Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > General Discussion > Insurance and Finance
Am I getting screwed on this claim >

Am I getting screwed on this claim

Notices

Am I getting screwed on this claim

Old 08-15-2012, 07:24 AM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Erie, pa
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Am I getting screwed on this claim

I own several businesses one being a transport company. We have never had any claims. My one driver stopped to get gas loaded. He was pulling a the car wedge trailer behind a new Chevy dually. He gets on the on ramp is maybe going 35 mph and the goose neck tube sheeted off where it was walked to the trailer. Just a straight across break like you cut it with a saw. The trailer slams down on the rear of my truck causing damage to the truck and trailer. The break away was activated and the trailer and truck stop. No damage to cargo. Now I call this in to progressive. Everything is fine. Now keep in mind my driver got up in the am and bought a new goose neck and had it installed by A shop and was on his way. So yes there was damage but it wasn't horrible. I talk to my agent on and off here in town as I spoke with the adjuster from progressive. She said it was covered but classified as an at fault collision. How is the at fault. The trailer was pa inspected and also inspected twice by dot all of the was recently during this year. The hitch is steel. Is does move there is nothing you can maintain about it. But she says we are at fault. I tell this to my agent and he doesn't agree but he doesn't have a lot of pull with progressive. But he did say that my rates will more than likely spike 30% as he read the fine print on the policy. I just think this is total crap. Trucking insurance is very very costly and you can't even use it. I had my wife call around to get us with another company. They want a loss report from progressive. She gets that and it shows to claims one being the trailer was damaged and one the truck. They have numbers on these claims too to the tune of 16k total. They never even looked at the stuff. The other insurance brokers say you need to just cancel that claim since your not acting on it so that comes off. So I call and cancel the claim but the stuff doesn't come off. They say it won't come off. So I'm screwed no matter what. Just doesn't seem fair in the least anyway you look at it
Adamcoover is offline  
Old 08-15-2012, 07:46 AM
  #2  
21 and 42 footers
Platinum Member
 
t500hps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 8,182
Received 119 Likes on 61 Posts
Default

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I'll be able to give a report on State Farm claims in a matter of days......my wife rolled our suburban this past weekend (luckily she and the kids are fine, truck is certainly totaled)
From all I have seen/read I can sum up the problem here in one word....."Progressive". SOOOO many stories about them like this it isn't even funny, why people continue to use them I have no idea.
t500hps is offline  
Old 08-15-2012, 10:24 AM
  #3  
Registered
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Grand Lake (E-Dock Junior Varsity)
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

It probably won't raise it 30%. I am also in the trucking game (hazmat tankers) and feel your pain on insurance prices. But I would be surprised that it would go up 30% if you have a clean loss run and DOT. Usually the first one is a gimme. They can only use "not at fault, at fault and act of God" I think. Some of the trucking carriers will permit "equipment failure" but they are specialty firms like ours. Even then, they claim its your fault for choosing the equipment you chose. I'd take it up with the trailer company, they have insurance too..

But I agree, I'd cancel the claim and eat it. If it was cosmetic damage (which I assume because you were back on the road), consider it just a scar and move forward. I can't imagine $16,000 worth of damage from that kind of incident unless it totalled the truck.

Last edited by waterboy222; 08-15-2012 at 10:30 AM.
waterboy222 is offline  
Old 08-15-2012, 11:10 AM
  #4  
Forum Regulator
VIP Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Sydwayz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 23,820
Received 1,185 Likes on 515 Posts
Default

I have two very good friends that own Body Shops. From both of them: Progressive is the bottom of the barrel. That's how they make money. They jack you. Their entire business model is based on a gamble, and when you lose, they win.

State Farm and Elephant are the two companies in VA that my local friend says are the best. It's almost to the point where he won't do business with Progressive anymore. A friend had a tree fall on her cherry convertible Firebird a few weeks back. She took it to a direct repair Progressive body shop and they claimed $7000 in damage on a car she owed $7700 on. Of course, Progressive totaled it. I had my buddy drive over to that shop and write up an estimate, which was ~$3000. He stated the Progressive/Body Shop write up was grossly over written; replacing 2 extra panels (full doors) with not a mark on them, and a new convertible top motor. Come on! The tree fell on the windshield, windshield frame, hood, and dash! Since Progressive already totaled the car, they already paid off the bank. There was no going back and fixing all that bullchit in the paperwork. She opted to get another loan and buy back her car under a salvage title which was totally unjust.

I could type out a dozen more stories like that.

It really is a racket. Get this: Guess who owns the software that does all of the time and estimate calculations that the body shops run. (Yes, the insurance companies!) Then they force you to use aftermarket parts. At this time, State Farm is the ONLY company that my VA buddy deals with that mandates/uses OEM parts, and he said that will probably change as well.
Sydwayz is offline  
Old 08-15-2012, 11:53 AM
  #5  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Erie, pa
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by waterboy222
It probably won't raise it 30%. I am also in the trucking game (hazmat tankers) and feel your pain on insurance prices. But I would be surprised that it would go up 30% if you have a clean loss run and DOT. Usually the first one is a gimme. They can only use "not at fault, at fault and act of God" I think. Some of the trucking carriers will permit "equipment failure" but they are specialty firms like ours. Even then, they claim its your fault for choosing the equipment you chose. I'd take it up with the trailer company, they have insurance too..

But I agree, I'd cancel the claim and eat it. If it was cosmetic damage (which I assume because you were back on the road), consider it just a scar and move forward. I can't imagine $16,000 worth of damage from that kind of incident unless it totalled the truck.
The issue lies if I claim or don't claim it's still two claims at 16 total payout on my loss report
Adamcoover is offline  
Old 08-15-2012, 04:23 PM
  #6  
VIP Member
VIP Member
 
offshoredrillin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 12,189
Received 1,291 Likes on 446 Posts
Default

Every state has an insurance commissioner, you need to contact them and file a claim against progressive and your agent, that will get their attention. if you did not collect a check from them then legally they cant say it was a paid claim.
offshoredrillin is offline  
Old 08-17-2012, 11:15 AM
  #7  
HP Marine Ins. Specialist
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Insuring any kind of boat
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yes, every state has an insurance commissioner... however, based on what I read, that is skipping from A to Z without addressing the simple solution in the middle here.

Also, in a scenario like this, the agent has zero control over how Progressive reports the losses, why would you want to file a claim against the agent when they didn't do anything wrong.... I don't know Adam's agent and I am not trying to defend that person if they have done something wrong that we're not aware of but I try to put myself in that agent's shoes. Their agency and their job is their livelihood. Filling a report with an insurance commissioner is no joke and something that could have serious consequences for a long time for that agent. If you are going to report an agency or an insurance company than it better be for something serious and 100% accurate and for something that is within their control.

I do not believe that based on what Adam stated above that it would be right to file a report with a State Insurance Commissioner on the agent, from what I read, that agent has done nothing to warrant such a harsh action.

Simple solution: Adam, you need to write a formal letter to Progressive withdrawing your claim and send it to the adjuster certified mail. Have your request notarized as well. Keep copies of what you send. Insureds have a right to withdraw a claim at any point in time PRIOR to Progressive spending money. If they have spent any money on your claim (keep in mind this doesn't just mean the check they write to you for damages), then they have the right to list that amount under a loss for you.

With respects to the loss report from Progressive. What you want to look at is if that loss run shows the claim OPEN or CLOSED. If it says OPEN then the amount shown on the loss report is what we refer to as the "reserve" or estimate of what damages might meet should the claim be paid out. Insurance companies use the reserve amounts so that when they pull their financials they know how much money they might potentially be on the hook for in the coming months. If the claim says OPEN then that means no one CLOSED your claim and you need to request it be closed in writing the way I mentioned above.

If they refuse to close your claim and refuse to take it off your loss report after YOU try to get it removed, then it would be time to report to the Commissioner. But first, try the method I mentioned above.

Last edited by WakezoneINS; 08-17-2012 at 11:17 AM.
WakezoneINS is offline  
Old 08-17-2012, 11:32 AM
  #8  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Erie, pa
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by WakezoneINS
Yes, every state has an insurance commissioner... however, based on what I read, that is skipping from A to Z without addressing the simple solution in the middle here.

Also, in a scenario like this, the agent has zero control over how Progressive reports the losses, why would you want to file a claim against the agent when they didn't do anything wrong.... I don't know Adam's agent and I am not trying to defend that person if they have done something wrong that we're not aware of but I try to put myself in that agent's shoes. Their agency and their job is their livelihood. Filling a report with an insurance commissioner is no joke and something that could have serious consequences for a long time for that agent. If you are going to report an agency or an insurance company than it better be for something serious and 100% accurate and for something that is within their control.

I do not believe that based on what Adam stated above that it would be right to file a report with a State Insurance Commissioner on the agent, from what I read, that agent has done nothing to warrant such a harsh action.

Simple solution: Adam, you need to write a formal letter to Progressive withdrawing your claim and send it to the adjuster certified mail. Have your request notarized as well. Keep copies of what you send. Insureds have a right to withdraw a claim at any point in time PRIOR to Progressive spending money. If they have spent any money on your claim (keep in mind this doesn't just mean the check they write to you for damages), then they have the right to list that amount under a loss for you.

With respects to the loss report from Progressive. What you want to look at is if that loss run shows the claim OPEN or CLOSED. If it says OPEN then the amount shown on the loss report is what we refer to as the "reserve" or estimate of what damages might meet should the claim be paid out. Insurance companies use the reserve amounts so that when they pull their financials they know how much money they might potentially be on the hook for in the coming months. If the claim says OPEN then that means no one CLOSED your claim and you need to request it be closed in writing the way I mentioned above.

If they refuse to close your claim and refuse to take it off your loss report after YOU try to get it removed, then it would be time to report to the Commissioner. But first, try the method I mentioned above.
Maybe I said something wrong above. My agent is a good friend of mie and has no pull in this situation. I would never do anything against him he does me lots a favors. I am referrng to progressive. I closed the claim, it still shows on my loss report for 16,000 closed. It will never go away they said. They spent no money never came to me in person never did a thing. So i now have a bad oss run with no money paid out.
Adamcoover is offline  
Old 08-17-2012, 11:43 AM
  #9  
HP Marine Ins. Specialist
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Insuring any kind of boat
Posts: 985
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Adamcoover
Maybe I said something wrong above. My agent is a good friend of mie and has no pull in this situation. I would never do anything against him he does me lots a favors. I am referrng to progressive. I closed the claim, it still shows on my loss report for 16,000 closed. It will never go away they said. They spent no money never came to me in person never did a thing. So i now have a bad oss run with no money paid out.
No, you didn't say anything wrong at all. Your post is what told me that your agent DIDN'T warrant a call to the State Insurance Commissioner. There was a post made suggesting you report progressive and the agent to the State so I was replying to that post, not your post

BUT, if your loss report is showing $16,000 and the claim CLOSED I would first try to escalate it up the ladder at Progressive... to the top Your agent can help you do this part. If you can't get it solved after going to the top, then I would write a formal letter to the State Insurance commissioner about Progressive and the situation. Be sure to send a copy of that formal letter to the head of the claims department for progressive Commercial Auto. See if that motivate them. Good luck Adam.
WakezoneINS is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.