Average Jane's Open Letter to State Farm

This has been bugging me for a couple of weeks and I needed to get it off my chest. I haven't sent it directly to the company yet, but I probably will.

Dear State Farm,

I have been a customer of yours for more than twenty years and I have been generally very satisfied. Recently I had a claim after someone broke into my car, which was handled by your representatives quickly and satisfactorily except for one thing: all correspondence and shipments from your claims services partner were sent in my husband’s name.

I know that my husband’s name is on my policy (and vice versa) and that his last name comes before mine in the alphabet.

However:

• I’ve been your customer since long before I ever met him.
• It’s my car.
• I pay for the insurance from my bank account (my husband pays for his separately from another bank account).
• I filed the related police report.
• I filed the claim.
• I made all the calls and emails related to the claim.
• I met with the adjuster.

My husband was not in any way involved in the process and yet when my replacement car stereo arrived, his name was on the box. He couldn’t even imagine what it was and was surprised as I was when he opened it to find my stereo. 

Later I received two emails to my email address that began “Dear [husband’s full name],” despite the fact that I had initiated the conversations.

As I said before, I imagine that this is a database issue that has more to do with the alphabet than deliberate marginalization, but it certainly feels like sexism. I recommend that you have your claims services folks review their processes to make sure they’re more 21^st Century-friendly in the future.

Sincerely,

Average Jane

 

 

Comments

[Laurie]

I think you should do it. The letter is not at all over the top and they need to read this info.

[Goofy girl]

That is NOT a database issue...it's a business rule issue. Databases don't make the assumption that the male living in the household should be the primary recipient of all communication. This is an outdated 1950s business rule issue. You should definitely send the letter. This would piss me off too.

[Lynn]

hell yeah, send it!

[Melanie]

Send it.... at my wedding I asked to be introduced as Mike and Melanie insert last name there... because while I did take my husband's last name it really chaps my behind when I hear Mr. and Mrs. Mike ______ I mean really why do women allow themselves to get lost in introductions!!! I also never address cards to spouses that way, always write both names out and usually I write female name first lol. My SIL got married in October and YEP they still automatically announce Mr and Mrs MALE NAME .... I was kinda shocked.