Allstate’s “Christmas Present” for 2003

My complaint against Allstate also imvolves what they call one of their pro shops Fort Mill Ford Motor Company. They have a flim/flam game going on. I was in Charleston SC on August 10, 2003 sitting at a red light waiting for it to turn when this girl in a red honda civic hit me from behind.

I glanced up and saw her in the rear view mirrow and then I put the car in park and proceeded to get out. She then hit me again, this time pushing me into the car in front of me. She did this to get away, she cut across traffic and drove through a parking lot almost hitting two other cars. The ladies in those cars got her license plates.

Several cars, including the police went searching for her but she was long gone. The sheriff’s deputy ran her tags and that is how we found out she had insurance with Allstate. I managed to drive the car home but it was making a horrible noise under the hood.

The next day I turned in the green form as required by South Carolina law to our insurance company (State Farm) We were advised since we knew the insurance company of the hit and run(and they were liable according to police report) we should contact them to have our car fixed and avoid any out of the pocket (deductable) costs. I called Allstate and was given a claim number. Within two days I received a call from one of their agents Doris Simpkins out of the Charleston office.

She wanted to record what had happened. I had no problem with telling the truth. I had witness names and numbers which I also gave her.

She made an appointment with their adjustor here in Rock Hill, SC three days later. I had no reason to think that this was not in good faith. We drove the car to the adjustor Brian Peckerd…..he made a damage report on the back and front of the car.

When we brought up the internal damage he said he did not know anything about any of that. He lied and told us that when we carried the car to Fort Mill Ford they would inspect the internal damage and call them for approval to fix it. He also lied about a rent a car, he told us he could just go ahead and give us the money then to pay for it or we could direct bill.

We trusted him and told him direct bill was fine. He gave us a check for the external damage. The first moment we realized all was not as it seemed was when we got home that day.

We called the Ford people and they told us to bring the car over so we called Enterprise (that was who Brian Peckard told us to get a rent a car from) and they told us they needed Allstate’s approval to give us a car. Allstate then denied telling us they would pay for rent a car. We were told when Ford got parts we would get one.

In the meantime we did go to Ford because we were afraid to drive car. Their mechanic were not sure what was wrong but we were advised not to drive it. Now this is on a Friday night and we have no car to get to work.

We carried the car to Pep Boys to see if it was something simple we could get fixed (we thought Allstate would reimburse us) Pep Boys told us the pulley was broken that held the water pump in place. We told them to go ahead and fix it. They did.

We were out $60.74. We drove the car to work on Saturday but Sunday and Monday it was not driven. Tuesday, Ford had parts and we carried car to them.

Allstate did allow us a rent a car at that tme.. Even though we were starting to feel a little nervous about them we still trusted them at this point. Ford kept the car until Friday of that week.

We picked it up and asked about the internal damages. Ford told us they did not check for any other damages. We wanted to know why.

They told us that they could only fix what Allstate told them too. We told the shop then what the adjustor (Peckerd) had told us. They refused to look for any other damage.

We also noticed the back bumper did not seem to fit or else the frame was bent. They assured us it was the right bumper. We left a bit upset because the bumper was off a good two inches making the car look wierd plus it didn’t have the wording on it.

We drove the car home and tried to call Allstate to complain, not only about the bumper not right but because it was not check for internal damage as we were told it would be. No one returned our call. This was on Friday.

On Saturday night the engine light came on. We carried it to Pep Boys. They told us ignition wires were broken.

They repaired the car on Sunday. We were out $335.33. Once again a call was made to Allstate, no return call.

In meantime my daughter and both had some serious health problems because of being slammed against the headrest twice. I was also slammed into the steering column on the second hit because I had been trying to get out of the car, not expecting a hit and run for sure. Both of us were under health care.

During a dizzy spell I fell and broke my wrist (which i just found out I have permanent nerve damage in my little finger and thumb (there are no feelings and I cannot use either) We were still placing calls to Allstate about reinbursement but no call backs. We go out to Ford, they refuse to help because Allstate will not allow them to. I say that because I sit down with the Ford adjuster (Buddy Jackson) and the AllState adjustor (Ron Mallory)….Ford told me they could not fix anything unless Allstate told them too and Allstate said unless Ford said it was wreck related they would not fix it.

I’m getting ahead of myself the engine light had come on again. We had checked with Pep Boys and they told us there was too much internal damage and they would not touch it. They told us that there was no doubt it was wreck related.

I brought this up in the meeting and they laughed at Pep Boys, said Allstate would only approve a Pro Shop. Ford mechanics looked at the car, everything in the steering column is broken, there is no horn (it’s missing), the cruise control does not work, the clock spring (airbag) is missing and the speedometer is not working. Allstate (Ron Mallory) agreed that the horn was probably wreck related and they would replace that…(around $50) but refused to fix the other.

It doesn’t seem to matter that its all right together and my shoulder was thrown into the steering column when I tried to get out of the car. So, for the past few weeks we have called Allstate constantly, when I do get someone they tell me point blank they are not going to fix the car because Ford did not tell them it was wreck related. Ford tells me they cannot fix it because Allstate will not approve.

So its a stand off and we are talking about $2000 worth of repairs. Now back to bumper. We continously questioned Ford about why the back bumper did not look right.

The manager there (Noil ?) told us that the bumper was not made anymore (this is a Escort ZX2 1998) Allstate was still refusing our calls. I received a call the other night from a consumer advocate representing Ford wanting to know if we were satisfied with our repairs. I told him all about the problems and he said we were lied to.

He said that bumper is available. Also he said we were getting a run a round and he was going to notify Ford Motor Company about the situation because it all sounded a little strange to him. The next day I called Ford again and I told them what this man had told me……..well Noil (the manager) then told me that the bumper was not right.

He said that Allstate would not pay for the right bumper. He was more than a little ugly accusing me of putting them in the middle…….duh, what about us having a car we cannot drive. He told me he would have Ron Mallory (Allstate adjustor that hangs around Ford) call me. Well, he did not call me. Early the next morning (I was aweken by this call……it was that early) by Brian Peckerd’s boss.

This woman was the tackiest person I have ever talked to. She told me that Allstate had no intention of fixing anything because Ford did not tell them it was wreck related. She didn’t even know the car was hit in front too.

apparently she doesn’t read reports too well. When I brought up Pep Boys and told her how much we had already spent and that their mechanics said it was wreck related she started laughing. She said she could not take their word because they sold products.

 

I proceeded to tell her that Ford sold products too. She then told me they didn’t have a garage. I proceeded to tell her they had 6 bays plus had been in business since the 1920s.

This is when she told me she didn’t like my attitude. I told her I didn’t like hers either. That is when she told she did not have to talk to me and hung up.

So, here we are almost two months after a client of Allstate hit us and ran and we don’t have a car to drive. I’m in the process of trying to find an attorney who is not afraid to take on Allstate and Fort Mill Ford. They are both lying and cheating.

I just got my cast off and the bruises are fading. My daughter will have to be in PT for awhile. I will continue to call them constantly.