[DeTomaso] BJ Insurance Experience

Wed Jan 27 22:14:08 EST 2010

Does anyone know what company that write with?  Surely, they are not "the" company?  Best rating?  --BillYou know he old saying, "Too good to be true...."

> From: julian_kift at hotmail.com
> To: michael at michaelshortt.com; detomaso at realbig.com
> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:58:04 -0800
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] BJ Insurance Experience
> 
> 
> Well based on your experience and the fact my insurance policy is due for renewal Feb 1st I gave BJ's endorsed insurer a chance to quote.....
>  
> They came back with a quote almost half my current insurer (American Collectors) and in addition the mandatory $1K deductible on the 'kit' cars that American had has been reduced to zero, plus I incresed the agreed values by a combined total of $30K as American also imposed a limit on certain cars which didn't cover the full replacement value of the Ultima.
> 
>  
> 
> Interestingly the BJ insuranc is split into two policies a iability portion and a classic collection physical damage.
> 
>  
> 
> Gonna read the fine print and likely sign on the dotted line......
> 
>  
> 
> Julian
>  
> > From: michaelsavga at gmail.com
> > Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:30:56 -0500
> > To: detomaso at realbig.com
> > Subject: [DeTomaso] BJ Insurance Experience
> > 
> > I referred to this in an earlier email today, so here's the whole story.
> > 
> > Early last year I received a flyer from Barrett-Jackson that they were going
> > to start insuring (through a partnerships with others) Classic Cars.
> > Since my Hagerty Insurance would be expiring in a couple of months I thought
> > I would give them an opportunity to provide a quote.
> > They were super polite, eager to have my business and seemed overtly excited
> > about cars and the people who drive them, a very different experience than I
> > was accustomed, even with Hagerty personnel.
> > 
> > Their quote was approximately $300.00 per year LESS for my small collection
> > of 4 "Special Interest" cars, the Pantera, the MB 450SL, The 944 and the
> > 1970 Mustang Mach 1.Then I asked if they also wrote insurance on regular
> > cars, the answer was again YES, I asked them to quote the Magnum RT, the
> > Excursion and my wife's CRV, they saved me another $300.00 per year over
> > AllState. Then I asked if they could also provide Motorcycle Insurance,
> > they said yes! I was with Progressive Insurance, The BJ quote was 50.00 a
> > year cheaper PLUS I now had agreed upon value, since the bike cost $12,995
> > new and I added a bunch of stuff to it ( about 4K total ), I selected
> > $13,199 in agreed upon value coverage given that the bike was already 5
> > years old, Generous to be sure, but it only had only 2,700 miles on it).
> > Then I asked if they wrote Business insurance and darn if the answer wasn't
> > YES again, in fact, their insurance referral person worked with me for over
> > a week to ensure that I got everything I wanted for a very specialized type
> > of business, it includes $2,000,000 liability, water, fire, theft, E & O,
> > vandalism and $250,000 in contents plus $2,000,000 inland marine ( for a
> > production company ) for general insurance, equipment rentals, projects in
> > production and location coverage. All combined was over $2,000 per year
> > cheaper than what I had been paying. Still not finished, our house
> > insurance was coming up for renewal, AllState again, and I gave BJ an
> > opportunity to quote it as well. They came back with a quote with more
> > coverage, including riders for guns, jewelry and cameras and were still over
> > $2,000 per year cheaper. The only thing they wouldn't insure was my wife's
> > fancy sewing machine/computer ( Bernina ) because they said they didn't have
> > any history with a $15,000 sewing machine on which to base their quote.
> > 
> > To say that I am believer in BJ's new insurance program would be an
> > vast understatement, within 6 months they had all of our insurance coverage
> > except for life and health,. All combined as a result of switching to BJ, I
> > am saving over $4,500 a year.
> > 
> > Doubters out there, keep reading. All well and good since the money was
> > going one way so far. Then came October 3rd.
> > 
> > Some of you may remember that I reported a motorcycle mishap in TN, the VTX
> > was damaged and my ankle broken.
> > I called BJ the next day from TN, they asked if I was OK first. Sweet!
> > Then we talked about the bike, I explained what happened and they said to
> > get a quote for repairs, so I took the bike to a local Honda dealer
> > in TN while I was there to get a repair quote.
> > 
> > I had no idea my ankle was broken, I just knew that it hurt. I make the
> > drive back to Georgia with the VTX on a trailer
> > (same way it got there) and parked it in my garage. BJ called again after I
> > sent the quote and photos to them and informed
> > me that they needed to send an adjuster to see the bike in person since the
> > repair quote was over $5,800.
> > No problem, he was coming in 2 days, he came, he inspected, he took photos
> > and was very, very nice.
> > 
> > Meanwhile, my ankle had now turned black and blue I finally went to the Dr.
> > 6 days later, had it X-rayed and to my surprise
> > my tibia was in 2 pieces! I was awarded both the "Ironman" award for
> > walking, riding and driving 14 hours using my broken ankle as the gas foot
> > and the "Moron" award for the same feats ( no pun intended).
> > 
> > Two days later, BJ called me back and let me know two things, one that my
> > Dr. office called and I had 10,000 in medical coverage for my ankle expenses
> > and 2) that they were going to total my VTX since the book value was
> > now only 6,000.
> > If this had been Progressive several months earlier, I would have had a
> > $1,500 deductible and received approximately $4,500 and had to give up the
> > remains of my bike. Not much I could have done with that to replace my
> > bike.
> > 
> > But this was BJ Insurance, I was told that I would be getting the agreed
> > upon settlement amount of $13,199
> > 
> > My mouth fell open.
> > 
> > I have never totaled anything in my life, my deductible was ZERO.
> > 
> > I asked how much it would cost for me to buy back the remains of my bike,
> > they called back in two hours and told me $1,000.
> > 
> > I said, yes to that and then the paperwork started to flow. All I had to do
> > was mail them my license plate and title and I would be paid in a few days.
> > 
> > It took 9 weeks to settle the claim, 8 weeks of that was my fault and I'll
> > explain why.
> > 
> > 1) I couldn't find the title ( stupid )
> > 
> > 2) The lovely state of Georgia said that I could order a new title and it
> > could be there in 3-4 weeks......oh no, wait.
> > 
> > Nope sorry, we can't do that either because we show that the bike has a lien
> > against it from American Honda Finance.
> > 
> > I said that the bike was paid for in full 6 months after I bought it
> > and they said that before I could get a new title, I needed a letter from
> > American Honda showing payment in full - no faxes and no emails on AHFC
> > letterhead and stamped by a notary.
> > 
> > So I called them and 2 1/2 weeks later, the letter shows up and was sent to
> > the good folks at the State of Georgia
> > and 5 weeks after that I got a new title. That was mailed to BJ with the
> > license plate.
> > 
> > one week after that I got a check for $12,199.
> > 
> > Meanwhile, I fixed the old bike myself for about $2,700 in parts (eBay and
> > my brother who can get Honda parts at dealer cost) and $700.00
> > for repainting the tank and fenders.
> > 
> > The bike was set up with a sissy bar, saddlebags, etc. so that my wife could
> > ride with me, so the balance of the settlement payment went to
> > buy a new (year old model) VTX1800Neo (probably the last one in the country
> > since the VTX1800Neo was discontinued in 2008 that I found one on eBay from
> > a dealer who liquidates Honda's warehouse / closed out models) which is set
> > up as a single seater.
> > 
> > So as a result of the accident, very unplanned, I now have 2 bikes ( family
> > style and solo style ) instead of 1, a healed ankle and a heck of a story to
> > prove that BJ insurance rocks!
> > 
> > And yes after the old bike was DMV inspected and given a new title
> > and plates, BJ accepted and insured it again.
> > I changed the stated value on it to $10,000, because now it's 7 years old
> > (even though it looks better than ever).
> > 
> > My wife accused me of insurance fraud because she couldn't believe that it
> > all worked out the way that it did, esp. because now there are 2 bikes in
> > the garage instead of 1, and I'm smiling like the Cheshire Cat ( except when
> > it rains, then the ankle still hurts a bit).
> > 
> > To answer the question asked earlier, if my car had been consigned to R & S
> > and been crushed under the collapsed tent this week,
> > I would have been paid $65,000 (my stated value coverage), less whatever the
> > buy back price would be if I wanted to get it back.
> > 
> > 
> > If I had bought a car at auction, it will be automatically insured for 14
> > days at the purchase price level until such time that
> > I request a different value and agreed to the quoted premium. So, if the
> > tent had fallen on my new purchase, I would not have suffered any financial
> > loss at all.
> > 
> > Michael Shortt
> > Savannah, Georgia
> > 
> > two more things,
> > 
> > First, I highly recommend BJ Insurance, I would encourage all of you to let
> > them quote your toys and more. My new prem notice arrived last week and
> > it did NOT go up at all as a result of the reported loss, only by the amount
> > of the 2nd motorcycle that was added to the policy.
> > 
> > Secondly, please know where your titles are located and make sure that if
> > you ever finance a car or bike that you not only notify the state DMV and
> > send a copy of the release, you should just go ahead and get a new title
> > issued that doesn't show any liens at all to avoid confusion in the
> > future. The title that you are sent by the lien holder after a pay off with
> > the cool little PAID or RELEASED stamped on it is NOT recorded with the
> > state DMV.
> > 
> > After this whole learning experience, I took all of my car and bike titles
> > back to the DMV office and paid $8.00 each to have new titles issued showing
> > no history of previous owners, liens, banks, etc. Just in case...
> > 
> > This is my BJ contact, she's amazing, sweet, thoughtful, very professional
> > and even called to check on my ankle recovery several times. Has your Car
> > Insurance agent EVER done that in your whole life?
> > 
> > Amy Spengler
> > ASpengler at delpcompany.com
> > Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Ins.-Servicing Agent
> > The Delp Company
> > 1440 Arrowhead Drive
> > Maumee, OH 43537
> > 419-794-1080
> > 877-545-2522
> > 
> > 
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> > 
> > -- 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Michael L. Shortt
> > Savannah, Georgia
> > www.michaelshortt.com
> > michael at michaelshortt.com
> > 912-232-9390
> > 
> > 
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