by InsTeacher » Thu Dec 11, 2008 06:13 am
Well, fellow posters, I have personally been wounded by a rock the size of a small planet. :shock: It targeted me with a missile lock (I could hear the missile tone) and zeroed in on it's intended detonation point. It exploded: passenger side, on the roof, 2" above the window line, and created a series of craters that rival in size the Grand Canyon. :!: :!:
It was in slow motion. Has this ever happened to you? When bad things happen, or can potentially happen, time slows down. Some people claim that their life flashes before their eyes. With me- time slows down. I learned this a number of years ago when I fell off my roof. That was fun. :( :shock:
So, I go get estimates, and I know that it's gonna cost a fortune. I take it to a buddy of mine's shop to see what he's got to say. He looks at it and says "oooooooh, that's ugly." He runs his fingers over the wound and says "I think that might have an impact effect on the windshield, too. It looks like it hit hard."
Yup. At about 60 miles an hour plus the backwards speed of the Titan missle that nailed me. I figger about 100 mph or so, give or take.
"So how much? I have an idea and I want to see how close I am" I babble. Let's see how much I don't know about this stuff that Lori and all you guys know about. So, we go into his office and he gets on his estimator, and I write down the amount. His software spits out $600 plus another $500 if the windshield is toast. Not as bad as I thought. :)
I go visit another friend, and his handy-dandy software spits out an estimate about $30 cheaper. So, I call my carrier. I haven't had a claim in more than 18 years of any kind, and am clean as a whistle with my MVR.
So, let's see how this goes. :?:
Earllier I had sent a pm here in the form to Lori, and we agree that it's a comp claim (other than collision) and my agent agrees, and my agent says she'll have the claims folks call me asap. I'm not too worried about it and figure I'll hear within a couple of days. What do you know...I get a phone call the next morning before 10 am, and the first question they asked me was if anyone was hurt in any way. Phrased it just like that. Told her that I speak "the language" and she had heard of my company as well. That kinda helped. No matter, she had it coded as a comp loss (YAY on the cheapo deductible :D ) and there will be absolutely no effect on my rates or tier. :D
The entire process was completed in less than a half hour with zero issues. The adjuster was professional, knowledgeable and (what I consider important) really nice. It's a simple as taking it to the shop, giving them the claim number and rock and roll. Rental car was simple, they've already arranged for the rental car company to drop off the car at the body shop the morning I drop off my car to get fixed. Just to make sure, I called the rental car company, and they already had it in their computer. I asked them what kind of car they were getting me, and they asked me if a Chrysler 300 would be "ok." Yeah...that'll do. Nicely.
If you're curious about the carrier, and frankly, I think it was more on the part of the agent, lemme know!
InsTeacher 8)
It was in slow motion. Has this ever happened to you? When bad things happen, or can potentially happen, time slows down. Some people claim that their life flashes before their eyes. With me- time slows down. I learned this a number of years ago when I fell off my roof. That was fun. :( :shock:
So, I go get estimates, and I know that it's gonna cost a fortune. I take it to a buddy of mine's shop to see what he's got to say. He looks at it and says "oooooooh, that's ugly." He runs his fingers over the wound and says "I think that might have an impact effect on the windshield, too. It looks like it hit hard."
Yup. At about 60 miles an hour plus the backwards speed of the Titan missle that nailed me. I figger about 100 mph or so, give or take.
"So how much? I have an idea and I want to see how close I am" I babble. Let's see how much I don't know about this stuff that Lori and all you guys know about. So, we go into his office and he gets on his estimator, and I write down the amount. His software spits out $600 plus another $500 if the windshield is toast. Not as bad as I thought. :)
I go visit another friend, and his handy-dandy software spits out an estimate about $30 cheaper. So, I call my carrier. I haven't had a claim in more than 18 years of any kind, and am clean as a whistle with my MVR.
So, let's see how this goes. :?:
Earllier I had sent a pm here in the form to Lori, and we agree that it's a comp claim (other than collision) and my agent agrees, and my agent says she'll have the claims folks call me asap. I'm not too worried about it and figure I'll hear within a couple of days. What do you know...I get a phone call the next morning before 10 am, and the first question they asked me was if anyone was hurt in any way. Phrased it just like that. Told her that I speak "the language" and she had heard of my company as well. That kinda helped. No matter, she had it coded as a comp loss (YAY on the cheapo deductible :D ) and there will be absolutely no effect on my rates or tier. :D
The entire process was completed in less than a half hour with zero issues. The adjuster was professional, knowledgeable and (what I consider important) really nice. It's a simple as taking it to the shop, giving them the claim number and rock and roll. Rental car was simple, they've already arranged for the rental car company to drop off the car at the body shop the morning I drop off my car to get fixed. Just to make sure, I called the rental car company, and they already had it in their computer. I asked them what kind of car they were getting me, and they asked me if a Chrysler 300 would be "ok." Yeah...that'll do. Nicely.
If you're curious about the carrier, and frankly, I think it was more on the part of the agent, lemme know!
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 06:19 am Post Subject:
They are going to give you a rental for a windshield claim? I can't say that I've ever heard of that before. It takes about an hour to replace a windshield. If the person can't wait in the glass shop, the shop usually takes a truck out to the person's location. Getting a rental just for a day I'd think would be more pain then it was worth.
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:41 am Post Subject:
So, I call my carrier. I haven't had a claim in more than 18 years of any kind, and am clean as a whistle with my MVR.
So, let's see how this goes.
That's an excellent record, Teacher. IMO one either needs to drive at the dead of the night or has to keep the car well locked-up in the garage to have a clean record for eighteen years :wink:
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 05:23 pm Post Subject:
They are going to give you a rental for a windshield claim?
No, the window wasn't actually hit. The missile hit the roof of the car, and there's a possibility that due to the impact and where the rock hit that it may have gotten the windshield as well under the weather-stripping where the window meets the front roof line. They'll only know once they do the tear-down. So, this isn't a glass claim. The glass claim may come into play, but only after they start the repairs.
They anticipate 2-3 days in the shop, and I get my freakin' rental car. If it were a glass claim only, there obviously wouldn't be a rental car involved.
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 06:31 pm Post Subject:
Thanks for pointing that put for me. I went back and re-read your initial post and see that this was clear. I just missed it (I was probably up way too late... again).
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:27 am Post Subject:
If you're curious about the carrier, and frankly, I think it was more on the part of the agent, lemme know
I doubt it teach...claims and sales are different (i know you know)...however customer service and retention are giant buzz words now in claims too especially with the economy suckin' so bad...i'm sure you know the figures but keeping clients is way better than getting...(money wise)....The reason there is a difference in the estimates is they are repairing your roof, not replacing it (that's a good thing) so since it's repair it's a judgement time, so one guy said a half hour less than the other guy or other guy forgot to add an R&I item or a windshield/glass sealant kit, that he will catch if he gets the job....I wanna' know who is your carrier?
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 05:12 pm Post Subject:
The carrier is State Farm Mutual. Great experience thus far, not one stinkin' problem.
When I was referring to the agent, I was referring to the fact that the agency was the one who got the ball rolling with claims, and they followed up to make sure that (1) I was being taken care of, and (2) that what I was told was actually true.
That's customer service. BTW- Lori, as usual, you're right on the diff. in estimates. 1/2 hour of shop labor time! Doesn't it get old being right all of the time? :wink:
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 05:49 pm Post Subject:
That's customer service. BTW- Lori, as usual, you're right on the diff. in estimates. 1/2 hour of shop labor time!
Someone has big hands! :)Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:56 pm Post Subject:
Doesn't it get old being right all of the time?
well that makes once today! :lol: You my dear friend are the one that's always hittin' the nail squarely on the head...Add your comment