Last chapter: Corporate bullying

Disclaimer:  What you read here are my recollections and opinions of events that I experienced with Allstate - and should not be considered statements of fact.   The letter is a true copy/paste as received from Allstate.


Cease and Desist / Notice of Trespass  


On Friday, December 6, after being ignored by Jay Patel, the agent of record for my mother's property insurance, at 4:43 pm, I was stunned to receive a letter from Rosemarie Davis  JD, CIPP/C, Director, Compliance & Business Conduct, Chief Compliance Officer Law & Regulation for Allstate. Instead of offering any assistance or helping to resolve our festering problem, I was blindsided by a shocking and accusatory "lawyer letter". The "shock & awe" letter accused me of "harassing and discriminatory behaviour related to gender and religion," claims that supposedly left Allstate employees feeling "unsafe and harassed."  As if that wasn't enough, I was also warned that I am now prohibited from entering an Allstate office—even though I am a paying customer with an active car insurance policy!

This is beyond outrageous—egregious, vexatious, and downright malicious!  It’s a blatant attempt by Allstate, the heartless corporation, to play the “victim card” while completely ignoring their own poor practices.  They’ve been significantly overcharging my elderly mother for for years for her property insurance, treating me dismissively, and when I continued to seek a fair resolution and reasonable premium, this is the response I received. I feel utterly betrayed and appalled by this treatment.

The following is the letter that I received:

----------------------------

Dear Mrs. Zidaric and Mr. Zidaric, 

Re: Policy #158254XXX/Cease and Desist / Notice of Trespass  

We are writing on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada (“Allstate”) with respect to the representative of the insured for policy #158254XXX. Mrs. Zidaric, the insured, has authorized Mr. Zidaric to act on her behalf with respect to the policy.  

First, we would like to address the numerous contacts and emails from Mr. Zidaric to various employees of Allstate. Mr. Zidaric initiated a complaint on behalf of the insured, and Allstate addressed this complaint by sending a  final position letter, via email on November 26, 2024, to Mr. Zidaric.  This letter provided recourse should Mr. Zidaric or the insured remain unsatisfied with Allstate’s decision, by directing Mr. Zidaric to contact the Insurance OmbudService (GIO), an independent dispute resolution mechanism. 

However, throughout this complaint escalation process and interactions over the last few weeks, Mr. Zidaric has engaged in harassing and discriminating behaviour as they relate to gender and religion that have resulted in Allstate employees feeling unsafe and harassed, among other things. 

Allstate’s primary concern is its duty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every precaution reasonable for the protection of its employees. This includes protection from harassing and discriminating behaviour.  

This letter serves as legal notice to cease and desist all further actions in this regard. Harassing and discriminating behaviour directed towards any Allstate employee is strictly forbidden and taken very seriously by Allstate. We further caution you that Allstate will pursue all civil remedies which may be available to it to halt your injurious conduct should it continue, including injunctive relief and damages, as well as the recovery of costs against you as incurred in obtaining such relief. 

Given Mr. Zidaric is not the insured policyholder but only an authorized contact, we request that he refrain from contacting Allstate moving forward. All matters relating to the above-noted policy should be dealt with exclusively by Mrs. Zidaric or another representative of her choice. We are happy to offer language support services in any language in which Mrs. Zidaric requires support. 

Further, Mr. Zidaric is directed to refrain from entering any property under the care and control of Allstate, including its agency locations. This letter will therefore serve as notice of trespass pursuant to the Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chap. T.21.

In addition, please note, as the authorized agent, Mr. Zidaric made significant changes to Mrs. Zidaric’s policy increasing the deductible from $500 to $10,000 and removing the Water Damage Extension Coverage. 

Finally, with regards to the specific questions raised by Mr. Zidaric regarding the above-noted policy and whether Allstate used credit scores in rating of Policy #15825XXXX, we confirm that adequate consent was provided, and Allstate does not use credit scores to determine insurance premiums in the province of Ontario, in compliance with all relevant insurance regulations.  

Mrs. Zidaric or her new authorized agent may contact, Tim Xu JXu@allstate.ca to discuss the above noted policy. If a call is required, Mr. Xu will be happy to arrange one. 

 

Sincerely, Rosemarie Davis

Director, Compliance and Business Conduct, Chief Compliance Officer

---------------------

Unbelievable! - this is how Allstate treats people with respect and dignity.  This is the ultimate in corporate bullying.


Ms Davis claims that "...Allstate does not use credit scores to determine insurance premiums... "

But, on the Allstate website, in the estimates process Allstate asks people for consent to do a "soft credit check"... and the system gives different estimates based on whether or not a soft credit check is done.  Thus, the Allstate estimate process clearly takes credit scores into account when developing the estimate.






Further, the Insurance Bureau of Canada states that insurance companies can use credit scores.


According to the Credit Building Guide:

Do Home Insurance Companies Check Credit In Canada?

Home insurance doesn’t have the same regulations as car insurance in Canada. So, home insurance providers in all provinces are allowed to request access to your credit score. That said, you must provide consent. Insurers are not permitted to access your credit file without your permission. 

Like other types of insurance, home insurance premiums and coverage may be influenced by a person’s credit score. So, if you have very good credit, you may be able to access better coverage and lower premiums. 


Final thought

Once the physical letter arrives and my mother receives and reads it, I will have grounds for a libel lawsuit since I have done nothing remotely close to any sort of "harassing and discriminating behaviour as they relate to gender and religion that have resulted in Allstate employees feeling unsafe and harassed, among other things."

.... and I have a video record to prove it.

Pertaining to "discriminating behaviour", I was in no way discriminating as I held everyone in equal disdain for their lack of showing consideration, respect and dignity to us. 

Pertaining to the comments on "harassment" and "gender",  it was I who on , Nov 21, 5:06 pm, I wrote an email to London Bradley, the CEO, and Tammy Dockery, agency manager of Mississauga South, recording my thoughts on the meeting that I had with Tammy Dockery that day.  In one part of the email I wrote: 

“While I was voicing my disappointment - the receptionist began acting in a rather unprofessional manner towards me.  Consciously or subconsciously the receptionist started using odd "body language".  She started fluttering her big fake eyelashes  and, wearing a tight top, slightly thrust out her cleavage.  I found these actions - manipulation via sexualized body language - as offensive.  You might want to consider assessing the dress code policies of the people that represent your business on the front lines.”   

 I never received a response to this complaint.  

Libel:  a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation.


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