Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago a lady that wasn't paying attention merged into my corvette on the interstate, giving me a daytona racing stripe on the left fend and bending my rim. There was other damage as well (including a cracked fascia, knocked out of alignment, etc) I talked to her insurance company (Nationwide) and they informed me it would take them about a week to do their own investigation (even though the other driver was cited) to be able to cut a check. They came out to do a quick estimate on their car, and during such I decided to go through my insurance company (Geico) as I thought they would be quick to take care of me and to avoid all the head ache even though I'd have to pay the deductible. I have never been so poorly mistaken in my life. After dropping the car off on Aug 27th, I was told it would take 3 days, 4 days tops to get it finished.

The day after I dropped it off, I talked to the adjuster who's estimate was far below Nationwides (By over $1000). Turns out, the gouges and crack, in my polished lip motorsports rims, I was told by my adjuster was from curb rash. . . on the driver side. Nationwides adjuster even told me it wasn't curb rash and put a rim on their estimate. My adjuster told me I was wrong after I told him I had NO curb rash on the rim and citing it goes all the way around rim, not just into the lip, its not curb rash. I even showed him pictures from my camera showing her car and how it was from her rim going into mine. After him telling me for five minutes I was wrong, I finally gave up, left, and called his supervisor. He (the supervisor) went and looked at the car, agreed that it was damage from the accident, and told me he would have the rim replaced.

I waited patiently for two weeks until yesterday, where I called them to ask about the progress. They said it was done, just waiting to be washed, and they would call me to pick it up later that afternoon. Well later that afternoon I hadn't heard from them so I called. They (the body shop) said "we didn't feel the body panels were lining up, so were gonna take the bumper off and re-align everything back up. . . it will be done first thing tomorrow morning and we'll call you." Hadn't heard anything this morning from them, so I called around 4. Again, waiting to be cleaned, will be ready by 5. So 5 oclock, I show up.

Pulling into the parking lot, driving, w/o even getting out of my car I notice the paint doesn't match. I park, get out and walk over. Body lines not matching up, front bumper color is way off. I looked at the rim and thought you must be joking me. They took my polished lip motor sport rim, and instead of replacing it, they tried to repair it, then SPRAY PAINTED the lip. Overspray all over the place, both rim and tire. I was appalled. When I walked in, the manager eagerly asked me "So hows it look?" I bluntly told him "Its horrible, it looks like ****" We walked out, I pointed everything out. He told me "Of course the paint isn't going to match up, the rest of your cars paint is old, and this is new paint." The car was immaculate before the accident and all the paint matched. I believe if you can't get the bumper to match, then you're painting my entire car. Then I pointed out the rim and how they told me it was going to be replaced. He told me, "they were only going to repair it". . . of course by spray painting a polished lip.

I called Brian (Cobra4b) and using his advice, I told them I wasn't happy with the work performed, and I'm not signing off on it until it was done right. They told me I'd have to deal with my adjuster tomorrow, who has been nothing but demeaning and rude towards me. As lame as this sounds, I almost want to cry on how horrible of work they did to my car. It took me forever to find the corvette I wanted let alone get myself financially able. I refuse to sign off until the work has done properly and to my satisfaction, but everyone at the body shop, both Geico reps and shop managers, pretty much want me to **** off and want to ignore it. What should I do now? Should I just stick to my guns and make as much fuss as possible?


On another note, last week Nationwide called me and told me their investigation is over and that they would pay me out. Should I just grab the check from them and pay off the body shop and pocket the $1000?


Sorry for the long winded post, its just so upsetting.

Joe

So I went to talk to them, they're finally agreeing to replace the rim (I failed to get any really good photos of it) but they are telling me I'm screwed on the color mismatch. They are saying that because I have old paint, and because they are using new paint, they will never match no matter where I go. This is un-acceptable to me.

Pics; (click the picture to get the larger version)

Notice a LOT more blue. Bumper against head light door


Again, bumper vs fender;


Overspray that they are saying is not their fault. . . (its on both lenses) Mind you car has NEVER been painted before.


Their attempt at mimicking machine polished lip;

 

I feel your pain. I took mine to a supposetly reputable place and nothing but troubles. Car still is not right. Now when i look at it i am kinda disgusted and parnoid looking at every little thing. This is a much longer story, but i will be taking the car elsewhere. Sorry i cant give you a good answer but i do know what your going through.

Good Luck

 

Im sorry about this. I would stick to your guns. The rim thing is totally unacceptable. You should def wait til you get a new one. Do you have any pictures?

 

Looks like the Gecko bent you over.My wife has been in the insurance business and always says"You get what you pay for!" One of the differences in a major ins. co. and a cut rate is with a major co. you get to have the car repaired by a shop of your choice,not their choice!Good luck with your problem.

 

I would seek professional representation. It is amazing what one phone call from a licensed lawyer will do. It shows, your no dummy, and your are not messing around. If you have a written estimate including the rim from the shop or your adjuster, there is no grey area for them to discuss. If you pay a couple hundred bucks for a phone call and get your car back the way it should be, thats money well spent. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if a lawyer wouldn't go after lost perceived value from a car that has been in an accident, (meaning the cars value has dropped because of the incident compared to if it was clean with no history).
My 2C

 

If the insurance company won't do anything more, see if they have an arbitration process where a neutral third party will mediate a solution. You should not have to accept a crummy job on the repair. You can also report them to your state's Insurance Department and see if they can help.

 

Like I told you on the phone... bark up the chain and threaten to take your business to a new insurance carrier. They'd rather pay more for the repair and keep collecting your premiums vs. letting you go.

 

and if no one plays ball call the BAR to reispect you car

 

Disgusting Good luck with your pursuit to getting the car back done correctly and professionally.

 

Unfortunately in our society this is the only way to get their attention. Get it fixed right. Good luck.

 

 

I went ahead and talked to representation who will be going with me this morning to talk to the adjuster. I will also take pictures with a nice digital camera to show what I’m talking about. I had asked my adjuster about diminished value, to which he stated “As long as the repairs are done correctly, then there will be no value lost” which frankly, is horse crap. For that, I already talked to another company who will be pursuing diminished value.

 

Bump, pics are up.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adoggy Phizzle
I would seek professional representation. It is amazing what one phone call from a licensed lawyer will do. It shows, your no dummy, and your are not messing around. If you have a written estimate including the rim from the shop or your adjuster, there is no grey area for them to discuss. If you pay a couple hundred bucks for a phone call and get your car back the way it should be, thats money well spent. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if a lawyer wouldn't go after lost perceived value from a car that has been in an accident, (meaning the cars value has dropped because of the incident compared to if it was clean with no history).
My 2C

Unfortunately in our society this is the only way to get their attention. Get it fixed right. Good luck.

__________________

 

So long story short, I just got off with my adjusters’ manager, Dave. He has been very helpful previous and I told him the options I was allowing. I stated that you can either A.) Get the panels to match the car as it should have been done in the first place. B.) Repaint the whole car. Or C.) Buy my car at market value. He agreed it was unacceptable for Wynne to allow such work and told me we going to take the car to Hutchens Chevrolet who previously promised me they can get the paint right.

 

As a body tech, working in the business for a few years, they are in the wrong. The estimate should say that the bumper will be blended into the fenders, eliminating any mis-match on the paint.

I would be irrate if I was in this situation. Hold your ground, you are in the right. Don't settle for anything, if you're not happy, let it be known.

 

this is what happens when you try and save a buck with outfits like geico. thats how they save you money. i have been with allstate for 27 years, whenever we had an accident, no questions cars always fixed where we wanted never a problem.

 

I didn't try to save a buck, I was unhappy with progressive, so just decided to switch. Geico was def not the cheapest route I could have taken.

 

Joe... have them blend the other fender and the hood and any other adjacent panels... that way you're eye won't see any minor shade variance. The fact that they tried to paint a polished wheel is a joke.