Sunshine? Or a train?
We shall see.
Got a call this morning from a nice lady with Safeway. Seems that there IS an insurance company involved! Exchanged pleasantries, and she got out the tape recorder. Basic information--name, rank, serial number. Oddly enough, she asked if the accident happened on June 10. Uh, well--no.
Went on to describe the events as they occurred, that I'd already authorized the Volvo shop to go ahead and fix the car, and that the bill for the engine work was $625.01, but that there was still the issue of the bumper damage that, although minor, still needed attention. Got through with factual matters, then in my closing remarks noted the various attempts I'd made to contact SOMEone to pay for this. Gave her the policy number I'd been given, and oddly enough, she says that IS the right number, and explained that maybe the Alabama office thought it was an Alabama policy. Which is odd, because I would have thought that all policy numbers were unique, just to keep down any confusion. And it had an "MS" in the middle, too. Peculiar.
Recounted my repeated polite calls to the driver for information, then the call from the driver's father telling me NOT to call his daughter ANY more, and that I really would like to have my car back as soon as possible.
Oddly enough, she still didn't have a copy of the accident report. Even though they are available online. And the other driver could have gotten one the same way I did, by going over to the police department. So I was very nice and faxed her a copy.
Now then.
Well.
Hmm.
I guess I wait and see what happens.
I wonder what that odd, high-pitched sound is? And that odd rumbling?
Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 20, 2007 10:44 AMLooks as though you may be OK after all. I spent some time searching the Internet and couldn't turn up anything negative about Safeway--they have an A.M. Best rating of "A" so they can definitely PAY your claim. I realize customer service and financial strength are not necessarily synonymous but we can always hope!
Posted by: Stan at June 20, 2007 11:45 AMYes, they'd make a great stock investment, because as you say, they seem to be QUITE solvent. But there are plenty of stories out there about slow payment and rude and insolent customer service folks. So far, I'm batting .333 with them. The lady I talked to today seems to be doing right, but the day is still young.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 20, 2007 11:55 AMGlad to hear things may be getting better. I still wonder why you got the run-around about insurance carrier, policy number, agent's name, etc. from the other party.
BTW, how's the Volvo? You didn't want to attempt the repairs in your driveway? It seems from your past posts, you're a pretty good mechanic and haven't shied away from 2-3 banana jobs.
Posted by: BillW at June 20, 2007 02:16 PMThe engine is fixed. They got it done yesterday after about five hours of work or so. The problem with doing it myself is that it's a tedious job with not a lot of hand clearance on one side of the engine. I know how to do it, and what needed done, and have all the necessary tools, but I wasn't really in the mood to do it myself. And it would still have required another tow charge from the dealer to my house.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 20, 2007 02:55 PM