by Guest » Tue Feb 09, 2010 02:39 am
I was side swiped in a parking lot. The other lady admitted fault and her insurance (Progressive) is covering the damage. The sent a gal out to my house that seemed to be very in experianced and struggled to help me. She left the estimate and when I told her I wanted the check, she explained for me to go to a one of 2 shops in my location. When I asked for the check, she asked if I would just cash settle and offered me an extra $100 for my trouble0her words. I refused because I wante my truck fixed. Since I seemed to get the run around from her, I decided to go get another estimate. The shop I went two gave me an estimate that was almost a thousand dollars more, they also told me the estimate was incomplete (missing obvious things) and that the girl had the wrong model and options. I called her today and she seemed to be very frustrated that I didn't go where she told me, and that I was just making more work for myself. She said if I go to these shops she suggests, they would fix it for what she said. I tried explaining to her that her estimate was missing things and the other shops estimate was a lot more. She assured me that these shops would straighten out the confusion (her words) and everything will be fine. I told her that I was uncomfortable and asked why couldn't I just take it to the other shop. She said straight up, that I would have to come up with the money out of pocket if I went there. This doesn't make any sense. If as the other shop said the estimate was missing other parts, are these other shops going to charge me extra or just not do the work. Help!
Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 04:34 pm Post Subject:
IMHO, not a good move... you will probably just create more problems. Progressive and the Progressive shop only have an interest in you going to them if you plan on having it repaired there. This is clearly not your intent. The Progressive shop will probably want to start work based on the appraisal already written and just complete a supplement later. If you walk in and ask for an estimate they will probably understand that you don't want to have it repaired there.
Also, your scenario makes no sense. You get an estimate from the Progressive shop and then have it repaired some place else. How are you going to pay this other shop? You say Progressive won't issue payment to you.
What you need to do is speak to a supervisor and let them know that they need to issue the payment to you, direct. You can then take the Progressive appraisal into a shop of your choice, discuss the repairs and have the shop speak to Progressive about any supplemental payments they need.
If they won't issue the payment to you, let them know you will file a complaint with the Dept of Insurance... and do so.
Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 04:47 pm Post Subject:
If you have alreay decided to have your truck repaired at the other place, do not waste your time or the Progressive shop's time. You don't need to get Progressive to fix their estimate, you already have one from the other shop. They will call Progressive and they will fix/create a new one and ultimately add the additional things to theirs. What is the reason Progressive gives you for not givng you the money. Do you own your truck, meaning you are not making payments on it? If you own it out right, Progressive cannot deny you payment if they have accepted liability. You need to find out why they won't, this doesn't make since. As Lori pointed out, insurance companies do not handle business this way.
What I meant by "legit" repairs, repairs that are what is required to repair the vehicle to pre loss condition (before the accident). Some will inflate their estimates. However, some insurance companies believe that they are not obligated to reiumburse you for things that the shop charges for-rates, operations, materials etc. The reasoning for this is most often caused by a majority of shops in area do not charge them for those things. Because of that, they feel that they do not have to pay that because no one else does.
Add your comment