Sitting on bricks
 

Picture sums up my day:
http://i.imgur.com/nzalQ1G.jpg

Came home from the gym at 11PM and decided to watch a movie on Netflix since I did not have work. Security guard knocks on my door at 3AM and asked if I had taken off my wheels, I replied no, and he said well your grey "Mazda" is sitting on bricks. I ran out to a ugly sight. :(

Security guard went to call the police and I called my insurance to file a claim. Officer surprising arrived quick and was very pleasant. The office asked me how much would it probably cost to replace but I didn't know the ballpark price of the wheels from the dealer so I just said I don't know but probably expensive since they are forged. His eyes got big and he said...lets just put down $5000 then. Guess he knew a bit about cars. The funny thing was that the security guard (african american) said he was surprised they stole the wheels off my car and not the one right across from me...a old Impala with 22-24" chrome wheels :bowrofl:

FYI I had the factory wheel locks. It looks like they were able to jam something around it to take it off. Took them less than 30 minutes cause the guard does rounds every 30-45 minutes.

I called the dealer to get a price quote on all four rims, tires, and tpms sensors. I heard "wow" at the other end of the phone when the rep saw the price. Get this...$5800 pre-tax and $6300 after tax!!!

I finally got hold of my claims representative and apparently she had been reviewing the case to look for fraud. She said there were some red flags being that it was a good area and gated complex with armed guards that does rounds so often. She even said "doesn't it seem suspicious"...I was like wtf...am I being interrogated? She drilled me with a few more questions and I said "Look, it could be suspicious to you but all I know is that my wheels are missing and I have no transportation to work, you're asking the wrong person for information."

In the end, she called me back after speaking with the head security and said everything seems to be cleared up. There was a car that came through around that time and when they ran the plate it didn't match the car.

So she gave me the options of either taking it to whichever shop I want or to their progressive center where they'll order the factory parts by the vin number.

Is it common for them to cut a check out to me if I ask? I could get a lot of wheel and some change with $6k...

Damm bro sorry to hear about that...I would think the gaurd might know who did it since u mentioned it was a gated community.. Or someone in ur community.... It doesn't hurt to ask for a check...best of luck!

Gated communities are a joke. People just sit there and wait and follow others through. We have armed guards as well but things can still happen.

whatever you do, don't get oem. Get that fat check!

F that! have them cut you a check and get the wheels you want! Remember they work for you, thants why you pay them every month.....:ugh2:

Sorry to hear about your wheels by the way...

You should only need to send an estimate to them and request a check, new wheels just in time for summer doesnt seem like a bad ending to the story

Damn that sucks dude. Get that check and get that Amuse kit :)

Get the check. But make sure to insure the new wheels!

Awwww, no!!!... You don't deserve it bro!

Take the check your insurance writes and buy the stuff you want. Get paid for the wheels, tires, TPMS, center caps, reprogramming the TPMS, lugs, valve stem caps, and 4 new discs.

I wonder if they'll try to fight it if I ask for a check...first time having to file a claim on something so costly that wasn't a collision. It doesn't look like the rotors are damaged but it would be nice if they do since I was planning on replacing them this fall.

Replies in RED

Wow that much for the labor?? They left the lugs minus two which I couldn't find.

Ouch, that sucks to see that happen. They'll be on Craigslist soon.

So sorry to hear dude :(

The replies are right on target: get that check for $7K+ and buy whatever you want. If you want OEM, I know there is a dealer that has excellent prices (DE: who is it again?)

Also, I agree with DE. The insurance rep shouldn't be talking about that $hit to you. They should have already talked to the security guard before grilling you like that. Remember, you pay them, not the other way around. Though, I don't know that I would report her unless she was just rude about it.

Hope you get whole soon :tiphat:

? Labor?


In my mind this is your breakdown (ballpark, although I looked up some MSRPs):

$3200=$800x4 for wheels
$400=$100x4 for TPMS
$1600=$400x4 for tires
$160=$40x4 for mounting and balancing tires
$190.80=$8.8x16+$50 for lugs and locking lugs; respectively
$246=$61.5x4 for center caps
$120=an hour of labor for reprogramming TPMS (dealer would fuck you for that)
$400=$100x4 disc brakes
$400=labor for installing the discs


Ok, total of $6716.80, but close

Edited and PM'd to the OP

Wow that really rots.
As for just getting a check, if your car is paid off they will just give you a check. When it is paid off you are insuring a "value" so to speak. If it loses value they give you money to cover the loss of value due to accident or theft. If it is not paid off, they may or may not. It all depends on who financed it.

As was said before H-Town is all ghetto gated community or not. I used to live there too.....uggghh.

Again sorry for your loss.
That must have made your heart sink when you 1st saw it.

:eek: :icon14: oh. My. Gawd.

That sux OP. :(

What ever you end up doing, just be careful about what you write on the internet. Insurance companies search and finds ways to f you when you least expect it.

I'm always curious as to what happens from here. Do they install the wheels in the lot or they put the car on some kind of dolly and tow it?

It's not paid off yet...I just bought her in November. They said something about a flatbed and/or putting temporary wheels on it and then towing.

Is it illegal to take the check and buy something else less expensive? I assumed if once they paid out their end is done and whatever I do with the money was my own concern.

You can have the check made out to you. And if it goes on the CarFucks, have them make it out for more for devaluation.

And they should be able to write YOU out a check without any issue (assuming your loan is up to date and such). And you can buy whatever you damn well please. That's not their concern.

:iagree:

there is another member that had his wheels and radio ect stolen. (ill let him share the story if he chooses)

But he did get a check (stock rims are very very pricey) and has ended up with some pretty sweet items from the insurance check.

equalme - Sorry to hear about this man. Hope no damage was done to the car.

I may be in the minority - But I really think you should use the check and throw cheap rims on the car and put the rest into moving to a more secure area. Hell rent a garage even.

I don't lie... At first I feel sorry for you, then I am really jealous!!:icon17:

I hope everything will be sort out smoothly and you will get a nice set of wheels you want with some extra cash!:tup:

True.

Happened to me in september, ugly experience. PM me if you have any questions ill be glad to help!

No it's not. They look at the car and write a check. You take it and do what you want with it.

My fender bender was fixed by me. After new quarter, paint, and some pop rivets I was done with money left over. An accident was an accident with no said dollar amount (maybe if it was over 10k or something higher) so either way for the next three years I'm paying $238 more a half. That's $1428 I'm outta pocket (accident was more so i was better to claim it than pay cash). So take all you can because if its only $238 a half whether they pay you $10 or $10,000, why not get some money back you've paid them since 16?

PS I have some nice RPF1's for you!! Only $1225. Should be able to pocket about $4-5k.

Sorry to hear this man. Hopefully you make out in the long run of things.

Wow!! Makes me sad to see a Z on bricks! :(

I can only hope you get your NEW wheels quickly.

This is true. If she gives you any trouble as to speak to a supervisor. Hope things work out!!!

Get your insurance check and use some of that money as a deposit on a new place with a GARAGE

I'd spend the money and buy an alarm with a pager that reaches where you live with the tilt sensor. Being on bricks is scary, never thought about it til I singed up for this site and had an alarm installed to TRY and prevent it. Hope it works out OK OP, I feel for you.

At least in Houston/TX you could probably legally walk out and shoot the guy, lol

****, people these days are getting really good at this tire/rim jacking.
You would think they could get jobs with NASCAR at the speed they take off the tires. My brother told me a story about how his friend's dad got his wheel stolen of his Escalade while parked at target....yes, in the middle of a crowd.
Anyways, I hope everything gets sorted out my friend. Best of luck to you.

Sounds good to me. Somebody needs to stop these jerks.

With a lien holder I wouldn't be suprised if the insurance company writes the check out to the dealer who is fixing it, not to the insured.

That's a nice "Mazda." ;)

Good news. Spoke with the claims rep and asked if getting a check cut out to me instead would be possible and she said no problem. She asked about the tread life on the tires since they were pretty new Michelin pss so she is going to call the dealer I purchased the car from to confirm.