[Gazelle]

Lemme just say that I DESPISE them. Loathe them. HATE them. Cannot STAND them. They STINK! ALL of them.

Someone steals your car and they say it's unauthorized use because they used the keys and oh, by the way, you get to pay a higher deductible for the damage.

Friggin' state defines it as theft. Coverage requires theft. But they say it has to be "stolen" according to the police report. HUH? Crimes code defines as theft what the police report states it was.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I'd rather have a paper cut.

[Kitty]

What company do you have your insurance through?

Sorry they're being hind ends about it....

[Gazelle]

Liberty Mutual

[weegot5kiz]

sorry to hear about this, I have heard someone else with this problem, on a stolen car. I am not a big fan of insurance companies either. I am tired of them getting laws passed on their behalfs, regardles of how it effects the common person. I hope you are able to get it fixed

[Curious]

gazelle, did they steal your keys? or where they in the car?

my policy says if the keys are reported stolen ( as in a purse stolen with the keys in it) and then someone finds your car and takes it, they cover it.

but if they were in the car, they pay zip.

i'm so sorry this has happened.

[lady_express_44]

Originally Posted by Gazelle

Lemme just say that I DESPISE them. Loathe them. HATE them. Cannot STAND them. They STINK! ALL of them.

We have "Provincial" car insurance, and EVERYONE insures through the same company. That probably sounds like it could be quite the scam, but it has worked very well for the last 30 or so years.

Ours is owned by the government, and like all our social programs, has a responsibility to ensure they do right by the people. If it doesn't, then people just move onto another government social program . . . and then the squabbling starts.

It's not a perfect system, and of course I'd like to see it cover more . . . but it is not a rip-off either. It wouldn't matter if we left our keys in the car, we would be covered (isn't that an "accident"?).

What I don't get about some insurance companies, especially vehicle ones, is that it is supposed to cover people when they screw up. If no one had an "accident", then there would be no need for insurance, would there? There are limits, of course . . . and a need for "user pays" contingencies . . . but from what I've heard from others, some companies have really taken that to the bank!

Good luck.

Cherie

[Gazelle]

Originally Posted by Curious

gazelle, did they steal your keys? or where they in the car?

i'm so sorry this has happened.

Scenario:

kid who my H and I (who are separated) have known for years and who lived with us off and on since he was 11 is now 25.

He comes over on Wednesday before my son's wedding on Friday and stays with my H. My son and his then fiance were there too.

I go to my H's house on Thursday for rehearsal dinner, wedding on Friday. After reception, kid is very drunk and so are 2 other of my sons friends (23 and 26) who are all staying at our house overnight.

My H and I go to sleep. Drunk kid takes keys from diningroom table. Other two kids are asleep.

drunk kid steals car and gets into accident. returns car to semi-same position it was parked in, puts keys back, leaves car headlights turned off (I have daytime running lights and leave them in ON position always), leaves radio set on R&B/Rap station really, really loud, and adjusted mirrors differently.

Kid goes to sleep.

Go to get back in car on Saturday early evening and notice two panels where tow chain can be inserted are out of place and hanging on front bumper.

Replace them and drive 1.5 hours back to my residence.

H confronts kid who lies about taking car. Kid calls me and denies it then after being told to ID one of the other two kids in house, says he did it and was alone.

H kicks kid out of house.

H calls me enroute to my residence and says look closer at bumper--kid may have hit something.

I look at bumper when arrive at destination. Damage. Call police dept where my house with H is located.

Drive back there on Sunday to make report. Can't get in touch with kid. Don't know where he is staying or with whom. He has no cell phone.

Other two kids confirm, independently and w/o knowing what kid who stole car have done, what happens on night of reception. Both were asleep and knew nothing about what kid did. Their stories are just slightly different, but close enough to mesh well.

Police say, you knew him, unless he broke into car, it's unauthorized use. If you didn't know him, it would be stolen vehicle.

Insurance co. says police don't file as stolen it's not stolen. They assume you would have allowed person to drive.

I don't know if kid has license that's ok--i.e., not suspended or even if he has one. Kid was drunk. I knew that before going to sleep and would never have given permission. Kid never had permission to use vehicles ever before.

Kid stole car. Kid hit something and I don't know what. I filed police report and will press charges even though I don't really want to. He's been "my son" for 14 years.

Last time kid stayed with us was maybe 4-5 years ago???

So yes, he stole keys and he stole car. Someone takes something without your permission in my book that's theft--that's stealing.

[CayoKay]

oh, man... that sucks, Gazelle !!

it burns when people eff you over, and even worse, when it's someone you know and love, and have cared for...

then, the insurance co. makes things worse.

it's BS that Liberty would raise your deductible for this.

[Gazelle]

I'm arguing over $400. That's not much, but when you consider that I have just put out a lot of $$ for my son's wedding, am putting out a lot of $$ for his semester of school (he gets to apply for loans ASAP), am taking my first trip overseas really soon, and have taxes on my house due, it's too much. It really is. $400 makes a huge difference to me right this moment.

It may be petty and I may not win this, but it really torques me up that I'm going to get "hit" for the kid stealing my car. I only have so much $$ to go around.

Cayo, that's exactly why it hurts so much. I'm so disappointed in him. I'm furious that he doesn't have enough respect for me and my H that he did this. I thought he had more sense and had learned from his one trip to jail a few years ago. (yes, he did a very stupid thing then too)

He's burned the bridge of the very people who would always be there to support him. I won't do that again or go to bat for him again. Nope.

I was just stunned.

And he had the nerve to ask my BIL if he could stay at HIS house. Luckily, my BIL has more sense than that. He told the kid, "You just stole and cracked up my SIL's car. You want me to let you stay here? So you think I should put YOU before my brother and his wife because that's what it's coming down to?"

[Curious]

i know this has to hurt.

that totally sucks. why can't a car be stolen by someone you know?

after the police report is filed ( with witness statements?) can you then re-file with insurance company?

do you know what your state law is on recording calls? if it's one sided, maybe try and get him to admit it...if anyone can find him.