[V8] Tis the season-Goodbye to my V8

[Ed Kellock]

When I rolled my 91 200q Avant, USAA first lowballed me then flatly
refused any of the tactics mentioned below (and often in other cases).

I explained of the rarity of the vehicle.  I explained that the market
for this particular vehicle is actually a nation one because they are
so few in numbers.  I then submitted 11 verifiable evidences of actual
sales to support the value of the car.  They dismissed them without
consideration.  I went the route of telling them to find me an
equivalent car.  They were completely intractable in that area,
wouldn't even discuss it with me.  They finally told me to go to hell
and that the only other recourse was to hire my own private appraiser
and he would then work with their guy.

My "appraiser" presented to their guy the very same 11 evidences of
value and he didn't have a fricken clue and rolled over and they
finally paid me.  Took 3 months though.  Then they stiffed me on the
storage of the wreck.  I got that phone call in the midst of packing
to move after being layed off.  Cost me the storage and one telephone.
 There is one agent at USAA who now knows exactly what I think of her
though (4 letter word, starts with a C) as if that's worth anything.

USAA then non-renewed me and banned me for 3 years.  Then, when they
would talk to me, they would not cover my older vehicles for
comprehensive.  S'ok though... I now give my money to an insurance
company that gladly accepts it every month.

Ed

On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 13:46:40 EST, DieMarthaDie at aol.com
<DieMarthaDie at aol.com> wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 1/4/2005 1:25:20 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> bhitzler at kpbsd.k12.ak.us writes:
> 
> The  adjusters will always give a first time offer that's laughable at
> best,  it's their job. Just keep wangling with them. If you still can't
> come to a  suitable settlement let them find you another V8 in similar
> condition.  Either way it's a frustrating experience. Just remember it's
> the adjusters  job to leave you with as little as possible. That's their
> job description.  Good Luck, Bill
> 
> 
> when my '84 5000s was hit (in '96), the adjuster offered me $1200 saying he
> could find them all over for $1000.  then I asked him to find me THE SAME  car
> before making his next offer.  it looked near perfect in/out, had 103k  on
> the odo (yeah, so it was broken... i didn't mention that) and had every  option
> (yeah so some of them didn't work...).  I also showed him receipts  for work
> done recently.  He came back three days later with a new offer of  $3500.
> 
> Which I took :)  I paid $1250 for it a year earlier... so that money  went
> into an '83 CGT :)  whos sale helped finance the 90 V8... oh it's an  ugly
> place, that addicts head...
> 
> of course it helps when the incident is CLEARLY the other persons fault and
> you take it to an Audi dealer's body shop for a complete VIN report and repair
> estimate before the adjuster ever shows up.  just make sure you hold  out
> for a replacement in the same (provable)condition, especially if you had  Tbelt
> done, etc... based on mileage.
> 
> good luck!
> stand firm and occasionally mention your sore back ;)
> 
> John