State Farm taking half of my check

[FolkertSX]

As you know a lady hit my car the other day. And it needs a new painted door and the skirt needs to be painted. I can do it myself so I figure if a shop gives me an estimate of $1000. I can do it for 200 and I make $800. Good deal right? Well state farm has a new policy apparently. If you take the check you get 50 cents on the dollar. Basically a nice way of saying "Were taking half your f*** money!" But if a shop does it they send the full $1000 check straight to the shop. If this happens i am going to be seriously angry. And theres no way out of it. I'll find out in the next day or so what theyre going to do. Has anyone else had this? Or has anyone got a full check from state farm recently?

[numbnuts240]

so what's the problem? state farm is onto people trying to get one over on them so they instituted this policy. they aren't taking your money, they're just going to pay you the full amount if you aren't going to use it all on the repairs.

[Dittoz7]

Get it quoted for 2k?

I thought both parties where gonna handle is personally? What I got from the other thread.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Well if they value the damage for 1000, you should get 1000 weather you decide to fix or not. The damage is valued, and the damage is there. File a claim in court, take state farm to it. Its not your policy, get 3 estimates.

[nifares240]

drop your insurance company if you want. what's wrong with them giving you a 1k to have it done in a real body shop? why go to the hassle of doing the labor yourself when you're insurance company is paying for a body shop to do it. remember, you're paying for your insurance, so use it wisely.
GEICO (other party insurance after the driver hit my door) cut me a check for 1000 and used it to buy suspension which was two years ago. to this day, my passenger door is still dented. in few weeks, I will be changing the door panels and have it painted in the body shop where I always get my body work done.

[KAed 240]

When a kid hit my coupe I got it quotes from 3 shops: $1,800, $1,850, and just to jack the average up I went to an over priced body shop that quoted me $4,000. I faxed them to State Farm and they came back with $1,800, but I turned it down saying that didn't pay for the hardships, and because of that and the 3rd quote they gave me $2,300.. So the 3 quotes is a necessity.. Unless that policy was instated within the past 2 months I don't see why you can't do the same? Good luck.

I wouldn't suggest dropping State Farm, they have great discounts. Plus switching would increase your monthly payment I believe.

[FolkertSX]

so what's the problem? state farm is onto people trying to get one over on them so they instituted this policy. they aren't taking your money, they're just going to pay you the full amount if you aren't going to use it all on the repairs.

whats the problem? like outtowinpahc said. the damage is there, whether I want to fix it now, later or not at all I should still get the money. Maybe I don't trust my car at just any shop. I take pride in the fact my cars never seen a shop other than my garage.

drop your insurance company if you want. what's wrong with them giving you a 1k to have it done in a real body shop? why go to the hassle of doing the labor yourself when you're insurance company is paying for a body shop to do it. remember, you're paying for your insurance, so use it wisely.
GEICO (other party insurance after the driver hit my door) cut me a check for 1000 and used it to buy suspension which was two years ago. to this day, my passenger door is still dented. in few weeks, I will be changing the door panels and have it painted in the body shop where I always get my body work done.

like i said. I do everything myself. Why pay someone else to do something which you can do for cheaper and have fun while doing it. Your saying "your paying for your insurance, so use it wisely" is exactly what I'm doing. I'm making $800 for day or 2 of work.

[Gabes13]

If you can do it for 2, you still pocket 3. No?

[FolkertSX]

If you can do it for 2, you still pocket 3. No?

yes but i don't even know its going to cost 1 grand to repair. and im saving for a mk2 for winter. so that $800 wouldve helped tremendesly. The mk2 gti is 1400, plus coils, wheels, accesories etc...

[Gabes13]

State Farm isn't going to pay for your mk2. Their business isn't built to give their customers free money to do what they please. Usually half the cost goes to labor and shop fees with auto repairs. Maybe that's why they have this new "1/2 check" policy.

[simmode1]

There was a guy on Zilvia that was an insurance expert and he was helping ppl out with issues like this. I'd look for him or someone like him because discussing how to defraud your insurance company on a public forum could be counterproductive.

[ArcherV20]

You're mad that you aren't profiting from a company that insures you? They are there to ensure that you are on the road and are covered in the case of accidents ie. they will pay for your parts + labor. If you're looking for big cash payouts in the event of an accident I think you've got it misunderstood.

[FolkertSX]

State Farm isn't going to pay for your mk2.

haha i dont expect them too. but it be a good start

You're mad that you aren't profiting from a company that insures you? They are there to ensure that you are on the road and are covered in the case of accidents ie. they will pay for your parts + labor. If you're looking for big cash payouts in the event of an accident I think you've got it misunderstood.

im not profiting at all. I pay out the a** to have coverage exactly for situations like this. And for years people got what the damage was worth, which is fair. My mom even got extra money for her time being taken. When you have service like that paying monthly insurance doesnt hurt. But when you know you'll get screwed when you need it isnt. What i do with the money doesnt affect the insurance company one bit. So why do they care? O yea, So they can make even more money

[hbpignosePA]

who the hell puts collision on their 240?

sucks to hear; but get a few quotes and just pay a shop to do it

or do it yourself for cheaper

or be like all the other fanbois and leave it and say its a drift scarrrrrrrrrrrr

its really stupid to b**** and gripe on a public website about it; since taking a larger sum of money than the repairs actually cost could be considered fraud

[S14toRPS13]

I've had State Farm for years and don't recalling ever having a problem with them. I do get where you're coming from though. If that's their policy then that's their policy. You can always ask for other estimates or for more money but in the end, it'll be up to State Farm to pay what they pay you. I've had insurance with 21st Century before too and found them to be the quickest to cut a check. I went and got a couple of quotes from private bodyshops before the insurance adjuster came to inspect my car. His quote was right on with what I got from the other body shops and he cut me a check right there on the spot. Probably the best experience I've ever had with an insurance company.

[numbnuts240]

State Farm isn't going to pay for your mk2.

haha i dont expect them too. but it be a good start

insurance fraud

You're mad that you aren't profiting from a company that insures you? They are there to ensure that you are on the road and are covered in the case of accidents ie. they will pay for your parts + labor. If you're looking for big cash payouts in the event of an accident I think you've got it misunderstood.

im not profiting at all. I pay out the a** to have coverage exactly for situations like this. And for years people got what the damage was worth, which is fair. My mom even got extra money for her time being taken. When you have service like that paying monthly insurance doesnt hurt. But when you know you'll get screwed when you need it isnt. What i do with the money doesnt affect the insurance company one bit. So why do they care? O yea, So they can make even more money

you aren't profiting? your comment at the beginning of this post says otherwise. like i said in the beginning of this thread, you're trying to get over on the insurance company, like so many people have done before. this is why they instituted this policy. it's a business and they're not in it to give out money for nothing. you aren't a business, so your time is worth nothing. sorry dude, it's the way of the world. take the smaller amount, fix your car, and quityerbitchin. or suck it up and let a body shop do the work.

[DamonDread]

discussing how to defraud your insurance company on a public forum could be counterproductive.

Word!

[Ajax]

He's not defrauding the insurance company- he is asking for fair compensation for the repair to the vehicle. What if he wants to go through a shop that they don't recognize because he likes their work better than the approved shop. Does that mean that he should have to pay out of pocket? I don't think so. He pays the insurance premiums so that he doesn't have to spend his own money on repairs. What if he is a certified body repair person? Is his labor worth less because he doesn't fix it in a shop? (that's probably the argument I might go with- you want to spend your own time in order to make sure its done right- why should you're labor be worth less?)
All that said, I understand the reason for the policy- people getting higher estimates but going to a less expensive shop so as to pocket the difference. However, if the quote(s) are from a shop that they would pay, I see no reason why they should not pay for the full amount.
Addendum- I could certainly understand if the insurance company were to say that the work done could not be insured in the future after being fixed by someone other than an approved shop (perhaps only after an inspection by a certified shop or appraiser?).

[numbnuts240]

All that said, I understand the reason for the policy- people getting higher estimates but going to a less expensive shop so as to pocket the difference.

thing is, this is exactly what he's trying to do.

[Ajax]

But if he goes to a shop that gives an estimate that they would gladly pay for repairs, it shouldn't matter.
My statement was meant to infer people going to shops that give overly high estimates with the sole idea of screwing the insurance company (clearly I didn't edit well enough). If he gets 3 quotes and they are all satisfactory numbers, that's how much he should get for the repair, regardless of where he goes. If he gets 3 quotes and one is 50% more than the others, then they need to look further into it.

[charat]

Like a good neighbor; State Farm is there... to rip you off.

seriously, my neighbors would jump on taking money from us. lol

just drop state farm and get all state

[Metal Angel]

I think your main problem is that you're gonna buy a mk2.

[motoman399]

i got hit in my rear quarter. went and got 3 quotes. one being $4450 and they wanted to replace the quarter, and clear the entire back of the car. another being $2900, they wanted to pull/bondo the damage. and the third was $2100 wanted to do the same as the second.

i only sent in the high quote to the insurance company (progressive) and said i wanted to get my car done there but dont have time to get it done now. they sent out an independent adjuster who quoted it at $2700 and then they (progressive) said they had modified it and were giving me $2010. they said if i took my car to the shop they would work it out with them. i said no way give me the full check of $4450 so i can take it when its convenient for me! they refused and sent the check for $2010 and i sent it back with a letter telling them i would take them to court if they didnt send the full amount. they never called/mailed me back. then one day i get the check back in the mail and it was expired.. so i went down to the court house and filed papers. they called me 3 days later and said the most they could get me was $3300. i said nope ill see you in court. then he responds with well if i adjust these few things i can get you $3800. and i said ill see you in court. and he says what would you be willing to settle for. and i said $4K. DEAL he cut me a check for $4000. and i had the damage fixed for $430.

you are right, the damage is there so you should get the full check. your labor is worth the same amount the body shops labor is.

[krash]

I still think insurance policies are a rip off. However, some people do in fact need them.. You're essentially paying a bunch of fees (that are established by age/gender/etc), so that on the off chance that something bad happens then you'll be covered. Given, health insurance I understand. But car insurance? Don't act stupid, be careful, and you won't f*** your s*** up. If someone hits you, then they pay for it. I really wish it wasn't mandatory here in MD....

Anyway, I think its kind of dumb that state farm is taking half the check. Their client damaged his property. If its $3000 worth of damage, then their client owes Folkert $3000. Don't really think its their business what he does with it. Its HIS money. Someone in his position might not really need all that money for fixing the car, but thats how much damage was done. The insurance company trying to take half of it is ridiculous. On top of that, they'll pay the whole check to a bodyshop? Thats whack. Its Folkert's money.

[TheRealNap0le0n]

im not really sure why your insurance company is involve in this at all...

if they hit you and their insurance is cutting you a check then your insurance shouldnt have ever been contacted...

[fiznowler]

He should get what the other shops quoted. The insurance company owes 1000 bucks to fix the car. It really shouldn't matter where the money goes. I got rearended earlier this year and got a check for 500ish. I didn't fix it because all it did is pop the paint and put a slight wave in the urethane. I was pissed but I didn't feel it was that bad and I want a different rear bumper anyway. I would have fixed it my self if I was going to. It would be difficult for me to buy a new even oem rear bumper and the paint to fix it for 250. Why should you be forced to take your car to a shop? If anything maybe they should require it fixed by a certain amount of time to continue full coverage insurance if you turn it in on your policy. If someone elses insurance is covering it... then it isn't their business.

[Caveit77777]

I don't have collision on my 240 haha doesn't seem really worth it. I say if you can fix it yourself then fix it yourself and take the half.

[RustspecS13]

you aren't a business, so your time is worth nothing.

That's the stupidest thing I've read on nico. Of course his (or any ones) time is worth money, we aren't a bunch of homless hobo's with nothing to do.

~Alex

[numbnuts240]

in the eyes of the insurance company, it's 100% true. they couldn't care less what you do on your free time, and they most certainly aren't going to pay you for what you do on your own time.

[RustspecS13]

My mom even got extra money for her time being taken.

Weird.

~Alex