by NinjaJ » Thu Apr 23, 2009 09:19 pm
What can I do?!
I was involved in a minor accident. Other person's fault. Claimed to his insurance not mine. His insurance picked a shop, and I took my van there. My van still works. Collison place was estimating totals for just outside work to be around $2522. But said the way he hit me, that there was internal damge to the steering column(they don't know the extent, because they won't take apart the dash), said it would more than likely be considered non-repairable.
So then today the adjuster went out to inspect my van. Calls to tell me that they are going to consider it a total loss because of the hail damage. Hail damage?! I ask. But that's not even part of hte wrecked part. I don't want the hail damage fixed. Just the part the guy broke! She said she knows, but the hail damage is being taken into account for my vehicle's total value. After talking with another adjuster yesterday, I know they only fix/pay for repairs if the cost of the vehicle's damage does NOT exceed 65% of the vehicle's total value. I asked if I could take it to get a second opinion... to a different cheaper collision place. They told me no, that the adjuster was the second opinion. The adjuster I talked to yesterday is supposed to call me in 24-48 hours with a settlement offer. Just by talking to them, I know they are going to completely low ball me. I asked them who/what they use to figure up the value. She said CCC, and they don't use KBB, NADA or Edmunds. CCC is their "own" thing. The company is Farmers.
This really makes me mad. Because I KNOW they are going to fix their insured's car, and leave me without anything. I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan, with 11356 miles on it. Which is actually low for the year. The hail damage is minor to say the least. Other than that, before wrecked there was only minor/normal wear and tear. KBB marks it, even with the hail damage, at $3600, NADA is $3800(not even considering that the tires are practically brandnew,and it has a cd/mp3 player in it), and Edmunds is $2689.
I would be just fine and let it go for $3500 to $4000. But I don't think they are going to give me that.
What am I supposed to do? Can I request that amount before they call me with a number? Or when they give me a number can I tell them no, and that I will take one of the amounts I just mentioned?
There is no loan on the vehicle, it's mine. I can't afford to be making car payments on something. I've searched craigslist, autotrader and cars.com for something close to mine,a nd I cna't find anything. At least NOTHING near what I paid for what I've got. Everything is way more now, even vans that have WAY more milage than mine, and are even older.
This is really depressing me and irritating me. I have no idea what to do.
I was involved in a minor accident. Other person's fault. Claimed to his insurance not mine. His insurance picked a shop, and I took my van there. My van still works. Collison place was estimating totals for just outside work to be around $2522. But said the way he hit me, that there was internal damge to the steering column(they don't know the extent, because they won't take apart the dash), said it would more than likely be considered non-repairable.
So then today the adjuster went out to inspect my van. Calls to tell me that they are going to consider it a total loss because of the hail damage. Hail damage?! I ask. But that's not even part of hte wrecked part. I don't want the hail damage fixed. Just the part the guy broke! She said she knows, but the hail damage is being taken into account for my vehicle's total value. After talking with another adjuster yesterday, I know they only fix/pay for repairs if the cost of the vehicle's damage does NOT exceed 65% of the vehicle's total value. I asked if I could take it to get a second opinion... to a different cheaper collision place. They told me no, that the adjuster was the second opinion. The adjuster I talked to yesterday is supposed to call me in 24-48 hours with a settlement offer. Just by talking to them, I know they are going to completely low ball me. I asked them who/what they use to figure up the value. She said CCC, and they don't use KBB, NADA or Edmunds. CCC is their "own" thing. The company is Farmers.
This really makes me mad. Because I KNOW they are going to fix their insured's car, and leave me without anything. I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan, with 11356 miles on it. Which is actually low for the year. The hail damage is minor to say the least. Other than that, before wrecked there was only minor/normal wear and tear. KBB marks it, even with the hail damage, at $3600, NADA is $3800(not even considering that the tires are practically brandnew,and it has a cd/mp3 player in it), and Edmunds is $2689.
I would be just fine and let it go for $3500 to $4000. But I don't think they are going to give me that.
What am I supposed to do? Can I request that amount before they call me with a number? Or when they give me a number can I tell them no, and that I will take one of the amounts I just mentioned?
There is no loan on the vehicle, it's mine. I can't afford to be making car payments on something. I've searched craigslist, autotrader and cars.com for something close to mine,a nd I cna't find anything. At least NOTHING near what I paid for what I've got. Everything is way more now, even vans that have WAY more milage than mine, and are even older.
This is really depressing me and irritating me. I have no idea what to do.
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:15 pm Post Subject:
She told me- they would give me $2076, if I kept the vehicle, without taking it to salvage. Then told me I'd get $3475(that's $3200, plus TTL), if I let them take my van. But I could go to the salvage and buy it back for $439...
Well, that's just about the dumbest thing I've ever heard...it costs them less (in towing and processing salvage) if you keep it...that's just odd..Heck if I had known someone was going to be saying some minor damage is going to mean I don't get my van back, then I would've cleaned it, and shampooed the carpet, etc. int he 5 days I had it before taking it to the shop.
:wink: i hear ya'Have you contacted the DMV to see EXACTLY what the requirements are for salvage titles, and what you have to do (if you can) restore them? In my state, we are not REQUIRED to report a vehicle this old...if you haven't might be worth checking on...typcially a salvage or 'prior' salvage title can reduce the value (if it would total again) by 20-25% but as the vehicle ages that gets less and less.
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 06:35 am Post Subject:
This is what cracks me up. I just settled with them.
I got my paper work in today. None of the numbers really matched what the girl on Friday told me. No where was the hail damage mentioned in the paper work. But somehow it was taken off their TMV of my van. And the paper work sent to me: the comparables were laughable. They weren't even comparables. I mean a lot of them didn't even remotely match my van, some weren't even the same trim, and some didn't even have any of hte options my van had. But somehow they actually did come close to a good TMV of my van-before they deducted their little things. I finally got ahold of my actual Total Loss Adjuster. The hail damage was deducted off a percentage of what the over-priced collison place gave them. I started to get on her about the numbers not matching what I was told Friday. And the fact I was also told everything I had discussed with the lady Friday "filling in" for her would be sent to me. But the only "option" I was sent was signing over my title to them, and mailing it back with my keys. Uhmm.. no.
The number the girl gave me Friday was $2076- if I wanted to keep my van, without it going to salvage. So I asked about that. My TLA said, well, actually, we'd give $2,765, if you kept your van.
????? (but the cost to have YOU fix my van was $2522, didn't say it, but thought it.)
So I said: $2765? You're going to give me $2765 for my van. I get to keep it. It doesn't have to be claimed as salvage, so I get to keep my clean title, and get $2765? Yes. Really? Yes. And it's not going to go on my DMV record as a salvage? Her: No. I don't even have to turn it in to the DMV, but it will still be marked as a total loss.
Me: So it'll still show up if someone does a VIN check? But at least it won't be salvaged. So if I ever do decide to sell it, I'll just have to explain it was only totaled because of the insurance numbers game.
her: yes.
haha ok. And what about the rental? her: Well,I know you still need it. So you can still have it until the 9th.
Me: And you're going to pay for it?
Her: yes.
Ok so let me get this straight: You're going to give me $2,765, I get to keep my van, it doesn't get salvaged, and I get to keep the rental until the agreed upon time, and you're compensating me 100% for the replacements of my carseats? How soon will I get the money?
Her: Yes, and you will have the money by Wednesday. I will process your claim right after we get off the phone, and FedEx will be delivery to you then. No need to sign the paper work or do anything else, since you're keeping the van,
Ok well, then heck I'll take that.
While I'm still annoyed because now I have to go find the parts and get them replaced on my time, they are still paying for it to get fixed. And I know it's not going to cost anywhere near $2765, so I get some pocket change too.
Crazy how just because of their percentage mark, they won't fix it, but they'll give me more than what it would've cost them to fix it. And if they hadn't made the deductions they made to bring the TMV down,they'd be fixing it right now. Or if they would've let me just take it to a second opinion, someone cheaper, it would be well under their little mark.
Headache in a half. But I'm glad I'm going to be getting my van fixed. When I called my dad out of state and told him what happened. His first question was " are they stupid?" *shakes head* I don't know. But at least I'm getting to keep my van and have more than enough money to get it fixed. Not celebrating too much. Not until that check gets here.
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:09 am Post Subject:
:roll: As my dear sweet grandpa would've said, ''Don't that just beat all!" I can tell you this, that Farmers in Texas do not handle claims like every other company I know of...and really you came out better than before, find a used fender and used door, and have them put on and painted, bingo-bango-you're set...
I'm sorry it was such a hassle but glad it worked out in the end....
wow...i'll be shaking my head over this one for quite awhile... :roll:
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 02:57 pm Post Subject:
That's what I'm doing. I can already find my parts, even in the color I need, for less than $300. So even no need to get them painted. Haven't seen them so I might need to add a pinstripe and/or a dorr ding guard, but neither one of those should be that much. I've been looking around since Saturday. :)
Thanks for listening to me.:)
Is this particular Farmers, is apparently based out of Oklahoma, not Texas...
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 03:51 pm Post Subject:
Just got my check. That was QUICK. I just talked to her yesterday. Ok I'm doing great now. :)
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:25 am Post Subject:
wonderful!
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