By Sandra Zunino
In an age where peace of mind is hard to come by, having an insurance agent you can trust is paramount to protect your interests. At Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, Inc. in Centreville, building strong relationships with policyholders is the basis for superior customer service.
Joseph founded McCartin Insurance in 1967 and grew the company to cover all aspects of insurance coverage. In 1998, he sold the business to sons, Mike, Doug and Steve who adopted his philosophy of a personalized approach to meeting clients’ insurance needs.
Originally located in Beltsville, McCartin Insurance merged with Centreville’s Shore Insurance Services this year, providing a plethora of insurance carriers and services including Erie Insurance, Safeco Insurance, Travelers and The Harford Mutual insurance companies to both sides of the Bay Bridge.
“Erie primarily is the large part of our business,” says Philip Dumenil, personal and commercial sales associate. “They are an extremely competitive carrier and the products are superior.”
In fact, JD Powers and Associates rated Erie number one the past two years for best insurance company in the purchasing experience of auto insurance. A few years ago, they rated Erie second place for customer service and satisfaction in a claims situation, according to Philip.
“JD Powers does not just recognize anybody,” he says, “so we are very pleased that Erie has that reputation of taking good care of its policyholders.”
“I can’t say enough good things about Erie Insurance and the opportunity to partner with Joseph McCartin,” he adds.
Working with an agency that has access to several carriers provides more choices for customers. With the financial challenges faced in today’s economy, people are shopping more than ever for their coverage. Additionally, business owners are looking at the cost of insurance and trying to save money to increase their profit margins.
“In many cases, it is mandated that you must have insurance of some kind, whether homeowner’s, auto or liability,” says Philip, “so you might as well have a good company, pay competitive premiums and have a good agent that will take care of you.”
Often researching and getting quotes seems like a hassle, but Philip assures that at McCartin the process is quick and simple. Having a selection of carriers to work with means McCartin agents can meet their clients’ diverse and ever-changing needs. After answering a few basic questions over the phone, a quote is available in a matter of minutes.
Having strong relationships with policyholders helps protect the clients’ interests in the long run, such as whether to file multiple claims or not. “As odd as it sounds, sometimes you have to manage your claims,” Philip explains. “We want to ultimately be insurance advisors and protect our clients’ long-term insurability.”
Providing comprehensive quotes, claim advising or letting clients know the vast array of insurance products available to protect them all falls into the category of providing superior customer service. “Service in general has fallen to the wayside,” says Philip. “It’s not like it used to be 20 years ago.”
While people have gotten used to idea of doing everything themselves, The McCartins insist insurance should not be one of those things, so McCartin Insurance strives to ensure customer satisfaction.
“Many people wouldn’t know their agent if they bumped into him in the grocery store,” says Philip. With two generations invested in the business, however, the folks at McCartin are neighbors and members of the community, not just a voice over the phone.
“It is reassuring to know you are dealing with someone you can trust,” says Philip.
For more information about Joseph W. McCartin Insurance, Inc., insurance products or to get a quote, visit www.mccartin.com or call 410-758-1588 or toll-free at 877-567-3749.