Insurance issue please help!!

[stockms3]

Hi
My dads car was recently flooded, im not sure how high the water was, but the carpet is wet inside the car, guy from the insurace said they're going probably to WASH IT. (water was in the car for the last 6 days)

I mean what the **** the car smells like s***, all the components are going to go bad. I mean I dont know how it works but we kinda dont want to own a flooded car.......

What should I do in this situation?

 

[DaleNixon]

File a complaint against your insurance company with your state's Department of Insurance. Trust me, it works! Hopefully they have an online system like the one I wrote for Louisiana. If not, just walk into the DOI and tell them you want to complain against your insurance company.

 

[ocmazdaspeed]

You should take it to MAZDA, and have them tell you whats wrong with it... Then submit that to your insurance, getting two opinions never hurts.
They probly took to a mom and pop shop, and thats what they told them. It should be checked out.
Other than that, have them clean it... If that doesnt work, file!

 

[BOOSTR]

Sure you can lodge a complaint. but if there was not enough damage to total out the car, the company will settle the claim by replacing what needs to be replaced. DOI will not find a problem with that. Your best bet it to speak with the adjustor about your concerns as he or she is the one with the pen.

 

[stockms3]

I've spoken with an owner of a body shop he said I should ask them to give me a letter saying that if I have any issues with electrical system, rotting floors, or car smelling like ass, and any accidents that might be caused by failure of a electrical system they will be fully responsible.

 

[dokx]

Sure you can lodge a complaint. but if there was not enough damage to total out the car, the company will settle the claim by replacing what needs to be replaced. DOI will not find a problem with that. Your best bet it to speak with the adjustor about your concerns as he or she is the one with the pen.

I agree 100%. You should first work with the adjuster. They are either going to address your concerns or give you more ammunition to use when complaining to the parent company. Personally, I would try to handle the whole thing through email, which allows you to have all of their comments documented.

That sucks man...sorry. Good luck.

 

[creina1221]

Agreed. Speak with your adjuster. Who's your insurance compnay by the way? I am an adjuster and whether or not the car is going to be a TL, depends on how high the water gets
-----
What I do know is most insurance companies have direct repair or network shops that will guarantee all of the work done as long as you own the vehicle...hence, any problems down the road is their problem, not yours. Also, as far as taking it to mazda, it some cases it wouldn't matter, depends on the company. Some companies write all of their own estimates regardless of any estimates already completed
-Good luck!

 

[BOOSTR]

I've spoken with an owner of a body shop he said I should ask them to give me a letter saying that if I have any issues with electrical system, rotting floors, or car smelling like ass, and any accidents that might be caused by failure of a electrical system they will be fully responsible.

Body shop owners should stick to dispensing info on paint/body repair. You will never get a letter like that from any insurance company.

 

[creina1221]

Body shop owners should stick to dispensing info on paint/body repair. You will never get a letter like that from any insurance company.

Insurnace companies provide an estimate of the damages to the insured and are required to explain why something was done if the customer has questions. Also, in most cases, the insurance adjuster and body shop rep come to an agreement on what needs to be done and an agreement should be met before repairs begin.

 

[stockms3]

I'm going to drop the car off at a bodyshop and let them deal with the insurance.

 

[BOOSTR]

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and the company. The body shop has no interest in it. So address your concerns with the adjuster before agreeing on claim settlement.

No adjuster has the ability to amend the terms of the policy contract. That is why I am telling you that you will never get a letter which supercedes the policy language and remains open-ended after you have settled the claim.

 

[creina1221]

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and the company. The body shop has no interest in it. So address your concerns with the adjuster before agreeing on claim settlement.

No adjuster has the ability to amend the terms of the policy contract. That is why I am telling you that you will never get a letter which supercedes the policy language and remains open-ended after you have settled the claim.

But....If the policy language is open-ended....it favors the insured. It's to the insured's benefit if the policy language isn't crystal clear. Speak to your adjuster about your concerns, he's writing the check, not the shop.

 

[SwampAss]

Your insurance policy is a contract between you and the company. The body shop has no interest in it. So address your concerns with the adjuster before agreeing on claim settlement.

No adjuster has the ability to amend the terms of the policy contract. That is why I am telling you that you will never get a letter which supercedes the policy language and remains open-ended after you have settled the claim.

The body shop has some interest in it. If the car is a TL, the shop only gets a look at fee. The body shop wants as much work out of the claim as possible. I've been party to more than my fair share of shop/adjuster battles in the 4 years I worked for a large auto insurer.
As you stated, there is no amendment to the terms of the policy contract. The only thing the adjuster can do is supplement the claim with unseen/hidden damage that the body shop reports.

I agree 100% with talking to your adjuster. They are your company's representative. A good adjuster will address your concerns.

Policies are very black and white. They outline exactly what is covered. The insured's understanding of that policy, be it the way it was explained by the selling agent (trying to get you to buy) or by the fault of them for not fully reading their own contract.