UPDATED:
I have put my02 on Car for sale section
take a look if anyone is interested
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/983...#entry22062654

Hey guys, after hearing and seeing the vandalism stories here and from someone, i never expected it happened on me.
I was shocked when seeing some posts here of members s2000 got keyed or slashed, but i feel really upset when it came to me.
don't wanna tell the story again after done the report, made the claim.
I talked to the auto shop owner that Allstate recommended, he said insurance will not pay me a new top or seats but only give me recycled (i assume he meant used) or aftermarket parts. The owner said Allstate will deduct the value based on the year of my car, let say 2 years old car they will deduct the depreciation about 10%, in my case would be 50%, so they will probably pay 50% of a new top to me, is that true?
The allstate certified shop will do a customed made skin and put it on my car, they will also recondition the seats at upholstery shop, keyed panels will be repainted at the shop, airbag will be OEM branded NEW.
I do not feel confident of choosing allstate recommended shop, so i called the claim center and request the appraiser come to my home and do the inspect.
Since I do not have rental coverage in the policy and I will be still driving my car everyday, but lucky that I do not have any deductible.

I am thinking what solution is the easier for me:
1) have the appraiser write a check to me and I will pay extra from my pocket to use what ever parts that I feel confortable with (e.g OEM skin, purchase used seats or recondition, pay extra to get the whole car repaint
2) take my02 to the allstate recommended shop and have them to get everything done, what i pay is the rental car only(about 2 weeks)
3) take the check, sell the vandalized car and buy myself a second car

After doing some research, I found insurances are assholes and they will try to pay you low and take whatever advantage they can, what is the best way for me to talk to the appraiser and argue with him if he trying to pay me low?
allstate said the appointment is made and appraiser will come to my home anytime from today to next Monday, please give me some advices if you have deal with the vandalism with insurance or you are working for insurance
thanks I am appreciated

 

Yeah I think you can push them to use OEM parts. You also have the right to take the car to whatever shop you want. I would post in your local subforum and see where people have taken their car. Taking a check is an option but I think they should compensate you for the cost of an OEM top not an aftermarket one. Another option is you could just buy a hardtop from a vendor on here with that money.

 

I'd get the money and buy a new car.

 

Thanks for the advices!
I really have no idea how to haggle with appraiser, any thought? What if he said its the insurance policy agreement for them to offer any part?
I have no experience of dealing with insurance

 

You can always read your policy. I know it's pretty dry reading, but that is your contract with the insurance company. Allstate is notorious for low-balling it's claimants. You have to remember, that insurance companies are in business to make money. They don't really care if you get the replacement parts you want, unless you have a premium carrier, such as the Chubb Group or something similar and you're willing to pay higher premiums for better service.

They've probably said they would replace with "like kind and quality", so they depreciate your investment based on how old it is. They are not going to give you new OEM replacement parts, unless your policy calls for something like that.

I used to work for the Chubb Group, but left them many years ago. I have nothing financial, material or immaterial to gain from this recommendation.

Maybe Feezy can chime in.

 

I work in the Insurance industry, and I have also heard Allstates are "crooks". What I think you should do is cash out, and get recaros or something wooooooooo , they stole your airbag? =\ if your top got slashed i would get a hard top.

 

Thanks for the advices, I have no idea Allstate is not a reputable insurance, since I cane to the state in 09 and I join my sister's premium and never did any research.
I will try to read the policy on my agreement.

The airbag is not stolen but they tried to, the left side of the bolt is rounded and half taken out, so it's kinda bent. same happened to the seats, 2 bolts are lossen the others are rounded, I guess they couldn't loose the rusty bolts and get mad, slashed the seats. Ended up they stolen my gps, radar detector, shift knob.

The appraiser will come to my apartment tomorrow, hopefully he is easy to deal with

 

Best advice is to know your policy in and out (as mentioned earlier). With that information, you can talk to the claims agent and ensure you receive what you are paying for.

Good luck!

 

Well, insurance settlement people will try to take the lowest cost option to return your car to the way it was.

You didn't have brand new OEM parts on the car. They were 10 year old OEM parts, so they're probably looking for LKQ (like king quality) or salvage parts. If you want brand new OEM, you're going to pay for it. Sorry.

Think about it this way, if your top just wore out, would you insist on taking it to a Honda dealer? Or would you look at a robbins top or something... those are aftermarket parts. Seats, I'd look for salvage.

Now, they also have a good relationship with the recommended shop. And to them a good relationship is being able to hold schedule and not have any cost over-runs on the rebuild along with accurate estimates. Their shop's quality of repair doesn't play into this at all. So be careful there.

If it were my only car, I'd probably get the repairs done. You don't have the time to buy your own parts and do the work yourself.

Just some more food for thought.

 

dude what happpened?!?! MY BABY!