son's car stolen-need help! - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

fish4striper · 05-22-2012, 07:15 AM

My son had his car stolen while at work back on April 22. They ended up finding it 2 days later all stripped and damaged. It was a 1998 Maxima and they totaled it,luckily he was covered. They did investigation and interviewed my son and last we heard they were waiting for a dollar figure from the adjuster.

Anyone in insurance? How long do we have to wait, it's been a month now? When they come with an offer, if it's low what is our re-course to counter?

PRBuzz · 05-22-2012, 07:48 AM

PIA when car stolen. Start your homework finding prices for similar car yr/model/condition on the internet. Then you will know they low balled you on first offer and you have support for your counter. Any recent pictures of the car to prove condition?

Jenn · 05-22-2012, 08:14 AM

Hmm....when mine was stolen I am pretty sure they waited 30 days to see if the car was recovered and then they cut the check. If it's already recovered and totalled I would be on the phone with them saying "whats up"? But like PRBuzz said...do your homework and get the Blue Book and currently "for sale" ball park figures ready before you call.

Swimmer · 05-22-2012, 03:01 PM

Geico or Progressive?

fish4striper · 05-22-2012, 03:53 PM

Commerce Insurance in MA thru a local agent. The agent hasn't done anything. Do they do anything beside take their cut?

Anyone here an agent or in insurance? What's the law on how long they can take?

My son called today, they said they may have a number for him today. I don't understand what's taking so long when the car was found 2 days after it was stolen. They initially thought he may have done it till they interviewed him then the investigator was sure he wasn't involved.

We've looked up some for sale to get an idea. They range from 3-5K.

nightfighter · 05-22-2012, 08:06 PM

Manheim tracks auction sales by model, date, location, and price. Just another tool to judge their offer, when they come up with it. In general, you do not want to accept their first offer. Do your homework on bookvalues, sales, etc. Might want to metion to your agent that you are considering making a call to the state insurance czar to find out why your case is being held up...... Let me know if you need help with getting Manheim data.

likwid · 05-22-2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish4striper

My son had his car stolen while at work back on April 22. They ended up finding it 2 days later all stripped and damaged. It was a 1998 Maxima and they totaled it,luckily he was covered. They did investigation and interviewed my son and last we heard they were waiting for a dollar figure from the adjuster.

Anyone in insurance? How long do we have to wait, it's been a month now? When they come with an offer, if it's low what is our re-course to counter?

Was it totaled?
You got the adjusters name?
Call him and find out whats taking so long.

Jackbass · 05-23-2012, 08:01 AM

The best thing you can do to have the adjuster look at it fast is make sure it is towed to a yard with storage fees. If it going to cost the insurance company money to have it sit somewhere they will jump on it. Sounds like a battle.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

the point · 05-23-2012, 10:23 AM

When my bike was stolen it took months> examinations under oaths and the whole nine yards..GL.. There gonna low ball ya..

TheSpecialist · 05-23-2012, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish4striper

Commerce Insurance in MA thru a local agent. The agent hasn't done anything. Do they do anything beside take their cut?

Anyone here an agent or in insurance? What's the law on how long they can take?

My son called today, they said they may have a number for him today. I don't understand what's taking so long when the car was found 2 days after it was stolen. They initially thought he may have done it till they interviewed him then the investigator was sure he wasn't involved.

We've looked up some for sale to get an idea. They range from 3-5K.

Do not take the first offer they will low ball you...

fish4striper · 05-24-2012, 09:10 AM

yeah, they totaled it and moved the car out of storage shortly after it hit the tow lot.

Got a lawyer friend to call yesterday, adjuster said she only needed a couple more questions answered, then she can pursue getting approval on presenting an offer.

ThrowingTimber · 05-24-2012, 10:36 AM

Jeff my buddy Sean is sort of a big deal over at met life. Gimme a call if you need me to reach out to him. Hope they get this squared away for you guys quickly.

Raven · 05-24-2012, 01:21 PM

Had someone steal my car at work (Daisy corporation) in new bedford and they totally fried the new engine (just rebuilt)

So then the cops call me to come see it and get the car in Fairhaven, Ma

so i go there and the cop is trying to BUST me for a Joint in the ash tray
which wasn't mine.... what an attitude they had back then,,, before
the softer penalties came around like we have today...

it was a long time ago- but it stays with me...

Joe · 05-24-2012, 03:08 PM

Nothing much has changed, draw the wrong card and you can still get your a_s kicked over a joint.

fish4striper · 05-24-2012, 03:54 PM

well the low ball came in: $1700. My son's flipping out ,told someone at the ins company, NO WAY!!! lol

Raven · 05-24-2012, 04:05 PM

That's ridiculous.....

but the sad truth is

insurances companies answer to no one

Raider Ronnie · 05-24-2012, 04:32 PM

Sucks but a 14 year old Maxima is not worth a lot.

Here are some other 1998s for sale.
http://www.carsforsale.com/used_cars..._Nissan_Maxima

Raven · 05-24-2012, 04:59 PM

Reminds me of the time i spent a full week doing body work
to my old ford van hood which wasn't all that much surface area like two by four feet and it came out MINT! sanded down to 400 smooth....then i burst a damned brake line
so i took it into town to get the brake line repaired and Bled.

basically had ZERO brakes and i made this HUGE sign for the Inside of the car that said ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES drive extremely slow SLOW SLOW....
and taped it to the DASH in front of the windshield so it had to be read and i called the owner and told him the same thing on monday morning

. He said no problem man.
this was on a Sunday i drove it there real early and called again on monday.

Well come Monday MR Dumb F__K dufus mechanic jumps in the van and goes driving full speed into the shop can't stop at all "OF COURSE" and crashes into the lift.

I get the call and go down there and the little SHet tries to tell me the hood was already like that and i went absolutely Berserk and read him the riot act right there in front of everyone telling him he was the biggest liar ever hatched from Hell and More in my most meanest Scottish Accent.

They pushed it out into the lot and waitied for the insurance agent to come the next day. I took the sign home with me and brought it back to show the agent
and he low ball-ed me....

I SAID: NO FRIGGAN way and explained how i had just spent a whole week getting it perfect ready for paint when the brake line burst.... and even told the SHOP all about it and i have the call on record too. (recorded)

after that he wrote me a check for what my labor was worth and the materials
and it PAID for the brake repairs too.

Slipknot · 05-24-2012, 05:27 PM

stick with the lawyer
wait them out

a guy I know had his Tahoe totaled, he refused their offers up until it went to court, finally got what he wanted 2 years later and it cost the ins. co. lawyer fees and stuff too. They play hardball, you have to get up to bat. it sucks

fish4striper · 06-05-2012, 12:06 PM

Well my son settled on $2500. He's without car so can't wait them out for more.

He's looking for a used car, he'd like to get one with a little better gas mileage than the Maxima. Looking to spend $3000-$4000.

1st choice is Honda Civic , 2nd a Toyota Solara.

Anyone know of anyone selling one of these?