[DeTomaso] BJ Insurance Experience

Wed Jan 27 22:57:18 EST 2010

Being in the insurance business for some 30+ years (life & health)I find it
interesting that Hagerty is a major sponsor of the BJ auction show.  I guess
BJ just wanted a bigger piece of the pie.

Jim Gray

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of michael at michaelshortt.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:24 PM
To: Bill Lewis
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] BJ Insurance Experience

Bill,

I have several policies with them,

The main company is called Delp.

They also use Chartis, Private client Group/AIU

and Ohio Causality

As stated, I have my regular cars, my collector cars, my motorcycles, my
house, a 1 million liability umbrella, my business insurance ( both contents
and liability and inland Marine ( for a production company )

I think each company listed above has a different element of my business,
yet and this is also an attractive feature, I have one entity to pay and one
contact person to handle my questions.

and more importantly, I have received a settlement from them without a
single problem caused by their side.

Michael Shortt

On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 10:14 PM, Bill Lewis <lotus0005 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>  Does anyone know what company that write with?  Surely, they are not
"the"
> company?  Best rating?  --Bill
> You 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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Michael L. Shortt
> > > Savannah, Georgia
> > > www.michaelshortt.com
> > > michael at michaelshortt.com
> > > 912-232-9390
> > >
> > >
> > > This email is protected by the Electronic Communications Privacy
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> > > that any retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this
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> you
> > > have received this message in error, then delete it. Thank you
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-- 

Michael L. Shortt
Savannah, Georgia
www.michaelshortt.com
michael at michaelshortt.com
912-232-9390

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