Date:         Wed, 14 Aug 2002 14:12:39 -0700
Reply-To:     patrice b <prb@TELEVAR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         patrice b <prb@TELEVAR.COM>
Subject:      Re: Insurance company bullshit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Joe, I have not dealt with this issue (yet), but the first thing I would do
is to contact your state's insurance commissioner.  Their office is like
the Better Business Bureau of insurance, and someone there can at least
tell you if this practice of agreeing to insure/accept payment for a higher
than book value and then using book value to determine benefits is legal in
your state.  If not, it is their job to investigate and even advocate for
you.  The Insurance Commissioner should be in your phone book.  If not,
call the dept of licensing and ask if they have a contact #

--Patrice
85 GL "VanaBlue"

----------
> From: Joe Hughes <Husey2@AOL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Insurance company bullshit
> Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 1:57 PM
>
> 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.