Why does Texas-based USAA have an ‘F’ rating from the BBB? And why doesn’t the company seem to care? (2024)

Dear Watchdog:

I’ve been trying to get my roof replaced after a June 2018 hail storm. I’m retired military, and I have been with USAA since 1992 because it was an insurance company that offered favorable rates to their customers that were affiliated with the military. They have always been a fair and honest company until recently.

USAA sent their adjuster to my house. The adjuster told me when he arrived that hail had not even hit our side of the city. They said any hail damage wasn’t enough. USAA denied my claim.

I contacted an independent appraiser. He found evidence of hail damage, but the main defect was wind damage caused during the hail storm. The whole roof has to be replaced. I contacted USAA because they had not performed a wind damage inspection. He never tested a single shingle for failure.

Why does Texas-based USAA have an ‘F’ rating from the BBB? And why doesn’t the company seem to care? (1)

Watchdog Alert

Are you a taxpayer in Texas? The Watchdog has your back.

I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to ensure they had to answer my complaint. I also filed a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance. Now I have to move forward with an attorney. Pure runaround, hoping I will go away.

Meanwhile, two of my neighbors hit by the same storm have new roofs and did not have to go to court to get their insurance company to honor their policy.

Most recently, I noticed that in the past year the BBB rating of USAA has dropped from an "A" to an “F.” Go see for yourself. How does an insurance company go from an "A" to an "F" in a year?

Herbert Hollis, Flower Mound

*

Dear Herb:

You got The Watchdog’s attention. How does San Antonio-based USAA go from an "A" to an "F" in one year? Did the company get sent to the principal’s office for misbehavior one too many times?

USAA builds its reputation on being different — a friend to members of the military and their families.

Some of USAA’s top competitors — Geico, State Farm and Nationwide — all have BBB ratings of A+.

Why have the mighty fallen? What’s going on with this legendary 98-year-old company?

A check of the BBB website provides a few answers. The failing grade is due to two stated reasons.

The first is that the company agreed this year to a $15 million settlement with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over how USAA’s banking arm mishandled thousands of personal checking accounts. Of the $15 million, $12 million goes back to victims, with the rest counting as a penalty.

The other reason for the failing grade? The BBB explains: “49 complaints filed against business that were not resolved.”

That sounds serious. Unresolved complaints. Hmm.

Company response

Matt Hartwig, USAA spokesman, says: “We resolve and solve every complaint. We just don’t do that with the Better Business Bureau.”

Why not?

“We’ve made the decision not to share with the BBB, in part, because we’re not required to do so. They’re not a regulator of ours.”

The Watchdog quoted back my mother’s warning: “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”

BBB ratings rank high in Google searches when you look for a company’s name and accompanying search terms like complaints, reviews, ratings and government action.

As members of my Watchdog Nation know, this is a must-do activity before signing any contracts or agreements or buying anything important. Search for what others say.

That "F" rating could cost USAA new customers.

See Also
USAA News

I asked Hartwig if a particular incident turned the company away from notifying the BBB of its resolutions. He didn’t say.

From a marketing viewpoint, this doesn’t seem like the smartest strategy. The Watchdog has covered companies that appointed executives whose main job is to resolve all BBB complaints in order to clean up a bad grade. Not USAA.

Hartwig said complaints “were resolved. We just didn’t share the resolution with the BBB.”

Not so fast

What about Herb Hollis’ 18-month quest to get a new roof?

“I can’t speak to individual claims," Hartwig said. "We don’t discuss those out of respect for the privacy of the individual.”

He pointed to other customer service surveys where USAA scores high, such as J.D. Power and Satmetrix.

“We hope this information is helpful and further validates our position that this [F rating] isn’t particularly noteworthy as the BBB process for developing its rating is not reflective of how we serve our members.”

BBB officials directed me to their USAA information page.

The Watchdog checked with the Texas Department of Insurance. Its website shows USAA had 42 complaints against it last year. That’s below average for a company its size. Good news for USAA.

Herb, a TDI spokesman confirmed that your complaint against USAA is being investigated by state regulators.

For USAA, the problem isn’t winning J.D. Power surveys or TDI numbers. Those don’t show up high in Web searches. BBB ratings do.

The problem is the “F.” As we all know, F stands for failing.

Like your roof, Herb.

File an insurance complaint

1. First, try to resolve the problem with your insurance company or agent.

2. Send the company documents that show, for instance, a contractor’s estimate for repairs.

3. Ask for an appraisal and possibly hire your own appraiser. Search for “property damage appraiser” online or ask your contractor for help.

4. Some people hire public insurance adjusters to help them settle claims. Public adjusters must be licensed. Check a license at the Texas Department of Insurance, 1-800-252-3439.

5. File an official complaint with TDI. Use its online system or call the help line at the same number.

6. Still unhappy? Consider hiring a lawyer.

SOURCE: Texas Department of Insurance

Become a citizen of Watchdog Nation. Join Dave Lieber and learn to be a super-consumer.

Subscribe: PLEASE support The Watchdog’s brand of straightforward journalism designed to save you time, money and aggravation. Treat yourself to a DallasNews.com full digital subscription for only $2.99 a week and NEVER MISS The Watchdog’s TWO reports each week. Sign up here.

Watchdog newsletter: Sign up for The Watchdog's FREE weekly newsletter to keep up: click here.

Watchdog story page: You can't afford to miss The Watchdog. Follow our latest reporting always at The Watchdog home page.

Do you use Facebook? Connect with The Watchdog on our Facebook group. Search for "Dallas News Watchdog Posse."

The Dallas Morning News Watchdog column is the 2019 winner of the top prize for column writing from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. The contest judge called his winning entries "models of suspenseful storytelling and public service."

Read his winning columns:

* Helping the widow of Officer J.D. Tippit, the Dallas police officer killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, get buried beside her late husband

* Helping a waitress who was harmed by an unscrupulous used car dealer

Dave Lieber is The Watchdog investigative columnist. He’s written a hard-hitting newspaper column in Dallas/Fort Worth since 1993.

Why does Texas-based USAA have an ‘F’ rating from the BBB? And why doesn’t the company seem to care? (2024)

FAQs

Why does USAA have an F rating? ›

FYI: If you're Googling around, you might see that USAA has an F BBB ranking — this is not true of their insurance arm. That rating had to do with how their banking arm in Texas mishandled some personal checks. To sweeten the deal even further, USAA offers a few ways to lower that insurance premium.

What does an F rating with the BBB mean? ›

The Better Business Bureau assigns a rating to BBB accredited businesses ranging from A+ to F, with A+ being the best and F being the worst (i.e., a failing grade).

Why are USAA rates so bad? ›

WalletHub, Financial Company

USAA is so expensive because car insurance is expensive in general, due to rising costs for insurers. But at $487 per year, the average USAA car insurance policy is actually cheaper than coverage from most competitors. In fact, USAA is one of the cheapest car insurance companies nationally.

What is happening with USAA? ›

In March 2022, the federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network hit USAA Bank with a $140 million fine, alleging it failed to adequately monitor for potential money-laundering activity. The feds also penalized USAA Bank two other times since 2019 over alleged violations of banking laws.

What is USAA company rating? ›

USAA Car Insurance Reviews: Conclusion

Our industry-wide review of the best car insurance companies found that USAA stood out among the best, which is why we rated it a score of 9.2 out of 10.0 and named it Low Rates for Military in 2022. We used the same categories to assess all car insurance providers.

Is USAA financially stable? ›

BRIEF-Moody's affirms USAA's financial strength at Aaa.

What does F rating mean? ›

First introduced 20 years ago, energy labels awarded a product with an A for high efficiency, or an F for low efficiency and encouraged manufacturers to drive innovation by using more energy efficient technologies.

Is F rating good or bad? ›

F is currently the 2nd lowest energy efficiency rating for a fridge freezer. It means the appliance has an Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) of between 65 and 80%. The EEI is calculated by assessing the appliance's annual energy consumption and dividing this by the standard annual energy consumption.

Should I trust a company that is not BBB accredited? ›

Is it bad if a business is not BBB accredited? It's not necessarily a red flag if a business is not accredited by the BBB. However, taking steps to get your business accredited shows customers that you are committed to giving them the best experience possible.

Is USAA in financial trouble? ›

For the first time in over 100 years of operation, financial services giant USAA posted losses on its annual balance sheet. In an annual report published on Tuesday, the company, headquartered on San Antonio's Northwest Side, reported just over $36 billion in revenue in 2022, a 3% decline from last year.

Does USAA have better rates than Navy Federal? ›

Winner: Navy Federal

You'll earn a higher interest rate through the Navy Federal Credit Union Share Savings Account than with the USAA Savings Account. It also lets you create individual savings goals, which may be ideal if you are looking for budgeting tools.

Who is USAA biggest competitor? ›

USAA main competitors are American Express, AIG, and Citi.

Is there a lawsuit against USAA? ›

USAA is facing a lawsuit from one of its auto insurance policyholders in California, who alleges that the insurer charged its consumers excessive premiums during the last two years of pandemic-related lockdowns.

Who bought out USAA? ›

USAA is owned by its members, who are primarily current and former members of the U.S. armed forces as well as family members of those who served. USAA is headquartered in San Antonio and has been a privately-owned financial institution since its founding in 1922.

Did USAA have a breach? ›

USAA recently reported a data breach involving an unauthorized party gaining access to members' personal information, including Social Security numbers and account numbers.

Why should I switch to USAA? ›

USAA has been an innovative bank for years. They offer many premium services as standard for all accounts. These include free checking and savings accounts with no minimum balance fees, free checks, free rewards debit card, free overdraft protection, free web bill pay, and much more.

Is USAA or bank of America better? ›

USAA Vs Bank Of America

Both banks offer CDs, although you generally need to commit to a higher balance with Bank of America to earn competitive rates. Bank of America is a better choice for in-person banking, with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers across the country.

Why is USAA limited to military? ›

As the number of persons who have served on active duty in an enlisted status in the U.S. Armed Forces is quite large, USAA chose to limit the establishment of eligibility to those who were currently on active duty or who had recently separated.

Has USAA ever had layoffs? ›

Facing what it called a “challenging economy,” USAA announced recently that it had laid off 1% of its total workforce. USAA let go about 475 employees working in various roles across the company, according to a statement provided by a company spokesman.

Is USAA cheaper than most insurance? ›

USAA Is Cheaper for Good Drivers

USAA offers the lowest insurance rates for drivers with a clean record, although both USAA and Geico are cheaper than the national average.

Why is USAA life insurance so cheap? ›

Another pro is that USAA offers some of the most competitive rates in the industry. They are often able to offer lower rates than other leading providers. This is because they have such a large customer base and can spread the risk across many policyholders. Finally, USAA provides excellent customer service.

What does G rated mean? ›

What do the movie ratings mean? Take a look below at the information offered from CARA. G: General Audiences, All Ages Admitted. Contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that the in-view of the Rating Board would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture.

What is the difference between A and B rating? ›

It's not much use saying one thing is better than another without saying how much better. How much difference is there between an A and a B? It simply says “more efficient” at the top, and “less efficient” at the bottom.

What is energy rating class F? ›

The energy class F label appears on appliances with low efficiency. People who want to save electricity are advised not to use appliances of this energy class. The reason is that the index values can be as high as 125.

Is F efficiency bad? ›

The Energy Performance Certificate or EPC for short will rate the property in terms of energy efficiency from 0-100, with an A being (the best) to a G (the worst). So you can see an F rating is pretty poor.

Does a bigger fridge consume more electricity? ›

Factors Affecting Energy Consumption

Size: The larger your fridge is, the more power it consumes due to the space that needs cooling. Condition: Rubber gaskets around your freezer and fridge doors keep cold air in.

Is F energy rating bad for fridge freezer? ›

Most chest freezers that are currently rated as A+ will be classed as F under the new system. But this isn't as scary as it sounds - although an F rating under the old system is dreadfully inefficient, new E and F classes will still be high efficiency appliances.

Why would a business not be BBB rated? ›

A business's BBB rating is lowered when BBB has knowledge of the following: … Finalized government actions against the business that relate to its marketplace activities and, in BBB's opinion, raise questions about the business's ethics or its reliability in providing products/services.

How do I check a company reputation? ›

Some important review sites for this purpose include:
  1. Yelp.
  2. The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  3. Google Business.
  4. Homeadvisor.
  5. Nextdoor.
Mar 9, 2022

Do businesses care if you report them to BBB? ›

This means that a business can ignore a BBB complaint. However, while a company may not be legally obligated to resolve the complaint with a consumer, they may receive a negative rating on the BBB website. Negative ratings can be a significant incentive for businesses to resolve complaints.

Which state owns USAA? ›

Founded in 1922, USAA is a Texas-based reciprocal insurance company, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, that directly offers property and casualty (P&C) insurance, life and health insurance products to members who are, or are family members of, current or retired members of the U.S. armed services.

Is USAA being bought out? ›

USAA closes deal with Schwab to acquire USAA brokerage and USAA managed portfolio accounts. Today, USAA announced the official close and conversion of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc's acquisition of USAA brokerage and USAA Managed Portfolios ® (UMP) accounts.

Is USAA federally backed? ›

USAA Federal Savings Bank (FSB) FSB is an FDIC-insured Federal savings bank depository institution subject to primary regulation and supervision examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Where does USAA rank in banking? ›

USAA Bank ranks 28th largest U.S. bank based on deposits at $71 billion. About USAA The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and advice to more than 12 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families.

Why is USAA better than other banks? ›

With monthly fee-free checking and savings accounts, generous ATM fee policies, an APY coming standard with every checking account, and many tools and programs created to help customers avoid overdrafts and meet their financial goals, USAA offers a complete package of good banking practices.

Is USAA Bank rating lowered? ›

The OCC identified a total of 6,477 violations with the Federal Trade Commission, leading to USAA Bank's Community Reinvestment Act rating dropping from "satisfactory" to "needs improvement." The 1997 act requires regulators to look at a bank's record to see if it meets the needs of its community, which includes ...

What is the #1 auto insurance in the US? ›

Top 10 Largest Auto Insurance Companies
Car Insurance ProviderNational Market ShareOverall Rating Out of 10.0*
1. State Farm15.90%9.3
2. Geico14.30%9.1
3. Progressive13.70%8.7
4. Allstate10.40%8.3
6 more rows
2 days ago

Who are the highest paid USAA employees? ›

A typical executive director salary at USAA is $176,490. Some of the other roles at USAA are customer service representative and member service representative.
...
Highest Paying Jobs At USAA.
Rank1
Job TitleExecutive Director
Average USAA Salary$176,490
Hourly Rate$84.85
19 more columns

What makes USAA so successful? ›

Serving only military families gives USAA one big advantage: tremendous brand focus. Serving a narrowly-defined niche enables financial marketers and brand builders to target their products, services and solutions to that group's specific circ*mstances, needs and preferences.

How well does USAA handle claims? ›

USAA is good at paying claims compared to the average insurance company, according to J.D. Power's latest claims satisfaction survey. USAA scored 890 out of 1,000 for their claims process, compared to the industry average of 873 out of 1,000.

Does USAA pay if the government shuts down? ›

USAA Government Shutdown Program

This is a one-time, zero-interest loan equal to the amount of your net paycheck, from $500 to $6,000, designed to help with an affected paycheck.

Does USAA raise rates for claims? ›

We never raise rates to make up for past claims. But we do look at several factors before increasing future rates.

Is USAA still military only? ›

Who can join USAA? Our products and services are open to current and former military and their spouses. Children of USAA members can join, too.

Where is USAA headquarters located? ›

San Antonio, TX - Headquarters

USAA is the largest private company in San Antonio and one of its leading corporate citizens.

Why is USAA moving to Schwab? ›

The value of military clients

USAA's members are also valuable to companies like Victory Capital and Schwab. Those firms want to attract more military clients. America's military population is over 60 million servicemembers, veterans, families, and immediate relatives.

What went wrong with USAA? ›

In March 2022, the federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network hit USAA Bank with a $140 million fine, alleging it failed to adequately monitor for potential money-laundering activity. The feds also penalized USAA Bank two other times since 2019 over alleged violations of banking laws.

What's going on with USAA? ›

Federal regulators have fined USAA Federal Savings Bank, a century-old institution that mainly does business with members and veterans of the U.S. military, for failing to follow anti-money laundering laws.

Is USAA fined $140 million? ›

FinCEN says the bank will pay a total of $140 million to the U.S. Treasury. The total came from fines imposed by the Office of the Comptroller of Currency and FinCEN, which were $60 million and $80 million, respectively.

Why is Navy Federal better than USAA? ›

You'll earn a higher interest rate through the Navy Federal Credit Union Share Savings Account than with the USAA Savings Account. It also lets you create individual savings goals, which may be ideal if you are looking for budgeting tools. On Navy Federal Credit Union's secure site.

Why is USAA not FDIC insured? ›

Is USAA FDIC insured? Yes, USAA Federal Savings Bank is a member of the FDIC (FDIC# 32188). Its deposit accounts are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, for each account ownership category, in the event of a bank failure.

What are the huge losses at USAA? ›

The insurance and financial services giant reported a $1.3 billion net loss for 2022, according to its annual report, down from a $3.3 billion profit in 2021, and just over $36 billion in revenue in 2022, a 3% decline from last year.

Is USAA really just for military? ›

Our products and services are open to current and former military and their spouses. Children of USAA members can join, too.

Is USAA best for military members? ›

Best Overall for Military Members and Families USAA

USAA caters exclusively to current and former service members and their families and offers unique coverage, incredible discounts, and outstanding customer service.

Who is not eligible for USAA? ›

USAA insurance is only for military members' and veterans' direct family members. Anyone besides a current or former spouse and children will not be eligible for USAA insurance coverage.

What percentage of USAA employees are veterans? ›

Since 2005, USAA has hired more than 7,800 military veterans and spouses. Today, one out of every four new hires at USAA is a veteran or military spouse, and USAA is now working to meet a new internal goal that 30 percent of the organization's new hires be veterans or military spouses.

Can you join USAA if your grandfather was in the military? ›

If you've ever served or have a spouse, parent or grandparent who has, you could be eligible.

What bank owns USAA? ›

USAA is owned by its members, who are primarily current and former members of the U.S. armed forces as well as family members of those who served. USAA is headquartered in San Antonio and has been a privately-owned financial institution since its founding in 1922.

What happens if you have more than 250k in the bank? ›

Bottom line. Any individual or entity that has more than $250,000 in deposits at an FDIC-insured bank should see to it that all monies are federally insured. It's not only diligent savers and high-net-worth individuals who might need extra FDIC coverage.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 6447

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.