My #1 and HIS PASSION!!!

Why Brand Loyalty Doesn't Pay...or Why State Farm Sucks

I have been a loyal State Farm customer since 1995. When we opened our policy with Bruce Clifford, we had two vehicles (maybe three) covered and renters insurance. We were very happy customers and had a great relationship with his office. Over the years, our needs changed and so did our agent. Our policy was purchased by Tom Deladvitch when Mr. Clifford retired. Things were fine, until we actually needed to communicate with his office…until we actually needed our agent.

I received notice in the mail that State Farm had made an unannounced visit to our property and found issues which cause a hazard to the dwelling; therefore, our policy was terminated. Upon receiving the letter, I immediately tried contacting my agent. The first day he was out of the office. He returned my call the next morning and left a message on my home phone while I was at work. When I got home, I returned the call and he was out of the office for the day. He leaves every day at 2pm. I explained to his office staff why I needed to speak to Tom, I referenced the cancellation notice, and I let her know I felt his schedule was not going to give me the opportunity to do so, since I work and am not allowed to have/make personal phone calls. Her response: “The man is busy. What can I tell you.”

That should have been my first warning sign to get away from that office…and I contemplated switching agents, but I am a very loyal customer (17 years with the same insurance, same cable provider, same plumber, same septic service…you get the idea). I decided to work through the issues at hand and see about getting my insurance reinstated. I made arrangements for him to contact me at work (very much against my principles) and lunch breaks (which I desperately need)….because his time is obviously more indispensable than mine. He came to the house and we discussed the key points in the letter and some other issues which needed to be addressed. He let me know when the issues were corrected, I could contact him and he would photograph the issues again and resubmit to underwriting.

So after an extensive amount of work, it was time to have him stop by. I scheduled the appointment for 9:30 am on Wednesday, June 20. He showed up at 9am without contacting me first to see if I would even be home. As it happened, I was just getting out of the shower. He apologized for coming early, but said he had three visits to make and wanted to beat the heat (heat index of over 100). I have no problem, whatsoever, with him coming early, IF HE HAD CALLED. But again, this was another indication that he felt his time/schedule was more important/valuable than mine. Unacceptable.

After the initial congratulations on the work we had accomplished, things turned ugly. He pointed out things that were never listed on the letter, things that he could have, SHOULD HAVE pointed out with his initial visit a month ago. And then he pointed out things that were inconsequential to State Farm; things like a small pile of dirt near the back of the house lying next to a tree in the garden and a stack of mail in a utility room in the garage. If I had mulch to be laid out in my garden, that pile would have been higher than the small lump of dirt he was referencing. And as far as the mail…maybe it wasn’t the most organized stack of mail in recorded history, but everyone has quantities (filing cabinets?) of papers floating around in their house. His issue was mail burns, and it is a risk to State Farm because it is flammable.  And what about books? Books are paper. Paper burns. So I’m not supposed to read books or have a bookshelf, either? I questioned him on the issue and whether or not he has any himself. His response, “they don’t look like that”.  So, this is the real issue. His house is neater than mine. His house is more organized than mine. His house is newer than mine. I’m a slob in a run-down old farm house. THAT’S the issue.

My irritation began to show and he said he could understand what I was feeling. I told him there’s NO way he could understand my feelings. Not unless someone was in his face, telling him he wasn’t good enough, and he could potentially lose everything he worked his entire life for…everything he has given his family. Only then could he understand my frustration. He refuted my statement, saying he’d been in the same position with other customers in the past. Sorry. It just ISN’T the same.

He said he was telling me these things based on his twenty-nine years’ experience as a State Farm agent. If he were to resubmit to underwriting, he knows what his company is looking for. He wasn’t about to send them images and have them come here to see other issues (that were PREVIOUSLY UNADDRESSED) and have HIS REPUTATION on the line. So I told him maybe I needed to look for another company. He proceeded to put his camera in his pocket and was ready (and more than willing) to be finished with me.

He did finish photographing the things he needed to, but only at my request. And while he did, I sat on my pretty, uncluttered porch and cried. And when he left, I made a few phone calls and had a new agent by the end of the day. So long, State Farm. It’s been real. Until I needed you.

(And somewhere in here I should include, in the midst of all this, I added a new driver. The office staff was supposed to mail me a packet for a Steer Clear program which would provide a safety discount for my son. I never received the packet. Until I made a trip in to the office myself for another reason and asked about it. Her response: “oh, I never mailed that to you?” Um, no. No you didn’t. You didn’t do much for me.     

Caesar Rodney High School Concert Band

Wednesday, December 14, 2011.

Bari Sax Solo

May, 2011. First ever solo, end of Freshman year. Jazz concert. His solo starts around the 8 minute mark.

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch Bari Sax Feature

My boy and his feature. SO PROUD!

My bOyS INspIre mY CreaTivITy

We have been on this journey for several years. The soccer rockstar has had a passion for the game since kinderkickers...5 years old and he was already a standout on the field. It was so much fun to watch him play offense and defense while other kids were picking dandelions. Simply amazing.

We were finally able to try out for the travel team at U9. I had been approached by a few parents (who were former players themselves) with regards to Chris attending tryouts. The only thing I knew about the rep program was that two years prior, my oldest was eligible but he lost interest. So we attended the tryouts and he made the team, later named CDSA FIRE. The connections he made through this program are a blessing. These boys (now U14) have been playing together for 5 years. Some have come and some have gone, but they will always have that bond. It stays with you for a long time.

Last year, at U13, the boys made it to Regionals after capturing the State Championship title. July 12, 2011 an article was written about Christopher prior to their trip up north for regionals. (I found this article in October.) 

Chris McPoyle, Central Delaware SA Fire (DE), U13, Forward:Chris scored 5 goals in 5 games during CDSA Fire's run to the U13 Delaware State Cup. The most important goal was the game winner midway through the second half of the championship game. After scoring the eventual game winner, Chris dropped back to defense to provide extra support helping his team to win its first State Championship.

Talk about blown away. I was speechless, while emailing the link to everyone I knew. We went on to be defeated in all three games at regionals, typical for the small state we come from. (Larger populations produce a player pool 10 times the size of ours...no exaggeration. Baltimore area tryouts bring up to 300 hopefuls where our area maybe gets 30.) But we played hard and we played to the end and we want to go back!

Chris was interviewed by the State Newspaper. This is what they posted:

The players were taking the coach’s message to heart and were upbeat after a loss to a team that went on to the U-13 Boys championship game.
“It was a great challenge for us because we’re not used to playing kids our age that are better than we are,” Fire forward Chris McPoyle said. “This should make us a lot better.”

After the newspaper interview, which dad and I were not a part of, Coach told us he was impressed with Chris' quote and hoped they used it word for word in the article. Even the reporter asked him if he was sure he was only 13.

Fast forward to summertime, mom is searching high and low for a soccer camp to take the first step in getting him seen. DC United. Philadelphia Union. All unattainable given the late search. However, we did have the opportunity to attend our first MLS match in Philly. The look on my boy's face when we walked into the stadium was priceless. His mantra during the entire game... "I need to be down there. I should be down there." And that's what we're going to give him. His dream.

During the Fall season we faced a lot of tough competition due to our State Champion title. That afforded us the opportunity to jump up a bracket in competition level. The boys worked hard. Sometimes they were successful, sometimes not. During one of our less successful games we traveled to Maryland. And took a pretty good loss. In the midst of all of that, Chris was grabbing the attention we are seeking. Both coaches from the other team (who beat us by a painful 6-0) spoke to Chris after the game. Where are we from? How far away is that? Are you on the State Team? (They were trying to recruit him!) One of the men even went so far as to ask Chris his name, and told him he would "remember" him...and that he'd be seeing more of him in the future. (MOMSQUEALS) The other told Chris he's one of the best players he'd seen in years. And that's nothing to sneeze at...this team that beat us so badly from MD...they are from a club that was formed by DC United professionals! Check them out here (MOMSQUEAL)

During the fall season we also packed in school soccer games. 11 of them to be exact. Chris scored 19 goals in those 11 games. During the Fall banquet his coach had some wonderful words to say about him. Everyone was called alphabetically by grade to get their medals...Chris was skipped. He was selected as MVP (for the second year in a row!)and was called last. The coach said, "he started in 6th grade, he started in 7th grade, and in 8th grade, he was just beast! He's definitely looking at a college scholarship." (FYI:previously UNHEARD OF accomplishment...starting varsity in 6th grade)

Fast forward...I got a message from our coach. Chris and two of his teammates were hand selected to play on a "dream team" tournament team. Based on what this coach had seen from his performance in the past, Chris was offered a position on this team which will be in 2-3 tournaments over the next several months. Our first weekend tournament is in NC in January! This tournament team plays venues that will provide even more exposure. Fast forward again, we try out for ODP. Two tryout dates. Both WAY cold. Chris was very hard on himself after the second day. First tryout was at home. Second weekend was 45 minutes away, and it only lasted for 45 minutes. It was brutally cold that day, but we were there. And then we waited. And today, I got the official notification:

Dear Christopher McPoyle:
Congratulations! You have been selected to participate in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for the 2011-2012 season. This is a very special honor! By agreeing to participate, you will represent your state in activities designed to identify prospects for our Regional, Olympic and National teams, as well as for various colleges teams throughout the country.

There are no words that could adequately describe my joy. My pride. My desires. This is the first step in a long journey that will be his future. OUR future, because after all, there is nothing a mother wants more than to see her children achieve their dream...9 years and counting for this one...more than half his life.