Insurance Adjuster, What to Expect? AKA Don't Total SWMBO's Baby!!!

Ya I concure I would ant to se in the trunk but I think that thing got tweeked in the back end worse than you may think. Looking at it and where the impact is I think the rear quarter actually got sucked in towards the trunk and that caused the damage at the bace of the window. I don't think they are going to have to pull it back but really they are going to have to pull the whole rear quarter away from the trunk. I am thinking that it will require the removal of the entire quarter and the rear glass to do it rite. Then they will piece back together what ever is needed in the back and hopefully the floor of the trunk will come strait when the pull it. I would want them to check / measure the pickup points of the rear suspension and make sure that they are square. Not that I think they have been bent but it would suck to get the car back and be burning up tires every 10K miles.

AND GET YOUR YOU KNOW WHAT TO A DOCTOR DAM IT!!!!!!

This afternoon I called the other driver's employer's insurance that I was given last night. I was curious if a claim had been filed by his employer this morning like I was told it would be. Wanna guess?

NOPE

I was a tad annoyed, but I started a claim myself, another 45 min of my life I'll never get back. I was promised by new insurance co. that I'd hear from someone before end of business tomorrow.

I want this over!

I don't think I'll drive the Jetta tomorrow though, we're supposed to get "Icemageddon '13" tomorrow, rain all day becoming freezing rain/winter mix tomorrow afternoon. The trunk on the Jetta ain't water tight anymore.

SWMBO is leaving KC tonight to try and beat the storm home. Pray for her safe travel, but pray more that she doesn't have an emotional brake down when she finally sees Tdi.

• Lee

I took a crap ton more pictures last night, with a real camera too, pulled the carpet out of the trunk and took a bunch of inside pictures. Looking at them though, unless you know what a MKV Jetta's wheel well/trunk is supposed to look like I don't know what you could glean from them. I looked all over for visible signs of stretch/shrink/warp but couldn't see anything blatant. Short of being put on one of those frame machines with some measurements and points of reference I don't think anyone could tell something is outta whack just by looking from inside the trunk.

If someone really wants to see them though I can host them somewhere.

Sure would be nice if GRM would allow us to upload pictures here wouldn't it?

• Lee

Finally heard from other dudes insurance!

We've got options. They emailed me a list of their in-network collision centers.

I can take the car and get an estimate at one of their recommended shops.

I can have an adjuster come look at the car.

I can take the car to a shop of my choosing for an estimate.

After getting an estimate where I like, of course I can have repairs done where I like too. I can have the collision shop handle everything and the insurance pay them directly or I can have the insurance cut me a check directly, and head to Vegas.

I don't know that either option for the estimate would be better than the other. I'd think there might be slightly less of a chance of them totaling the car if they send an adjuster than me taking it to a shop.

I'm nervous about finding a collision center, but if I use one of their in-network shops the repairs are "guaranteed", and in the claim agent's words they can "make sure the shop is satisfying me."

I like the idea if the insurance will actually pay a shop that doesn't cut corners, uses OEM parts, and actually knows how to mask a car and blend paint. I'm very much afraid that I am expecting too much.

Right now I'm leaning toward them sending out an adjuster, and taking it to one of their recommended shops.

Is that the right thing to do?

• Lee

bigdaddylee82 wrote: Is that the right thing to do?

Estimates are free, I would get 3 or 4. Get a mix between ones in their network and recommended and/or specialist shops that aren't.

do # 4

Datsun1500 wrote: Don't forget about diminished value. Your car is worth less than a never wrecked car, through no fault of your own

Fight them. Its worth it. I'm ALMOST finished with mine on my 2012 TDI Jetta. Definitely worth doing,

Datsun1500 wrote: Don't forget about diminished value. Your car is worth less than a never wrecked car, through no fault of your own

THANK YOU!!!!

This had not even crossed my mind yet. Looks like I need to get the damage estimate(s) before I can calculate the diminished value. http://www.collisionconsulting.com/17c.html

• Lee

crankwalk wrote:

Datsun1500 wrote: Don't forget about diminished value. Your car is worth less than a never wrecked car, through no fault of your own

Fight them. Its worth it. I'm ALMOST finished with mine on my 2012 TDI Jetta. Definitely worth doing,

So far I have a much more pleasant experience with the Zurich folks than the little bit I spoke with State Farm. That may very well change once we start talking dollars.

• Lee

The ice and AR's general lack of infrastructure to deal with icy roads threw a monkey wrench in our ability to get an adjuster out and/or get any estimates in a timely manor. I took today off to finally get some estimates.

I went to 3 different shops today, 2 of which are on the insurance company's "list." The experience wasn't as bad as I expected, everyone I talked to believed the damage was less than the 70% of total cost that would typically total a vehicle. Estimates range between $4,022 to $6,262 and all shops believed that the kink/ripple we've all been concerned about could be straitened, though some were more confident than others.

In order of estimate.

Shop #1
Estimate: $4,020.20
Pros: On insurance's list, recommendations from 2 different acquaintances, updates repairs with photos on their website, estimated a 7 day turn-around.
Cons: Would not promise to use OEM parts, was the least confident that the panel could be straitened, but that's what they'd try first, this probably shouldn't have anything to do with the actual repairs but the consultant that did the estimate had a horrible hand shake. Consultant was female, but that's no excuse for not knowing how to shake a hand, loose, limp, tip of fingers, is not a hand shake. Maybe I'm crazy?

Shop #2
Estimate: $5,811.51
Pros: On insurance's list, recommendation from 1 acquaintance, guaranteed repairs for life, would work the estimate to make sure OEM parts were used, confident vehicle could be straitened, no panel repair needed, claimed to have "the best painter in the county," had a busy shop, and some show quality classic cars being worked on, '79 Trans Am was sweet, a bunch of bikes too. When I explained how particular/anal/demanding of a customer I would be, I was told something along the lines of, "Good, I wouldn't expect anything else, you will appreciate how good we are."
Cons: Estimated the repair being a 2 week job, no updates other than phone calls, probably the least thorough when looking the car over.

Shop #3
Estimate: $6,261.66
Pros: Most thorough inspection, looked in the truck, crawled under the car on the icy parking lot, busy shop, pictures of show trucks on office wall, guy appreciate the fawseomeness of the TDI, spotted damage that I, nor either of the other shops had seen/pointed out. Would go out of his way to use OEM parts, believed that the vehicle could be straitened, took time to explain the process better than others.
Cons: Not on insurance's list, have 1 month back log before they could get to my car, I know nothing about them other than meeting with them today.

All of the shops had worked with Zurich before, none of them had anything really nice to say about them.

Shop #2 & #3 were concerned about the exhaust, #3 more so, but they were more familiar with the TDI, and suggested having a dealer check it out. Since the wreck, I've noticed the radio vibrates/rattles in the dash. Shop #2 gave me the impression that they'd fix the radio, Shop #3 suggested going to the dealer on that too.

Right now I'm leaning toward Shop #2, SWMBO & I need to talk it over, and I need to get back in touch with the insurance.

• Lee

shop 2 is probably counting on supplements to make it cover the oem parts. they are also the one i would most likely use only because #3 has a too long wait time.

Do you have collision coverage on the car? If you do, and if you're unhappy with the idea of dealing directly with Zurich, you can have the car repaired under your own collision policy and let your insurance company talk to Zurich. You'll have to pay your deductible until they collect from the other guys, but it might be worth it.

In reply to codrus:

Yes, that's plan B, or C, or D, I forget which one we're own now. We'll sick our insurance on them if we have to. So far Zurich has been as pleasant enough to deal with, granted we haven't specifically talked $$$ yet.

When I speak with them tomorrow, I'll bring up the mechanical inspection @ VW dealer, and diminished value. Though I believe I'll need the final repair cost to figure DV, not just the initial estimate, so I may wait on that.

• Lee

Lee, Honestly...and take it from someone who does thousands of these per year...don't overextend yourself. Pick a shop. Whichever one you personally feel is the right one to fix your car. Use them. Arrange the repair date with the shop, drop it off there, get a rental and let the insurance company and the shop do their thing. The shop will work with the insurance company on the appraisal. It's the shops responsibility to point out any hidden damage to the insurance company, and they'll do that. Don't know insurance is going to pay for an inspection at the VW dealer. The shop you chose should be able to address any issues the car has. If they can't, they'll sublet to the dealer and that will then become part of the appraisal. Don't worry about what a shop says about Zurich. You'll be hard pressed to find a shop that spews roses and flowers about any insurance company unless it's a big money maker for them.

As for diminished value, I have my personal opinion on that, so I'll leave commentary aside. If you chose to pursue it, you'll have to wait until repairs are 100% complete and you have your car back.

It's great that you're being involved in the process and proactive, you should be. But don't overcomplicate it. You'll create extra work for yourself, the shop, the insurance company, and it won't provide any added benefit.

I would choose shop #3. There's probably a reason they have more work load than they can turn in a week or two.

I would go with #3 from your description. #2 sounds like a sales pitch or sales hype. Once they get you in the door and on the hook things could change.

Also #3 having that much backlog and them being up front about it.

From your description, shop #3 would most likely give me the warm fuzzy feeling I'd be looking for.

I may not have portrayed #2 in text as well as I could have. We talked "shop," I was a service advisor for a few years, I'm no stranger to the "sales pitch." He's either really good, or was shooting me straight, not as boastful as it reads in the post above, he's proud of his shop, workers, and welcomes having a client demanding enough to appreciate what they do.

It's a toss up between #2 & #3, since I posted that yesterday, I've had a few more friends/acquaintances come out of the wood work vouching for #2 as well.

We talked last night, and SWMBO & I have culled #1, we'll still probably go with #2.

• Lee

In reply to Klayfish:

I made my concerns known to the insurance co. & yesterday to the repair shop. They'll make sure the car get's inspected, as a supplement (I think that's what they called it). So I won't have to deal with it directly.

Thanks for the sage wisdom Klayfish, if you find yourself in central AR beer's on me.

• Lee

Booked appointment with shop #2 first thing Monday. Enterprise is getting us a "mid level" what the heck ever that means.

This part was too good not to share. I got a card in the mail from Shop #1, we had already ruled them out, but they didn't know that. The card was basically, "thanks for coming to get your estimate, let me know if we can help," and another one of the consultant's business cards. They mailed the card to the right address, but completely got my name wrong. They didn't just misspell my last name, but turned it into an entirely different last name, that just happens to start with the same letter.

I took it as an omen that we picked the right shop, I hope that holds true.

• Lee

Dropped the car at body shop #2 this morning. They claimed 2 week turn around on their original estimate, but with the Holidays it may be more.

I requested that the car be taken to VW and the exhaust be thoroughly inspected, since that's the side the impact was on. Also the radio rattles a little in the dash, so I also requested that VW look at it. The insurance co. said they'd oblige on both. We shall see.

We were put in a '13 2.5 SE Jetta rental. I've not quite put 50 miles on it yet, but so far I'm not a fan. I miss the TDI instant torque. That 2.5l is wheezy, have to rev it to go anywhere. I commented to SWMBO as we were car-pooling this morning that driving the 2.5 SE felt a lot like driving my old N/A '95 Volvo 850. I looked up the specs, and power wise they're almost identical, Volvo was a 2.4l I5 that makes 168 Hp, the VW is 2.5l I5 that makes 170 Hp. What I can't figure out is, with the amount of technological development that's happened in the last 18 years, why that VW I5 can only best the Volvo's by 5 mpg (avg)?

Pray for a speedy turn around, I want our TDI back!

• Lee

Still hating the 2.5 SE, if a car is going to have leather/leatherette it should have seat warmers too. Cold rear, and 27 Mpg make us miss our TDI even more.

Body shop has done pretty good at keeping us updated. They tried pulling one over on us, I say that maybe not, I tend to expect the worst out of everyone. Two years in customer service/sales and I became pretty jaded.

They had dealt 100% with me, I gave them SWMBO's number just in case they couldn't get in touch with me. We had discussed the car going to the dealer for some specific issues mentioned earlier, they knew, the insurance company knew, there was no gray area. Anyway they called SWMBO instead of me, to let her know that they had looked at the issues that it was supposed to go to the dealer for, and decided everything was okay, instead of actually taking it to the dealer. It only took a phone call, and SWMBO handled their hesitation/objection with, "well Lee is pretty adamant, you want to talk to him?" They then agreed, again, to take it to VW.

Our "finish/pick-up" date has been pushed back twice now, understandable with the holidays, and it was just an estimate to begin with.

They claim that they are pleased with the results, were able to straighten everything without removing the quarter panel. There was some welding/structural repair in the rear bumper support area. New bumper cover, tail light assemblies, deck lid, hinges, and some other misc. bits. The structural stuff is almost done, then it's paint time.

The car has an appointment at VW on Tue. the 7th, so I'm guessing it'll be finished with paint before it goes there.

Enterprise is getting pretty annoying with phone calls wanting to know when they can have their car back. I told dude yesterday the most recent estimate, but that's now changed, if they call again, I'll tell them, "you'll get it back when you get it back. quit calling." Body shop said that Enterprise was short on cars and desperate, so I guess that's why they're calling.

That's what I know so far. Hopefully next update, we'll have our car back.

• Lee

Enterprise should be calling the shop, not you. They are idiots. I'm glad I no longer have to deal with them at my new job.

Next time enterprise calls, tell them you'll contact them when you're done......and if they call again, that you'll park it in a nearby body of water.

Next time enterprise calls, tell them you'll contact them when you're done......and if they call again, that you'll park it in a nearby body of water.