Insurance Payment for Broken Rear Glass?

[chiragmp]

Hi:

Somebody broke my car's rear glass recently. We were not near the car when this happened but a good samaritan saw it and called the police. She was also able to get the license plate # of the car in which the vandals drove away. Police noted all this information down.

I called my insurance company (Ameriprise through Costco) and gave them the details. Since the car was basically inoperable due to broken rear window, I paid out of my pocket to get the glass fixed quickly. I don't have rental car coverage. The cost to fix the glass was less than the comprehensive deductible on my policy. Now my insurance company is saying that since the deductible was not met, they will not pay. They said that once they have the police report, and if they can get the other party's insurance information based on the license plate #, they would verbally tell the other insurance company to pay for the damages but they legally can't do anything else since Ameriprise didn't pay for the repairs.

1. What are my options to recover the cost?

2. Should my insurance company waive the deductible? Is there some way to get my deductible waived for this incident? How do I convince my insurance company to do so?

I have a perfect record - never filed any claims, paid my bills on time, been with Ameriprise for 5 years, etc. I can't escape the feeling that I'm left out hanging to dry by my own insurance company while all these years I have been an ideal customer.

Thanks in advance for all your insights and suggestions.

 

[BIG RED IS BACK]

Hi:

Somebody broke my car's rear glass recently. We were not near the car when this happened but a good samaritan saw it and called the police. She was also able to get the license plate # of the car in which the vandals drove away. Police noted all this information down.

I called my insurance company (Ameriprise through Costco) and gave them the details. Since the car was basically inoperable due to broken rear window, I paid out of my pocket to get the glass fixed quickly. I don't have rental car coverage. The cost to fix the glass was less than the comprehensive deductible on my policy. Now my insurance company is saying that since the deductible was not met, they will not pay. They said that once they have the police report, and if they can get the other party's insurance information based on the license plate #, they would verbally tell the other insurance company to pay for the damages but they legally can't do anything else since Ameriprise didn't pay for the repairs.

1. What are my options to recover the cost?

2. Should my insurance company waive the deductible? Is there some way to get my deductible waived for this incident? How do I convince my insurance company to do so?

I have a perfect record - never filed any claims, paid my bills on time, been with Ameriprise for 5 years, etc. I can't escape the feeling that I'm left out hanging to dry by my own insurance company while all these years I have been an ideal customer.

Thanks in advance for all your insights and suggestions.

Not sure why that makes the car un-drivable.......

If you had glass coverage, it wouldnt cost you, not all states offer that, and since it is under the deduct, there isnt anything you can do,

A deduct is basically SELF INSURANCE, you agree to pay that much BEFORE the insurance company pays anything. Your insurance company is NOT hanging you out to dry.

 

[xrac]

Big Red is right. Since the repair was less than your deductible your insurance company is out nothing and basically has little motivation to pursue the other party. If you can get the other car's information you may have to take it to small claims court.

 

[chiragmp]

Does CDW apply in this case? I have that coverage. Or some other form of deductible waiver that I might be overlooking?

I understand my comprehensive deductible is larger than the cost to fix the glass BUT if my insurance company will not represent me with their all the resources at their disposal, I have almost zero chance of recovering the cost from the other party's insurance company (unless I go to small claims court as was suggested). That's why I want to see if there is anything I'm missing that I might be able to work to my advantage in this situation.

 

[djs]

The other insurance company will NOT pay for this either. If it was vandalism, not an accident, the person who did it has no coverage.

And no, CDW doesn't have an impact on a comp claim. If you have glass coverage then there would probably be either no or a lower deductible.

File a small claims case directly against the person who did the damage. Forget about the insurance coverage.

Dan

 

[Guest]

Hi:

Somebody broke my car's rear glass recently. We were not near the car when this happened but a good samaritan saw it and called the police. She was also able to get the license plate # of the car in which the vandals drove away. Police noted all this information down.

I called my insurance company (Ameriprise through Costco) and gave them the details. Since the car was basically inoperable due to broken rear window, I paid out of my pocket to get the glass fixed quickly. I don't have rental car coverage. The cost to fix the glass was less than the comprehensive deductible on my policy. Now my insurance company is saying that since the deductible was not met, they will not pay. They said that once they have the police report, and if they can get the other party's insurance information based on the license plate #, they would verbally tell the other insurance company to pay for the damages but they legally can't do anything else since Ameriprise didn't pay for the repairs.

1. What are my options to recover the cost?

2. Should my insurance company waive the deductible? Is there some way to get my deductible waived for this incident? How do I convince my insurance company to do so?

I have a perfect record - never filed any claims, paid my bills on time, been with Ameriprise for 5 years, etc. I can't escape the feeling that I'm left out hanging to dry by my own insurance company while all these years I have been an ideal customer.

Thanks in advance for all your insights and suggestions.

Everyone has given you all the right info.

As far as recouping the cost... The only recourse your have is to sue the individual in small claims court. Assuming you can find them and prove they did it.

Also, you may want to consider looking at shopping insurance with an agent, not through Costco.

When you have an agent they work as your advocate and can help in these types of situations. When you insure through Costco, you call and talk to a person in a call center that doesn't know you and doesn't do anything other than read a script to you.

There is no advantage of insuring direct with a carrier vs insuring through an agent.

Just my $.02.

 

[FullAuto]

You could also consider lowering your comp deductible for the future.