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GEICO Auto Insurance - I really need help. These peole are HORRIBLE!!!
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GEICO Auto Insurance - I really need help. These peole are HORRIBLE!!!
VERY short history:
In February 2010, I was in a motor vehicle accident, where the other car (The GEICO customer) drove her ENTIRE vehicle on the wrong side of the road and drove into the rear driver side corner of my vehicle. I had been parked at the time and backing up approx. 4 feet at a speed below idle (to allow a person to use the ramp in front of me). At that time, the GEICO customer drove into me.
The saga:
I report the accident, and GEICO says they will only pay 70%, which I say no to. I appeal it with the NJ Dept of Insurance, and they increase it to 90%. I appeal again, and it stays at 90%. Fine, I can sue the driver in court of the other 10%. No problem. It takes until last week to get to this point!! (August 2010)
Now we're ready to get the car fixed and they jack me off about using my own shop to the do the estimate and let THEIR adjuster go to MY shop. Basically, they are jerking me off at every turn. Finally, they admitted that the law requires them to allow me to use a shop of my choice.
I guess, what I'm asking here (PLEASE), is ANY advice, tips, or thoughts you may have that can help me not get screwed as I go into the "repair" phase of this issue. Should I request the $$$ BEFORE the work is done, so I have the check in hand? My understanding is that GIECO plays A LOT of games with cutting the check to the shop, delaying me getting the car...
I have some experience with Geico claims and have never had a problem when it came time to cut the check. More than likely they will cut the check directly to the shop, so you will not even need to hassle yourself with the process. I did have to sign the check at the shop when the car was done, because the check was made out to me and the shop (it may have been made of to both of us, I just remember having to endorse it at the time of pickup) . At least this is how it was done in FL when I used a shop of my choice. Also, my claim had supplements, basically additional damage that was uncovered during the repair. Again the shop called Geico and they paid the additional amounts.
__________________ -Scarab Sport Twin Merc 250
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That's absurd. My wife was in a minor accident a few weeks ago, the other driver's fault. I told the insurer where i was taking the car to get fixed, they sent a guy out, their estimate was a little lower, but the shop was ok with it. I'm picking it up today. Sorry you're having all that trouble. Get a lawyer and sue.
Give the skinny socialist buddy the Oracle of Omaha a call and tell him what a sleazy outfit he owns.
__________________ Living in South Carolina, fishing any place. "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf". G. Orwell
Sue,Its easy,your township has a night court give em a call.I had a repair shop screw me,I just laid it all on the line in front of the judge and I got every cent back plus court fees (50$) they had 3 weeks to pay me or the marshalls were goin to show up.
You will get your 10% as soon as they get the papper work from the court.Gauranteed.
You are the claimant. Check should be made payable to you now. You are not required to repair it if you don't want to. If more damage is found, have the shop submit the supplement.
You are entitled to rental reimbursement as well. They will want to get you out of the rental, so this should be an incentive for them to not delay the repair. If they don't pay for the rental they are likely subject to penalties.
Sue,Its easy,your township has a night court give em a call.I had a repair shop screw me,I just laid it all on the line in front of the judge and I got every cent back plus court fees (50$) they had 3 weeks to pay me or the marshalls were goin to show up.
You will get your 10% as soon as they get the papper work from the court.Gauranteed.
In February 2010, I was in a motor vehicle accident, where the other car (The GEICO customer) drove her ENTIRE vehicle on the wrong side of the road and drove into the rear driver side corner of my vehicle. I had been parked at the time and backing up approx. 4 feet at a speed below idle (to allow a person to use the ramp in front of me). At that time, the GEICO customer drove into me.
The saga:
I report the accident, and GEICO says they will only pay 70%, which I say no to. I appeal it with the NJ Dept of Insurance, and they increase it to 90%. I appeal again, and it stays at 90%. Fine, I can sue the driver in court of the other 10%. No problem. It takes until last week to get to this point!! (August 2010)
Now we're ready to get the car fixed and they jack me off about using my own shop to the do the estimate and let THEIR adjuster go to MY shop. Basically, they are jerking me off at every turn. Finally, they admitted that the law requires them to allow me to use a shop of my choice.
I guess, what I'm asking here (PLEASE), is ANY advice, tips, or thoughts you may have that can help me not get screwed as I go into the "repair" phase of this issue. Should I request the $$$ BEFORE the work is done, so I have the check in hand? My understanding is that GIECO plays A LOT of games with cutting the check to the shop, delaying me getting the car...
Thanks for reading and helping,
Pete
Yes, ALWAYS get a check first. I used Geico for many years as a customer and they were great - even after hurricanes when they were dealing with thousands if not tens of thousands of claims. Estimate, I had it double checked, and once we agreed on the number they immediately cut me a check to get the work done. Sorry they are jerking you around, but honestly that is the job of any insurance company. Collect as much as they can, and pay out as little as the have to. They figure if they make it difficult most people will give in, and the odds are in their favor.
Stick to it, get a check first, and never sign off until completely finished and satisfied.
I had a somewhat similiar experience - They initially told me to bring it to their shop or to one of their estimators - I said I am not taking my car anywhere - you can examine it here or when I take it in for repair to my shop. They said Ok but it would be a week or 2 - I agreed. The guy came to my home when we agreed and I took then the car to MY repairer and they paid 100%. But they only paid me $25. @day for 4 days in lieu of a cheapo rental but it took my repairer almost 2 weeks. Overall it was a good transaction.
__________________ 1st Cav Div Air Assault Infantry RVN
-Can Do........ and .......Carry On -
Unfortunately you and I live in a "no fault" communist state. Our great law makers have deemed that since we are all on the road driving no one can be held 100% accountable for their actions. Insurance wise anyway.
Very similar accident happened to me a few years back during a snow storm. I'm on Rte. 22 minding my own business when this young girl in a Jetta passes me in the right lane doing 50 mph and then proceeds to change lanes right on top of me. She takes out my passenger fender and grill on my truck. Police come, issue her a summons for careless driving, on my way I go. I have NJ Manufacturers insurance and working with them is always great. Take my truck to the shop who works with them, truck gets fixed and all I have to pay is my collision deductible which NJ Manufacturers said would be refunded to me once they subrigate against her insurance.
Received a check in the mail from them for $375, WTF! NJ's no fault law found her only 75% at fault. Explaining she received a careless driving ticket was futile. Here's what you do. Go to your county courthouse, fill out a small claims form, I believe it's a $25 fee, for the amount you want to collect plus the filing fee.
Long story longer, went in front of a judge, listened to both sides and ruled in my favor for the $125 plus cost once he was presented with the facts (summons). Sucks we have to do this!!!!!
In all due respectfullness - I don't think that is what no-fault means - at least not here or most places. Some Insurance guys can chime in.
We live in a no-fault State and I never heard of this % thing. I have always been paid 100% by the insurance of the party at fault.
In its broadest sense, "no-fault insurance" is a term used to describe any type of insurance contract under which insureds are indemnified for losses by their own insurance company, regardless of fault in the incident generating losses. In this sense, it is no different from first-party coverage. However, the term no-fault is most commonly used in the context of state/provincial automobile insurance laws in the United States, Canada, and Australia, in which a policyholder (and his/her passengers) are not only reimbursed by the policyholder’s own insurance company without proof of fault, but also restricted in the right to seek recovery through the civil-justice system for losses caused by other parties.
No-fault insurance has the goal of lowering premium costs by avoiding expensive litigation over the causes of accidents, while providing quick payments for injuries. The victim's insurance company would only pay out the claim, while the driver-at-fault's insurance company would pay out a claim and charge that party a higher insurance premium as they are now higher risk. While this may disadvantage the victim's insurance company, as the at-fault driver's insurance company can recoup the claims quicker through raised premiums, accidents happen between drivers of both insurance companies with an equal chance of drivers from both sides being at fault, so this in theory should even out.
As far as this bring Commie - well its the Insurance Companies that initiated it here - not the public or legislature. They still think CT (Aetna, Hartford, Cigna, Travelers and believe it or not 102 others) is the Insurance Capitol of the world - well at least as far as controlling our legislature it is.
__________________ 1st Cav Div Air Assault Infantry RVN
-Can Do........ and .......Carry On -
Last edited by LI Sound Grunt; 08-13-2010 at 12:07 PM.
I'd grab that little gecko and hold a toothpick to his eye.
Big Al
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Ha! I have NJM too! They told me that since the damage was under the deductible I would have to subrogate on my own behalf. Which I got to 90% doing, so I'm cool with that... but I want the other 10%.
My only "what if" is that she didn't get a ticket. (yeah, I know, I screwed that up! I should have signed one).
Either way, I care less about the 10% and more about getting the car fixed 100% my way and NOT letting these GEICO pricks beat me for a nickle.
I don't understand what her insurance has to with it at all. Why wouldn't you just file the claim through your insurance and let them sort out the reimbursements from her insurance company? You're not at fault, you don't need to pay a deductible and you won't have a surcharge. You should never talk to the other party's insurance company; let your insurance company handle all of the communication. That's how it would work here in MA and I think our insurance is set up the same as in NJ.
I don't understand what her insurance has to with it at all. Why wouldn't you just file the claim through your insurance and let them sort out the reimbursements from her insurance company? You're not at fault, you don't need to pay a deductible and you won't have a surcharge. You should never talk to the other party's insurance company; let your insurance company handle all of the communication. That's how it would work here in MA and I think our insurance is set up the same as in NJ.
Absolutely right. We had a Geico car make a right turn from the left lane on the GSP ramp to 287, and we had a small impact. I told my insurance company, got paid from my collision coverage minus the deductible, THEY worked with Geico, and I got a check shortly thereafter from my company for my deductible. I assume that my company also got reimbursed from Geico.
In fact, Geico wanted me to file a report with them, and my company said to forget it.
Note that, in my case, a state trooper was called and made a report stating that the other driver made an unsafe lane change, so perhaps Geico felt they had no other recourse. At any rate, you should be dealing ONLY with your own company.
Gieco sucks, actually most ins co's do. should be paid 100% but because you were backing ill say 90% isnt bad .You Have the right to choose any repair shop you like, and an ins co can do no more than reccomend a shop. but they bend that rule to death. the payment will be made to you as the vehicle owner, unless you want them to pay the shop directly which may help if the repairs are completed before you recieve payment . their appraiser has to inspect the vehicle at a place conveniant to you , but they dont always make it easy if you dont choose one of their approved shops. and by approved i mean approved by them as a shop that will accept what ever the have to in order to keep on the good side of the ins co. choose a shop that your happy with. let them estimate the damage and try to negotiate a fair settlement with the appraiser if thats possible. always pisses me off that the person having the final say in what gets paid for, and how we repair is a person with absolutely no real world experience in the repair field. either right out of college,, or was in the bussiness 40 years ago.. no in between. never mind that the hourly labor rate is at maybe $45 and their computer programs dictate all the labor and refinish times on top of that low rate. talk to the shop and they can explain how this might work out. you didnt say what year your car is but unless its a 2010 doubtful that gieco will be willing to pay for oem parts, Good luck
I was told by New Jersey Manufacturers that they would not subrogate on my behalf because the damage was under the deductible. I called bullsh!t on this too, but that is what they stuck with.
Gieco sucks, actually most ins co's do. should be paid 100% but because you were backing ill say 90% isnt bad .You Have the right to choose any repair shop you like, and an ins co can do no more than reccomend a shop. but they bend that rule to death. the payment will be made to you as the vehicle owner, unless you want them to pay the shop directly which may help if the repairs are completed before you recieve payment . their appraiser has to inspect the vehicle at a place conveniant to you , but they dont always make it easy if you dont choose one of their approved shops. and by approved i mean approved by them as a shop that will accept what ever the have to in order to keep on the good side of the ins co. choose a shop that your happy with. let them estimate the damage and try to negotiate a fair settlement with the appraiser if thats possible. always pisses me off that the person having the final say in what gets paid for, and how we repair is a person with absolutely no real world experience in the repair field. either right out of college,, or was in the bussiness 40 years ago.. no in between. never mind that the hourly labor rate is at maybe $45 and their computer programs dictate all the labor and refinish times on top of that low rate. talk to the shop and they can explain how this might work out. you didnt say what year your car is but unless its a 2010 doubtful that gieco will be willing to pay for oem parts, Good luck
Is this true for every state?
__________________ D. Hill
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snapper Head
I'd grab that little gecko and hold a toothpick to his eye.
Big Al
A hot toothpick, which is one of the primary reasons I no longer take these types of cases, as criminal defendants represent a better class of people than insurance companies.
GEICO Auto Insurance - I really need help. These peole are HORRIBLE!!! 
1st Cav Div Air Assault Infantry RVN
always pisses me off that the person having the final say in what gets paid for, and how we repair is a person with absolutely no real world experience in the repair field. either right out of college,, or was in the bussiness 40 years ago.. no in between. never mind that the hourly labor rate is at maybe $45 and their computer programs dictate all the labor and refinish times on top of that low rate. talk to the shop and they can explain how this might work out. you didnt say what year your car is but unless its a 2010 doubtful that gieco will be willing to pay for oem parts, Good luck 
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