Geico Insurance rips off 8 year customer during first -at fault but no ticket- claim Lakeland Florida
I have been with Geico for eight years and was completely content with them until I had a claim for an accident that was my fault although I didn't get a ticket.
After the body shop completed my repairs (the first time) before leaving I noticed that my locks didn't work. The body shop confirmed that they worked when I dropped off the car one time when I retrieved my personal belongings. They looked into it and diagnosed that both actuators were seized.
When they asked Geico to pay for the damage my claims adjuster Joe Hull was very rude and denied the request he then proceeded to tell me that it is unlikely that they seized as a result of the impact. I told him that is was just as unlikely that they would seize for no reason at the exact same time. We argued several times before I went to his supervisor. Although he was much more professional he wasn't any help.
Here I am several days later, I was instructed by Mr. Hull to pay the dealership to determine the problem and if they determined that the failure was due to the wreck that Geico would reimburse me and pay for the repairs (over 300 bucks alone + the 72 I paid).
well approximately an hour ago the dealership reported that upon investigation, the only reason that the actuators would seize at the same time would be due to the impact jarring. Because the exterior of the part was not damaged Geico now refuses to pay for it again, (the delicate interior parts were damaged, but not the exterior casing).
So after all this Geico refuses to do what they promised. To make it better when I had to extend my rental due to my car not being finished Mr. Hull approved it for one day after asking hatefully why my car wasnt' done yet as if I had control over that. Then when I returned it and Enterprise submitted for payment, Geico denied payment. (Enterprise was great and didn't charge me)
So I will be switching my two vehicles elsewhere. Any sugestions?
Amanda
Thomasville, Georgia
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Jason
Simpsonville,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Your insurance matters, too.
#7Consumer Comment
Mon, July 25, 2005
Obviously, I can't prove anything, but it has always occured to me that pending on who your insurance company is, when you're in a non at-fault accident, determines how the other insurance company treats you.
2 examples I have.. First, I was rear-ended in a rental car on I-85 heading into Atlanta last year. Got the police report, no ticket was issued to the other driver, weather being a contributing factor to the accident. Her insurance refused to pay because their client was not at fault (according to them)... Very minor accident anyway, just a scratch on a bumper, however, one call to their insurance company from mine, and they magically accepted liability.
The second example was just a few weeks ago, a Progressive customer rear ended me in my personal vehicle. Other driver was ticketed for too fast for conditions. They called and asked me all the questions, asked who my insurer was, when I told them USAA, they immediately accepted liability, paid for the damage to my vehicle and the GPS unit that was damaged in the accident.
Was this because I was with USAA? I don't know, but I do know that USAA is vigorous at protecting their insurees. In the first case, USAA called the insurance company, told them if they really thought they would win in court, then bring it on, because that's where they'd wind up. Why? Because I carried collision and USAA would have had to pay the bill if they didn't. USAA would pay the bill, but they'd get their money back from the other company.
David
Warner Robins,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Thanx Accidents come down to evidence
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, July 23, 2005
Thanks for pointing that out Patrick.
Unfortunately, that post was not here when i made the comment and i don't have esp. I was going off what was originally said.
These posts are not instant as I am sure you are aware of.
On a side note, if the body shop was trying to rip them off, I'm sure they would say they were working a week before.
To the other poster, Accidents come down to evidence, word vs. word, and witnesses. There not all cut and dry, it seems more the bad guy wasn't Farmer's but there insured lying.
Could you imagine how much insurance prices would be if there was no fraud, or if people didn't lie.
Of course, this as nothing to do with the op.
Patrick
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
David, read the update. he had the vehicle in for service
#7Consumer Comment
Thu, July 21, 2005
David,
If you read the update from the OP, you will see that he says he had the vehicle in for service at the dealership one week prior to the accident. It was at that time that the dealership noted his locks worked, and that information was used to put the claim through.
Scott, I totally agree with you about insurnace companies. Back in March, a 77-year old lady made a left turn right in front of me. We both had green, but she failed to yield (and was ticketed for it). Seems like an open and shut case of her being at total fault. Not so according to her company, State Farm. They claim the witnesses said I failed to brake, and hit me with 30% liability. Just so happens I replaced the pads on my front brakes the previous night, and locked up my wheels when I saw her pull out. Don't know why the witnesses said that.
At least my company was good enough about getting my car fixed. And my rates won't go up as I was less than 50% liable. Think I'll be sticking with Allstate for quite a while.
Steve
Tucson,Arizona,
U.S.A.
David, Insurance Companies also try to wiggle off the hook any way they can
#7Consumer Comment
Thu, July 21, 2005
While the body shops may be guilty of ripping off Insurance Companies, it is a far more prevalent practice for the Insurance Company to deny coverage for any reason whatsoever, regardless of whether it makes sense or not. I had a recent example.
In a parking lot my car was recently backed into by the driver of another car that was coming out of a parking space. The point of impact was between the two doors, and my car was stationary at the time. The damage proved this conclusively since there was no lateral "dragging" of the damage - just impact damage going straight inwards on both doors and the post between them.
You would think liability would be obvious: Car A (mine) was stationary in a parking lot when car B (the other car) backed up impacting car A. Car B is liable.
Not according to Farmers Insurance. They would only assume 25% liability because the driver of car B concocted a story about how I had "hit on her" in a store (as if, even if it were true, this gives her permission to hit my car) and that I sped up at high speed to get behind car B as it backed out and then abruptly stopped (I was driving a Chevy Cavalier - not likely).
I had to hire an attorney to get my car fixed by Farmers.
David
Warner Robins,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Another point of view
#7Consumer Comment
Thu, July 21, 2005
Don't take this the wrong way because there is no way to ever really know.
Think about it this way. You states they worked when you dropped the car off at the body shop, correct?
Then you are about to leave the body shop and they don't work.
Businesses and individuals defraud insurance compaies every day, I'm am not saying you did, but whose to say the body shop didn't break them or disconnect them to raise the claim.
Body shops all over defraud insurance companies and individuals for more money all the time, can you look at it and say they were seized or do you know if they actually put new ones in.
Yes, it may possibly have been due to the accident, but I think you were looking at pretty one sided.
The point being you said it worked when you dropped it off. That would definitely set off some type of bell or whistle for anyone that works in the insurance or automotive field.
This isn't a rant on you, just a comment. On a side note, some people get tickets with accidents, some don't. That's just how it goes. I now you said it was at fault and you weren't trying to hide anything, but it doesn't really matter in this situation.
Just my two cents anyhow.
Amanda
Thomasville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Persistance Pays off!!!!
#7Author of original report
Wed, July 20, 2005
Geico finally came through, after all the trouble I had arguing my way to the top they finally agreed to take care of my locks, it was the dealership's mention that they had serviced my vehicle a week before the accident and the locks worked that also helped my case. No thanks to Geico for the hours I spent getting anyone to care about my situation. The funny thing is they apoligized for my inconvience, I told them that it was okay because I am a persistant person, the adjuster said well yes, yes you are. I am sure he had a few names for me other than that. Thanks!