So last Friday night I went to a restaurant here in Korea Town where valet is pretty much your only option for parking.

Handed the guy my key, went in to go eat with 6 of my friends.

Came out, valet just handed my key to me and said "your car is over there."

I walk around my car to check for damage...and I find a small crack in my front lip thanks to the driver hitting the parking block.

I walk over to where the valet owner is standing and I let him know what's up, and he goes into a back room and grabs the other 2 valet guys.

We're looking at the damage, and he asks me if I can remember who was driving my car. I say no, because unfortunately they all look the same..

He hands me his card, with his name and number on it, and mentions he's the owner and that once I get an estimate, to give him a call. He and the others walk away.

I call up my insurance company right there to file a claim. Took photos with a disposable.

So after about one hour of photos and going through the claim process, my friends and I decide it's time to leave.

On Monday when insurance calls me, they let me know where I can go to have my lip checked out for an estimate. We schedule this for Thursday (yesterday).

I go in and get my lip checked out...only to find out they can't find the Aero Kit piece. She thinks it's aftermarket. I told her "this is OEM...guaranteed. It's on Mitsu's website and the car came like this from the dealer."

She stated "the dealer gets the car stock and then they add aftermarket parts to it to make it more flashy."

Couple times back and fourth, I ask "alright...how much am I getting?"

"Well, since we can only reimburse you for OEM parts, we can give you $296." (Minus my deductible of $250, so I'm getting $46).

So here's the problem: AAA Insurance can't contact Valet, and mention "this is not a common situation for us." So because they can't get Valet on the phone, I'm still held accountable for the deductible.

Suggestions...please. This sh** is p*ssing me off and an incompetent inspector doesn't make it any better (nor does an incompetent insurance company).



And this part of my car is now actually bulging out:


(And P.S. this story has so much more to it...like: my insurance company can't even write checks out to my name, only my relatives. Although I'm the name on the insurance for this car and on the registration for this car.)

 

The part that bulging just pushes back in. I pop mine out when I hit cones at autocrosses.

Not sure what to do with the bumper though!

 

call the valet dude back and ask him to cover the deductible? get a new insurance company?

you said aaa is your insurer? they sound pretty horrible =/

doesn't the MR come standard with the front lip? Could you argue that its not after market, since its standard equipment on your car (just in different trims)?

 

dude, thats an OEM part. I replaced mine due to damage in a parking lot too. I can get you details once I find my paperwork. The replacement cost me about 600 to 800 (insurance of-course).

 

1) surely you have the original document from when you bought the car that has the aero kit listed on it along with the price. they can then call the dealer and confirm that it is in fact OEM and not aftermarket. and an evo doesnt have to "look more flash" so you need to slap that hoe.

2) not sure if t his helps but

http://www.oemmitsubishiparts.com/pa...358&startrow=1


id try to find the exact aero kit online and point them in that direction


http://www.oemmitsubishiparts.com/pa...358&startrow=1


the fact that they cant "find the aero kit" sounds like BS.

 

Why are you going through your ins company? The valet [company] did the damage so they should be paying for it. It's your ins company's job to pursue the valet, not your job.

As far as OEM parts, just raise an objection and get your issue moved up the ladder to someone that is intelligent enough to read.

Generally checks are paid to either the lean holder or owner. But that's up to how your specific policy reads.

 

why don't you go back to the valet and have him file a claim under his insurance? or have him buy you a new lip, simple as that

it's hard to tell from that pic, but is the lip a different color than the car?

 

Yeah I've been planning on going back...but I'm sure as hell what I'm going to hear is "who are you? you never parked here."

But I told the restaurant owner so I sort of have someone on my side to back me up here.

And no not a different color.

 

well just bring the card and be like you handed me this when you crashed my car

 

What year is it?

 

WTF?

 

This is between your insurance company and the valet who did the damage. A company that parks cars for a living must have some kind of insurance coverage to handle situations such as these. You don't pay your premium every month to do their job for them. You gave them the information so now it's their turn to do what you pay them for. Make it very clear to them that you want this taken care of and you want your check for the damges sooner rather than later.

As far as the OEM front lip is concerened its price is listed right on MMNA's website so you can direct them there and don't forget to have them add in labor as well.

Insurance companies don't get rich by paying claims readily so don't be afraid to lean on them hard.

 

Damn dude that sucks hope you get it solved. Go after the Valet guys.

 

wouldnt even go through insurance. just get an estimate from the dealer and have the valet company pay

 

valet company should have their own insurance to cover their f**ups