Farmers Insurance -- re-affirms my opinion that they only want to screw you

It's not about the money -- for me.  We're only talking about $60 or so.  But it's the principle; doing the right thing.  And Farmers Insurance company offers more proof that -- like most insurance companies -- they are only interested in screwing you under the pretext of helping you.  Capitalism at it's finest - not that I'm against capitalism.  I believe a person should be fairly compensated for their work.  But when the tallest building in ANY city in America is an insurance company or a bank -- well, that ought to be a heads-up who's making the most money.  And at who's expense?

But enough of the soapbox and on to the facts.

I have had my motorcycle insured with Farmers for more than 9 years.  This past April I just automatically renewed by paying 6 months in advance.  In May, I also bought a new (to me) truck and in researching insurance options found a better deal with Liberty Mutual if I also added my bike.  Actually saved me more than $60/yr on just the bike for the same coverage's.

My Farmers policy was cancelled just 3 weeks into it's renewal.  I was expecting 5/6's of my pre-paid premium refunded.  Seems like the right thing -- in force for 1 month of the renewal.

But no.  Instead I got back less than half of my six month premium.  I spent almost an hour on the phone with them and was passed around to 3 different people before giving up.  I have since filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Insurance.  I'm not greatly optimistic.  But you never know.

What was the rational for Farmers insurance to short change my refund, you ask?  On page 12 of my original policy -- dated April 2006 -- is the following sentence:

"If you cancel, the refund will be computed in accordance with the customary short rate table and procedure."

Customary?  Who's custom?  Seems to me the 'custom' ought to be to refund the unused portion of the policy.  Perhaps that's too logical.  And where is this 'short rate table' they reference?  Nobody at Farmers was able to produce it and it's not a part of mu policy.

Personally it looks like a catch-all statement buried in the policy to allow them to do whatever they feel like.

So Farmer's wants to screw me out of $60 and I feel about the best I can do is get on a soapbox and scream out loud.  They spend all that money for advertising; what else can 1 guy do?