Saturn II: Who Cares?
posted on 18:07 04/04/2009 by Stephen Bartnikowski
I never posted the resolution of what happened to my '97 Saturn SL2. Really this is half the story. So there I was in the office parking garage sitting in my dirty car that's filled with broken sunroof glass on the seats and floor. Livid.posted on 18:07 04/04/2009 by Stephen Bartnikowski
I drove it back to the hotel, scooped up my wife and drove to Safeway to get a box of garbage bags and duct tape. By, the way, yes this will keep any rain out of your vehicle if you ever try this. No, it will not hold up at speeds over 55 mph.
The next day I contacted Outlaw and left a voicemail asking what the claims process was. Then I started going up the chain of contractors, not wanting to let this sit. I called AAAC next, and left another voicemail. I was about to call Bristol Global Mobility when a man named Art called me back from AAAC. He apologized profusely, got some basic information, and then started to go over the claims process.
He said that two estimates from separate body shops would be needed. He also asked for photos, which are shown here, shot by my wife.
I think before I went to any of the body shops, I wanted to get some more details on the claims process, so I emailed Outlaw directly for some written details. Never heard anything back actually.
The body shop known as Anderson-Behl in Santa Clara came highly recommended by both the local Saturn dealership and my insurance company USAA. I understand why. They were professional, knew what they were doing and how the insurance companies worked. In fact, they asked if I wanted to file with USAA to accelerate the claims process.
I thought about it, called up USAA and they told me I wouldn't have to screw around with it anymore, getting additional estimates, talking with the transport companies. So I said sure, I have better things to do like unpacking my stuff into the house.Coincidentally at about this point, Art got back to me to let me know that Outlaw required three estimates, not just two. He said they were going to contact me later that day. I didn't really care about the estimates at this point and told him I was blowing them off in favor of going through USAA.
Also at about this point, Anderson-Behl let me know the car was totaled. Damages came to about $2700, while the car was valued at $2400. I held a much higher value on the vehicle,
since I had it maintained regularly, it got better gas mileage than most cars 10 years newer, and I knew that getting another clean car with 90,000 miles and low maintenance was not going to happen for $2400.USAA also let me know that the state of California requires a report filed with the DMV when an accident occurs. I wasn't sure on the details of the accident. They could have dropped a ramp on it, it could have slipped and hit a low-hanging bar on the truck. This could have happened in Utah for all I know. So I gave Outlaw another call and asked for details. Unfortunately I had to leave another voicemail.
Well they actually called back! To tell me that they were not going to accept a claim on the vehicle because I had waited too long. She then proceeded to tell me that it was somehow my, or my co-worker's fault (my co-worker who signed for the car while I was in Switzerland). I told her to save it, that I'm insured, and she's insured, so let them handle it. Only at this point did she cheer up and hoped that my experience did not discourage me from using their vehicle transport services in the future. If you ask me, they dodged my phone calls and emails, until they could claim it was too late and try to dodge out of it. Slimy.
Oh right, so the car? USAA offered $4600 for the vehicle...after my deductible and it was up to me to buy it back from salvage and have it repaired, or take the money. I mulled this over until one day driving home from work when the transmission started to grind heavily in and out of first gear. SOLD! USAA sent a tow truck and the ordeal was over.How am I getting around now? That's another post.
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