Date:         Wed, 14 Aug 2002 16:57:22 EDT
Reply-To:     Husey2@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joe Hughes <Husey2@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Insurance company bullshit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Vanagon friends,

Am looking for info. regarding dealing w/my insurance company who is
declaring my '85 vanagon a "total loss" after damages from striking/killing a
dear back on 2 June. The van was never immobilized and i've been driving it
since, just completing a 1000 mile trek to a family reunion in my "total
loss", utilizing ALL it's amenities, i.e., beds, seats, stove, sink, frig,
etc.

I'm hoping someone in Vanagon Land can inform me of similar situations
they've had w/their ins. company......and won! For example, got/forced the
ins. co. to change their decision re "total loss". I DO know now the ins.
companies determine a total loss based on cost of repairs and value of
vehicle. However, i insured my vehicle for more than the book/market value
when i bought it but they are not using that ABOVE market value figure when
estimating repairs. Consequently, their $4100 estimate for repairs is over
75% of the market/book value of my van, even though i paid higher premiums to
have it insured for an "agreed value" of $7500. They tell me now, "Oh, we
don't use that 'agreed value' figure when determining a cost of repairs. We
use the market/book value.." Which they've determined to be around $4700.

THIEVES!!! Hoping someone here can give me some info. on a "success story" of
arguing w/ins. companies.