penny pinching

[2cents]

What is the name of your state? MD

hello,

i had a very small car accident with another vehicle. the other person has the same insurance company. they say that one of the two persons involve is at fault because the two stories don't match. they sent me today to get pictures of my car with the intention to determine who was at fault. before i left, the insurance guy handed me an itemized paper with an estimate of the repair for me to give to a body shop. at the end of the paper, they charge me with $250 deductible. *but* they haven't determine i was at fault yet! so they issue this paper assuming i was at fault.
the insurance person plays dummy upon my objection and then i leave.

is this normal insurance practice? how should i complain so as to have the greatest impact ?

TX

 

[tammy8]

If the stories don't match up and there are no creditilbe witnesses then the insurance is forced to handle it as "a you pay for your part (on your insurance) and the other party pays for their part". Yes you both will be charged a deductible and yes both your rates will probably go up.

Sorry just the way it is.

 

[JETX]

Not really.

What likely happened here is that both of you want your cars repaired as soon as possible.... and the claim is so low that rental car fees would quickly multiply the loss.

So, they give you the paperwork needed to get your car repaired..... and will likely refund the deductible to the 'not-at-fault' party after they complete evaluation of the claim (if there is a not-at-fault party).

In any case, what did your AGENT say when you contacted him and asked him about the 'pre-evaluation' deductible??

 

[2cents]

and will likely refund the deductible ...

thank you. that is probably is what's going on. but still i don't like how it was handle (a little sneaky).

'pre-evaluation' deductible??

do you mean the writen estimate by the adjustor (othrwise i don't know what you meant- me newbie)? we had clearly talked about it. yet he burried the deductible in the paperwork and instructed me to give it to a bodyshop ( which by the way i haven't looked for one yet. no rush at all). it was like if the whole conversation had been pointless. they don't know who is at fault yet but they push the deductible no matter what and hope i don't see it. i am not planning to talk to him any more. i am planning to call his supervisor on monday and complain. both the agent and the adjustor told me (well, i had to dig up the info from them) that i wouldn't pay if i wasn't at fault (and which i firmly believe).

anyway, i won't get any points since i never made claims before (for 11 years). i am not in a rush to fix the car anytime soon (the damage was cosmetic).

the agent was eager to cut check on the spot (repeatedly) somehow giving the impression of a cheapo (car salesman)operation going on, which triggered my built in alarm system

regards

 

[JETX]

Gee, methinks this is another example of 'cheapo insurance = cheapo insurance agent'.

 

[2cents]

well, it is Nati--wide (not small i think)