My car got hit... Kinda

[shwak23]

Insurance Co.s    I hate them

No they won't necessarily raise your rates after a claim they will just send you a cancellation notice.  Then try and get another insurance co. to handle you when they ask have you ever been dropped or canceled by another co.  Answer yes and they say sorry we can't take you then or we can take you but that now means you pay double or triple what you were before.  It is a no good racket. 

And speaking of no good. 

"With insurance, it is 40% determination, 40% playing your cards right, and 20%what is actually right and proper."  Does anyone else see a person with low morals here or is it just me?  20% right and proper.  Is that how you live your life?  I am so sorry for you.  And you wonder what gives the insurance co.s the need to have rates that are excessive compared to the real cost of doing business.

Take the 359, you have earned it by now.  For the sake of you neighbor I would not have done so.  I would have fixed it on my own dime and bought the trust and friendship of the entire family next door.  Now you will appear to be a scammer and a lowlife in their eyes.  Sorry for you again.

  I believe I mentioned before that it was my neighbors choice to put it on insurance. I offered to let him just buy me a used hatch for $50-$100 or whatever and he said he would ask his mother what he should do and what would be cheaper for him. She told him to use the insurance. It's not going to cost him anything directly out of pocket. Granted his rates may go up, but I gave him the choice.
Plus lets say for example I do get a higher quote from the dealership and the insurance company pays out $1700. That's not going to impact my neighbor any more than the $359 would.

"With insurance, it is 40% determination, 40% playing your cards right, and 20%what is actually right and proper."

As far as this quote goes. I think that you are misinterpreting it. What he's implying is that the insurance companies aren't going to always make decisions in your favor (as you've mentioned). Thus you have to be more attentive to your claim and can't just do "what's right and proper" which I assume to mean "calling in your claim and waiting for your check".

For example: My boss was given $2400 dollars for the damage to his truck after it was hit but when he had it fixed it ended up needing $4500.

Thank you for implying that my 19 year old neighbor and his girlfriend [not a whole family] think i'm a scammer and a low-life. You made an awful lot of assumptions to make your points. I assume you know what assuming does right? It makes.... 

[745 turbogreasel]

"With insurance, it is 40% determination, 40% playing your cards right, and 20%what is actually right and proper."  Does anyone else see a person with low morals here or is it just me?  20% right and proper.  Is that how you live your life?  I am so sorry for you.  And you wonder what gives the insurance co.s the need to have rates that are excessive compared to the real cost of doing business.

Take the 359, you have earned it by now.  For the sake of you neighbor I would not have done so.  I would have fixed it on my own dime and bought the trust and friendship of the entire family next door.  Now you will appear to be a scammer and a lowlife in their eyes.  Sorry for you again.

The right and proper thing is for the insurance co to do what they were paid for, and make your vehicle just as good as it was before their client messed it up.  Occasionally(20%), they just to that.  When you think about it though, they are in business to collect money and deny claims in the highest possible ratio.  Generally, if you do not stick to your guns, and learn to play their field you will get screwed.  If knowing this makes me a horrible person, Oh well...

Personally, I've given my insurance co about $30,000 for exactly nothing( I guess I'm an OK driver, and my bumpers are pretty  mean-).  Even if I did have a claim or two, and stretched them to the limits of plausibility, the company would still be coming out ahead.
If I totaled all 4 cars, it still wouldn't be 30K, let alone the interest they've made

[shwak23]

When you think about it though, they are in business to collect money and deny claims in the highest possible ratio.  Generally, if you do not stick to your guns, and learn to play their field you will get screwed.  If knowing this makes me a horrible person, Oh well...

Exactly.

[ORCoaster]

OK you are not a scammer or a low life.  Sorry on that score.  

I have had my times with the insurance co. and had to stick by my guns and even shoot over the head of the claims adjuster at times.  Progressive, not that they are any better or worse than Allstate or a hundred others, was really raking my son bad for an incident where the unlicensed teenager across the street decided to "practice" backing in and out of the drive while mom and dad were not home.  Well the first time she backed it up the wheel on the back ended up in my sons rear quarter panel.  He was legally parked across from the drive.  I figured it was an open and shut deal, uninsured, unlicensed driver hits parked car.  Well, after he had to go get 3 different estimates (which is bogus here) the adjuster low balled the lowest estimate and said that was the best she could do.  This individual would not return calls and was not located here in this town.  Was 2 hr drive from here.  

With no money being exchanged the car was not getting fixed and my son needed it running for a trip shortly.  He asked me to step in.  I do the call, leave a message and wait three hours.  No Call back call again, and again at 3 hour intervals.  Finally I get on line, get some numbers for customer support, work through several individuals that finally give me the name and number of the office manager.  Waited until 8:30AM next day and called him.  Left one blistering message and threatened to send this whole affair to the insurance ombudsman for the state.  9 AM the manager is calling and telling me he will have the agent return my call.  Not good enough I say.  She is to meet me at the shop at noon and we are going to print a check.  She was there and it took several calls back to the office for her to get permission to get the higher rates to fix the car but I was satisfied.  The owner of the shop told me he has always had trouble getting her to come up to his prices and he was totally amazed that I got what I did.  

He also fixed the car with the emphasis on detail and timeliness.  My son made his trip in his newly painted up, dentless mobile.

So I know how to be nasty but I really don't care to do business like that.  Shouldn't have to.  I was in customer service type jobs long enough to learn you get more with honesty and detail than rudeness and sloppy service.

[shwak23]

OK you are not a scammer or a low life.  Sorry on that score.  

I have had my times with the insurance co. and had to stick by my guns and even shoot over the head of the claims adjuster at times.  Progressive, not that they are any better or worse than Allstate or a hundred others, was really raking my son bad for an incident where the unlicensed teenager across the street decided to "practice" backing in and out of the drive while mom and dad were not home.  Well the first time she backed it up the wheel on the back ended up in my sons rear quarter panel.  He was legally parked across from the drive.  I figured it was an open and shut deal, uninsured, unlicensed driver hits parked car.  Well, after he had to go get 3 different estimates (which is bogus here) the adjuster low balled the lowest estimate and said that was the best she could do.  This individual would not return calls and was not located here in this town.  Was 2 hr drive from here.  

With no money being exchanged the car was not getting fixed and my son needed it running for a trip shortly.  He asked me to step in.  I do the call, leave a message and wait three hours.  No Call back call again, and again at 3 hour intervals.  Finally I get on line, get some numbers for customer support, work through several individuals that finally give me the name and number of the office manager.  Waited until 8:30AM next day and called him.  Left one blistering message and threatened to send this whole affair to the insurance ombudsman for the state.  9 AM the manager is calling and telling me he will have the agent return my call.  Not good enough I say.  She is to meet me at the shop at noon and we are going to print a check.  She was there and it took several calls back to the office for her to get permission to get the higher rates to fix the car but I was satisfied.  The owner of the shop told me he has always had trouble getting her to come up to his prices and he was totally amazed that I got what I did.  

He also fixed the car with the emphasis on detail and timeliness.  My son made his trip in his newly painted up, dentless mobile.

So I know how to be nasty but I really don't care to do business like that.  Shouldn't have to.  I was in customer service type jobs long enough to learn you get more with honesty and detail than rudeness and sloppy service.

Well seems as though we all agree. Insurance companies are not out for our best interests. Though I assume that the insurance company gave me plenty of money to do the repair I am rather curious to see if it's that accurate. I mean honestly how do they come up with these estimates? The guy who did mine came, took some pictures, went back to his car, and came back with an estimate that had the hours of labor, materials, and steps itemized. Is there like a generic program that comes up with these? Something like alldata or whatever?


[Has anyone even seen rainmaker here? lol]

[maxfax]

There is indeed software similar to alldata for doing auto body estimates..  Very cool indeed! With the subscriptions (which most larger body shops & claims adjusters have now days) they can locate and price new or used parts, as well as other materials.. Cam in mighty handy a few years back with a late 60's Buick Electra I once had..  Before the adjuster made the scene I started my usual preparations and had no luck finding a new fender..  He popped out his laptop and within 30 mins had a fender and check on the way to the body shop..  Antique auto insurance companies are MUCH nicer to deal with, they foot the bill for getting things fixed, then go after the other parties for the money..