I felt like a crook!!!!

cab83_750 · 09-24-2001, 09:04 AM

So after 2 weeks of waiting, my appt came today. I was so excited and I made every effort last night to make a list of what is wrong.

The first item was:

"After the accident, the steering wheel shakes from cold start. Ultimately, the steering wheel now makes a sound of rubbing rusted metal. The car just had turbo tie rod, wheel balancing, corner balancing and alignment recently."

I also attached copies of my invoices to prove the recent $1K+ work.

So, the estimator said: "I do not know how this is related to getting hit from the rear."

This man was the one who confirm a frame damage.

So he said "I know where this is leading to. I have enough problems here and I do not want the car." He handed me the key and started to walk away.

I mean, I felt as if he thought I was trying to rip-off the insurance company by having them fix something preexisting.

I swear it was not there before (I'm even willing to take a lie detector test to prove this). This man made me feel like a crook. After an hour, I thought he could have said "Well, the insurance may claim this to be preexisting and ....."

Or he could have said, "This is coincidental that the bushing went out right after the accident...."

Instead, just the way he vocalized what he said, man do I feel like crook!!!

Sorry for venting out my frustration.

Jdub · 09-24-2001, 09:13 AM

He sees no profit in fixing your car and sees that it could be a "bottomless" endeavor. In other words, you came in with documentation saying that all this great work is now damaged and he thinks 1) you are looking for a Totaled solution 2) this is just the beginning of alot of add-on work that you have up your sleeve.

Of course you are not a crook, but you could itemize what is wrong as you have and make sure it is tended to. The repairer doesn't want to deal with this, you must find someone who is or argue that your car needs to be Totaled so you can shop for a replacement.

John

dtw · 09-24-2001, 09:28 AM

Gosh Cab that is awful! Am I understanding right, this is the body shop guy that said this to you? You were trying to drop it off with a conscientious list of what you've noticed is wrong since the accident, right? Has the insurance company approved an estimate yet?

By the way, you're not still driving the car around are you??

Well good luck finding another shop that is able to discern that you are not a crook, you are just demanding.

Please keep us posted.

-d

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Dave
'72 911T to '73 RSR Replica Project

cab83_750 · 09-24-2001, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtw:
Gosh Cab that is awful! Am I understanding right, this is the body shop guy that said this to you? You were trying to drop it off with a conscientious list of what you've noticed is wrong since the accident, right? Has the insurance company approved an estimate yet?

By the way, you're not still driving the car around are you??

Well good luck finding another shop that is able to discern that you are not a crook, you are just demanding.

Please keep us posted.

-d

Yes, this is the body shop that said this to me. The insurance company was to meet us there; never did see her. And yes, the list was done conscientiously.

And no, I am not driving a car. I had it towed last Saturday for drop off today. Now I am stuck with 2 cars and I am 30 miles away.

Superman · 09-24-2001, 09:55 AM

Just continue to pursue it, and communicate as clearly as you possibly can. It sounds like the adjuster may be misinterpreting your remarks. He may be thinking you're trying to get the car declared a 'total.' Just clarify that you will insist on a car that is in the same shape as before the accident, and here is a finite (not bottomless) list of the things that are not yet the same as before the accident.

Tell him that we 911 drivers have our cars 'corner balanced' when they are aligned. This shoudl impress him. It means that the left side of the car is deliberately given a few pounds less weight, so that when the driver sits in the car, all 4 wheels are finally balanced. We're pretty picky, to be sure. He needs to deal with that.

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'83 SC

cab83_750 · 09-24-2001, 10:10 AM

BTW,

What I did today was 'proactiveness.' I made the effort discussing the car symptoms for them to tend to.

This is even though I was told last week that all I have to do is drop off the car, I LEAVE, the insurance company comes, the shop and the adjuster discuss it without me, they order the parts, shop fixes it, and that's it. This procedure was from the receptionist, so I am pretty sure this is how they do business.

This accident thingy is all new to me!

Superman · 09-24-2001, 10:14 AM

You're not a crook. You just want the car restored to its pre-accident condition. With Porsches, this is not easy.

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'83 SC

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Superman:
Just continue to pursue it, and communicate as clearly as you possibly can. It sounds like the adjuster may be misinterpreting your remarks. He may be thinking you're trying to get the car declared a 'total.' Just clarify that you will insist on a car that is in the same shape as before the accident, and here is a finite (not bottomless) list of the things that are not yet the same as before the accident.

Tell him that we 911 drivers have our cars 'corner balanced' when they are aligned. This shoudl impress him. It means that the left side of the car is deliberately given a few pounds less weight, so that when the driver sits in the car, all 4 wheels are finally balanced. We're pretty picky, to be sure. He needs to deal with that.

I supplied documentation to the insurance adjuster and even then they would pay half of the corner balancing. I faxed him the factory manual pages that say that the maximum difference in weight for my car ('80's Carrera) was 20kg (and 10kg for a Turbo). The manual states that any time the suspension is moved much this need to be done. When they do bodywork they often completely remove the suspension as they did on mine.
Who knows, maybe he ran into that guy who complained about the bodyshop putting a rubber valve stem on his tire when all the other's were chrome.

old_skul · 09-24-2001, 06:11 PM

Cab....

Call the local Porsche dealer and ask them where they send out their bodywork. Tell them you were in an accident and it wasn't your fault.

Take it there and nowhere else. Tell, not ask, the insurance adjuster to inspect the car there at the place of your choosing (as is your right). Once you are provided with an estimate, tack on whatever else you found wrong with the car.

They will hemm and haw, but you basically need to remind them that it's either your way, or court. And you can sue them for whatever your costs are to fix the car, plus attorney fees, and they do *not* want that.

It is the responsibility of the person that hit you to repair your damages. His/her insurance company needs to address that.

You are right, they are wrong, and the only crooks involved here are the insurance companies.

------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

cab83_750 · 09-24-2001, 06:16 PM

I did a little bit of digging. What I found out so far is that the 2 places that I have gone to, they are so good that they are the point of 'picking-and-choosing' which car they want to fix.

Man, it must be nice to be good. And Man, it is so bad working near Beverly Hills and Century City; there is so many P-Cars that owning an '83 gets no respect at the shops.

At the last place, however, I think I deserved an explanation and not just a walking-away routine.

[This message has been edited by cab83_750 (edited 09-24-2001).]

cab83_750 · 09-24-2001, 07:55 PM

Mark,

Thanks for the reinforcement. I needed that tonight as I am preparing to take the car somewhere else tomorrow.

Mr. Walker's recommendation of "Anziano's Bad Boys Cars..." (get it "bad boys") will be pursued tomorrow.

As of this minute, I am ready to have the car totalled if Anziano says so. As we say in America "3 strikes and you're out". I feel bad for my son, though. Per my previous posts, I have promised him the car when he gets to drive.

For those of you, check out Anziano's website...

http://www.anzianos.com

old_skul · 09-24-2001, 08:47 PM

If the car's totalled, Cab, offer to buy it back from the insurance company for $1. If they don't like that idea, offer $100, then $500. I did that with my Escort and they bit on $100.

Then take the total and make that your down payment on a nice C2 or 993. Sell the 83 for parts. Or just buy another SC outright and turn the "totalled" 83 into your track car after putting a roll bar in it.

Hell, I'll give you a grand for it.

------------------
Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9 RIP
The Porsche Owners Gallery

SteveStromberg · 09-24-2001, 08:59 PM

Try Hals Body Shop on Ventura Blvd one block west of Shoup in Woodland Hills, Talk to "Z" tell him Steve sent you. Steve

Kurt B · 09-26-2001, 03:21 PM

Cab, hit Golden Hammer. They'll give you a good deal. They fixed mine. But it's true, they're afraid of haggling with insurance--your car will NEVER be right no matter who does it, but who cares. Just a car. Just a plain old hunk o' Kraut Metal

muhahahah. Just kidding. Golden hammer will do you right.