OT: insurance company rant

FrankS

FrankS

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So, my wife's car is hit in a parking lot by car backing out of a spot, guy and his wife get out, says sorry didn't see her, get estimates, he'll pay to have our car's rear tail light fixed. Next day they have a change of heart and say accident fault is 50/50. Wife goes to collision reporting center to tell her story in order to protect herself from other guy who is now being less than honourable. Other guy gets called in, and lies. Insurance adjusters get together and assign 50/50 blame - no witnesses.

Here comes the good part:

Our insurance company, that has taken thousands of $ from us over the years with no claims from us, now raises our insurance rate by $225 per year for the next 6 years, because of our $180 claim! ($430 total, $250 deductable)

I may be wrong, but I don't think even gangsters in the mob have the balls to do business so viciously. And with insurance companies, it's legal.

Sorry, just wanted to get that out.
 
Allus carry a tape recorder with fresh battery, useful for exp notes, and accidents.

Only demonstrate it after they comit perjury...

Noel
 
sorry to hear about that situation Frank.
I hope it works out on the square.

you cannot lose if you have an insurance company.
they have a lot of politicians on there side.
they, the insurance companies are big time political party donators.
 
Yes, unfortunately that is the way the insurance industry works these days. And if your state is like others, just wait until you see the jump in your auto registration fees for being a "bad" driver.

T.
 
Frank, usually there is a deductible so the damage must have been the deductible plus the $180 . I had a parking lot "incident" recently someone backed into my rear tail light and the assembly was smashed. They didn't leave a name or phone. I called my agent and he said fix it yourself and don't pay an increase or make a claim and pay an increase.

Check with your agent and pay the $180 .. not right but it's the reality.

Mine was $388 w labour and taxes! Ugh!!
 
Mark, I do not want this to get political. (I think I voted NDP at the time.) At least no fault insurance covers accident victims of uninsured drivers who are very often the most dangerous. The actions/policies of my insurance company don't have to be this way just because of "no fault".
 
HI Jan. That's what we want to do - pay out of pocket, but becasue the accident had been reported and the insurance companies involved, it's too late.

BTW, Mark - get yourself a rangefinder!
 
Frank,

I am suprised that they did not cancel your insuracnce last year, due to the fact that you have had so many years without a claim. They figure that you are due to have one and they want to get rid of you before you do actually take away some of their money. I always wondered how they could afford to build those fancy new big buildings.

You don't really believe that insurance companies want to help people in their time of need do you?

Wayne
 
Frank, I know, I know about the insurance. Sorry, but I had to poke fun at the NDP. Insurance companies never care, only about themselves. Can you appeal the increase, and go above to a regional manager at your insurer. They should at least let this one claim go by, and keep your rate the same.

Mark
(I am happy with my F3HP!)
 
Frank

Sorry to hear your of your troubles with the insurance company. The long and short of it is that no fault insurance in Ontario is in reality your fault insurance. Car insurance in Ontario is there if you write your car off otherwise it is best to avoid a claim and pay yourself. You will be farther ahead in the long run. Learned that myself the hard way about 15 years ago.

Bob
 
Frank - sorry to hear about the incident and less than ideal service from your insurer, take it as a sign to find a new insurer... let me know if you need a referral... switched a few years ago and they saved me hundreds of dollars...
 
Frank,
Do you have an agent? The person that sold you the policy should (hopefully) go to bat for you in situations like this. The agent makes a cut off your policy, so he/she wouldn't want to lose your business.

Take care,
Michael
 
Sorry to hear about this Frank. I'm surprised your insurance company won't let you settle out-of-pocket despite having talked to them. You should be able to seek their advice or expertise without being obligated to go through them for repairs. You're a smart man so I'm sure you know what they said. I'm just surprised that making the matter a private affair isn't an option.

Good luck in any case!
 
Never walk away with a second party promise to pay. Get cash on the spot or the police. Notice I said cash.

Had this been reported at the scene there would be no 50/50.
 
Without a witness, even calling the cops would likely have resulted in the same 50/50 if the dishonorable other guy wanted to argue about it.

I had someone back into me once while I was waiting in my parking space to back out and then argue with me that we backed into each other! Fortunately, in that instance, there was literally no damage so I just walked away from the situation rather than raise my blood pressure trying to prove I was right.

Had a worse situation a month ago. Guy backed into my car hard enough I heard it from inside the building. Looked out to see him rammed against the back of my car. By the time I got out there he was already leaving the lot. Thought I was out of luck until I talked to the security office the next morning. They had the whole thing on videotape. When confronted later that day the guy denied it. That is, until he was told about the videotape. Sounds like a victory for me, right. Wrong. There's still $1500 damage to my otherwise pristine car. I spent literally hours with insurance companies, rental car companies and body shops just getting the repair work scheduled. And you guessed it, the insurance company was the worst. They waited for me to call them about every step in the process. It's clear that delay tactics just keep the money in their pockets and they use that. Personally, I would be embarrassed to be part of that industry. And I'm a lawyer!

Yep, Frank, I feel for ya man, I really do...
 
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