Complaint Review: Geico Insurance

On a recent Saturday, I purchased a Prowler 31 LX Travel Trailer ($31,000). O the day after purchase (Sunday), less than 24-hours after I had owned the trailer, A Geico Insured driver hit the trailer in the side at the front door. The driver was cited for careless driving. Geico sent an automotive adjuster (Thomas Kuehmeir) to work up the damages. Mr. Kuehmeir admitted at the time that he "zero experience with RV claims". His manager (and sorry I only have his first Name of Forrest) also admitted over the phone that he had zero experience with RV claims and that he would hire an independent third party adjuster and Geico would pay an Inherent Diminished Value Claim on what the inidependent adjuster estimated with no negotiation.

A few hours later, Forrest called me back to say that there was no CARFAX report on my RV (this is not a motor vehicle) and that Geico would not pay anything on the diminsished value claim. He had no time to get an independent estimate and no access to the RV as it is located in a secure storage area. I called the Geico Claims number and was asured a senior adjuster would return my call within 24 hours. After not receiving a call back within the designated time period, I called Geico back. This time, the operator/claims handler informed me that "Florida is not a diminished value state; however, they would pay me $100 as a courtesy".

I realize it is not Geico's responsibility to expalin the law to me; however, it is also not ethical for them to blatantly lie about Florida Isurance Law. Florida allows for diminished value claims but puts the burden of proving dimished value on the claimant.

Geico has sent adjsuters with no RV experience (by their own admission), lied about obtaining and independent third party estimate, and lied about Florida Insurance law. This is at best, deceptive trade practices and Geico should be held responsible. As of now, I am left with a brand new $30,000 + RV that when I sell it, I will have to report that it has been in an accident.