On July 26 I was involved in an automobile accident. It has been determined that it was the other driver's fault, who is insured with Unique Insurance Company. I took my car to the body shop of my choice on Monday, July 28 and called the Unique Insurance to report a claim that same day. I was asked to fax over the police report and was instructed to wait until the claim was processed.
On Thursday, July 31, I spoke with the owner of the body shop that had my car and was told that the agent did come out, looked at the car very briefly, did not write anything down, only took a few pictures and left.By that time I already had an estimate from the body shop ready, which added up to $5,290.88 for the parts and labor.
I started calling the insurance company every day beginning Monday, August 4 in order to find out when I should expect the check and, and every time I was told that I have to talk to the adjuster assigned to the case, Brian Perry and was put through to him. Not once was that person at his desk. I left voice mails every time I called, but not even once were my calls returned.
On August 14 I finally went to their office located at 4245 N. Knox in Chicago and found my adjuster outside with a cigarette. After I introduced myself, I asked Brian if the estimate was ready and what the amount that they came up with was. He replied that he could not remember the amount, and I had to insist on going inside with him and getting the number in writing. The adjustor was pretty rude and after giving me the estimate amount simply got up and left! Surprisingly enough, the number that Unique Insurance has come up with was exactly $3,000.00 less then my body shop's estimate.
As far as I know, I don't have to take my car to one of the body shops that this company has worked out a deal with. Not only do they pay their guys $22.00 per labor hour, which is less than half of what most Chicago body shops pay their employees, but they also refuse to replace the damaged parts. My car is almost brand new and has to be restored to the condition it was prior to the accident and pounding on the parts that have been damaged beyond recognition simply won't do it.
I have been to two more body shops since then, because the original place I had my car at refuses to work for the money the insurance company has agreed to pay. All other body shops said that the vehicle will have to be cut, that there is no way those parts can be saved, but the amount that Unique Insurance is offering is not even enough to cover the new parts, let alone labor.
So why am I supposed to come up with additional three thousand dollars and have to deal with the worst customer service I have ever seen if the accident was not my fault and I am not the one who chose the insurance company that is so cheap and unprofessional?
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