# Thieves, Insurance companies, $500 per-incident deductibles, and suckiness **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 31, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599 "2006-10-31T17:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/21 "2006-10-31T19:29:29Z")
[QUOTE=dinahmoe] Many insurance companies use a complete claims history when writing a new policy. Even if the claim was with another company, it’s still part of the insured’s claims history. [/QUOTE] Even so, hitting a deer is no reason to \*force \* you to have inadquate coverage. It’s not an 'at fault" accident. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/22 "2006-10-31T19:29:51Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Well, obviously you can’t really hold a deer liable, but if a deer runs into you, then why isn’t it the deer’s fault? If a child runs in front of your car and you’re unable to stop, then the resulting collision is the child’s fault, regardless of whether you can hold the child accountable. [/QUOTE] An accident with an animal is classed as comprehensive rather than collision and by definition has no fault. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/23 "2006-10-31T19:54:41Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] For the record, I am female, but I wear men’s clothing and like to much carpet, and it really doesn’t matter anyway. [/QUOTE] I don’t know what that has to do with the price of tea in china but if it is true shouldn’t your name be ComeTotheDarkSideWeHave **Toasters**? 😛 Sorry you got robbed and sorry Geiko sucks. (Even if it is not for the reasons you stated) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/24 "2006-10-31T19:56:47Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] I repeat. We didn’t cheerfully accept shit. We took the only option that wasn’t prohibitively expensive and still provided sufficient coverage for a major accident. [/quote] I don’t know why you’re balking at this simple concept. You “cheerfully” hand over your money to a robber if the alternative is getting shot. You “cheerfully” change a tire in the freezing rain if the alternative is being stranded. The “cheerfully” in these sentences is not intended to suggest you were dancing and singing – merely that you made a choice to do something based on the best of the alternatives you had to choose from. > [@](#): > > Someone explain to me the justification for an Insurance Company increasing premiums based on a prior collision with a deer when the driver was insured by a different company? > > I can understand increasing premiums if a driver is at fault. I do not understand the blanket assumption that because a deer was hit, the driver is somehow more of a risk. > > It was because we hit the deer that we got stuck with the $500 deductible. Suppose statistics were to show that drivers that hit deer once were more likely to be involved in future accidents? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/25 "2006-10-31T20:09:08Z")
I’m a bit surprised, as I’ve had Geico insurance for a while and so far they’ve replaced two windshields for me at $50 a pop. That’s their special glass deductible – my regular deductible is of course much higher than that. I don’t remember signing up for any special windshield coverage, just basic collision and comprehensive. You might call them and find out why you aren’t eligible for the lower glass deductible and/or if you can sign up for better glass coverage. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/26 "2006-10-31T20:15:38Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] An accident with an animal is classed as comprehensive rather than collision and by definition has no fault. [/QUOTE] I was speaking in literal terms, rather than legal or insurance terms. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/27 "2006-10-31T20:23:43Z")
Why aren’t you pitting the person who held the gun to your head when you signed up with Geico? ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/28 "2006-10-31T21:25:50Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] I don’t know what that has to do with the price of tea in china but if it is true shouldn’t your name be ComeTotheDarkSideWeHave **Toasters**? 😛 Sorry you got robbed and sorry Geiko sucks. (Even if it is not for the reasons you stated) [/QUOTE] Some posters seemed to think I was a guy… And in typo review, of course I meant to say “munch” not “much”. Bricker: My “cheerfully” comments were originally in response to Freddy the Pig’s introduction and usage/tone of the word, which differed somewhat from your’s. Giraffe: Thanks very much for the info. We’re going to spend some quality time on the phone with them as soon as I get home. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/29 "2006-10-31T23:59:28Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] I’m a bit surprised, as I’ve had Geico insurance for a while and so far they’ve replaced two windshields for me at $50 a pop. That’s their special glass deductible – my regular deductible is of course much higher than that. I don’t remember signing up for any special windshield coverage, just basic collision and comprehensive. You might call them and find out why you aren’t eligible for the lower glass deductible and/or if you can sign up for better glass coverage. [/QUOTE] According to the rep we spoke to this evening, the coverage resembling what you mention is only available from Geico on vehicles that are 2005 or newer (our’s is a 2002). The only other affordable scenario is if the window or windshield can be fixed instead of replaced, in which case they cover the cost of repair with a minimal deductible ($10 or so). ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/30 "2006-11-01T00:02:40Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] According to the rep we spoke to this evening, the coverage resembling what you mention is only available from Geico on vehicles that are 2005 or newer (our’s is a 2002). [/QUOTE] That’s too bad. It’s also a bit odd, as my car is a 2004 and I just replaced a windshield about a month ago, but I’ve had the same coverage for a couple of years, so perhaps I’m grandfathered in or something. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/31 "2006-11-01T00:06:51Z")
[QUOTE=Giraffe] It’s also a bit odd, as my car is a 2004 and I just replaced a windshield about a month ago, but I’ve had the same coverage for a couple of years, so perhaps I’m grandfathered in or something. [/QUOTE] There may be a difference in what your state laws require. Massachusetts had a required windshield rider on auto policies when I lived there; no other state I’ve been in has that. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/32 "2006-11-01T01:38:38Z")
I’m sorry you had the collision and then break-in. But shouldn’t you take all valuables out of the car? ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/33 "2006-11-01T01:56:11Z")
[QUOTE=glee] I’m sorry you had the collision and then break-in. But shouldn’t you take all valuables out of the car? [/QUOTE] In a perfect world yes, but it would not have prevented the break-in. The iPod was not visible. He got lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/34 "2006-11-01T05:57:12Z")
Insurance is the biggest legal scam going. You are required by law to pay all of your adult life, you pay an outrageous deductible if, god forbid, you should ever claim, and when you do make a claim, they either raise your rates or cancel your insurance altogether. Scam. No other word for it. In a perfect world, there would be no such thing as insurance for profit. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/35 "2006-11-01T05:59:40Z")
Oh, I forgot the part where you don’t get your money back if you never claim, either. Scam. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/36 "2006-11-01T07:10:56Z")
Was that last comment serious? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/37 "2006-11-01T09:10:26Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] In a perfect world, there would be no such thing as insurance for profit. [/QUOTE] Bankruptcy lawyer, are we? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/38 "2006-11-01T11:35:30Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Insurance is the biggest legal scam going. **You are required by law to pay all of your adult life** , you pay an outrageous deductible if, god forbid, you should ever claim, and when you do make a claim, they either raise your rates or cancel your insurance altogether. Scam. No other word for it. [/QUOTE] Depends on where you live. To the best of my understanding, New Hampshire and Wisconsin are two US states where you don’t, though I think in Wisconsin you’re required to have a certain amount of cash set aside. Personally, I don’t think that’s a good idea and anyone who’s been in some kind of huge accident with major injuries and the medical bills to match will probably agree. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/39 "2006-11-01T12:38:11Z")
[QUOTE=Dead Badger] Bankruptcy lawyer, are we? [/QUOTE] Lives somewhere where [hit and run is common](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=394283), apparently. And even though that’s not the insured’s “fault” it’s still a drain on the insurance company’s money. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599/40 "2006-11-01T13:23:18Z")
Deductibles are generally only a problem when you want the insurance company to fix your stuff that got broken/stolen. AFAIK, no government requires you to get comprehensive or collision insurance on your car, you only need to get liability insurance to protect other drivers. Comp and Collision are optional, you have no right to complain that they’re a bad deal, just choose to not buy it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thieves-insurance-companies-500-per-incident-deductibles-and-suckiness/378599.md?page=3)