- Report: #1379333
Complaint Review: USAA Insurance - Nationwide
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USAA Insurance
Nationwide, USA
Phone:
210-531-8722
Web:
www.usaa.com
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USAA Insurance Forcing my car to be totaled when it shouldn't be, and offering low payout! Nationwide
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I recently moved from Oregon to Arizona. I hired a transport company to ship my car. When it arrived in Arizona, it had been damaged. I turned the claim into my insurance company, USAA, whom I'd been with for 4-5 years. The damage was minor -- a scuffed rear bumper and dented hatch (it's a wagon). The repair estimate was $1700. USAA wants to total the car and pay me $2800, which last time I checked, was $1100 MORE than the repair estimate. On top of that, book value on the car is in the $3000-3500 range, and the car is in MINT condtiion because I have spent a total of $7550 on the car in the last year (including purchase price which was $1900).
I have provided documented proof of the money spent on the car and for what items, and they upped their payout offer from $2600 to $2800, or about 5% of what I actually spent.
Somebody at USAA said that if I found someplace to repair it for less, they could maybe repair it and not total it. But now they're saying once it's totalled, it's totalled, and you can't change it. Sounds fishy to me.
I went to another repair shop and they said I should have the option of taking a lower payout and fixing it myself rather than it being totaled... which I would prefer to do. Hell, I even offered to let them cancel the claim COMPLETELY and pay me NOTHING in order to keep the car from being totaled. They won't do that either. They seem bound and determined to have it totaled. Then even "threatened" me today saying if I drive the car without it being converted into a salvage title, I can get in trouble with the police. So far, nobody has been able to confirm that for me.
It seems I am being strong-armed into something I don't want to do, and unlike many, I'm fighting back. If they wanted to pay out anywhere near what I have into the car, it'd be a different story. After this mess, I will definitely be canceling my policy with them.
I'm going to be seeking an attorney (which I believe needs to be based in Oregon) to pursue this matter, so if one sees this and is interested, please by all means contact me.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Sigh
#2Author of original report
Fri, June 16, 2017
The transport company did not have insurance; it was clearly stated on the contract that they did not insure the vehicle. Second, they were unhelpful when I contacted them anyway. So I went through my insurance.
And yes, $1700 is inconsequential. If you looked at the photo, the car needs a hatch and some minor bumper cover work. That's it. Regardless of its overall value, the repairs ARE inconsequential.
I think if you had invested the time and money into a car you would be pretty pissed too.
Robert
Irvine,California,
USA
This whole story sounds fishy
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, June 16, 2017
If you hired a transport company and they damaged your car, why are you not going through THEIR insurance for the damage THEY caused? Your insurance company is not your "friend" and are not going to look out for you, even if they may eventually go after another company.
But beyond that, the repair estimate was $1700 on a car every by your estimate has a "book" value of $3000-$3500. When the repair is around half the value of the car that is NOT considered minor.
The amount of money you put into the car is inconsequential. Calling it "mint" is something a Used Car salesman would say and has no real meaning to it's condition. But one has to wonder why anyone would put just over $7500 into a car that has a value of just over $3000? If you think that you would ever be able to sell the car for anything close to $7500 you may need to go get your head examined.
Insurance companies deal in liabilities. In general ANY insurance company will "total" a car if the repairs exceed a certain percentage. They may also "total" a car earlier if certain safety equipment is damaged. The reason that even if fixed if something like a bumper was damaged it could be weaker and cause further liability for them in the future. This along with the repairs of around 50% of the value probably gave them reason to just total out the car.
But while they will try to offer you as little as possible, even by your estimates the low value is $3000, they are offering you $2800. This is a difference of $200. If you went into court it is extremely likely that the judge even if they agree with the low value would then only give you another $200. If you convince the judge it is worth more you may get $700 to bring it up to the $3500. But no judge is going to give you $7500 or anything close to that.
Now as for the Salvage Title. If you haven't signed any settlement, I do not believe that the insurance can just file a Salvage Title on the vehicle. So you have a few options. First to pursue them in court, with the possibility that in the end the vehicle may still be "totaled" and be given a salvage title. Second to just forget it and take care of it yourself. Third, to find a cheaper estimate and hope they will cover it. Lastly remembering the original question. WHY did you NOT go through the Transport's Company Insurance?
