On February 14, I was sitting at a red light on a busy street. The woman driving the car sitting directly in front of me threw on her reverse lights and backed up into my car. After the initial hit, she (perhaps because of panic) hit the gas and backed up futher onto my hood. When she finally stopped, her back bumper was resting in the middle of my hood. We exchanged information.
A month later, the insurance company conceeded that their insured was at fault. They could not do this more quickly because the woman that hit me was 'on vacation' and 'unreachable.' I gave them her cell phone number (which is the only number she had given me at the accident). Regardless, she admitted fault and I inquired into the repair process.
According to State Farm, I could have my car repaired at any facility of my choosing. I chose one. I met the adjuster there, and the only nice thing I can say about this entire experience is that the adjuster showed up on time. I waited to hear back from State Farm, because the adjuster told me they would call to explain the estimates and to tell me the final monies owed. I received no call.
I called them today, Thursday, April 6th, and spoke to Fred. Fred tells me that I had some prior damage to my bumper. I agreed. There are some scratches on the underside of my bumper and a scuff on the right side of the bumper. Although the woman who hit me bent my bumper at such an angle that the hood has to be physically forced into place to close it, I will not be compensated for that damage. Apparently, if the sratches had been repaired and painted, this would have magically prevented the woman's car from bending my bumper out of place.
State Farm estimated my previous damage at approximately $743.00. For scratches. For an hour's worth of paint work. I find this estimate to be grossly inflated for State Farm's selfish purposes, which is to find any way possible to cut money out of what they owe me.
Although I was told I could take my car anywhere to be repaired, they didn't mean they would pay off the estimate of my preferred shop. However, they certainly had lead me to believe this would be the case. When I spoke to Fred at State Farm, he had the audacity to suggest that if I had used one of their repair shops, they would have paid for the entire amount of damage. Because I exercised my right to choose my place of repair, I am getting ripped off.
There is no internal arbitration process at State Farm. I was told that speaking to a supervisor would get me nowhere. They contend that this is a proper and ethical business practice. I strongely disagree.
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