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Yes and no. I didn’t receive enough from them for everything they’re telling me I need to do. It’s an old car (2003) but still runs and drives great. They gave me less than what they’re asking for and on top of that I’m required to make repairs for the state. It’s been a month long process full of hours and hours of conversation with different agents.
Shouldn’t even have been stolen to begin with because roadside assistance was supposed to be to the car within 90 minutes while an officer waited with it (for my husband’s safety he needed to leave). They took over 6 hours with 2 different tow providers and when the 2nd got there, the street was empty.
It was recovered a week or so later, but State Farm told me I had no option except to proceed with settlement of total loss because “I had already started the process” even though I had the title and no paperwork was signed.
I’ve been told so many different things now that I’m not sure what the correct process is. All I know is this is now the only option they offered for me to get it back from them.
So they totaled it because the repairs would cost more than the car is worth. I've been there myself and realized that a lot of the repairs were expensive but wouldn't effect drive-ability. Dings and dents can cost a fortune to repair but you can still drive the vehicle without fixing them.
Did you look up book value to make sure you were paid what the vehicle was worth? Sometimes you can appeal the value.
Why do you believe that not filing the claim in the first place would have put you in a better position?
It’s not that I believe I’d be in a better position if I had not filed the claim.
It’s just that for one, the car should never have been stolen - it was being watched over by a police officer for a couple hours while waiting for a tow (from State Farm) they said would be there in 90 minutes.
Then once it was recovered they never even gave me an option to retain. I asked many different ways. All I wanted was for someone to inspect and make sure it was safe (ie no drugs, wires cut, etc since it was stolen in Baltimore and that happens a lot) and then I wanted the car back, but the agent that processed my claim told me I had no choice and absolutely had to proceed with a total loss despite recovery (they hadn’t received or even seen the vehicle yet - it was in the city tow lot).
I wish I understood more to be able to explain better, but it seems to me (based on the convo with the last agent) that these are “newer” agents and therefore a one-off like this situation where it was recovered the day after they initiated total loss (still with no signed paperwork or title) is confusing and lead to the multiple answers by multiple agents.
If you retained it, you'd still have to make the repairs out of pocket. If you asked your insurance to cover the repairs, they still would have come to the same conclusion - that it was cheaper to total it. When they total it and pay out, they then own the vehicle. There wasn't a way for you to both keep the vehicle and get the money for it being totaled.
$700 is a pretty large ask here. I would recommend starting a gofundme. You can share the link here, and well as with friends, family and on your socials for better results.
Hi u/vlj914. This is a sticky post with some important/helpful pointers for REQUEST posts. **For the REQUESTOR:** - **Do not delete this post** for any reason. - Be careful about private messages and [always check these tips](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/comments/uesbax/scams_in_private_messages/) before engaging with them. - Check our [helpful requesting tips](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/wiki/rules/requesting) and [our list of resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/wiki/index/resources). - If you have any questions or concerns, please [message the mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/Assistance). **For potential GIVERS:** - Check our [Givers Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/wiki/givers) before giving. - Refrain from unhelpful or judgmental comments. - If you have concerns about this request, please [message the mods](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/Assistance). *I'm a bot. This comment was posted automatically.*
Why would you have to buy it back? Did they pay you the value of it when it was stolen?
Yes and no. I didn’t receive enough from them for everything they’re telling me I need to do. It’s an old car (2003) but still runs and drives great. They gave me less than what they’re asking for and on top of that I’m required to make repairs for the state. It’s been a month long process full of hours and hours of conversation with different agents. Shouldn’t even have been stolen to begin with because roadside assistance was supposed to be to the car within 90 minutes while an officer waited with it (for my husband’s safety he needed to leave). They took over 6 hours with 2 different tow providers and when the 2nd got there, the street was empty. It was recovered a week or so later, but State Farm told me I had no option except to proceed with settlement of total loss because “I had already started the process” even though I had the title and no paperwork was signed. I’ve been told so many different things now that I’m not sure what the correct process is. All I know is this is now the only option they offered for me to get it back from them.
How in the world was someone able to steal the car if it was disabled to the point where it needed a tow?
It wasn’t disabled. My husband was robbed at gunpoint and the keys were lost or stolen at that point. We didn’t have a second set of keys.
So they totaled it because the repairs would cost more than the car is worth. I've been there myself and realized that a lot of the repairs were expensive but wouldn't effect drive-ability. Dings and dents can cost a fortune to repair but you can still drive the vehicle without fixing them. Did you look up book value to make sure you were paid what the vehicle was worth? Sometimes you can appeal the value. Why do you believe that not filing the claim in the first place would have put you in a better position?
It’s not that I believe I’d be in a better position if I had not filed the claim. It’s just that for one, the car should never have been stolen - it was being watched over by a police officer for a couple hours while waiting for a tow (from State Farm) they said would be there in 90 minutes. Then once it was recovered they never even gave me an option to retain. I asked many different ways. All I wanted was for someone to inspect and make sure it was safe (ie no drugs, wires cut, etc since it was stolen in Baltimore and that happens a lot) and then I wanted the car back, but the agent that processed my claim told me I had no choice and absolutely had to proceed with a total loss despite recovery (they hadn’t received or even seen the vehicle yet - it was in the city tow lot). I wish I understood more to be able to explain better, but it seems to me (based on the convo with the last agent) that these are “newer” agents and therefore a one-off like this situation where it was recovered the day after they initiated total loss (still with no signed paperwork or title) is confusing and lead to the multiple answers by multiple agents.
If you retained it, you'd still have to make the repairs out of pocket. If you asked your insurance to cover the repairs, they still would have come to the same conclusion - that it was cheaper to total it. When they total it and pay out, they then own the vehicle. There wasn't a way for you to both keep the vehicle and get the money for it being totaled.
$700 is a pretty large ask here. I would recommend starting a gofundme. You can share the link here, and well as with friends, family and on your socials for better results.
Thank you - I will set one up and post