"I don't think it's even possible to purchase any insurance policy strictly by phone."

Call Geico, give them the Plates, VIN, DL#, and some personal info, a Visa and you get a binder faxed/emailed to you in less than an hour. A week or 2 later you get a signature pack in the mail to return to them. Leagally insured to drive in an hour over the phone, an accident the next day would be covered without the signature on the return mailer.
Well, that's what I did in the independant country of Texas(currently a US state) 5 months ago. State laws vary.

Huh, they cover you before the signature on the return mailer? Impressive. However, AMA outsourced the insurance. It may be that the company is not as accomodating as Geico.

Just my 2 cents, but what's the big deal if they won't take it over the phone? Just do it on-line, or fax it, or mail it in. Sheesh! Maybe Geico does it differently, but the AMA is not Geico. If you want Geico insurance, give Geico your business. This is the AMA and they have different rules, etc. I guarantee that anyone they'd lose by not taking a membership application over the phone is someone they'd rather not have anyway.

I reupped via the internet and there were no problems. Whether it's via fax, snailmail or internet, it's 15 minutes a year that you have to deal with it. So dry the tears from your eyes and do what you gotta do.

Don't join the AMA, fly at your own field.

Why would you be concerned with the AMA having your email address on any accounts? The only email I have ever gotten from them was realted to the AMA. I would have more reservations giving my credit card number to someone who I do not neccessarily know over the phone as I would giving my email address to them.
Tommy

I have signed up two new members into the AMA. I actually signed up 4, but one guy wrote his buddy as the Ambassador and the 4th is a youth. I'll give someone five bucks to use me as an ambassador to get my free membership. This process has me really ticked at the AMA.

Why would you be ticked at the AMA? It would seem to me that any issue would be with the gentleman who apparently said he would write you in but wrote his buddy instead.

John

Email me at home if you can help me: [email protected]

Insurance, Insurance, Insurance.

Tell me again why we join the AMA?

Are they an insurance company?

Aren't they secondary to other insurance anyway?

Seems reasonable to sell secondary "insurance" over the phone pending a signed application. Other insurance companies do it all the time.

thanks 2fast, seems your about the only one that has responded in this thread , and understands how insurance companies operate. I did secure a AMA membership to fly at other fields requiring it, and will not respond to the rest of the other posts. Yall have a nice day, think I will step out my back door and go fly.

Hey Taildragger, if it was easy to join the AMA, everyone would be doing it!

Seems reasonable to sell secondary "insurance" over the phone pending a signed application.

Right, and you can join the AMA by skipping the phone process and simply filling out a SIGNED aplication and sending it to them. Less paperwork all the way around.

Taildrager,
As for "stupid", I suspect anyone who doesn't agree with your opinion is labeled by that name in your eyes only.

As for your homeowner's insurance covering R/C activities, you'd better check the policy. You may find a special rider is needed, along with a payment increase for the extra coverage. If I were a club officer, I would HATE (read NOT) to individually check 20-30 different member's insurance policies to verify the coverage.

Dr.1

What a drag after all these years I'm just now finding out I'm stupid and have my head up my butt. Thanks for cluing me in. I owe you.

"his head up his butt"

Gee, Taildrager, I guess that explains your crappy outlook on life.

Dr.1

when you get into business yourself and find that allot of low-life tend to pay with checks that bounce like a tail heavy four star, you'll see their point.......the real kicker is when they say 'we don't take cash, you'll have to pay by check or credit/debit card please' i remember the days of 'In God we trust' and everyone else was cash only.

kc

There are instances where cash is not an acceptable method of payment. It is difficult to steal a check that was written to a specific entity. Credit cards require a signiture but cash can be slipped into anybody's pocket.

Geico gets your Vin # your drivers license # and your credit card or check number. Your drivers license is your pledge to obey the laws and safety code for drivers in your state. The fact that they are the primary insurer is also valid.

The AMA needs you to be aware of their safety code. Your signature is proof (at least legally) that you are aware of the code. The AMA is indeed secondary--at least in most states--but no where are you asked IF you have homeowners insurance. Until a claim is made the AMA has no way of knowing if they are secondary or primary. Given the reasons stated I see no fault with the AMA's requirement for a signature on a first time application.

As to reduced rates for those who fly only six months a year--you are missing out on a lot of fine flying. Try it --you'll like it.



BM

I don't know why they don't send some personal AMA representative to collect dues door to door every year? They can print my card on the spoyt and wash and wax my car why they are here. Why in the world should I have to take 10 seconds out of my valuable time to fill out an AMA application either online, or to send in the mail. Sending one by mail is the absolute worst! I have to get off my butt for a whole 5 minutes and run to the post office! It is almost unbearable! While I am at it, I don't know why I should have to mow the yard, feed the pets, or even get up and go to work everyday? Somebody should just mail me a cool million so I won't have to work ever again! The world really should revolve around me!

Sorry about the head up butt coment and stupid coment. What do you want from me a freeking hug? I have a great outlook on life if the dumbass at AMA answering the phone and others of her ilk could at least make a attempt to do the job correctly and give me some choices, instead of saying " you cant join AMA over the phone" I guess I cant expect much more as these people that are being hired for burger flipping wages, can't speak english. make change, know the product they are selling, but such is life, and I will deal with it

Lifes way too short to freak out over something like this. Lighten up.

I think a big hug is exactly what you need! How far is Oregon, Illinois from London Mills, Illinois? If it is not to far maybe I can drop by and give you a big hug, and a "it will be allright" pat on the back. Then we will go fly at your local AMA Club, do some fun flying and tell each other good bs stories all day. After all, when you put everything else aside, it is all about flying, having a good time, and telling good bs stories.

I can go to the rifle range without buying insurance, why would I need insurance to fly my R/C machine. Maybe my perspective is different because where I fly there is nothing to hit but trees and dirt, but I don't see the need for it or the AMA.

Wow, Lucky you. I have to join a club to have a place to fly, and that requires AMA membership. Then of course I have to put up with those other members and the fun flys, and BB-Qs among the many social functions held at the flying site. Gosh it's tough to be a "loner" these days.....

Perhaps you could explain what "...how insurance companies operate." has to do with how AMA operates? AMA is definitely NOT an insurance company. It serves to provide a very low cost liability coverage for its membership through sharing its own liability coverage under a group policy provided by a formal insurance company. Now you watch your step at that back door.

So, actually you really need a more mature point, one which is reality in a real world. I don't need insurance to go take a crap, even though sometimes I use someone else's crapper. OTOH if you fly RC on MY property you will have an AMA card. That's the way life is.

The rifle range is a business and provides you a place to do what you do there in return for a fee. That is what all business is -- providing something for something in exchange. AMA provides you some additional financial well-being for a fee, and likewise, most clubs provide some financial security for their members by requiring that each member has the AMA program, thus each member has the wherewithal to take care of any damage he might inflict and at the same time be protected against damage his fellow club members might inflict. That reasoning parallels why many states require drivers to carry commercial public-liability insurance.

Now you can bet your sweet patootie that the rifle range has adequate insurance to cover itself against both its own liabilities as well as yours. The difference is that the rifle range doesn't give a tinker's-dam about what happens to YOU. The rifle range may well take everything you have and ever hope to have if you perform a careless action while on their property which severely damages someone's person.

Usually about 5 or 10 of us - just a bunch of ex-Army buddies who like to fly R/C, very informal. We also shoot, go camping, fourwheeling and game together.
We don't have an AMA sanctioned "Club" but we still have fun. Nothing against formal clubs, mind you, just not my cup of tea.

Never did a BBQ while flying...not a bad idea at all. Have to suggest it.