Should I tell USAA I'm non-military?

[Tazman81]

Many indicate that USAA is not the same as they used to be, and I do not disagree, but am happy to say that I may be in the minority where the insurance products offered through them give me substantially better coverage for cheaper than any other company including the big 3 insurance companies.  I am happy with the credit and banking products I have with them, though once they started piecing off parts of the business, I did end up branching out to other instituations and now use PenFed as my primary banking institution, though USAA still has a big place in my family because they hold all of our insurance products.

To your other question; just because you have a USAA Number, it does not mean you are a member with them.  For example, I had a USAA Number and log-in account, but was not able to open any banking products nor any insurance products.  When I tried to apply online, it would just indicate that I did not qualify because I am not active duty or a military veteran.  My account did not actually let me get any of these products until my dad (a military veteran) got a property policy with USAA.  That then made him qualify to pass membership to his spouse and children (me).

Though I do not know this for certain, I am sure that USAA utilizes some type of authentication like the military DEERS tool to confirm military membership for eligibility to allow things like what you describe to not be able to happen.  My only other thought is if your ex-boyfriend was active duty military, and he added you to his account under family member "spouse", then him having USAA Insurance would qualify you for USAA insurance; of course, this would also not be true qualification if you are not married.

Hope you are able to get everything straightened out.  Good luck.

[SouthernCredit]

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@Tazman81 wrote:

Many indicate that USAA is not the same as they used to be, and I do not disagree, but am happy to say that I may be in the minority where the insurance products offered through them give me substantially better coverage for cheaper than any other company including the big 3 insurance companies.  I am happy with the credit and banking products I have with them, though once they started piecing off parts of the business, I did end up branching out to other instituations and now use PenFed as my primary banking institution, though USAA still has a big place in my family because they hold all of our insurance products.

To your other question; just because you have a USAA Number, it does not mean you are a member with them.  For example, I had a USAA Number and log-in account, but was not able to open any banking products nor any insurance products.  When I tried to apply online, it would just indicate that I did not qualify because I am not active duty or a military veteran.  My account did not actually let me get any of these products until my dad (a military veteran) got a property policy with USAA.  That then made him qualify to pass membership to his spouse and children (me).

Though I do not know this for certain, I am sure that USAA utilizes some type of authentication like the military DEERS tool to confirm military membership for eligibility to allow things like what you describe to not be able to happen.  My only other thought is if your ex-boyfriend was active duty military, and he added you to his account under family member "spouse", then him having USAA Insurance would qualify you for USAA insurance; of course, this would also not be true qualification if you are not married.

Hope you are able to get everything straightened out.  Good luck.

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I was the same as you - for years, USAA beat EVERYONE on insurance products. Even if the prices weren't cheaper, the coverage was far better and customer service was top notch. 

Then, I bought a new house last year in a more affluent neighborhood than I lived in before. For a comparable house as the one I already had insured with USAA, they wanted a 300% increase in my homeowner's insurance. I have never had a homeowners claim, and my credit was better than when they issued the last policy. No one at USAA could explain why they were raising my homeowners 300%. So I took my business to another insurer. I left a VPP policy and credit card with them to maintain my history, but took everything else away. I still think their customer service is top notch, though. It pained me to leave, because in 20 years I've never really had a bad experience with them. But I refuse to pay that inflated rate for no reason. 

[Guyatthebeach]

Amanda7,

To be honest USAA doesn't have the shine they did in years past. When I could no longer deposit cash and checks into my USAA checking account at the UPS stores, I switched banks.  I wound up getting better rates on my credit card and saved a bunch on my home and car insurance.

If I were in your shoes, I'd switch to a different bank or CU. Then I'd move my money out of USAA and close my accounts discreetly.  

Guyatthebeach

[txwallflower]

I joined USAA via my husband. I did not take his last name, which should have been a sign, but he was Army Reserves and had his car insurance with them so I moved mine over as well. After 4 years we divorced. Since our divorce, I have gotten a personal loan, renters insurance, and 1 credit card.

Since I kept my maiden last name, upon our divorce being completed, I did not notify USAA that I was divorced since I did not need to make any name changes to my accounts. I can remain a USAA member as long as I do not remarry. If I were to remarry and take my new husband's last name and he was not a member of USAA, he would need to be eligible to join so he could sponser his new wife, me, who has no military affliciation on my own,  in order for me to change the last name on my existing accounts.

Unlike most credit unions, where once a member always a member, that doesn't hold for a non-military former spouse. You are only a member AS LONG AS YOU DON"T REMARRY.

And to the OP's question on if you can close your accounts online.  No, USAA requires you to call customer service to close them.  Which I suggest you do.  As others have stated, USAA is not the credit union it once was.

[lns1976]

@txwallflower I would question this.  I recently found out that USAA is "once a member always a member" per their own customer service.

Once they validate you and you have received products through them you're a member and nothing should ever change that.  It sounds like someone was giving you misinformation.

[FinStar]

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@txwallflower wrote:

And to the OP's question on if you can close your accounts online.  No, USAA requires you to call customer service to close them.  Which I suggest you do.  As others have stated, USAA is not the credit union it once was.

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Just an FYI - USAA is not and has not been a credit union. It is chartered as a Federal Savings Bank. So, it doesn't work under the same policies that Credit Unions typically have for membership.

[creditfan]

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@lns1976 wrote:

@txwallflower I would question this.  I recently found out that USAA is "once a member always a member" per their own customer service.

Once they validate you and you have received products through them you're a member and nothing should ever change that.  It sounds like someone was giving you misinformation.

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echo to this is true

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Personal-Finance/USAA-membership-requirement-change/m-p/6457241

[BachChaconne]

I'm going to throw out another reason to close the membership-- the EX boyfriend!

he presumably has all your information and could open accounts in your name.  To me, that is a major identity theft risk.  If he is willing to commit fraud to get you an account, what else might he do?

and while we are on the topic, I would make sure all your major/minor credit reports are frozen since he presumably has your SSN and perhaps even DL.  No matter how much in love you may be with someone, never share your personal identity information unless your actually married.

I hope that doesn't sound harsh.  I don't even have the information for my siblings (though we know each other's SSN because they are consecutive numbers).  I also never had it for my parents until after they died.  

[lns1976]

@BachChaconne If he had the information to open a USAA membership, he has the information to open a bank account elsewhere if we wanted to without going through USAA.

Closing accounts because of an "ex" having opened it is an over reaction. 

Talking to USAA to correct her membership, explain the problem, and either close it if necessary to prevent further issues is the only thing she needs to do.

Whether to use their services or not is another discussion.  

[BachChaconne]

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@lns1976 wrote:

@BachChaconne If he had the information to open a USAA membership, he has the information to open a bank account elsewhere if we wanted to without going through USAA.

Closing accounts because of an "ex" having opened it is an over reaction. 

Talking to USAA to correct her membership, explain the problem, and either close it if necessary to prevent further issues is the only thing she needs to do.

Whether to use their services or not is another discussion.  

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That's why I recommended she freeze her credit reports as well.  You may view it as an over-reaction.  I view it as self preservation.