Hello everyone again....If you have not read my last thread please check it out to see what we have all been up to...And GOD bless all the CF members that showed me all that support and love and I can't express how much it means to see all the posts!!!


Well as the title says I am starting to have probs with the insurance comp. The person that the insurance company sent out to check my car and do the estimate for the shop to work off of started our relationship off by telling me he would meet me at the shop and we could look over the car together....well he simply did it himself and didn't bother calling at all.

Second prob is he left all kinds of things out of the original estimate and when confronted with all these issues he went on a 30 min rampage to inform me of his credentials and how much exp he has and that he will deal with the shop that I chose. He eventually hung up on me when it was my turn to talk and ask him some questions.

I still believe that the shop I took it to does great work...everyone I have spoke with confirms that but they are cutting corners everywhere and putting reconditioned EVERYTHING!!! They also informed me that when they painted the front half of the car they would blend it in to the door and that it being silver and 12 years old there will be a difference in appearance. Well as far as the painting goes they estimated that would be about $1200 for that front end blend job. After talking to other paint places I could get and entire paint job or use that 1200 on a down payment to a complete correct paint job.

Well I would like to hear some input on these problem that I have listed and also I would like to hear input on frame aligning on these early c5 corvettes. They have already replaced the front impact bar that is welded to the frame and upon doing so they informed me that the frame has a dent in it and they will put in a tool to pop the dent out.

What a nightmare!!! I feel like the insurance adjuster and the shop owner(WHich I found out know each other) are taking me for a ride but I need ALL OF YOUR help and opinions to guide me through this. One last note the drivers side wheel was damaged and they are wanting to recondition that also along with everything else and charge 135 to do so. THey could not offer me any information or test results that would be given to me after the recon to assure me that it was like new or better...HELP!!!!! LoL Thanks you all can't wait to hear your comments!!

 

Anybody???

 

No one appreciates being told how to do their job.
The initial estimate usually means nothing more than a starting point.
You don't need to say another word to that adjuster. Talk with your body shop guy and let him deal with the adjuster. It is common for adjusters & body shops to know each other & even be friendly. Doesn't mean they are conspiring against you.
I was told by my body shop ( my wife had an accident w/her car) that if your car is more than one year old or has more than 15K miles on it that the ins co. reserves the right to list "after market" parts on the estimate. This does not mean your body shop HAS to use them. If the body shop deems the fit is unacceptable, he may get to use the OEM parts.
This is a dance that they do. Everywhere! Try not to take it personally.
Good luck!

 

Which Insurance company?

They have complex software that tells them if this is bent or broken then do that.

they go though the damages, put the info into their hand dandy computer and it pops out an estimate

The body shop has the same software and adjusts to each insurance company. IIRC

On a 12 year old car ( even if it is your baby) it is a challenge.

 

The insurance is USAA. Apparently only veterans and military are availible to purchase this insurance....Also....ITS NOT MY FAULT!!!! Can't I just get my old car back!! Ughhhhghh

 

I have USAA and they have been great to deal with. As said above, the initial estimate is only a starting point, if the body shop needs to use OEM parts or the cost runs up, they will contact USAA and all should be adjusted. I'm going through the same thing right now with my house and storm damage.

 

I would ask for a new wheel over a reconditioned one. Too much chance for cracks later. Check to see how much extra they would charge to repaint the entire car. You might want to pick up the difference. Either way, make sure it actually MATCHES CORRECTLY, as that may be a difficult color to get right the first time.
ALLWAYS REMEMBER, you are NOT in good hands with ANY insurance company. THEY ARE THE ENEMY (ALWAYS) no matter what they say or appear to do for you.
Check every square inch of your can before accepting it when it's done. Sometimes hidden damage is done by the repair shop when they have your car. When you drive out it's too late get satisfaction on hidden damage from them.

 

It seems many insurance companies don't grasp the "Customer vs Business" relationship. Both the body shop and insurance company should be representing YOU. The insurance company should be INSURING you do not get ripped off by the body shop and the Body Shop should be INSURING that you get a quality product. I have had this discussion with my insurance company in the past. I have been successful in simply asking them if they will adjust the amount paid based on findings after disassembly. If the answer is yes, I then let the shop fight with them. A GOOD shop will be able to get you what you needfrom the insurance company. A bad shop will roll over and you'll get what you get. Obviously you can see that each of you is driven to different goals. You wan a perfect repair, and they want to save money. It is not a way to win rthe fight, but I have pointed ou to my agent that over the 23 years I have had them, I have given them MUCH more money than they have EVER given me. Adjusters don't care, agents care a little more. Good luck and keep us informed.

 

Well not all of them.

 

The car goes back into pre-accident condition period...simply tell the body shop...no reconditioned parts. New parts only...

I know if it was me...there wouldn't be even a single "repaired" body panel. If the panel is damaged....it gets replaced period. Wheel is damaged....it gets replaced with new OEM period. Most people don't understand the the insurance company can't close your claim until you're satisfied...and a half assed non-matching paint job wouldn't satisfy me. Did your paint match before the accident? If so...then the whole damn thing get's painted to match.

Don't be easy with them....don't be friendly and remember...they work for you...you paid for the damn insurance..

Not to mention..if your car has been painted it's probably worth less money after the accident compared to before....there should be a payout for the difference. Accidents depreciate cars like the corvette.

 

I'm not sure about Florida, but in NY, they may use reconditoned parts and are responsible for bringing the car back to a safe and condition prior to the accident. The problem is that they see a Vette as a typical car and to them, a 12 year old car has little value. The important thing is that you are allowed to use the shop of your choice and they pay according to "clock hours" for labor and prices of parts according to their book-this is in NY. You have the right to challenge their final payout. After the final amount is given to you, you should appeal if your body shop guy tells you he can't do the job for their payment. Your insurance company by law must provide you with the process and contacts for the appeal. You do not need a lawyer, just the written estimate from your shop and the hearing officer will make the determination.
Good luck.

 

Go over his head to a claim supervisor, depending on your policy and guidelines they need to bring the car back to what it was, adjusters can add what is called a supplement to the initial loss when other things are discoverd or left off of estimate. You do not have to use any special body shop but some are easier for the company(USAA) to pay direct to instead of you paying and having to be paid back from carrier. Keep climbing the USAA ladder until satisfied. I am an agent for 23 years and an insurance company always try to low ball the loss, get another estimate of the damage from a seperate body shop and review it with a USAA claims supervisor and also what the adjuster has done and not done, including hanging up on you. Remember too , they are human, have bad days, and you catch more flys with honey then vinegar. Meaning don't get an attiutde with the guy just go over or around him if he is not working in your best interest.

 

Pay for a second estimate from another reliable shop. Do you have a Corvette shop that can give you an estimate?

I went through the same thing about a year ago on my C4. The insurance adjuster had an estimate at about 7,500 and the second shop (Corvette specialist) was at 14,800.

 

Let me pose a question.

Lets say in the accident sequence, somehow a part of the engine block was cracked and found the engine was unusable in its damaged condition. The car is 10 yearss old and has 75,000 miles it (or pick any mileage)...

Is the insurance company obligated to replace your entire damaged engine with a brand new zero time one?

Will be interested to see how many say yes....

 

Every insurance policy I've read specifies that good quality used or aftermarket parts may be used.

I'd say unless they have a hard time finding either one of those then that is what you will get.

 

man good luck

 

No , they are to suppose to replace with like kind, technically if they could find you the same car,make,year,mileage,condition,etc , they do not have to give you a check in total but can get you a replacement vehicle of the like, since they usually can't find such an exact replacement is why they offer to pay off on a total.

 

I see your point, but an engine is, or has wearable parts. Body panels don't wear out.

 

Ins company still will take away age, wear, and what they call breakdown even if to the eye all looks the same. Ins company always wins but don't just take the first offer, research and facts can be used against them too.

 

The thing with new parts only is that your car didn't have "new" parts when it was wrecked. It had 10+ year old parts. Your first paragraph contradicts itself. While it would be nice if cars were fixed that way, it isn't going to happen, especially on a car of this year.

Believe it or not cars can be fixed by skilled/ trained technicians, I am one and do it everyday at work. The idea that nothing is repaired and everything is OEM just isn't profitable for the insurance company and thinking they would do a complete paint job on your car instead of blending is laughable. If your house was damaged in a storm would they tear it down and build you a new house? I have witnessed screaming arguments at the shop between people like you and insurance agents/adjusters and if you think they will keep paying out cash until you're happy you are sadly mistaken.

Also your advice to not be friendly will not get you too far, nobody likes a jerk and, in all honesty, who would you be more likely to make happy: nice guy or A hole?

diyguy you are right on the money. Aerovette, i would love to show you a freshly painted bumper cover next to one that has seen 50,000 miles and then hear your argument about body panels not wearing out. Paint gets rock chips, scrapes, door dings, faded due to weather. Glass gets pitted. Headlamps pit and sometimes yellow a bit. Body parts do wear out.

A word about insurance: Everyone has heard the saying "you get what you pay for" right? Why is it then that so many people get the cheapest insurance they can find and then come accident time they expect nothing but the best to be used to fix their car? Why do you think it is so cheap in the first place? There is a world of difference in how different companies fix cars, hence difference in price. Think of the companies that advertise the most: Allstate, Geico, and my personal favorite Progressive. They dedicate entire add campaigns to tell customers how cheap they are. Yet they rarely ever mention how they fix cars. Ever hear in an add "only OEM parts used"? No. It is even written right in their policy that they will use aftermarket/used/reconditioned parts to fix your car. Remember, you get what you pay for. If you go as cheap as you can when buying insurance, guess who else is going to go as cheap as they can when fixing your car?

To the OP: Insurance dude sounds like a dick, no doubt. Try to avoid dealing with him and talk with the shop directly. It sounds like the shop is doing a fair job. You mention reconditioned parts right? This is a plus because at one point in time is was OEM. That means fit will be good. And it is a Corvette and that equals no rusty parts. Like I said, I am a body tech and if given the choice to work with used, reconditioned, or aftermarket I would always go recon. The frame rail sounds very minor and an easy fix. Keep in mind that wheels are really only sent out for reconditioning if it is cosmetic damage only (scuffs, scratches, surface flaws) and it isn't like they will be welding wheels back together or fixing bent wheels. Check the match when they get back though and make sure it is good. A lot of times the reconditioning company will request two wheels, one damaged one good, just to verify a color match. Silvers are hard but can be done and a door is plenty big to do a proper blend. Again, look at it in sunlight when you go to pick it up to verify color match.

Good luck with the repair and keep us updated, maybe some pics when all said and done.