Article Status Notice: This Article is a stub


This article is underdeveloped, and needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Learn more ▼


Allstate, founded in 1931, is an American insurance provider that also operates in Canada. The company owns several subsidiaries, many of which carry the Allstate name, as well as Esurance. It is one of the largest insurers in the United States.

Allstate
Basic information
Founded 1931
Legal structure Public
Industry Insurance
Official website https://allstate.com/

Consumer impact summary

Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.

Allstate, Arity, and their subsidiaries are currently involved as defendants in a lawsuit by the state of Texas , that alleges multiple violations of data privacy regulations.

Alleged unauthorized data collection

Main article: Allstate and Arity's alleged unauthorized driver data collection through mobile apps

Arity, an Allstate subsidiary, has been sued for allegedly collecting drivers' data without consent. Drivers have also faced systematic barriers opting out of said collection that can potentially affect insurance rates.

Unfair claims handling practices

  • Lowball offers and delays
Accused of systematically offering settlements below market value and intentionally delaying claims to pressure claimants into accepting lower payouts. This strategy was allegedly developed with McKinsey & Company in the 1990s to maximize profits by reducing payouts.[1][2]
  • Alligator approach
Internal documents revealed a tactic of "sitting and waiting" to frustrate claimants into settling for inadequate amounts, particularly in personal injury cases.[1]
  • High denial rates
Florida subsidiaries Castle Key Indemnity and Castle Key Insurance denied 47.1% and 46% of claims, respectively, in 2023, some of the highest rates in the state.[2]

Use of anti-consumer policy language

Anti-concurrent causation clauses
Pioneered policy language allowing claim denials if a loss involved both covered and excluded events. This was widely criticized after Hurricane Katrina, where homeowners were denied claims for storm damage if flooding also contributed.[3]

Legal and regulatory violations

  • Bad-faith lawsuits
Faced multiple lawsuits for denying valid claims, including a $2.8 million bad-faith ruling in Weiss v. Allstate and a $25 million class-action settlement for inflating premiums and unfairly denying claims.[2][3]
  • TCPA violations
A 2024 court ruling found Allstate vicariously liable for illegal robocalls made by subcontractors, violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
  • State fines
Paid a $70 million fine in Texas for overcharging homeowners and received the largest fine in Maryland history for premium hikes without customer notification.

Manipulative adjuster training

Adjusters were allegedly trained to minimize payouts and received bonuses for reducing claim values. Former employees described a culture of "lying to customers" to meet profit targets.

Controversial profit-driven strategies

  • McKinsey Documents
Internal reports revealed Allstate prioritized profit over policyholders, aiming to pay 30% below market value on claims. Profits doubled to $4.6 billion by 2007 using these tactics.
  • Stock Buybacks & Executive Sales
CEO Tom Wilson sold $32 million in stock amid scrutiny, while the company engaged in stock repurchases criticized as price manipulation.ref>Starkman, Eric (January 3, 2025). [https://starkmanapproved.com/the-soiled-hands-of-allstate-ceo-tom-

wilson/ "The Soiled Hands of Allstate CEO Tom Wilson"]. starkmanapproved.com. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); line feed character in |url= at position 67 (help)</ref>

Discrimination allegations

Racial Bias
Roberto Clemente Jr. sued Allstate in 2022, alleging racial discrimination in franchise agency operations. The case settled in 2023.ref>Starkman, Eric (January 3, 2025). "The Soiled Hands of Allstate CEO Tom Wilson". starkmanapproved.com.</ref>

Public backlash and reputation

Consumer group, American Association for Justice, ranks Allstate as the worst insurer for consumers due to its claims practices.[4]
Negative reviews cite poor customer service, claim delays, and premium hikes without improved coverage.[5]

Allstate has disputed some claims, citing third-party reports supporting its practices.[3]

Products

This is a list of the company's product lines with articles on this wiki.


Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.

Incidents

See also

Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.


Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.