Are you aware that if it is extremely difficult for you to qualify for insurance, there are two experienced insurance agents in Athens and Florence who take great pleasure in finding policies for “the uninsurable?” For the past year, Sherry McCafferty and Tammy Vaughan of SOS Insurance have been located at 1102 South Jefferson, Athens, AL 35611. The phone number is 256-262-9133, and their office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5.
They are also pleased to announce that they have been able to open a brand new office in Florence. The address for the new location is 1905 Florence Blvd, Florence, AL 35630, and that phone is 256-284-7148. At the moment, Sherry is manning the Florence location, and Tammy the one in Athens, but the hope is that Sherry’s husband Steve is going to be able to join the SOS team soon. His previous line of work has been in fabrication, and Steve is looking forward to starting a new career with two seasoned agents.
Between them, Sherry and Tammy have decades of experience in writing insurance policies, and worked together for many years at another firm. Sherry started off her career in the insurance industry somewhat looking at her work “as a job, and then it became a passion.” It is a passion for Tammy, too.
The firm where they formerly worked experienced great change during the shake up in the insurance industry that was such a big part of the beginning of the Great Recession. Eventually the firm was bought out, and Sherry figured it was time to start SOS. She chose the name because so often people are in distress with their insurance, and need someone who really cares about helping people to “save [their] ship.”
Tammy followed soon after SOS opened its doors at their previous location on Market Street. “It was sink or swim,” Sherry said, and they knew that the secret to success was going to need to be “over-the-top” customer service. That was a good move, and in an era when insurance companies are not really popular with the general public, SOS has been able to build a solid customer base. It has been that satisfied set of customers that has enabled them to open the Florence location.
Sherry and Tammy understand that “there are a lot of good people who are down on their luck, and we like to help.” They have also found that the smaller insurance companies have the same desire to meet the needs of people who “can’t” be insured. “You may have to pay higher premiums, but almost everyone can be covered,” they told me. SOS Insurance specializes in customizing policies for people with unusual circumstances, such as “SR22s,” the policies that are required if someone has had previous DUI trouble and is now in the process of rebuilding their lives. They also will do everything they can to time your payment so that it fits with when you get paid.
They offer another service that other agencies sometimes don’t, and that is month to month contracts. These are perfect for people who, for example, need to have their car covered in order to sell it.
One thing that is very important to both of them is maintaining their reputation for treating people like they are adults, as well as with professional kindness. “We have been told that we are friendlier,” Sherry said. “If you call us, we will find you the cheapest price possible, but we will not keep after you to buy,” she added. Tammy also told me that SOS has a strict policy that they will never sell you anything that you do not need or want. It is also not uncommon for other agents to send them referrals, because they can find policies that others can’t or won’t.
While auto insurance is their “bread and butter,” they also cover boats, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, and SUVs, and promise the same great service. They have also recently added healthcare insurance.
“We have about 12 companies that we find have been the best fit for their clients in terms of pricing and coverage,” Sherry said. They are: Safeway, ACCC Insurance, Access, Assurance America, Dairyland Auto, Dairyland Cycle, Everest/Arrowhead, Haulers’ Insurance, Key Insurance, National General, (formerly GMAC,) Progressive and Foremost. All of these companies have “passed muster” with SOS, and have been found to be solid and reliable. Recently they added Progressive to their lineup, which provides more choices, and now they also offer renters’ insurance.
If you have found yourself in need of help in getting insured, or are just looking for friendly, caring professional insurance agents, come to SOS Insurance and let Sherry or Tammy find you coverage that will truly meet your needs while respecting your budget.
SOS Insurance
316 Market Street W. Athens, AL 35611 1905 Florence Blvd. Florence, AL 35630
256-262-9133 256-284-7148
Hours: M-F 8:30-5 M-F 8:30-5
Email: sosinsurance@yahoo.com
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
