On Saturday, 07/15/06 at 0930 hours I side-swiped a guardrail on Highway 89-A just north of mile post 334. I was able to pull the fender out of the tire and drive the vehicle. The tire still rubs on right turns but I was able to drive to CVT Auto Care inc. Their address is 734 N. Hwy 89, Chino Valley, Az 86323. Phone number of 928-555-4159 and a fax number of 928-555-7776.
I contacted the Highway Patrol and reported my accident to Officer Polanchek reference report number 2006-XXXXXX.
I tried calling my local insurance agent but they were either on another line or out of the office. Next I called Farmers toll free number of 1-800-435-7764. I was told that if the estimate was under $2,000.00 they would simply mail me a check. If it was over that amount then I would need an adjuster to look at the car.
A search was done and there wasn't any adjusters in a 60 mile range of my zip code. I told her I'd have to see what the estimate would be. I received a claim number XXX-XXX-XXXX.
Sunday 07/16/06, I called Farmers toll free number and informed them that the parts would be close to the $2,000.00 mark. I was then told that I would have to see an adjuster because the estimate was over $1,000.00 minus my deductible. I informed her that I needed to get this taken car of as soon as possible. I let her know that Mazda is scheduled to do a professional photo shoot of my car on August 12, 2006 in Avondale, AZ.
Now I'm getting conflicting policy in a 24 hour period. She said the closest adjuster was in Flagstaff, Az over 90 miles away. She said she would send my claim to them. I was told they would call me back by the end of the next day.
Monday 07/17/06 I received no calls from Farmers.
Tuesday 07/18/06 I called the toll free number and was told that I needed to speak with Eliana M at extension XXXXX. I called her and was forwarded to voice mail. I left a voice mail message to Eliana explaining my predicament and my rushed time schedule.
Wednesday, 07/19/06 I had missed a call at 1315 from the Flagstaff claims office. I was at work that day from 1300 hours to 0100 hours MST. A call back number was left on my voice mail.
Thursday, 07/20/06 at 1100 hours I called the Flagstaff claim office. I talked with Debby T. I explained to her my predicament and my rushed time schedule. She informed me that her adjusters were either on vacation or out on medical leave. She told me that CVT Auto Care had faxed her the estimate. Because all the adjusters weren't available she asked me if I could email her some pictures of the vehicle, before and after the accident.
I emailed her 22 pictures from my dial up connection each one was about 90KB in size. After I got them all sent out I called her and asked if she had received them. She said that she had received my emails but was having computer issues and wasn't able to view them.
I told her I would upload them to the internet and host them there and send her the links. I then went to a nation wide Mazda forum that I am a member of and uploaded 22 pictures on my dial up connection. I opened up each uploaded picture and copied the address and linked it into another email to her.
Here is a copy of that email with the links to the pictures.
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----- Original Message -----
From: rednecks_r_us
To: debra.t
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 12:49 PM
Subject: Fw: links to pictures
In case you are still having problems here are some pictures hosted on line.
This should work for ya.
My display sheet and flyer for car shows.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83834
overview of the car at the scene
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84754
Side view of damage
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84755
Shattered fog light. (
www.rockblocker.com ) Rockblocker protection prevented the glass from shattering all over the road.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84756
View of the broken headlight with rockblocker protection
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84757
Looking down at the damage
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84758
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84759
The bent inner fender pushed into the cold air intake
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84760
A few views of the headlight pushed in
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84761
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84762
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84763
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84764
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=84765
Some before pictures:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83776
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83434
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83435
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83437
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83448
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=81942
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=79094
2 car show pictures: (Sorry guys I'm not sending the ones with all the models. You'll have to email me for those, LOL.)
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=83484
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=79342
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Debby told me she would have the manager review the pictures and the estimate and let me know the results.
She asked me to call back after 1200 on Friday.
Friday, 07/21/06 I called back at 1300. I spoke with Debby. She informed me that she had compiled all the files but the adjuster was out inspecting another claim. She told me that my claim had been assigned to Kevin B at 928-555-1080.
I was told that he would review the claim and get back with me on Monday 07/24/06. I reminded her that I had a photo shoot scheduled with Mazda on August 12th and that I really needed to get started putting my car back together last Monday not next Monday. She apologized for the delay and the call was ended.
I made the claim on 07/15/06 and is isn't even going to be looked at until 07/24/06. I had been patient and understanding all this time but nine days will have gone by before work could even begin to start on my car.
I called my local agent, Anthony K at 928-555-4640. I explained my predicament to him. He said he would call me back. With in a short time he called me back and informed me that my claim had been put as first priority when the adjuster get back into the office. He said I should expect to hear back from Flagstaff no earlier than late Friday afternoon or by mid day on Monday.
Friday, 07/21/06 I receive a call from Adjuster Kevin B in Flagstaff. He informed me that my claim has been forwarded to Chino Valley Adjuster Brian ?? at 928-555-3406. He noted the date and time of his electronic filing and that Brian ?? should call me some time on Monday.
So that means its two more business days that my car has to wait before work can be started.
All this time I have a local adjuster right here in my tri-city area. I have been transferred from Kansas to Oklahoma to Flagstaff, Az then back to the very city where I made the claim from and it takes nine days to do it.
Sunday, 07/23/06 I receive an email from
claimsdocuments@farmersinsurance.com informing me that my vehicle has been assigned to : FLAGSTAFF at phone number 928-555-9100. My claims representative will be : BRIAN B at phone number 928-555-3406.
Monday, 07/24/06 I receive a call back from Brian B. He told me that my claim has been approved but they (Farmers) knocked $1,000.00 off of the estimate and refuse to pay for factory parts. They are telling me I have to use recycled parts from their supplier in Phoenix (over 90 miles away) and I'm responsible to pay for shipping. They will only pay $45 per hour for labor and the shop charges $65 and I'm responsible for the difference on top of my $500 deductible. I am told that because Farmers Insurance has never done business with CVT Auto Care that CVT will have to fill out a form and send it back to Farmers.
Tuesday, 07/25/06 CVT auto care filled out the W-9 form and faxed it to Farmers.
Wednesday = no word
Thursday = no word
Friday = no word
Monday 07/31/06 I call CVT and ask if they sent in the form. The manager said he faxed it last Tuesday. I called the Flagstaff office and inquire. I am told by Debby T that their computers down and I should call Brian B.
I call Brian B and he said that he hasn't seen it (the check). Try back later. I called CVT and they said they would fax the W-9 form again.
Tuesday = No word from Farmers
Wednesday, 08/02/06 I called Brian B and left a voice mail inquiring on the status of my claim. He called me back with in an hour and told me that the check has been written and that it should be here by late this week or early next week.
So now I have to notify Mazda that they need to cancel my photo shoot scheduled for August 12th and they will find another Mazda show car to photograph that day. The Photography company is already hired for the day.
Day of accident & claim, 07/15/06. As of 08/03/06 still have not received financial assistance to repair the vehicle back to pre accident condition. It will never be back to pre accident condition using the Farmers Insurance recommended aftermarket parts instead of Mazda factory parts.
Thank you Farmers Insurance Co. I appreciate your speedy service.
William C. Russell
2003 Mazda Protege5
