Safeway Insurance Company ripoff giving runaround claim that was clear liability on the other party Alpharetta Georgia

On January 29, 2003 I was rearended by a insured of Safeway Ins. Co. I contacted Safeway on January 30th and was informed that the other party was not insured by them. I contacted the Agent for the other party, Taurus Insurance, and was informed that the person did have coverage with Safeway and that they would call me back.

I received a call from the agent, Bob Vanhook, and was instructed to call Safeway again and they should be able to handle the claim. My vehicle was not driveable and I was already in a rental vehicle. When I called Safeway back, I spoke with a Marlene Haggerty who would not say one way or the other if the person did have insurance but wanted to fax me some forms to complete. I then asked her if the person did have insurance. She then proceeded to tell me that the policy for the other party had not been issued and it could take a couple of weeks and that I might want to go ahead and file it on my insurance.

I told her that I had a policy number for the other party and she gave me the statement that a new policy had to be issued and she would have to wait until the policy was issued before she could do anything. After I became pretty persisstant, she stated that she would check with her insured and get back with me.

I called back the next day and she told me she had talked to their insured and she stated it was a clear case of liability on their part and it was now just a matter of issuing the policy so they could cut a check for the repairs to my vehicle. I then asked her about the rental and she stated they will only pay $20. per day. I informed her that I was in a rental for $25. per day. She stated she would work with me on the rental.

The beginning of the next week, I called and spoke with Marlene again but this time her story was different. She stated that liability on the part of their insured had not be established and that she could not agree to pay anything until she completed her investigation. She also stated that she had to verify that the other party was insured by them. Again, she suggested that I file it with my insurance company.

I eventually did call my insurance company and reported the situation. They stated they would call Safeway and verify if the other party did or did not have insurance. When they called, Safeway informed the that the other party was not insured by them. Mind you, I spoke with the Agency that received payment for the other party's insurance premium and they had called Safeway and was told that the policy just had not been issued and they were in the process of doing so.

I'm confused, do they have insurance or not. Well it gets better. A few days later, I received a call from an adjuster, Will Little, from Safeway who has gone and looked at my vehicle and tells me that my car is totalled, that he has assessed repairs of over $8600 and there could be possible hidden damage and that someone from Safeway would contact me concerning the Actual cash value of my car. I informed him that my insurance company was handling this matter. I have heard nothing else from Safeway since.

I spoke with the adjuster from my ins. co and he informed me that my car does not appear to be totalled and looks to be repairable.

My concern is not just for me but also for the people that Safeway insure. If people are paying premiums for coverage and not getting adequate service, it also places them in a bad way. I have filed a complaint with the Georgia Insurance Commission and suggest that anyone else who has dealt with Safeway, do the same. This has to stop somewhere. Why pay for insurance and then can't get adequate coverage for an auto accident that was not even your fault. Insurance is a promise to pay. That's why it's called coverage. Why should you pay a premium and then be misrepresented by the company that you have given your money to.

We have to bring as much attention to this insurance company as possible. They should not be allowed to get away with this and I intend to do all that I can to see that something is done.

Beverly
Lithonia, Georgia
U.S.A.

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Safeway Insurance