'Esurance' Claim Handling Methods

[Superman]

The company I will be working (or fighting) with is "Esurance." As some of you know, my 911 is likely totaled. I was just wondering if anyone has had experience dealing with the claims folks at Esurance. What is their approach? I'd like to think they pay generous claims quickly, giving the claimants the benefit of the doubt on everything. Their local adjuster person will look at this car on Monday afternoon. The engine case is broken and the frame of the car is bent.

[Rikao4]

oh my..responding to Supe..
is that the Internet ins. Co...
if so..put on your suit...cause they bring Kriptonite..
friend had his car stolen..found burnt...he had a HELL of time..this will be fun to witness from afar
good luck !
Rika

[KevinP73]

+1
I just handled an e-surance claim for a customer. The damage appraiser was a complete F*CKIN MORON. The labor rates are nearly criminal. To say the least I'll NEVER deal with them again.

[dtw]

Soup, VERY sorry to hear the damage to the car was that extensive. I had certainly hoped the drivetrain was salvageable. How is the case damaged? Something fixable if you buy back the salvage?

Good luck with the adjuster and claims process.

[Superman]

The fan was pushed back and broken, but not before the metal strap pulled the boss off the engine case. In other words, the part of the engine case that is broken is the part the metal strap grabs. I think this means it needs to be welded back on. An insurance company is going to notice this is a broken Porsche engine. The frame of the car is bent. The rear window no longer fits the frame. The seat I was sitting in is not square now. Porsche seat sliders 'latch' on one side but not the other. The collision twisted the seat. The engine was pushed downward. Second, fourth and reverse are not available. The engine runs, and first gear works. I will be looking into whether this car can live again. But in the meantime, I think Esurance will total the vehicle. And I will argue with them about valuation. Those discussions will likely be either successful or brief. My attorney says he will handle it if necessary. I will have a very sore neck. I'm not going to play nerf ball with these guys. If they wanna do a cage fight, fine.

[CurtEgerer]

..... but they have very cheap rates!

And FWIW you might not want to post your strategy (i.e. suddenly sore neck) here on the public soap box. I'm a provider to the insurance industry .... we/they use the internet extensively in investigations these days. We/they're not dummies.

Example: Hmmm, an old Porsche 911? Let's spend 30 minutes and do a quick internet search and see if anything pops up ..... done all the time. In fact, they may just point blank ask you if you get on Porsche forums and what your username is. They have that right in settling your claim.

I even got a call from Canadian Customs one time. I sold a car to a Canadian and he was being held at the border with it. They were on the internet searching every BMW Forum in the world for posts from me or him regarding the sale!

[Hetmann]

I'm betting they will immediately want to total it for some lowball figure. Better come armed with some kind of reasonable valuation material.

[Icemaster]

Holy shyte Supe, I'm so sorry you got torqued up like that. You ok?

[Superman]

They can search the Internet all they like. It's a pretty simple dispute, once they've reached the conclusion the car is totaled. The value of the car. I've got receipts, and Porsche selling prices are a matter of record. My strategy is simple, in case they are reading this. Valuation discussions with me directly will be brief if their figures are insulting. In that case, I will rent a car that is equivalent to the ruined one and retain an attorney. This could be very simple and inexpensive.......or not. So far, I have seen no danger signals. At the first sight, we play hardball until settlement.

[Superman]

And BTW, my sore neck is on the police report and I have seen a doctor. And.....there are laws in Washington State around insurance claims. I know where to reach the Insurance Commissioner. As I say, I just want what is fair. And I think that will happen. It's just a matter of how much Esurance wants it to cost them.

[scottmandue]

That cartoon chick they have in their commercials is hot!


Just sayin'

Hope you are back in a 911 soon Sup.

[MRM]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

..... but they have very cheap rates!

And FWIW you might not want to post your strategy (i.e. suddenly sore neck) here on the public soap box. I'm a provider to the insurance industry .... we/they use the internet extensively in investigations these days. We/they're not dummies.

Curt, are you an independent SIU adjuster? I'm a former Regional SIU Counsel for a company you would know.

I once busted a Corvette guy who wrecked his car on the track, in part by finding his on-line forum. I even found his threads complaining about me.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Esurance is one of those companies you sign up with just to get the piece of paper saying you have the minimum coverage required by law in order to keep the DMV a-holes appeased so you can renew your registration. I wouldn't count on them to actually pay out in a claim without big fights - the "game" with those guys seems to be that you're buying the piece of paper, not actual coverage.

[CurtEgerer]

Super - I really hope it goes smooth. And maybe it will. But keep your expectations in line with reality ....

>>>>I know where to reach the Insurance Commissioner. As I say, I just want what is fair. <<<<

I hear this on pretty much EVERY SINGLE claim we investigate .... 75% of which are fraudulent. Not saying yours is by any means, but the insurance commissioner won't be springing into action as soon as you call. They have 100's of 'complaints' to deal with every day ... you're just a number to them. Same with the insurance company: they all deal with Ins Comm complaints frequently. No big deal for them. Just more paperwork to fill out.

Oh, and no insurance company will pay you "what's fair". They will pay what your policy requires them to pay. Big difference.

[legion]

I realize they are not your insurer Supe, so you didn't have a choice in the manner. But with the "discount" insurers, you get what you pay for (or in this case, what the guy who hit you paid for). They will probably jerk you around. Did you have Comp on the 911? If so, a good strategy would be to file a claim with your insurer and let them fight the battle for you.

[CurtEgerer]

>>>>are you an independent SIU adjuster?<<<<

No, I'm an engineer who works with SIU adjusters. I'll bet we could share a few good stories ....

[dtw]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

the "game" with those guys seems to be that you're buying the piece of paper, not actual coverage.

Hmm, sounds intriguing. Seems like you definitely know what you're talking about. Tell me more.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

All I'm saying is one has to wonder. . .

Let me put it this way. There are basically two schools of thought when it comes to insurance. One is, "this is B.S. that I'm required to carry - it sucks, so I'll take the cheapest crap there is just because the DMV makes me carry it". That's the target audience of "discount" insurers like Esurance.

The second is, "I'm actually concerned about losing the value I have in this car and in potential legal liability if I damage someone's property or hurt someone, therefore I better carry some good coverage". This is the appeal of larger more established places like the Allstates, State Farms and so forth of the world.

All I'm saying is there's a reason a "cheap" company is "cheap". They have a product and a target market, and I'd expect them to behave according to that model. In other words, my $500 a year policy is the kind of thing I buy just to say I have it and to keep myself out of trouble with the law, but I wouldn't expect many people with tens of thousands of dollars in the bank, houses, boats and lots of expensive assets to be "protecting" themselves with those types of insurance policies.

The "cheap" companies have to be offsetting their lower costs somehow. Part of it is probably greater risk, part of it is probably in denying claims and keeping as tight of a clamp on payouts as they possibly can.

Personally I think they're all scum, but there are varying degrees of scum.