Date:         Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:39:35 -0800
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Insurance Frustration
In-Reply-To:  <139119.91498.qm@web111408.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

 RE: Arguing with the insurance adjuster
First, did out ALL the proof you have of the condition of the van.  If you
did your own work dig out all the receipts for parts.  One thing I did when
my '85 Westy was totaled was tell them, from the first discussion, that I
didn't want a check, I wanted a replacement Westy.  And I presented them
with details of all the work that had been done and receipts for  anything I
had bought and installed myself.  And I just kept saying, politely, "Oaky,
where is the replacement?".  When they showed me the 'comps' they had, from
an independent company, I looked at them and pointed out that they were NOT
comparable.  They were using sales of plain Jane Vanagons, not Westfalias.
Then making a $350 adjustment for the camping equipment.  I pointed out that
Westies went fro from $3,000 to $4,000 more (at that time, just over eight
years ago) the went back to the drawing board.  The next morning I got a
call offering a settlement that was about $1,000 more than I figured I'd
have to settle for and I grabbed it.  That included buying back the remains
of the '85.
So be polite but stick to your guns.  Just insist that they find a
replacement in as good a shape as yours and keep pushing that. Eventually
they will come up some.
BTW, I picked up the "Just find me a replacement" many years ago when, in my
ill spent youth, I sold cars for a few months with a large dealership.
Several times I met insurance adjusters coming onto the used lot looking for
a replacement for a totaled vehicle.  Even sold one to one of them, actually
to the insured with the insurance guy writing the check.