Commerce Insurance Problems

[Duke41]

My daughter totaled my wifes car last week. She is okay thank God. The issue is that my auto insurer is trying to screw me on the buy out. They have offerd $6,400 which is about 50%-75% of the value based on where you look. Kelly, NADA etc.. I told them no way. So they are going to take another look at it. I feel like I am in for a protracted battle on this. Have any of you been through this, I am trying to get some idea of what to expect. It may help to know that I live in Mass. The car is a 2000 Volvo S-80 with 121,000 miles on it.

[Bass Babe]

Duke, firstly, glad your kid's okay.

I've got commerce insurance, and had the same problem. Case in point: Got buttpacked at 16 (so this was...1998/99?) after having my car for 2 weeks. Mint early 90s Pontiac Sunbird convertible, new top, white leather interior, 70,000 miles. Got totaled and I got, I think a bit over $3000? I was a kid, though (still am, just an older kid), and I didn't know better. Not to mention they never gave the alcohol-reeking dude a breathalyzer test (again, another kid mistake not communicating correctly with the cops and just sitting on the sidewalk bawling).

Seems like the thing about insurance is it's a "better than nothing" deal. It never totally covers your losses; it just makes them less sucky. I'm not sure how much room there is for negotiation with insurance companies. Maybe it depends on your appraiser and the agent handling your claim. Are you getting a second opinion from a different appraisal company, or just having the same one take another peek?

[Slipknot]

I haven't been through that and hope I never do. But what I would reply to them is that you don't send them only 50 - 75 % of your policy payments so why should you accept that offer. screw them

good luck

then immediatly once it's paid for, drop them and get another company like those bastages do to us, and do it before they drop you(not that they can, but homeowners ins. co.s sure do)

[Swimmer]

Whatever the difference in opinon is you can small claim the insurance company for the difference.

[InTheHole]

Call your insurance agent and get him/her in there fighting for you. When ever I have had a problem I never argue with the claims people at the company I call my agent, make them earn that commission they gladly take every year.

[spence]

Originally Posted by InTheHole

Call your insurance agent and get him/her in there fighting for you. When ever I have had a problem I never argue with the claims people at the company I call my agent, make them earn that commission they gladly take every year.

Excellent point.

-spence

[RIJIMMY]

also, you may know this but DO NOT cash any settlement check they send you. By cashing, you are accepting the amount recevied and will have no recourse for getting more $

[Karl F]

This is Massachusetts.. Read Your Policies.. Unless you have the vehicle Insured for a Stated Amount, (which costs extra), you are only insured for ACV.. Actual Cash Value, less your deductible.. you will not find this number in Kelly or NADA.. It is close to "wholesale" in some of the appraisal books..from what I have seen.

Sucks.. Good Luck fighting it.. I think MAC went thru this not long ago...

[Duke41]

I got the a-holes up to 8,800 Still not backing down my goal is an evan 10K. What a state. I am learning a lot.

[TheSpecialist]

Duke now that you git themm to 8800, try something that has worked for me in the past. I brought in all my receipts of work done on the car in the past 2 prior years, they added them up and gaveme 75% of the receipts

[Duke41]

worked well got the bastards up to 9,700

[spence]

I'd call that a success...

-spence

[Duke41]

[QUOTE=Bass Babe;478271].

Got buttpacked at 16


I got to admit this is a loaded statement

[Raven]

glad your kiddo is ok.... Duke

but the strange thing is... the car sounds totaled

hopefully some injury won't appear later ....

like whiplash -> trauma....

remind them that volvo's aren't JUNK cars
and will go 250,000 miles.