On January 1 a semi tractor trailer carrying cargo had an accident in Reno County, K-61 in the state of Kansas.By order of Kansas Highway Patrol, the towing company was dispatched to remove the cargo, tractor and trailer from the accident site.
An independant adjuster was sent to the towing yard and access the damage to the tractor. He was instructed to get a market value of the semi truck and prepare an estimate for repair. The semi tractor was determined to be a totaled unit. The independant adjuster had put this information in his report including bids to buy the damaged tractor and trailer.
A detailed bill was requested by Lewis Sierra. Detailed split out invoices were submited to Penobscot Group, to claims adjuster Lewis Sierra. This insurance company carried the tractor and trailer. The cargo was handled by another insurance company.
The cargo claim was paid immediately and properly. You need to take note of this Lewis. The cargo claim was paid directly to the towing company as the bill was NOT paid by the owner.
The other 2 UNPAID invoices were submitted to Lewis Sierra of Penobscot Group, a claims area of an insurance company. It was voiced from us that the insurance check be sent to the towing company. Lewis Sierra would not do that. A faxed written request was sent to Lewis, he confirmed he received the request. He would not send the money directly to the towing company.
Lewis Sierra was told that will not pay the towing company as he has not paid the outstanding bill already being sent to him. Will not answer his cell phone any more.
Penobscot was contacted for 3 weeks to confirm the check was not sent out and to send the check to the towing company. The owner had no intention of paying this towing company.
Finally the lien holder caught hold of the Penobscot handling (or mishandling) the claim. GE Capital called Lewis Sierra and convinced they are to put their name additionally on the check that was being made out to.
What was the outcome? Lewis Sierra sent the $65,000 plus check to with GE Capital also listed. AND guess what happened? Souvanh Kongsy forged GE Capital's name on it the back and had a bank cash that check. Yes... And large amount... Cashed. GE Capital has the name of the bank where this took place at.
The outcome is... If you are a repair facility, towing company, or trucking related business and you have to deal with PENOBSCOT GROUP you will get taken for a ride.
You will get taken. You will not get paid for unpaid invoices.
This is NOT how insurance claims are paid. This truck was totaled by the adjuster. He submitted his reports of estimate for repairs compared to fair market value as requested and these figures totaled the tractor. Lewis Sierra thinks the tractor is repair. Thinks the semi tractor is repairable. He was told to have a body shop come pay the bill, pick it up, and get it repaired. Refused. He said it's up to the customer. Was told the customer did NOT do the recovery work. The customer did NOT pay the bill. And was told the customer would abscond with the check. That is what happened.
If your company knows ahead of time who the insurance handling the claims and it's Penobscot, they are unfamiliar with proper handling and proper payment of insurance claims.
Your company will be left holding the bag and you won't even know what happened. Do not deal with this insurance claims group.
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