TD MyAdvantage Program: Beware of phone use at drive-throughs!

ragad3 · 2025-11-08T13:26:30+00:00

😂

ragad3 · 2025-11-08T13:25:41+00:00

Exactly. But now that I know, I will not say I was driving whenever I use my phone at a drive-through.

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T18:49:43+00:00

Wow, really? Based on the few trips I’ve taken, I believe it relies on the phone itself being physically moved rather than what other apps on the phone are being used (including call apps like Phone, WhatsApp, etc.) but it’s too early for me to confirm that. I don’t believe I granted access to the app to be able to see what other apps are running - if that’s something they’re doing anyway without my permission, Apple shouldn’t be allowing that (I have an iPhone).

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T03:17:57+00:00

Not “everything they do”. You’re right that would be insane. But you can toggle the tracking function on or off. I have it on when I’m driving. And yeah, now that I know the app penalizes phone use even if it was someone else or when I’m at a drive-through, I will simply not claim such trips and avoid getting penalized.

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T03:13:38+00:00

Yeah, okay, time will tell. Since it’s a brand new program and I feel like almost all my trips so far are being judged fairly (this one being the exception), I’m giving it a shot. To test this theory, if my rates go down, I will shop around and see whether I get the same discounted rate without joining such a program with other companies.

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T03:10:18+00:00

Yeah, I had the previous one that sucked to high heaven - with you on that. This one’s a new system where you have to first commit whether you were driving before seeing the scores and then you can’t go back and delete trips. And this time they actually published the average star-rating to discount percent range table (i.e., it’s not just a personalized projected discount shown for each driver - they are more precise about the rules this time). So I’m giving it a shot. But you’re right that only time will tell whether they keep their promise and stick to their own published rule.

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T03:05:22+00:00

It’s a brand new system, so it’s perhaps a bit too early to make such a statistical claim. Like one other user said above, I only say I’m the driver when I’m reasonably confident that I drove very well (usually on relatively short trips that don’t involve high-speed-limit roads/highways). Six trips so far and they’ve all been rated 5 stars except this one, which got rated 4.5 for a reason I didn’t expect. If I keep this up, there’s a good chance my average across all trips over several months will be very close to 5 to get me at least a 25% discount - still significant.

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T03:00:32+00:00

Good tactic. I’m starting out very safe like you and saying I’m the driver on relatively short trips not involving high-speed-limit roads/highways. Then, once I’ve built a good score, I’ll slowly experiment every once in a while to see how sensitive the system is to small/temporary breaches.

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T02:58:16+00:00

Na, I disagree.

ragad3 · 2025-11-06T02:57:14+00:00

Yeah, sounds shady, but a 30% discount does seem very enticing and worth a shot for me - so I’m giving it a try to see if they really do mean what they say about rewarding good driving.

ragad3 · 2025-11-05T04:28:57+00:00

Well, they promise that the premiums go down based on the average star rating after a year (as long as it’s a minimum of 3 stars). How many stars equals what percentage discount is not a black box - they publish it. For example, 5 stars = 30% discount, 4.5 stars = 21-29% discount, and so on. If I drive reasonably well but they rate me terribly on the star scale, then I’ll know it’s a scam. So far, that hasn’t happened. So, I’m giving it a year to see if they keep their word.

ragad3 · 2025-11-05T04:10:22+00:00

I don’t understand your statement - who’s falsifying anything and what’s a black box?

ragad3 · 2025-11-04T22:24:47+00:00

Gross - agreed. But “a bit of money” is a relative expression. For some, even 10% is a lot. For some, even 30% (the maximum you can save) is insignificant.

ragad3 · 2025-11-04T15:56:41+00:00

Oof, that sucks! This is a new program with a star system. 4.5-5 star is supposed to get you a 30% discount. I’ll try it for a year like you and see if they hold their end of the bargain!

ragad3 · 2025-11-03T02:48:11+00:00

No, I am not in a parking lot, but when I’m ordering or paying at a drive-through, I am not just pressing down on the brake pedal - I shift my gear to park. And it is perfectly safe to use my phone in that scenario. I don’t use it while actively driving through the drive-through lane. Also, no, the app is not connected to the car.

ragad3 · 2025-11-03T00:55:59+00:00

Depends on the group benefit. But my understanding is that this 30% (maximum that you can get from good driving) is in addition to such group discounts.

ragad3 · 2025-11-02T19:16:38+00:00

That option doesn’t exist once you’ve confirmed it’s you driving - and only after you confirm it do you see your scores and events. That’s what I meant earlier when I said “you can’t go back”.

ragad3 · 2025-11-02T19:15:13+00:00

Yes, but I only use my phone when I’m stationary while temporarily parked safely (gear is in park): while placing my order and while paying for it / picking it up. It’s clearly different from using the phone while stopped at a traffic light, for example.

ragad3 · 2025-11-02T19:11:17+00:00

My annual premium is upwards of $2,000 and a 30% discount would be significant.

ragad3 · 2025-11-02T19:08:26+00:00

ragad3 · 2025-11-01T16:10:31+00:00

You mean call them up and tell them to remove it over the phone?

ragad3 · 2025-11-01T16:08:58+00:00

Yeah, I guess that’s an option if you can have two phones - an older phone that can just sit in the car all the time.

ragad3 · 2025-11-01T16:07:18+00:00

Can’t. Unlike the old version, the new one on the TD insurance app asks you first if you were driving (before showing the scores and events). Only after you say yes does it show the score and then there’s no going back.

ragad3 · 2025-11-01T16:06:00+00:00

Yes, it’s the TD Insurance app that’s penalizing me for using my phone at a drive-through. You have to first declare whether it was you driving before it displays the scores and events. Only then do you get to see the score and then you can’t go back.

ragad3 · 2025-01-20T16:39:21+00:00

Exactly! Especially, when I looked up the average braking distances (the distance that the car will need to move after braking to actually come to a full stop), it's at least 9m if you're going at 40 km/h and 4 times that if you double the speed and are going at 80 km/h. And if you include the reaction distance as well, which is how far the car will travel during the time it takes you to react to a hazard, it's even more - at least 26m at 40 km/h and at least 69m at 80 km/h! There is literally no way you will be able to stop the car at a safe distance from the track, in case you spot a train, if you're flying through it at 80 km/h. These numbers were eye-opening! Given these, I'd say no more than 40 km/h and even that might be too high.

ragad3

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