| Author | Message | ||
     Brineusaf |
Read other thread (ford windstar reverses into lightning) to read the story. This is where I am: the Claims officer cama and looked at the bike, we couldn't really talk given the language barrier, no real suprise there. So afterwards I call my "representative" at USAA to ask questions and inquire about a few things. 1st Question was whether or not I was allowed to rent a motorcycle due to mine being INOP, to which he rambled on for a few moments.. ultimately the answer was "no", I guess because bikes are supposed to be secondary transportation, and this was the policy in germany. 2nd Question was whether we had to pay our deductible,answer was no, since we weren't at fault, or even in/on the vehicle. 3rd Question was whether or not I had the option of repairing the bike myself, to which the answer was "no", since I have a lein holder the money gets paid to them.. which is retarded... and if there is any leftover then it goes to me. So in order for me to have the bike repaired I have to let the dealer do all the work. 4th Question was whether or not the "Harley Store" (as they called it)was an authorized Buell service center. My "rep" didn't know, so he put me on hold, and 3-wayed the "harley store" in, I guess they only worked on Buells after their warranty had expired. So I told my "rep" that it wasn't going there, and he kept trying to convince me with "german laws". Finally with me changing the tone of my voice and standing up (i know i was on the phone but i did anyways), I asked him the available dealers in the area and waited until he named the one I had gone to before, at which point I told him that's where I wanted to go. He again tried to convince me to go to the original one he had planned, since it was "closer" and more conveinant (WHAT IS SO CONVEINANT ABOUT THIS?! I CAN'T FIX IT MYSELF AND HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE DEALER!! ITS GOING WHERE I AM COMFORTABLE). I cut him off and said if there was a problem with it then "maybe I need to speak to your supervisor" or "maybe i'm dealing with the wrong person". He said it was fine. So this is turning out to be a nightmare, I'm going to miss the remainder of the riding season, all while I continue to make payment on a bike I can't even sit on. Oh - the claims officer tried telling me there was no way that my airborne footpeg and clutch lever chipped my rims. I thought that was funny, yet he told me my broken mirror costed around 50-60 $ when I only paid 8 Euro. What a _______ moron. Even me on my soap box doesn't help anything. Thanks for listening...  I'm going to call USAA Head Office and ask some questions. | ||
| Hardcorps |
You should read your policy and be prepared to fight with facts and a calm demeanor. More bees with honey than Poo, but that still does not mean you should be treated second rate! I have always heard good things about USAA, I don't understand why they would treat you like crap. Hard Corps | ||
| Brineusaf |
Yeah no kidding. The guy said something about offering me this one time deal of appearance reimbursement, which if I accepted they wouldn't replace the part, they'd just give me like 1/2 the cost because it is aesthetically unappealling. I was like... that's a deal? It's being replaced. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
i would call back and talk to someone else. i have usaa and they have been outstanding with my claims, none were my fault. they really tried to get everything i asked. maybe it was a rep. w/ a bad hair day or something? | ||
| Odie |
Brineusaf- USAA doesn't keep their great rep by messing around with their customers. I would talk to a different person until you get the satisfaction you need. They truly are a very good customer service company so just be nice and have a little patience. Good luck! | ||
| Yohinan |
Well just to put my .02 in here. Not flaming all of you that have USAA but how many of you that LOVE them have actually filed a claim with them? I completely agree that they are noted for their service but I am kinda wondering where they get these satisfaction numbers from. I have filed both a homeowners claim ( due to demolition from a hurricane ) and also a motorcycle claim with them. I am less than satisfied with their service. I dont have the time/money/patience to deal with all the hoops I have to jump through so I just chalked it up as a loss both times. This is after being with USAA for over 10 years now. Needless to say I will be looking for a new insurance company for both renters insurance and my 8 vehicles that are insured through USAA. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Insurance companies are not in business to pay out claims. They are in business to collect premiums. Customer service or not, they will explore every angle to low-ball your claim or not pay it at all. Then they jack up your rates. This is how insurance works my friends. | ||
| Perry |
Agreed - remember, whoever you talk to on the phone is graded on how much they keep costs down, not necessarily how happy the customer is. Remember, any insurance company could have awesome sat numbers if they just bought everyone a new bike! When I made a claim with Dairyland they were really good about it. They asked me which dealer I go to, and offered to have the bike trailered there. The adjuster was a complete clueless wonder. There was no language barrier, just a brain barrier. Her: Oh that looks broken too. What is that called? Me: That would be the foot peg. Her: What about that round wheel thing? Me: Belt tension pulley Her: What is that bumpy stuff on the big metal part. Me: That's called a weld. After the dealer went over the bike it cost more than twice what the adjuster said it would, but Dairyland just paid it no problems. | ||
| Odie |
I have filed several claims with USAA and have never had a problem. I've had them for 17 years now. | ||
| Diablobrian |
The Girl that hit me had USAA insurance. They paid out faster and easier than a previous smaller and simpler accident claim against Hartford. I was not at fault in either case. Even though I was a claimant, and therefore "the enemy" they were always nice, and civil on the phone, I got an attorney after i got out of the hospital to make sure that I didn't screw myself, and everything went well. It took less than a year to settle out a major injury case. My lawyer even got them to go beyond policy limits. Seems they didn't want me to be hobbling in front of a jury. For a minor, by comparison, injury case with a concussion I had to fight for over 2 years with Hartford. The wait for payment for vehicle damage was twice as long with Hartford as USAA too. USAA had that covered within weeks, it was at least a month with Hartford. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
I have delt with USAA Insurance numerous times due to all the IDIOTS on the road that seem to like to hit my vehicles. They have ALWAYS been Polite and Professional on the phone and have made me glad to have them. I love the sales calls that try to say we can save you 20% on your current insurance rates..I let them go through all the work of explaining EVERYTHING to me in detail and then say "I have USAA"...They usually end it right there w/ "We CAN NOT touch those rates"..end of call..lol They are one of the CHEAPEST Insurance companies i have ever had. No one can touch there rates...not even close. I would not ever give them up. my .02 | ||
| Brineusaf |
Well guys... after my last post, in which the rep told me i couldn't get a rental I called the stateside office, had them research my policy, research german laws, ect. The american lady handling my questions put me on hold for a short time, came back and told me I was entitled to a rental under the defendants insurance policy; completely different from what the german "rep" told me. Anyways, this is the situation. I have to coordinate a pickup with the dealer (of my choice) and once the estimate is done they will try to get the work done asap. This is my rental.. keep in mind I asked for a bike rental ... haha... -  I didn't get the bike rental... which is 150Euro a day for Buells, but I did get this nice 2006 Audi A4 Wagon. I'm not paying for it, the lady who hit me is. Figure this might motivate them to speed things up. The claims officer said the damage to my rims didn't occur during the accident. However, I am going to explain what happened to the techs at the dealer, and tell them to get them to pay for EVERYTHING that is even slightly damaged. Can you badwebbers take some pics of your amber wheels for me (with no chips) and maybe if I have to I can play them off as mine if they try to argue with me? My summary of USAA - the americans are more than helpful to me, but the germans seem hesitant to do anything..about anything. I hope this wraps up quickly, and I hope it does so cleanly. | ||
| Ride365 |
Make sure you refer to anyone your having problems with at the insurance office over there in Germany as a FREAGIN NAZI! They just love that!  | ||
| Brineusaf |
I called them dousche bags to the american reps.. they just chuckled. | ||
| Brineusaf |
Odie... you checking the "sponsor section" ? | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I have had nothing but bad vibes with USAA. When I was younger (16) I was on my fathers policy. He had them ever since Nam, and had massive coverage (house, boat, car, 5mil+ umbrella policy, etc...). I got hit badly and ended up totaling my new car. The other driver had no insurance. After much fighting. They wanted to fix the car. The repair place (their recommendation) told them that would be a nightmare. Well After they spent $9k on repairs and it wasn't even close, they finally totaled the car. The worst part was they threatened to cancel my fathers coverage, unless he removed me from his policy. I had to get a separate policy from Progressive (great for cars). I suspect USAA has been resting on their former glory. Because of the type of people who have a policy with them, most people make very minor claims. When something big happens USAA can be worse than Allstate. Brine, have you thought about just paying the lender off, then dealing with bike yourself? I do not know your financial situation, but in a pinch most people could come up with the capital to pay off a bike loan. | ||
| Tq_freak |
If its any help I will try to take some pics of my rims with out the blue plastics in the shots, any angles in particular that you would need? PM me to make sure I get your message | ||
| Buellgirlie |
i like the "rental motorcycle" in the form of a 2006 audi  (nice car) good luck D | ||
| Skyguy |
Why that Audi is looking kinda like a rallye car to me MUahahahahha. Rentals are better than owning. I rented an Opel (Dont laugh it had Brembos, was fast and got 48mpg.) for three weeks in Europe. That was better than buying a rally car. As I was dropping it off I just kept saying to myself "Don't look at the tires, dont't look at the tires". There were chunks missing.................... (Message edited by skyguy on July 22, 2006) | ||
| Toona |
3rd Question was whether or not I had the option of repairing the bike myself, to which the answer was "no", since I have a lein holder the money gets paid to them.. which is retarded... and if there is any leftover then it goes to me. So in order for me to have the bike repaired I have to let the dealer do all the work. Anytime I've had a financed car needing repaired, my Ins. Co. did the same thing, since the "bank/finance co." holds the lein, it's still "their" vehicle. The bank is just protecting itself. My thought on any Ins Co is that they are a "loan company". They loan you the $ to fix it, then they get their $ back by bumping your premium. | ||
| Odie |
Brineusaf- nice rental! Yep, I got your message and I received the box. Thanks much! Hope all goes smoothly with the repairs. P.S. You know nothing ever happens quickly in Germany- just look at all the Herms standing on the side of the road staring into a hole they just dug into a perfectly good paver street drinking a rack of Hefe! Then, they just close the hole back up and go home for the day! I do miss Germany though- had a great time and the people, food and beer were great. | ||
| Jjbuellmech |
I have USAA and have made a house claim due to hurricane Ivan damage. They were awesome. I now have a truck, 2 cars, and a renters policy under USAA. When I call to get bike coverage they said they use progressive as an underwriter for the USAA policies, so its actually progressive with a USAA rate. The quote they gave me was almost 1100 more that GEICO. I had cycle insurance with GEICO in CA years ago, so I went with them. Hope all works out with your situation. | ||
| Brineusaf |
Well... the dealer is being superb (as always) but I am just waiting for approval of the estimate from USAA before they order the parts and start the work. Total Estimate Cost : 3,947.93 Euro I sure hope USAA doesn't try to screw me on this. If they give the "OK" I hope to have the bike back within a month maybe. | ||
| Sgthigg |
Damn that much for just a tip over..wow! | ||
| Brineusaf |
I don't want to go into too much detail until everything is complete; but the dealer is trying to do what insurance is supposed to "repair to previous condition". I will post more after everything is resolved. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Sounds good Kyle, I've got my fingers crossed for you over here. (How long does it take good karma to cross the atlantic? and does it have to go through a customs inspection?  ) | ||
| Brineusaf |
Thanks Brian... if it does go through customs inspection i at least hope they expedite it. Hoping everything comes to an end (a good one) soon. | ||
| Brineusaf |
Ok, so everything was approved.I guess getting parts is going to take 2 weeks and repair at least another week. These are the things being replaced: lever kit/ clutch w/ pivot bolt handlebar spring jiffy stand legweldment, sidestand,xb bracket, sidestand xb footpeg assembly, rider, LH,S gasket primary cover primary cover, magnesium kit, clutch cover and gasket inspection cover and gasket kit axle front shift pedal assembly ram air scoop assy, body,black cover, frame, cosmetic, LH new michelin PP wheel, front, translucent amber bearing, front wheel stem, valve, with cap swingarm, graphite grey w/labe bearing, swingarm wheel,rear, translucent amber bearing, rear wheel stem, valve w/cap + all of the bolts and other small stuff Additionally, they are letting me keep all of the old parts, which means I'll have an extra set of rims to strip down and polish, plus a primary case and swingarm to possibly polish. I'm disappointed it is going to take so long, but I am excited to get the bike back. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
wow. quite a list of parts. sounds like its getting a makeover, and you'll have some good spares. glad to hear it. D | ||
| Diablobrian |
Glad they are fixing it to your satisfaction. Maybe the parts won't take as long as they expect. It could happen. |
