A couple of months ago our insurance provider, Johnson, sold off their vehicle insurance branch to another company, Belair Direct. We had been very happy with Johnson and had no say in this sale.
Peter and I have been driving for over 60 years and both of us have pretty clean driving records: no accidents caused by either of us, and only a few parking tickets. Since moving to the city, we have switched our mode of travel to public transit and walking. Our cars sit in the garage getting dusty and waiting for for COSTCO visits, trips to family cottages, and the curling rink which is not on a subway line.
We were OK with this arrangement until Belair Direct sent Peter an email message telling him he could get 10% off the cost of our policy. Peter is highly motivated by a deal and immediately began filling out the attached form. Then he came to the spot where he had to fill in his cell phone number. You will be shocked to hear this – but Peter has no cell phone. So I was called in to help.
After studying the form, I realized that the company wanted to install a device on my car that would monitor my driving habits. I am not quite ready to let AI take over my life yet, so I said no. By this time, however, Belair had my cell phone number and the phone calls have been non-stop. I have hung up on them, I have answered with rude words, I have threatened, I have pleaded. As a matter of fact, excuse me while I answer my phone again RIGHT NOW! Aggghhh…
Meanwhile Peter got another message from Belair asking him to complete a “survey” for another 10% off the bill. When we read the message more closely, the request was hidden in the text. It was a chance to sign up for “autocoverage” which didn’t mean CAR coverage; it meant coverage by technology. In other words, all our coverage would be done online. Forms, photos, documents, everything. No nice person would be at the end of a phone to ask “May I Help you?” If we had an accident, we would have to download everything by ourselves; while we waited at an intersection, bleeding to death, our car in pieces. And I’d have to use MY phone to do it because Peter still wouldn’t have one!
Driving for older folks is hard enough these days as our bodies and minds age. I have to admit that some new technology features are a big help. My car cameras, (blind spot and back-up), can be helpful if my neck is stiff from arthritis. My front-end braking assist is useful if I happen to approach a car from behind while I’m searching in my purse for my grocery list. The GPS is handy if I get lost in a new neighbourhood.
However, technology could do a much better job of one thing – construction! Surely some tech person could figure out a way around all those orange cones and signs, without long detours. Or maybe find a way to install sewer pipes that didn’t involve big diggers and dump trucks. Or how about a way to solve the bike lane issue?
Sadly, I have run out of space in this post. My answer to bike lanes will have to wait till next week. If you have any ideas, send them along. But you’ll have to use technology to reply because the post office is on strike and the drive to our house is hampered by construction.
Sue
Seventy In the City 
All too true, Sue!
After Zenith tripled my auto insurance fee, I went to Western and never looked back. This renewal year, they actually reduced the amount all by themselves – and if I have to, I get to speak with a lovely, unspoiled young agent in nearby Schomberg.
And no uninvited get to my sacred phone!! No voice mail. No banking. No nothing but texts and phone calls. That is why I gave up my landline: to avoid invasive offers and scammers and it worked.
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I agree Sue, technology is taking over too much of our lives and it is putting its “nose” in all our life. They can see where I go, what I buy, how much I exercise, what my diet is, what doctors I see, who my friends are, what pictures I take, what I like to research on the internet, etc. It is all “for our good” , but it has gone too far. Soon we will be mentally handicapped if there is no technology around us. How many of us know a phone number by heart? How many of us can do easy adding and substruction? The cell phone with all its Apps is taking over our thinking capabilities.
Enjoy life with art
Zohreh
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HI Sue,
We recently changed the company that we were dealing with for our car insurance because the prices kept going up. We switched to CAA, they had better rates and you could talk to a human.
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Time to change insurance companies!! We had Belair many years ago and had problems too. We presently use AON who also has our house insurance. They have subbed it to Chubb and we’re happy with them. Good luck.
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