What is this thing you call...c..l..e..a..n.. a..i..r..?????
Euphonium got it right. It's also when you look up at the night sky and it takes a minute or so to realize that the broad band of clouds you were looking at is actually the Milky Way in its full brilliant glory.
we are not too far from the GA, NC, AL and TN mountains, where the air is clean and fresh...I do not live there now, but someday I hope to be there, only about 2-3 hours from here...
I found this about the state of air quality in the Great Smoky Mountain Nation Park..you might want to move there soon while you can still see and breathe. Air quality is apparently much worse that it was. http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/air-quality.htm
I realize that the Alps has year round snow and they are real mountains...however, for an amateur like me, raised in NYC, just going to the "raised elevations" of Borth GA, Alabama, etc is enough culture shock for me...to me, I am in the mountains, regardless of what you folks who just call them mild hill country...:):):):):)
>Please understand real mountains have snow on their peaks year around
Please. :sick: You should try driving through the Great Smokey Mountain National Park on highway 411. It's a mountain. But my brother who lives in Denver doesn't think so. Of course I grew up in Eastern Indiana near the glacial plain where hills are about 30 feet maximum.
I grew up in an area where rice was a major crop and the flood levee at 30' elevation is probably the highest point within 40 miles.
I was replying to "the GA, NC, AL and TN mountains" which would most likely be the lower end of the Applachian chain, aka the Smokey Mountains. I guess these are showing their age: "The Smokies originally looked more like the Himalayas than the rounded mountains we see today. The relentless erosive force of water has sculpted their present-day appearance. " http://www.ohranger.com/smoky-mountains/history-great-smoky
To summarize ...a mountain is taller than a hill...then the dictionary defines a hill as "a natural elevation of the earth's surface, less high than a mountain ".
"Please understand real mountains have snow on their peaks year around.
While I do not speak for euphonium, I believe he was just using typical "Southern" lingo, noy an official definition...to those folks from the mountains of NC and TN, the "smaller mountains" of GA and AL are just referred to as "hills" or "hill country"...
kinda like this Southern pride where the only mountains are the ones THEY own, if you catch my drift...
I have friends from NC and TN, and that is where I learned this...to them, GA and AL do NOT have mountains, just hills, whereas when you sit in Atlanta, going into North GA is referred to as the Georgia Mountains... :P
I rear-ended someone yesterday. That person's car didn't get damaged much (although there were a few scratches), but some of my car's front part (mostly chasis) was damaged. I am pretty sure that the other person will get their car fixed through my car insurance. I was, however, wondering how I should get my car fixed, considering that I want to minimize my insurance premiums from going up because of the incident. Should I (a) use the collision coverage of my car insurance and get the repairs paid for by the insurance (less the deductible) OR should I (b) bear part or all costs of repairs myself without asking the insurance company to pay for any of my repairs.
My intent here with option (b) is that if I don't use my insurance company to pay for my repairs, that's less money spent out of their pocket for the incident, thus resulting in a lower premium increase. But on the flip side, if the other person calls up and asks for coverage to fix her car, then the insurance company knows that my car was also involved in the accident, and therefore may jack up my premium, regardless of whether I use them to pay for my repairs or not (in which case I might as well get them to cover my repair costs also), which makes the case to go with option (a).
I really don't know how this works, and so am torn between options (a) and (b).
Any advice on which route to go so as to minimize insurance premium increases in the future and repair costs would be greatly appreciated.
First, report the accident to your insurance immediately...there is nothing more low-life than for the innocent party to call your insurance to make a claim, only to find out you failed to report it, in the hope that no claim would be made...call them tell them waht happened, admit fault if it was your fault, and call the other party with the claim number and phone number so they can call the adjuster and get their car fixed immediately...that is NOT what most people do, but it is the RIGHT thing to do, and maybe keep attorneys out of it...the innocent party, the one you struck, should have it as easy as possible to make their claim, IMO...
Now what you do with YOUR car may be another story, as you have options...first, get an estimate from a body shop of the repair cost...then you can make a qualified decision...if repairs are $750 and you have a $1,000 deductible, the answer is clear...if repairs are $1500 and you have a $250 deductible, then if you have the $1,250 difference, maybe avoiding the claim would be smarter...on the other extreme, if repairs are $4000 and you have no extra money, make the claim, pay the deductible, and close the case and move on...
Agree with you totally, Marsha7....and am planning to call the insurance company myself. Just want to be totally informed before I do that.
You say that I decide about fixing my car through the insurance or not, dependent on how far out the expenses are compared to the deductibe, which makes sense. I wanted to know, however, whether given that I have an at-fault accident on my record, does going through or not going through my insurance to fix my car make any differerence in future increases in my premiums. So, for example, let's take your second situation...repairs are $4000 and I have a $250 deductible, should I be still consider spending out of pocket just because the insurance premium surcharges over time will easily wipe out the $3750 difference?
I don't think there is any one answer to that question, since the variables are significant:
How much damage did you do to the other car?
How many claims have you made before?
I had a "my fault" accident a few years ago for a small amount of damage, (under $1000) first time for me, and there was no damage to my car----and my premium didn't change whatsoever. And this was from a notoriously tough insurance company.
correct (as he usually is)...too many variables...only you can calculate the (possible) increase in premiums (ask your agent for an estimate) and then compare it to the out of pocket cost of paying yourself...
example: premium goes up $375 a year, out of pocket cost is $3,750...obviously a ten year payback...also take into account if you HAVE the $3,750 (my example amount, of course)...if you have it, it is a consideration, if you don't, then the only choice is to let insurance pay the bill and you accept the increase in premiums...
Also, be aware that the simply act of causing the wreck may be sufficient to raise your premiums, so the repair of your car may be at "no charge" because they will increase your rpemium by being at fault, regardless of whether or not they fix your car...in that case. let the ins fix your car for "free"...
Also, be aware that the simply act of causing the wreck may be sufficient to raise your premiums, so the repair of your car may be at "no charge" because they will increase your rpemium by being at fault, regardless of whether or not they fix your car...in that case. let the ins fix your car for "free"...
That's what I was thinking... the at-fault accident will cause the most damage to your premium... Might as well let them pay for the damage to your car...
"Also, be aware that the simply act of causing the wreck may be sufficient to raise your premiums, so the repair of your car may be at "no charge" because they will increase your premium by being at fault, regardless of whether or not they fix your car...in that case. let the ins fix your car for "free"... "
Exactly!
Second: Always report a crash where the other car is occupied. Not reporting can put you in the position of being financially responsible for latent bodily injuries.
"This wasn't a wreck though...this was a scrape. Big diff. "...that is why the previously mentioned "economic analysis" would probably be better...but when you say scrape, we do not know the dollar value yet, also realize what some call a minor accident can have much in the way of underbody hidden damage...
Has anyone used Geico's Auto Repair Express program? I have Geico and need to get my car fixed from an at-fault accident. When I reported this to Geico, they said that i "qualify" for the Geico Auto Repair Express program (as I was in an area that supported it).
I just don't know if this would result in good quality work, because if you use the Geico Auto Repair Express program, then you have to take it to a body shop that they want.
Insurance companies are not your friend---now of course the issue really rests with the shop they send you to, but did they choose the most expensive one? Don't think so. On the other hand, they probably didn't choose the worst, either.
I'd suggest going to the shop and asking them to show you some of their work. If you see overspray, orange-peel paintwork, file marks in the finish, or utter chaos all around you, you know what to do.
New way how Geico has been cheating its customers.
Here is how the fraud works. I purchased my new 2WD Honda Pilot EX in April 2009 and provided VIN to Geico. After reviewing my policy on 4/14/2009 with assistant, my Pilot magically turned into 4X4 EXL model. According to the Kelly Blue Book (dated 4/13/2009), the MSRP for my 2WD Pilot EX was $31,165.00, and $37,565.00 for 4X4 Pilot EXL respectively. The difference in price results in higher premiums. In other words they overcharge me for the more expensive car, which I don’t own in fact. Now try to multiply this trick to the millions of insured cars. When I asked to correct the error, the answer was that according to the VIN number, you have 4X4 Pilot EXL model.
I spent 2 hrs. on the phone, speaking with five assistants and a manager. Net result is zero. Finally I was told that Geico’s VIN database is correct, and I should contact Honda because they put wrong VIN onto my car. Is it a joke, or Geico treats customers like idiots?
P.S. By the way, I verified my VIN with Honda. It is OK.
Maybe you could send them a copy of your bill of sale from the dealer, plus photos of the vehicle...obviously something is seriously wrong here, but, aside from dealing with human idiots, it SHOULD be an easy problem to solve...
Another possible solution is to drop Geico and go with someone else...
Bob- Is this something the state's insurance department can help fix? It might be a problem affecting more than one company. The poster might help others get rebates for overpayment.
That is a thought...but the poster might try their own state's insurance commissioner's office, rather than the HQ for the national organization, altho it may bring a response...
I would try "(your state) Insurance Commissioners Office" in a search engine, it will probably find it quicker than typing the website...
If an email gets no response, might back it up with a real letter or telephone call...obviously it is silly for Geico to maintain their VIN research shows one model and the poster has another model, much cheaper...
This is not a case of fraud. It may be a case of misclassification by the insurance services office which has happened in the past.
Visit a nearby Independent Insurance Agent who subscribes to the ISO & ask him to check your serial number with his manual. If it does agree with what you have, photo copy that page and send it to Geico for their correction.
Some companies do not subscribe to ISO, but closely adhere to their ratings & in the process may be lumping several models together - which is not right.
You have just cause for examination, but it's not fraud.
aside from dealing with human idiots, it SHOULD be an easy problem to solve...
This does seem like an easy issue to resolve. All ins companies have local agents or affiliates to check things like this. Why not simply INSIST an agent look at the vehicle and verify the VIN?
Great idea...but I thought that Geico did not have local agents, just a HQ in each state for claims, and the internet and the TV gekko for sales...the only Geico place I know in GA is Macon, where all claims go...
But wouldn't they have some kind of local affiliate for situations like this? I believe when you purchase a used car and they need to verify its condition for collision ins, they would need a live person to check it out.
There are numerous auto insurers that do not have local agents, and when they need an appraisal of damages, they simply subcontract the work out to "independent" adjusters...
replying to multiple posters, so hitting "reply" seems so...so...restrictive...or posting to no one in particular...
fezo: I have lived in the dark for years...it ain't easy being a lawyer...and, as the saying goes about the rat and the lawyer, there are some things even a rat won't do...
This past Friday my mother's Corolla was involved in a moderate accident. What is the amount of damage usually needed to total out such a car? Is there some kind of percentage or equation? It was/is an 07 with about 20K miles on it.
The claim is being handled by Geico - she wasn't at fault. I also wonder about any kind of diminished value settlement, as the car will have a black mark on its history even if they do fix it. Is there a process for that, and who handles it? I don't know much about this as I have never dealt with an insurance claim myself, and she hasn't had one in ages.
I'm kind of hoping it isn't totaled as she had grown attached to the car, but at the same time, it got kind of messed up, and I would be concerned about it being properly fixed, or causing issues in the future,
Each insurance company is different with percentage of demand to declare a total, but in some states that percentage is regulated. I think 75%--80% of value is the norm.
Yes, if a third party is involved you can make a claim for diminution of value, even if the car is fixed properly (and especially if it doesn't look right or drive right)...but this will require that you hire an appraiser to establish the amount of diminution, and you must expect that the opposing insurance company will fight you to the death over a DV claim. They hate that. So be prepared for a long struggle and make sure it's worth it in terms of dollars and sense. An appraisal might cost you $250. If that doesn't work and they deny your DV, you have to hire an attorney.
you had one more question, (altho shifty's answer was great) if the car is totalled, there is no diminshed value compensation...some folks do not realize that, so I thought I would throw it in...
also, in GA, I think they automatically include DV if the car is fixed and there IS DV...remember, if a fender was scraped and all it needed was new paint, the car has not really lost any value...if the chassis was bent or doors/frame damaged, then the car will be worth a lesser amount at trade-in...
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We have clean air, uncongested highways, wide open spaces and lots of sunshine. It's hard to beat.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Eastern WA, interior of BC, & Canadian Rockies also have "clean air". In Western Washington, the San Juan Islands are clean air areas.
Many photographers don't have to use Haze filters in the above locations.
Euphonium got it right. It's also when you look up at the night sky and it takes a minute or so to realize that the broad band of clouds you were looking at is actually the Milky Way in its full brilliant glory.
Lower insurance rates are just icing on the cake.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I found this about the state of air quality in the Great Smoky Mountain Nation Park..you might want to move there soon while you can still see and breathe. Air quality is apparently much worse that it was. http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/air-quality.htm
Please understand real mountains have snow on their peaks year around.
Otherwise they are just high hills.
Please. :sick: You should try driving through the Great Smokey Mountain National Park on highway 411. It's a mountain. But my brother who lives in Denver doesn't think so. Of course I grew up in Eastern Indiana near the glacial plain where hills are about 30 feet maximum.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I was replying to "the GA, NC, AL and TN mountains" which would most likely be the lower end of the Applachian chain, aka the Smokey Mountains. I guess these are showing their age: "The Smokies originally looked more like the Himalayas than the rounded mountains we see today. The relentless erosive force of water has sculpted their present-day appearance. " http://www.ohranger.com/smoky-mountains/history-great-smoky
It seems you have a real narrow definition of a 'mountain'. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mountain can not find a mention of snow.
To summarize ...a mountain is taller than a hill...then the dictionary defines a hill as "a natural elevation of the earth's surface, less high than a mountain ".
"Please understand real mountains have snow on their peaks year around.
Otherwise they are just high hills. "
kinda like this Southern pride where the only mountains are the ones THEY own, if you catch my drift...
I have friends from NC and TN, and that is where I learned this...to them, GA and AL do NOT have mountains, just hills, whereas when you sit in Atlanta, going into North GA is referred to as the Georgia Mountains...
My intent here with option (b) is that if I don't use my insurance company to pay for my repairs, that's less money spent out of their pocket for the incident, thus resulting in a lower premium increase. But on the flip side, if the other person calls up and asks for coverage to fix her car, then the insurance company knows that my car was also involved in the accident, and therefore may jack up my premium, regardless of whether I use them to pay for my repairs or not (in which case I might as well get them to cover my repair costs also), which makes the case to go with option (a).
I really don't know how this works, and so am torn between options (a) and (b).
Any advice on which route to go so as to minimize insurance premium increases in the future and repair costs would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Now what you do with YOUR car may be another story, as you have options...first, get an estimate from a body shop of the repair cost...then you can make a qualified decision...if repairs are $750 and you have a $1,000 deductible, the answer is clear...if repairs are $1500 and you have a $250 deductible, then if you have the $1,250 difference, maybe avoiding the claim would be smarter...on the other extreme, if repairs are $4000 and you have no extra money, make the claim, pay the deductible, and close the case and move on...
You say that I decide about fixing my car through the insurance or not, dependent on how far out the expenses are compared to the deductibe, which makes sense. I wanted to know, however, whether given that I have an at-fault accident on my record, does going through or not going through my insurance to fix my car make any differerence in future increases in my premiums. So, for example, let's take your second situation...repairs are $4000 and I have a $250 deductible, should I be still consider spending out of pocket just because the insurance premium surcharges over time will easily wipe out the $3750 difference?
How much damage did you do to the other car?
How many claims have you made before?
I had a "my fault" accident a few years ago for a small amount of damage, (under $1000) first time for me, and there was no damage to my car----and my premium didn't change whatsoever. And this was from a notoriously tough insurance company.
example: premium goes up $375 a year, out of pocket cost is $3,750...obviously a ten year payback...also take into account if you HAVE the $3,750 (my example amount, of course)...if you have it, it is a consideration, if you don't, then the only choice is to let insurance pay the bill and you accept the increase in premiums...
Also, be aware that the simply act of causing the wreck may be sufficient to raise your premiums, so the repair of your car may be at "no charge" because they will increase your rpemium by being at fault, regardless of whether or not they fix your car...in that case. let the ins fix your car for "free"...
That's what I was thinking... the at-fault accident will cause the most damage to your premium... Might as well let them pay for the damage to your car...
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Exactly!
Second: Always report a crash where the other car is occupied. Not reporting can put you in the position of being financially responsible for latent bodily injuries.
Now if the other side starts to "pack" the damage, then I'd put the gloves on.
I just don't know if this would result in good quality work, because if you use the Geico Auto Repair Express program, then you have to take it to a body shop that they want.
Any opinions?
I'd suggest going to the shop and asking them to show you some of their work. If you see overspray, orange-peel paintwork, file marks in the finish, or utter chaos all around you, you know what to do.
Here is how the fraud works. I purchased my new 2WD Honda Pilot EX in April 2009 and provided VIN to Geico. After reviewing my policy on 4/14/2009 with assistant, my Pilot magically turned into 4X4 EXL model. According to the Kelly Blue Book (dated 4/13/2009), the MSRP for my 2WD Pilot EX was $31,165.00, and $37,565.00 for 4X4 Pilot EXL respectively.
The difference in price results in higher premiums. In other words they overcharge me for the more expensive car, which I don’t own in fact. Now try to multiply this trick to the millions of insured cars. When I asked to correct the error, the answer was that according to the VIN number, you have 4X4 Pilot EXL model.
I spent 2 hrs. on the phone, speaking with five assistants and a manager. Net result is zero. Finally I was told that Geico’s VIN database is correct, and I should contact Honda because they put wrong VIN onto my car.
Is it a joke, or Geico treats customers like idiots?
P.S. By the way, I verified my VIN with Honda. It is OK.
Another possible solution is to drop Geico and go with someone else...
Is this something the state's insurance department can help fix? It might be a problem affecting more than one company. The poster might help others get rebates for overpayment.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I would try "(your state) Insurance Commissioners Office" in a search engine, it will probably find it quicker than typing the website...
If an email gets no response, might back it up with a real letter or telephone call...obviously it is silly for Geico to maintain their VIN research shows one model and the poster has another model, much cheaper...
Visit a nearby Independent Insurance Agent who subscribes to the ISO & ask him to check your serial number with his manual. If it does agree with what you have, photo copy that page and send it to Geico for their correction.
Some companies do not subscribe to ISO, but closely adhere to their ratings & in the process may be lumping several models together - which is not right.
You have just cause for examination, but it's not fraud.
This does seem like an easy issue to resolve. All ins companies have local agents or affiliates to check things like this. Why not simply INSIST an agent look at the vehicle and verify the VIN?
I believe it is fairly new.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Hey, I ain't no techno-wizard, just some meely-mouthed timid lawyer trying to make a few bucks...
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Yes, that would be the way Bob was doing it. But he's seen the light. :surprise:
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
fezo: I have lived in the dark for years...it ain't easy being a lawyer...and, as the saying goes about the rat and the lawyer, there are some things even a rat won't do...
The claim is being handled by Geico - she wasn't at fault. I also wonder about any kind of diminished value settlement, as the car will have a black mark on its history even if they do fix it. Is there a process for that, and who handles it? I don't know much about this as I have never dealt with an insurance claim myself, and she hasn't had one in ages.
I'm kind of hoping it isn't totaled as she had grown attached to the car, but at the same time, it got kind of messed up, and I would be concerned about it being properly fixed, or causing issues in the future,
Yes, if a third party is involved you can make a claim for diminution of value, even if the car is fixed properly (and especially if it doesn't look right or drive right)...but this will require that you hire an appraiser to establish the amount of diminution, and you must expect that the opposing insurance company will fight you to the death over a DV claim. They hate that. So be prepared for a long struggle and make sure it's worth it in terms of dollars and sense. An appraisal might cost you $250. If that doesn't work and they deny your DV, you have to hire an attorney.
also, in GA, I think they automatically include DV if the car is fixed and there IS DV...remember, if a fender was scraped and all it needed was new paint, the car has not really lost any value...if the chassis was bent or doors/frame damaged, then the car will be worth a lesser amount at trade-in...