How long does it take for a quote?

How long it takes usually depends more on what kind of insurance you're inquiring about than any other factor. For example, some contractors take a week (at most) for a firm quote. Personal auto insurance is usually the same day, if not instantaneous.

If I buy insurance from you, are you my insurance company?

No. We are an independent agency. As such, we are your primary contact for your insurance needs. Generally, you will go through us to obtain, renew, or cancel your insurance. We are also the first people you should contact if you have a claim. Whether or not you pay us or your carrier depends on your situation.

If you're just the middleman, why should I buy from you and not directly from the carrier?

There are lots of reasons. First, not all carriers sell directly to the public. For example, The Hartford, a major insurance carrier (and one of our companies), simply will not sell insurance directly to the public. If you try to obtain a policy without an agent, you are therefore limited to those carriers who sell to the general public.

In addition, some types of insurance are too complex for a non-expert to administer. Let us do the work for you.

Finally, because we are able to obtain policies through a large number of carriers, we are usually able to obtain insurance for you and your business at a much lower price than if you did it on your own.

A reminder: if you have, for example, State Farm insurance, you are still purchasing your insurance through an agent. Not only that, but State Farm agents are captive, meaning they can only sell insurance from a single carrier (in their case, the carrier is State Farm). Don't be fooled into thinking you're buying your insurance directly from the carrier if you go to an agent who only uses a single "big name" carrier.

How do I pay my bill?

Generally, you'll pay the carrier. Don't worry, they will bill you. You can sometimes pay us directly - please ask us about this when you call. Gacek accepts cash, checks, or money orders.

I have my car/business/etc. insurance through you and suffered a loss. What do I do?

First, if you have an ongoing emergency, call 911. Then give us a call. We will determine the proper steps for you to take. Generally, we will report your loss to your carrier.