I am glad you had a good experience with Allstate. And I think you will find most major insurance companies will handle a claim in a timely matter. BUT, I know for FACT from talking to the claims reps. from many companies is that they always write a short sheet and hope you take the check and never get the truck repaired because it keeps their severity down / pay out per claim. Which is only good business for them and their stock holders. So if you go to a good body shop and get estimate and tell them you are paying out of pocket 9 out 10 times it is going to cost more to repair and if you want OEM parts it going to be more. You have to watch them guys / claims rep because they write it for a Chinese / Japan parts. Used parts and repair parts which should be replaced. Which never fit like a OEM part. And these guys write it for these parts because their boss tells them too.That and you need to watch out for what actual labor rate the company is paying compared to what the shop rate is. The best thing you could do is take it to a 1st class body shop and they will deal with the insurance company for you. That is what I do. Because the more $$$ they get out of the insurance company the better repair you get. Only if it is truely a 1st class shop. They will stand up for your rights. Unless it is the shop the company sends you to. That is because that shop is in bed with the company and willing to be the insurance company "Yes Man"

And Machmedic Please,don't blame the insurance agent because they are salesman and not the claim dept. He does not make a dime for claims and can NOT do anything about a claim. And the reason your agent didn't care is because he knew no matter what he would try to do he was going to lose your sale. My Dad was a insurance agent for 47 yrs. and I understand their point of view.

I am sorry for going off but this is a subject that hits a nerve for me. I spend over 20years going something I love and made a good living at it Until the insurance companies took over or should I say strong armed the collision repair industry. That is why I don't work in the collision repair industry anymore. And I feel that the insurance industry as a whole took away my lively hood.

 

Might I add that they took your lively hood away no thanks to the government who mandated that auto insurance is a must and that you can't legally drive without it.
I understand that it's a really good idea to have insurance but big brother has no right telling me what I should and shouldn't be paying for.
It is because of big brother that insurance companies take advantage of people like you and me which is AGAIN why I have prepaid legal, because if they try and take advantage of me I sick a lawyer on them. I already have a case open against my insurance company even though nothing has been repaired on my truck "YET". I have a case open just in case there ends up being a problem and I keep my lawyer posted as to what is going on.
Insurance companies have lawyers, why shouldn't I.

 

Hello Rob, Yes I was in the Navy and after reading what Frank wrote I was going to see what their rates were and what kind of discount you get for your DD214. But I also want to know what their policy is on OEM parts, appraised valve, and what labor rate do they pay ? Because all of these things make a difference. I know I am paying way to much for insurance right now with State Farm but I know for fact that they won't drop me. Well they haven't yet and 2 1/2 years ago I had a garage fire(home owners claim) also had a 1973 M/B 450SL totaled/ burned up (it was insured for appraised valve) and they paid everything expect for a motorcycle that wasn't insured. Then 2 yrs ago a B*t*h with a Ram pick up (figures a Dodge) broad sided me in the driver's door and sent me to the hospital. And as I was going to the hospital she cried and told the cop I ran a red light (which I didn't) so the PIG charged me with the accident. So once again State Farm paid my medical and for my totalled Caddy STS. But they did noy pay for the mods done to it. About 4g's of mods.
Long story short I don't think any other company is going to want me.

 

Well Ed, it dont hurt to call and ask. USAA is AWESOME in everything they provide, I think they will surprise you.

 

Oh I am going to call and cross my fingers.

 

Joey, I would send a letter to your State insurance commission. It may not do any good, but at least they will aggravate your geico agent for a day or two.

 

I concur

 

Or just get prepaid legal and sick a lawyer on them. Prepaid isn't there to sue people it's to protect us from crap like this!

 

I was a DOD civilian for the navy, do I qualify for usaa.

 

I don't know, but USAA.com has the information.

I have home and auto (truck, van, car, and camper) insurance with them. They are a great bank also. They were the very FIRST banking institution that let you deposit a check by emailing a picture of it.

By the way, at the end of the year, they distribute excess funds back as cash dividends. Even though they can beat your current insurance, you can usually expect money back at the end of the year (1 or 2 hundred) based on how much insurance you have.

By the way, I don't work for USAA. Kind of like us folks always recommended Clay, Ed, and Guzzle. We like the service and want other's to benefit.

 

My savings are going right into my RRE 2012 fund...

 

I have home and auto insurance, free checking, and a tax sheltered annuity with USAA for 40 years...you would have to go a long way to beat their combination of service, price competitiveness, customer satisfaction ratings and fiscal strength.

 

Don't forget to take care of me at RRE 2012!

 

I was reading this thread and what crap, I feel for you guys. Up here in Canada we have government owned and operated insurance one company no competition. I pay about $1500 a year for my Ex but it covers everything and anything. When a vehicle gets written off, (salvage or irreparable) they have to pay fair market value which includes all mods. I would argue FMV and blackbook are very very very different. Can you arbitrate your claims?