AboutRichard Expertise I have been the no-fault insurance administrator and arbitration specialist for 18 years working for a plaintiffs` law firm. I have a copy of and am familiar with the newest Reg.68 of the New York State insurance law and have sucessfully represented over 300 applicants at hearings and have guided more than 1,500 more that didn`t need to actually go to a hearing.
Expert: Richard Date: 6/14/2008 Subject: Stolen car claim
Question QUESTION: Here goes...my wife's car is registered in Maryland. Her car was stolen in Maryland on May 11th. Nationwide said they would pay the claim after it was not recovered. They have refused to send payment to VW credit because they don't have the title...VW credit is refusing to send the title because they don't have the payment for the car. Who should be budging on this issue? Meanwhile, my wife is without a car!!
ANSWER: Hi Tony, every question which I have been answering and deals with the State of Maryland recently is a horror! Of course Nationwide should send the payment to VW credit because they are the lienholder on the title of the vehicle! Give Nationwide one last chance and then start writing certified letters to the Maryland Dept. of Ins., The Better Business Bureau, and the Dept. of Consumer Affairs. You can also contact the Maryland Attorney General's office. Make as much noise and obtain as many allies as you can. This situation is one of "who is going to blink first" between VW credit and Nationwide Ins. and without outside intervention will go on forever with your wife without a vehicle under her derriere.
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QUESTION: The above answer applies even if my wife is leasing the car? because that is the case here. By the way...the claims adjustor from Nationwide rarely answers the phone when we call..we usually end up playing Phone Tag several times before we get her.
Answer Hi again Tony, yes my answer should still apply and even more so. This would mean that VW credit is not even the lienholder but the actual owner! P.S. it is commonplace for an insurance adjustor to be hard to reach especially if they do the outside fieldwork besides the inside paperwork. Since your wife was merely leasing the vehicle then you should not be doing so much work for VW credit. I am certain that they have encountered situations such as this in the past.
