40 ft diesel pusher motor home had roof damage due to wind storm. Gieco paid $13k claim for new roof replacement, a very common loss in the RV world. I went to trade for a newer motor home last week. The dealer pulled the Carfax and discovered Carfax reported the roof repair as a total loss. Completely false and not even close. If it had been a total loss Gieco would have paid me fair value for the coach and taken possession and title. Four dealers all told me the report lowered the value of the coach by 50% costing me $35 thousand dollars and none of them would take it on trade. Carfax stonewalls accepts no responsibility, refuses to assist to correct the mistake or help in any way nor reveal where they got their information from. This one is definitely going to court. I will prevail.
George
Mesa,#2Author of original report
Tue, July 24, 2018
Gieco was my first call. They emphatically claimed that they make NO reports ever to Carfax, apparantly not a fan. The formula for total loss is if the cost to repair equals or exceeds 75% of the current value of the vehicle. In my case a $13,000 repair on a $75,000 coach doesn't come close to the TOTAL LOSS formula under any possible formula. Much as I dislike big government perhaps we need a simple law that says a company must provide the source of the info they provide if they want to be held harmless for accuracy AND a personal contact.
Hiding behind "email only" contacts is a certain sign they are too cowardly to defend their reports and take corrective measures. Knowing the source would allow you to get to the responsible party and have a chance to correct the situation. A simple department for resolutions such as Ebay's would undoubtedly overwhelm them. Truly Carfax demonstrates every sign of a despicable company that does not deserve customers money, trust or respect.
voiceofreason
North Carolina,#3Consumer Comment
Tue, July 24, 2018
I would think Carfax got its determination based on state records for your RV.
Have you asked your insurer if they reported the vehicle as now being salvage value?
In Arizona your RV's status would be determined by a preset formula.
https://www.carfax.com/blog/is-your-car-a-total-loss
https://www.carfax.eu/glossary/total-loss-vehicle.html
I'd start with your insurer, then your state DMV before spending money on a lawsuit.