The $18,751 Increased Settlement Story
Don't Settle Without a Professional Opinion
Don't Settle Without a Professional Opinion
Don't Settle Without a Professional Opinion
I was happy to get called to take a look at this claim. The insurance company was eager to settle and had a check ready. The owner was overwhelmed and ready to put the loss behind them. With a quick review, I knew I could help. I asked them to hire me as their advocate.
Insurance Companies Don't Make The Rules
Don't Settle Without a Professional Opinion
Don't Settle Without a Professional Opinion
After gathering data and speaking with the claims specialist, the process began.
In this case, a dash fire had destroyed the odometer. The adjusters assumed mileage formula wasn't acceptable. We started there. An average mileage formula and service documentation returned a new, slightly increased offer.
What Does The Market Say?
The Appraisal Clause Where The Facts Prevail
The Appraisal Clause Where The Facts Prevail
The comparables provided by the claims specialist were not only based on the previous odometer, but they contained discrepancies. I pointed out the inaccuracies and provided a few comparables on the owners behalf. A kind, but firm letter requesting a new look at the values and market conditions returned a new offer. Their "highest possible offer".
The Appraisal Clause Where The Facts Prevail
The Appraisal Clause Where The Facts Prevail
The Appraisal Clause Where The Facts Prevail
Unfortunately, their "final offer" didn't match the values I was finding. It wasn't even close. Consumers have the right to challenge any settlement value and hire an Appraiser to prove their case. The Appraisal Clause was invoked and I was hired to provide a comprehensive professional appraisal. This added a couple of weeks to the proces
Unfortunately, their "final offer" didn't match the values I was finding. It wasn't even close. Consumers have the right to challenge any settlement value and hire an Appraiser to prove their case. The Appraisal Clause was invoked and I was hired to provide a comprehensive professional appraisal. This added a couple of weeks to the process, but it proved to be worthwhile. A fair settlement was agreed upon and the owner was shocked. The value was determined to be $18,751 higher than originally proposed.