Insurance company is trying to screw me

Ron

Well-known member
Jun 15, 2004
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Main Line
Lady tagged my range rover. Went to my shop and they came up with $1900 estimate based on insurance pay instead of customer pay. Allstate thinks it is $1350 claim.

Any advice on how to make them see that it is really $1900 worth of damage.

Allstate's estimate is clearly incompetent. Wrong part # for the light. They list the end cap but not the brackets and whatnot to attach it etc. They really low balled the labor as well.

Normally it would not be a big deal because the shop would submit a supplemental, but since I obviously want the estimate as high as it should be so I can use the money for upgrades I am on my own to negotiate.

Anyone been down this road before with advice?

Ron
 

Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
Ron,

too bad on the Rangie. Allstate in my book is the worst of all with whom to deal.

In my case, I was able to have them change the part estimate needed based upon the dealer estimate. The arguement was who knows the vehicle better? Your estimator who knows a little of everything with many vehicle types or a specialist who knows Land Rovers? Using the dealer added credibility and in your case, you're probably there anyhow.

I couldn't increase the labor amount up front, however, they did pay in a supplement when the vehicle was repaired.

Good luck.


Jaime
 

LRNationals

Well-known member
Mar 20, 2005
625
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? ?? they quoted a quote, and now you want it higher so that you can use the extra money for up grading your car????? is that not fraud? LOL :D good luck with that...
 

Ron

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Jun 15, 2004
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"is that not fraud? LOL "

Actually no.

There is nothing improper or fraudulent about what I am doing.

Their "estimate" does not reflect the actual damage to my vehicle. All I want is an estimate that accurately reflects the damage and would pay to repair the damage if I choose to, at the shop of my choosing. Whether or not I choose to fix my vehicle, or not, does not matter to them, and the fact that I have no intention of fixing it does not make it fraud.

If they had given me a fair estimate with all the parts necessary and an adequate labor time I would have been happy and accepted the check. Instead they low balled me with an incompetent adjuster and now I have to complain.

Ron

"so that you can use the extra money for up grading your car???"

I am not using the extra I am using the whole thing, well minus the money for an endcap and light.

There is no way in hell I am putting a 1000 chrome factory bumper on a $3000 range rover.
 
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cptyarderho

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
2,904
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Va
LRNationals said:
? ?? they quoted a quote, and now you want it higher so that you can use the extra money for up grading your car????? is that not fraud? LOL :D good luck with that...
my thought as well... :D
Allstate all my life, various accidents and never a problem. If you were really having the dealer do the work, they would cover the difference (at least they did for me) but if you just want the check, not sure how you could argue that other than presenting their errors about missing parts and part #s. Good luck, I would spend the money on aftermarket stuff as well.
 
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syoung

Guest
Insurance companies tend NOT to pay premium prices for people to do the work at home. If they pay the dealer to do it, there are warranties on the work etc. and the insurance company can be assured the work was done properly (well, a dealer is no assurance of that- but the insurance companies THINK so).
 

Ron

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Jun 15, 2004
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No land rover dealer does body work. It is always done through a seperate entity, even if it is associated with the dealer.

I don't want premium I just want fair. I have two quotes now. One for $1850 (which the guy forgot two parts worth $160) and one for $2100 I got today. These are the top two rover repair bodyshops in the area and Allstate tells me $1350.

By cutting me a check I settle and there is no recourse, I can't do anything. That is it. It is not like the truck is leased or financed where it would be an issue as far as repair quality.

Basically I am going to do what I do best: make them give me what I want or threaten to sue their insured for it.

PS anyone ask for rental car days?
 
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syoung

Guest
Ron- Not tryting to come across arguementative- but don't ya think if you went the litigious route they'd just question the fact that you don't intend to get it fixed and just looking for max cash in the pocket? The insurance company will pay supplementals from wherever you take it for the repairs, which seems to me to be all they are required to do to "make you whole" once again. Just curious what your approach would be on that. It seems to me you'd come across as a dude trying to score cash off an insurance claim, not someone just seeking to be made whole.
I wish you luck, as I despise insurance companies.
 

Jaime

Well-known member
Apr 29, 2004
641
0
NJ
A girl rearended my D1. She bent the rear bumper, broke endcaps, bent the tailpipe, and the gas tank guard...oh yeah, and she totalled her car. I went to an autobody shop and got a quote...somewhere around $800. When I presented the insurance co. with the estimate, they wanted me to go to one of 'their' shops to get it fixed. I told them no, I was gonna fix it myself. So they wanted me to take my truck to one of their shops for an estimate. I said no, your insured hit ME, I'm already inconvenienced enough, you come look at it, and I told them where I park.

The adjuster came to look at it, and sent me a check for ~$725. When I looked at the adjuster's estimate, I noticed he had left off the bent exhaust and a bent endcap bracket that the original body shop had listed. I pointed this out to them and they came to look at it again, and cut me a check for ~$75.

So I bought a Will Tillery bumper for $150 and bought a welder and beer with the rest :D
 

LRNationals

Well-known member
Mar 20, 2005
625
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NICE nothing wrong with owing a welder!
. hum..... $1850.00 better than $1350.00 but $2100.00 even better. tell them you got wip lash and sue for even more money. even better, tell you were drinking really hot coffee at the time of impact and it sprayed all over you. LOL.... burning you in various places, you are now off work and must seek prfessional help, you are having terrible dreams at night.
 
K

Kyle

Guest
Whats interesting is , here is a self proclaimed cheap bastard who would screw them in a second , complaining about them screwing him..... Now that shit is funny , I dont care who ya are...... :D
 

Ron

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Jun 15, 2004
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Kyle, I know this is funny.

I actually debated putting the title as "I am trying to screw the insurance company"

As far as Steve's comment, any evidence as to what I would do with the money is irrelevant as to the amount of damages or to cause so it would not be admissable in court. I love law school.

:)

Ron
 

Ron

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Jun 15, 2004
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Jason,

Yes, a lady in a subaru hit the D/S rear corner. took out the light end cap and bent the bumper. some minimal damage to the panel that is covered by the end cap.
 

Errant

Well-known member
Oct 1, 2004
767
20
Southern California
Here in Calif, standard procedure for arguing with an adjuster would be to go get three estimates of your own. Then the insurance company typically takes the one in the middle.
 
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syoung

Guest
I would think the insurance company would take the average of three estimates, but yeah I think tying up the courts over a couple bucks is a better idea. Courts here are getting really pissy about people messing with insurance companies- just the mere implication of someone taking advantage of a settlement tends to bring a lot of negative scrutiny. The insurance companies can rape us, but when we try to get paid- we get the shaft more often than not.
Actually, the use of the settlement is admissable as the insurance company can make coverage contingent upon repairs by a "competent authority" such as an ASE shop to maintain insurability. Sure, you may win- but you may lose coverage.
 
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Kyle

Guest
Well I am not sure if they are teaching this to Ron in "School". But I think that old law of "What comes around , Go's around" comes into play here....
 
K

KEJ

Guest
What is the world coming to when Kyle and I agree? 100% on this one.

KJ ;)
 
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syoung

Guest
I don't think he ever said he was trying to screw them, he just wanted the higher amount based on estimates. The insurance adjusters NEVER seem to get it right in my experience too...
What I don't think will fly is charging the full retail labor rate to them when a professional mechanic won't be doing the repair. As for the parts- well, parts is parts.