founders is a deceitful company and are liars. I bet you one thing the people who work for them don't have founders. Founders has messed with the wrong cookie and I tell you what a CLASS ACTION lawsuit against Founders Insurance Company will be coming into affect in the Days to come. If your insured is at fault for hitting a person they should investigate and take proper procedure in ensuring everything gets handled in a timely fashion. People should not resort to contacting the Department of Insurance most of all going through the hassle of not being mobile getting a rent a car to only find out they are going to pay half of it and just drama and its self. Founders Insurance is goign DOWN!

My daughter was rear ended by a young girl with Founders. The girl was texting and hit my daughter at a high rate of speed with no braking skid marks. My daughter's car was totaled. State Farm took care of everything for my daughter, even returning her deductable. Of course, 20 months later, State Farm is suing Founders for not reimbursting them. My daughter is seeing a lawyer Monday, because she has never been able to get in touch with them since. They contacted her, and once she would not sign off with them, and wanted payment for rental car fees and missed work due to injuries, no further contact. No matter how many times she left messages or emailed them, no response from Founders. This tactic must work with a lot of people that file claims against them. They play a waiting game until your time has run out to file. Founder Insurance is a evil, unscrupulous company.