Hi All -

Long time fan, first post. I have an amazing story to tell you.

So, during 2013 I was happily making friends with a Clubman during my incredibly short weekends via the Build Your Mini website. (I'd had my Suzuki SUV for 10 years at that point and I was reluctant to change without "enough" consideration.) Life happens so fast, you know? The next thing I knew it was middle of 2015 and my Suzuki had given up the ghost. (It threw a something-rod in the engine so that I couldn't shift gears about 45 miles from home. Finished that ridiculous road-trip in 3rd gear, riding the clutch as much as I needed.) At least I had had "enough" time to be sure that I *wanted* the clubman. Hop on MiniUSA to confirm final dreams - to learn that NO CLUBMANS for 2015!

After some hasty research, I found my chocolate love for sale in my area and we have been best friends ever since. Seriously, my Chubbie (chocolate-Clubbie, right?) drives the same as my mind thinks. It is wonderful!

Then, in the early evening on March 30, 2021, I heard a very horrible sound outside my bedroom window. The across-the-street neighbor had driven into Chubbie's driver's-side headlamp because she wasn't watching where she was going (or something) and DRIVEN AWAY WITHOUT STOPPING. Three other neighbors saw the whole thing, yelled after her to stop, and took pictures with their phone cameras.

I phoned my insurance company in the morning to report the accident (as required) and the representative said that she doesn't know what that is "to Report an accident". Apparently, the company only has the capacity to "receive claims" not "reports of accidents that will be taken to the at-fault driver's insurance". (Because my policy indicates that I am required to notify them of all accidents, it alarmed me but what could I say? I have no way to validate the company's computer system capabilities.) So, I'm still puzzling about how to get guidance from my insurance company for this very strange situation when the rep told me that they need to tow my car to have its damages estimated. Take it away to get the estimate?!? That seems weird! The representative asked if I would "retain" the vehicle if insurance deemed it a total loss. I answered that because I am very attached to the car that I would absolutely make the repairs regardless of my insurance company's assessment. I heard more typing on the rep's end and then the line went dead. Definitely strange!

Strange as the telephone call was, a tow truck did arrive to take my car for its estimate on - that's right! April 1st. How did I not see this all coming?!? He left me no documentation, not even a business card for the tow company. He had called me from his cell phone, so I at least had that to give the police. But I was completely in the dark about where my car was taken.

And then, my insurance company and I bickered about every single aspect of the claim. They insisted that although I'd paid for rental car coverage for 5 years, they didn't have to pay because the at-fault driver's insurance would, eventually. They insisted that the "only way" for me to get my car back from the secret location (because all insurance companies are allowed to keep the location of vehicles secret from the vehicle owners) is for me to "withdraw" my claim. They continue to insist that the designation of my car as a "total loss" with only 40% damage to value is their exclusive right and that California laws as to the calculation of "total loss" do not apply to them because they are based in Texas. Seriously! The easily debunked garbage they tried spinning has been astounding.

Anyway, before the lies became extremely noticeable, I bought this car. (Now that I've been reunited with my Chubbie, the Countryman needs a new home.)

Skipping over months & months of bickering in front of the California Dept of Insurance - in May of this year, the tow yard where Chubbie had been taken on April Fools' 2021, finally wrote asking me to release the vehicle or else they would liquidate it without my authorization. Quick call to DMV for fact checking taught me how to discover the location of my car. Dad & I went to fetch it a mile or so from the Mexican border and I drove it home. (We were reunited 14 months after the accident. Then it took two months to get the new headlamp. Now we are back on the road!)

Thus my username of "Rescued Chubbie". That's my story. My real name is Sharon and my beautiful, hot chocolate, R55 refuses to tell me if it is a boy or a girl so has only been christened "Sharnie's Brown Car"; I don't really call it "Chubbie" - frankly because "saddle-bags" is exactly why the R55 is super chic and the F54 looks chubby. (I'm being silly for fun.)

If you have any guidance about how to help CDI (California Dept of Insurance) understand that CDI failed to notice that my insurance company violated all the regulations for California Insurance in my claim despite my circling the examples on the documentation I provided - and even on info that my insurance provided that I circled and resubmitted - I am desperate for guidance. As soon as the Countryman sells, I can include any loss-on-sale for that transaction in the letter I (apparently) need to send to a special office in Sacramento. But if anyone has more or better info for me, I will send you some cookies. (I really will! And people tell me I make really good cookies.)

Ok. So, Hi! And thanks for answering so many questions for me over the years without me even having to ask!!!


ReUnited

was poked in the eye

 

What a story! Fantastic looking car, too! Welcome...

 

Welcom to the forum, nice car and a good ending, that story reminds me of a similar situation, but my insurance company fixes problems without hesitation or argument as an example prior to my R52 I had a 66 MG Midget that somebody backed into in a car park and left no details, I contacted my Ins co and they said send a picture of the damage, take the car to my preferred repairer and get a quote and forward it to them, which I did, within a week of sending details a authorization was received and repairs started, makes me glad to be in Aussie
Russ

 

Welcome! What a story. Wow