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Author Topic:   Insurance blues
Harley
Esteemed Member

Posts: 57
From:Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 09-08-2000 11:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harley   Click Here to Email Harley     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm wondering if anyone has had any dealings with insurance companies when replacing damaged convertible tops.

Someone put a nice slit in my 1989 5.0 top. The insurance company is willing to pay only 50 percent of the job because of "depreciation." I'll admit the top is nowhere near looking new (with a few ragged edges here and there), but it's completely functional and I planned to get a few more years out of it before replacing it.

My argument is that if it was a fender, they'd pay for a full replacement even if had a few door dings in it.

Am I getting hosed?

IP: 63.23.251.213

Stewart
Esteemed Member

Posts: 1826
From:Monterey, CA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-10-2000 04:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Stewart   Click Here to Email Stewart     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Harley, sorry I didn't respond earlier. I saw this post just before I went to bed last night and figured I would post a response the next day. Unfortunately it was hit & miss for me getting online, and I actually forgot about this until I saw it in the Classics Forum.

Here's what I have experienced.

Insurance company's look out for themselves, and will do as much as they can to pay as little as possible. Take for instance my 1990 GT 5.0.

I was recently involved in a collision (I got rear-ended) and the other drivers insurance company didn't want to pay for new parts.

Now, I know for a fact that if the car is around 8 years old or less, you as the owner can insist on ONLY new, factory parts. However, if the car is older, they will rarely pay for all new factory parts.

For instance, the driver who hit me, his insurance company adjusted the repair estimate for my car ($4,400.00 dollars) by "disallowing" factory new parts for the hatchback and bumper cover. They were only "willing" to pay for cheapo, non-fitting, ill looking "aftermarket" reproductions. I told 'em to pound sand (nicely of course....I always try the nice path first...then the hardhead path).

I basically "sold" my car verbally, and let them know that I kept my stang in fantastic condition. They agreed with me that they had never seen a cleaner, more taken care of 5.0 ever, but that because my car was 10 years old, they just would not pay for new replacement parts. With that, I proceeded to "sweet talk" them into a compromise. I told them I wanted a quick resolution, as I'm sure they did too, and that I would really hate to see this end up in court. So I "generously" offered to accept a "recycled" hatchback (read: junk yard part in A+ condition) if they would agree to buy a brand new, factory bumper cover.

They agreed (along with a few other minor things) and cut me a check.

Now, one more thing. Hopefully you're able to talk them into covering more than 50% of the replacement for the top. But whatever percentage they decide to cover, go to the MOST expensive place you can find and have them give you an estimate. Then have the insurance cut you a check in YOUR NAME ONLY. Here in California, it's law they have to honor this if you request it.

One time my insurance company tried to tell me "no". I just kept telling them I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, they sent the check out to the repair shop with both my name and the shops on it.

I refused to sign the check, and told the insurance company to reissue the check in my name only, and to send the check to my address. They finally complied.

Anyway, after you get the check issued to you, take your car to someone who will do it for cheaper, and is reputable, who you trust to do the work. Some may think of this as cheating, but it really isn't.

Think about (aboot? Gotcha again, Ian) it. They insure the car against damage. Nowhere does it say you HAVE to have the work done!

You could actually take the money they give you, pocket it and never have the repair done...or just do it yourself with some kind of sealer.

The laws are set up to protect you, because the insurance company sure won't!

Hope that helps.

Stewart

IP: 152.163.207.52

Stewart
Esteemed Member

Posts: 1826
From:Monterey, CA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 09-10-2000 04:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Stewart   Click Here to Email Stewart     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One more thing, I'm not sure about WA, but here in CA a person only needs (by law!) ONE estimate. Insurance company's will insist and tell you you HAVE to have two, preferably three. Or another one they'll tell you is that a certain shop HAS to do the work or they will not cover as much.

Bullhockey.

Again, by law, you can take your car to whichever shop you want to do the work. They can suggest one, but you don't have to take it there.

Please remember though, all this is for California. It might be vastly different for you in Washington.

Stewart

IP: 152.163.207.52

Capri
Forum Kahuna

Posts: 688
From:Lyons, ILL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 09-13-2000 12:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Capri   Click Here to Email Capri     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You are getting hosed!! You pay them to insure your car, right? Would they pay for half a windshield? Would they pay for half of a door should it get crashed into?? Ask them these questions. I would be all over them should they tell me that crap.

That is me though. I do think you are getting hosed.

Tony.

IP: 209.240.200.123

Harley
Esteemed Member

Posts: 57
From:Seattle, WA, USA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 09-13-2000 02:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harley   Click Here to Email Harley     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well, gang, persistence does pay. The insurance company has now decided to cover the whole top(minus the deductible, of course).

The big problem was that I was told up-front that the whole top would be covered, then someone apparently stepped in and tried changing things in their favor.

I can understand that insurance companies have guidelines and percentages and terms like "betterment."

But they need to be more careful about what they tell a customer, especially one like myself who has insured every car (four at the moment), every home (two at the moment) plus the entire family's life insurance for 15 years without ever filing a claim until now.

IP: 63.16.114.67

Moneymaker
Big Kahuna

Posts: 4655
From:Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 09-15-2000 06:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just for our own knowledge Harley, who was the insurance company? Alex

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Fleet of FoMoCo's too long to list! http://superstockers.homestead.com/week.html

IP: 152.163.194.193

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