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About six years ago I was backing a very large and
very blind truck in a grocery store parking lot. It was about 0700 hrs and
I had surveyed the scene before moving the truck. There wasn't a car in
the lot besides a few employee's rigs parked way out on the perimeter.
Because of the visibility problems, I was backing VERY slowly. So slowly,
that when I heard a crunching sound, I stopped to get out and found a 1991 Chevy
Lumina sedan with a 1" hole punched in the plactic headlight by the bumper of
the truck ! The driver had pulled right in behind me and waited for me to
hit him. These cars have a real sloped nose and anything over 1/8 mph
would crunch out the headlight and get the hood too, but I was being SO careful
because of the blind backing that I barely broke the plastic before
stopping.
Now, a headlight assembly on a ten year old Lumina is
cheap and common as dirt, so no big deal, right ?
This guy gets to hollering about being a lawyer, it is
all my fault, why wasn't I looking?, why was I going so fast?, etc., and we
come to an agreement that he will go get estimates for repair. I call my
insurance carrier - Snake Farm - and ask for advice on how to proceed, ....
should I claim it ?, ... or just pay the ten dollars at a wrecking yard and
replace it ? They advise I just let the guy fix it at the shop of his
choice and let the claim be made, saying it will not affect my policy or rates
for anything under $750.
I thought this guy was a scammer from moment one, but
when he made a claim for a $570 headlight lense replacement, all suspicions were
confirmed. But it gets better.
Next thing I know, my agent's office girl calls and
informs me of the claim amount and that Snake Farm is going to drop me ! I
had almost ten years of clear driving record, and I allowed the claim on THEIR
direction ! We argued round and round, but like every other insurance
dealing I have ever had the pleasure to experience, they do whatever they please
and screw the customer.
Snake Farm will NEVER get my business again, and I would
advise anyone else to do likewise. They will toss you under the proverbial
bus in a heartbeat, even after a long and friendly dealing with an agent I
thought was a friend.
B.
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