Disneyhappy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2000
- Messages
- 2,146
Being a former insurance agent for 12 yrs, I pulled out my policy last night and did some reading. First, AGENTS make mistakes when saying if things are covered or not. More often than they (we) would like to admit. They are NOT claims specialists. They sell coverage. They advise. They don't settle claims. VERY often, we would call the claims dept and ask a hypethical question. Of course, the answer we receive is only good if the accident ends up happening EXACTLY has we guessed it would happen. Also, no documents were reviewed to answer hypethical question.
I know better than to say "well my agent said I would be covered" ALL THE TIME EVERYWHERE.![]()
Anyway, back to reading my policy. I'm not 100% convinced that my auto policy would step in WILLINGLY as secondary insurance after being denied by the PRIMARY insurance. The more insurance companies involved, the more they want the other (first) company to pay first. Makes sense, right? And the bigger the claim, the more stalling and passing the file will happen.
I also have same feeling that National agents don't know the insurance ramifications. Only that their system will allow you to rent the car.
I STILL can't decide what to do. This car will have HUNDREDS of miles put on it over 2 wks all over the state we are visiting. Its not sitting in a parking lot.
Problem is, every valid code I've tried comes up as $1000+ ($1200) to $7500 ($8000) to rent a midsize for 2 wks. THAT'S INSANE!
I'm looking at saving $1000 if using 67. I want the price the code gives. Just not their insurance. They are making this way too difficult. I'm tempted to start looking at another company. I've always used National. ALWAYS.
Splash-
I'm on the other end of the process - the claim professional - and your insight is right on the mark. We get calls everyday from agents asking hypothetical questions in which none of our answers are binding. We give a hypothetical answer only. It sounds like you are experienced enough to know not to give a definitive anwer. I just got back from a mediation in NYC tonight on the issue of.... can you guess.... a contract dispute. Plaintiff states there was a verbal agreement. Our position is that under NY law, a written contract trumps any alleged verbal agreement. Mediator agreed with us. Do we win in the end, probably, but even if we don't, the whole process is nasty enough for me to make a personal decision that the risk is not worth it for us. Between the two parties in my case today, over $150,000 has been paid to the attorneys, all because of a simple contract dispute involving serious damages (paraplegic).