
Ellen Roseman: Insurance is personal finance’s blind spot
There's a big education gap when it comes to insurance and that can lead people to make very costly mistakes.
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The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) was founded in 1913 and is comprised of nine automobile clubs with over 100 offices across Canada. They are one of the largest consumer-based organizations in Canada, providing peace of mind to over six million members.
CAA is a non-profit organization that, in addition to providing insurance services, also does advocacy work on behalf of Canada’s motorists and travellers. Focusing on issues such as infrastructure, the environment, safety, consumer issues, and consumer products, CAA National advocates on behalf of its members federally while its nine clubs operate on the provincial and municipal level.
CAA offers its members several services and perks, including emergency roadside service, automotive and travel services, exclusive partner savings and comprehensive insurance products.
The nine clubs that make up CAA include:
CAA prides itself on its customer service. In British Columbia, the BCAA has been ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Home Insurers in Western Canada” by J.D. Power 7 out of 8 years in a row. They received the highest score in policy offering, price, billing and payment, interaction (non-claim) and claims.
Province | User satisfaction rating |
---|---|
Atlantic/Ontario | — |
Quebec region | — |
Western region |
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Depending on which of the nine clubs you belong to you could receive a number of discounts. Each club offers different discounts with the purchase of an insurance policy.
Some of the clubs offer special programs for their members, like the following:
The Assistant - Exclusive to CAA, members have access to five helplines to offer support, guidance and advice in areas like health, pet health, legal matters, identity theft, home maintenance and more. Calls are unlimited!
CAA Tire Coverage - Bundling CAA Auto and Home Insurance policies gives you complementary coverage for tire repairs and replacements due to damage caused by a road hazard.
Legal Expense Insurance - Legal fees can be high and can deter you from pursuing or defending your rights. CAA gives you legal expense insurance at no additional cost.
Identity Theft - Protecting your identity is important, just like protecting your home. CAA home insurance policyholders can purchase identity theft protection at a minimal cost.
There is an app for both Apple and Android users. Along with many features related to CAA’s roadside assistance, you can also use the app to save your insurance agent’s contact information or speak to an agent at the touch of a button. In addition, you can qualify member-exclusive savings and rewards at over 124,000 participating retail locations and services all across North America.
All of the clubs offer a telephone line to start a claim, but hours vary: some are open 24 hours a day, while others operate during business hours. Online claims reporting is available, but not to all club branches yet. Unfortunately, there is no central reporting centre for claims. Your broker or agent will be able to provide the contact information for your club’s claims centre.
Other insurance:
There's a big education gap when it comes to insurance and that can lead people to make very costly mistakes.
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