Like many of you I was duped by Unique Insurance company. (Agent Marvell Towers) my car was totalled over seventeen months ago and Luz Davia in the claims department @ Unique Insurance Company wanted me to send her the proof of loss statement, title signed, and a police report. (I sent all copies). Ms. Davia mailed me an offer less then 10% of what the actual cash value of my vehicle was worth. Ms. Davia was disrespectful, and stated virtually that I could do nothing about it. I stated "just replace the vehicle and we won't have to worry about the value. She stated "we have the option to replace the vehicle we are not obligated to replace anything". This conversation transpired a month after my vehicle was totaled. Let me say that this company mailed me a check (less than 10% of the actual cash value) requesting my signature. The check also stated that I was settling for the damages. Yes - I sent the check back and called Ms. Davia and at that time she was rude, condescending, and provoking. I knew then that Unique Insurance company was a scam. I then filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of financial and Professional Regulations on three different occassions and this process took about three months or more; nevertheless, this company was adamant about their offer. After filing the final complaint with the IDFPR I was told to accept the offer or go to small claims court. (This was nine months later) I went to small claims court and paid the fee (ridiculous) $184.00 court fee $60.00 for the sheriff and some other miscellaneous fee's and thereafter wrote out the complaint. I got a letter in the mail stating that Unique Insurance Company did not accept the summons&so I had to go back to Richard J. Daley Center and file all over again and paid additional fees but sent the summons by certified mail this time. I then got intimidating letters and motions in the mail by a reputable law firm in Chicago "motion to dismiss" I had to appear and the lawyers made an attempt to bamboozle the courts by stating that Unique Insurance company did not have me insured. "The company you should be sueing is Marvell Towers" The Judge denied the motion. A month later I got another motion in the in the mail stating the same thing but this time the lawyers withdrew the motion. After a lengthy process of running back and forth to court an arbitration hearing was finally set. Yes&I won an award of what I was asking for seventeen months ago court cost excluded. The reason I am detailing and elaborate here is because we as consumers do not have the resources, time, and legal education to fight against these predator companies. Each of our claims are individual and isolated to a degree&we have responsibilities in common and these companies prey on the disadvantage using the time game as a weapon. Most of us will accept less because of the need at that time for whatever reason.integrity is my motivation—and the personal encounters I endured throughout this process is overwhelming. I always paid my premiums on time and in return expecting what I paid for. If we as consumers do not have insurance and a incident occurs we will be subject to fines, penalties, and possible jail time. Nevertheless, these companies are allowed to practice in our state in spite of many complaints with the Illinois Department of Financial Regulation. Yes—we need to get in touch with the Attorney General Office and pursue our complaints through the avenues and channels of sources such as the "rip off report" Finally, we look for insurance companies with low down payments and low premium rates. Sometimes its best to avoid these irreputable companies and pay a few dollars more, at least when an accident occurs or something similiar your chances of being covered is greater.
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