Facts:
Accident occurred 1-27-03
Fault was a Geico client who ran a red light, as reported by 8 witnesses and was notated on police report
Current date is March 1, 2003.
To this point, we have paid 100% of the Car Rental that Geico should be paying for.
After two weeks of their saying they still did not have the copy of the police report, this after I have already received a letter of notice that the vehicle was considered totaled. They finally accepted responsibility for the accident.
They called to make an absurd offer on the vehicle (Just enough to pay it off) Upon researching at the 3 major companies on the internet (Kellys, NADA, Edmunds) I have not found anything close to their total for payoff, the lowest (NADA) was $1100.00 less, and this was using the options that we discussed on the telephone and agreed upon. Their estimate did reflect the base price shown at NADA, but did not take into consideration the options that were on the vehicle at that point.
They then contacted me that since they made me an offer, that the rental would only be covered for another 3 days (mind you I am still paying for it because they have yet to contact rental car agency and set up the direct billing)
Needless to say, I still in rent-a-car and in S.C. they have an arbitration, in which we are confident we will win and it will end up costing them much more than the additional $1100 that they could have paid to begin with. I have additional bills for car rental that will be reaching over the $1000 mark in another couple of weeks, which they will end up paying as well.
I was told this was handled, was told to fax my receipts of payments in, which I have done on 3 occasions now and yesterday they stated they would cut a check for the car rental and reimbursment and contact Rental Car company for direct payment.
They called the rental car agency and go rude with them because I was in a van at their agreed price of $39 per day and ended up handing up on the rental company and never setting up direct billing. The girl stated to them that this was not approved and that I should be in a compact and this is all they pay for (I have 3 kids- 2 in infant seats and my wife and I) The smaller vehicle will in no way hold us and a double stroller to get around in.
So it still stands in limbow at this point and I have researched the S.C. Laws and discovered another lie they told me, as well as discovering about the abitration hearings that S.C. offers.
But they told me that the damaged car seats would not be covered, as they only cover damage to the vehicle, not the property in it. However S.C. states that they are responsible for all cost, including if applicable, personal property that was in the proximatey of the vehicle or in the vehicle. So this is just one more item of concern, and to think that they would expect an infant to be placed in a damaged carseat and not replace it, Hard to believe that have not already had claims to future injuries for failing to cover these items.
I have come to the conclusion (IMHO) That these adjusters, when your not a client of theirs, are trained and taught to NOT inform you of your rights and coverages and to only offer the lowest amount possible from the NADA and I would not doubt that the options are left out when searching the NADA on prices. Again still my Opinion, but I will never do business with this company and their rude, ruthless employees and they can expect I will be sharing my story with anyone and everyone that will listen and smile happily when the day comes that they are placed out of business or pay multi million dollar law suits for the practices they endorse with their customer service.
Art
Gaston, South Carolina
U.S.A.