Flame on!! You all crack me up!!

Call me BS, call the insurance company BS, continue to flame me. Don't know what to tell you. I don't make the rules, I'm just here to try and explain things to you all. What I've told you is a FACT. I didn't make it up. Hell, I disagree as much as the next guy. FACT of the matter is, the insurance companies are within their rights to charge for betterment. You all can complain to the Department of Insurance (DOI) all you want. As a matter of fact, ask your insurance company for the DOI's address. They're required to give it to you if you don't feel that your claim is being handled properly. What'll happen is the insurance company will have to explain the handling of the claim to the DOI. If the DOI feels that it wasn't handled appropriately, they will probably be fined and have to handle the claim as they, the DOI, see fit.

Sorry for getting y'all's panties in a wrinkle. I have no explanation for any of your very reasonable questions. If you all want, I can find out more and probably answer 'em. I guarantee you, it'll probably still not be agreeable no matter what answers I get.

I still work for an insurance company but not in the same capacity as a claims adjuster. THANK GOD!!! You all can see why I gave up being a claims adjuster.

"Betterment" does mean improvement but not as in "My top looks like crap, I want a better looking top" but as in "Your top, no matter how old or used, is being replaced by a BRAND NEW top." Therefore, you're getting a BETTER top. As for the transplant analogy, you're talking human life, not a converible top. HOWEVER, medical insurance is a whole other animal. Similary arguements have been discussed regarding that line of insurance. Been there, done that.

Again guys, this is just an explanation. My purpose is to allow you to understand, not necessarily agree, what the insurance companies are doing. I don't condone their actions, I just want you all to be better informed consumers.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S20004C-Man!
[B]Flame on!!

 

My insurance company is AAA Mid-Atlantic. Actually it's a very decent company and the rates are very low (at least for me). I just felt that

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S20004C-Man!
[B]Flame on!!

 

Dragon - No worries man. I'm completely relaxed. Just wanted to make sure that I got all the info for you all.

I pay the premiums just like the rest of you and YES, in a perfect world it would be deductible and that's it. But, you're right, we're not in a perfect world.

Electrifire - Can't wait to see how they handle it! For what it's worth, at least get an explanation from them as to why they're penalizing you with a betterment charge. Use the windshield analogy that was mentioned in this thread. Hell, if you could get them to waive betterment, that would be awesome!!

 

What's the insurance company?

 

So you get into an accident and body panels need to be replaced, they don't charge betterment for those. You always get new parts when they are replaced; it is a fact of doing business. They should include that in their premium, if not, they are SOL.

I can see a tire or other wear item; a roof is not a wear item.

What about this. You have a car that is two weeks old and the top gets slashed. Is there a betterment for that, it would be a new top after all.

 

This is standard for the industry. Insurance companies usally pro-rate the top because of age. Come to think of it, wouldn't ya think your car insurance should go down each year because the car is older? Ya, right!

 

S20004C-Man!

If one has very low mileage on their "S" and recent photos of a meticulously maintained car, will an insurance company take this into consideration regarding "betterment"?

Thanx

 

You all have good points and even as I was working as an adjuster, I used to ask myself those exact same questions. ESPECIALLY the body parts question. I figured that one out. It's not betterment because the parts are "aftermarket" parts. Not aftermarket as we know it but because the parts are manufactured from used dies that were used by the manufacturer. They have outgrown their usable tolerances, based on the manufacturers specs, and are sold to private businesses. So the dies are still from Ford, Honda, Toyota, whatever, but the body panels are not made by the respective manufacturer.

I also really like the idea of an older car = lower insurance. Actually, that may happen but I'm not sure, I never understood the underwriting side of personal auto insurance.

Whaler - I think low mileage is enough to "prove" to the insurance company that betterment shouldn't be an issue. However, it is still up to the insurance company. Let's use this scenario:

Your S is ALWAYS kept under cover, garage, car port, whatever, no matter where you go. VERY low mileage. Say 10,000 for a 3 year old S. UNFORTUNATELY, it's still left up to the discretion of the material damage adjuster, as to what condition the top is in. The top on my S was in pristine condition, but compared to a new top is was an "old" top.

I think where we're all getting confused is the word condition. If we just take that out of the equation maybe it would be easier to understand and see what the insurance companies are doing. In the above example, the top is 3 years old. Replacing a 3 year old top, no matter what condition it's in, with a new one means you are getting a better top because new is always better than old. That's how the term BETTERment came about.

You could argue that you should pay less betterment than what they're charging but probably not get completely out of being charged betterment.

Yes, it sucks.