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The story below may not be entirely relevant to the value
of the vehicle, but because many people have said they wanted to
know a bit about my background I decided it best to give you
some facts about my situation.
A number of years ago, shortly after the 9/11 tragedy, I wanted
to help the Red Cross raise money for the Twin Towers Fund. At
the time I had been force out of work by the Federal agency
where I had been employed for over half of my life. This loss of
work forced me into homelessness. I simply could not afford to
live in my home. To afford my mortgage I was forced to rent out
my home, which barely covered my mortgage, taxes, and insurance.
This put me in the dubious distinction of being homeless with
assets. Actually, I shouldn't whine too much. Unlike many
homeless victims, I did have a beater Mazda pickup truck were I
could sit or sleep scrunched up and keep dry.
Despite the numerous jobs listed in the classifieds getting
hired anywhere, much less at a job that would pay my bills, was
practically impossible. The Federal agency that had purposely
forced me out of work fought hard to keep me from collecting any
unemployment insurance and in fact lied to the employment agency
so that I would not collect benefits. (See
Mission Statement &
Biography to check
out a more detailed account of this story).
To my deep dismay, almost every potential employer was put off
by the fact that I had been forced out of the federal
sector. In their eyes, my character was suspect and perhaps I
was a trouble maker to be avoided. I also experienced age
discrimination, (something very difficult to prove), making it
more difficult to procure work.
With
bills piling up and no income, my bank account and my retirement
fund was fast depleting. Other events seem to inconveniently pop
up also causing me to lose large sums of money. (Things come in
threes, both good and bad).
I traveled far and wide in the state of Oregon looking for work.
I did not discriminate, I was ready to accept what most people
would consider the lowest jobs to the highest paying of which I
applied. I traveled to Anaheim, California to look for work at
an organic food and nutritional supplement convention. Hundreds
of companies were showing their products. Eager to show my
willingness for work, I collect business cards and dropped off
resumes.
I literally applied to almost a thousand companies from this
convention. I filled out applications, dropped off resumes,
called each business twice, and e-mailed my interest in working
for them. Once again, the question from them, was "Where and
what have I been doing for the past twenty-some years?" Once
again, the fact that I was forced out of the federal sector was
a put off for potential employees. The most common response to
my job inquires was, "Thank you for your interest. If we need
someone with your qualifications, we will let you know".
My home on wheels was in desperate need of repair and so the
engine blew up. A mechanic I knew offered to rebuild the engine
on the sly from his place of employment, thereby making the deal
barely affordable.
The
repair was incorrectly done and within the month, the engine
blew again. My traveling home was useless.
How in the world would I find a vehicle with which I could use
to sleep and look for work?
I was
out of money and looking bitterly at the possibility of
bankruptcy. Then the unthinkable horror of 9/11 happened and
America had a new set of problems. The plight of the victims and
the need of the first responders touched my heart. I wanted
desperately to help. But how to help other's when I was failing
to help myself?
I juggled possibilities in my mind. Instinctually, I knew that
sometimes the best way to forget your own problems is to come to
the aid of people with problems worse than what I was
experiencing. The victims of 9/11 certainly qualified. The
question was how could I help them?
In the news, the Red Cross was asking for volunteers to give
blood, monetary donations, and they were also asking for
volunteers to collect donations. Donations cans were handed out
to businesses and other organizations.
In
previous years, I had walked for other charities. I decided to
walk for the Twin Towers Fund. I needed a vehicle for various
reasons, and now I would need one as a support vehicle, a place
to sleep as I walked for the Red Cross. The problem was I did
not have any money, nor did I have the mechanical expertise to
search and select a car that would not fail me again.
By coincidence, I saw an advertisement in the paper that a fire
department was putting up a used ambulance on the open market
with an opening bid of $5,000.00. I figured that this
would be the vehicle with which I could use as a support
vehicle. I knew that fire departments were required to keep
their vehicles in top shape. I went to a local Red Cross Chapter
and I told them what I wanted to do. The administrators I talked
to were very excited and encouraging about my idea.
Since my bank accounts were depleted, I still had credit and I
borrowed money to buy the ambulance.
The fire
chief and the board of trustees were so moved by what I wanted
to do that they sold the ambulance to me for a little less than
the starting bid. I felt honored for their trust and their
willingness to part with an ambulance that was estimated to be
worth between $10,000. to $12,000.00.
The previous year, after they purchased the vehicle for
$12,000.00 they replaced the old diesel engine with a new one
and at the time of my purchase, the vehicle had
only 65,000 miles on it. At the time of the accident, the
engine had about 85,000 miles and the vehicle itself roughly
around 200,000 miles
I was told by experts that
commercial vans such as the ambulance would cost in the
neighborhood of $50,000 to $80,000 brand new. I was also
told that diesel engines, if properly cared for tended to last
for approximately 500,000 miles.
Yes I felt honored by the trust that the Jackson County Fire
Department put in my dream.
Unfortunately, the Red Cross decided to change their mind about
endorsing me publicly. I was told that while they could not
endorse me, I was welcome to bring them whatever money I could
raise for them.
They gave me many reasons for their change of heart and in my
opinion these reasons were fallacious or not well thought-out.
Disappointed by their dismissal and the large sum of money I
paid for a vehicle that I would not have
purchased had I known ahead of time the Red Cross decision, I
decided to look at the bright side.
I at least had a new home to sleep in, and transportation to
continue my search for work. In addition, I continued to ponder
what I could do to raise money for the Twin Tower Fund.
Unfortunately, as I was gathering resources for this goal bad
luck happened once again. As I was traveling to Southern Oregon
to pick up equipment that I would use for events to raise money
for the Fund: I was hit by a large truck from behind. I was
doing twenty-five miles an hour and he was traveling at
seventy-five miles an hour. The driver of the truck crushed the
back end of the ambulance. I suffered whiplash which still
adversely affects me to this day.
To say I was feeling quite despondent would be an
understatement. Since it was determined from witnesses and the
police report that I was not at fault, my main concerns was my
health and getting my vehicle repaired.
My
Insurance company claims adjuster came out to the body shop
where my vehicle was getting appraised for cost of repair. He
took one quick glance at my vehicle and blurted out that it was
totaled. I was told that I should promptly drive the vehicle to
their salvage yard and take my claim.
The owner of the body shop was confused by the quick assertion
of the claims adjuster. The body shop owner told me that a
vehicle is totaled when the cost of repair exceeds the
worth of the vehicle. He also said that if a vehicle is worth X
amount of dollars, and if I was satisfied with a repair that
would not bring the vehicle up to cherry condition, then the
vehicle could still be considered salvageable. He said that to
determine this, the claims adjuster would have to determine the
value of the vehicle and then know how much the repairs would
be.
According to the owner of the body shop, the adjuster did not
have any idea of the value of the vehicle, especially since he
said it was an ambulance. The body shop owner told the adjuster
that he should perhaps forget that it was a used ambulance and
look at it as a commercial van. The body shop owner told me that
the adjuster said he would have to check his data base to better
determine the true worth of the vehicle.
It was later that I was given document from the insurance
adjuster telling me that the vehicle was only worth a little
over $3,000.00 dollars. The letters that I gave him from the
fire department and the mechanics that worked on the vehicle
claiming that the vehicle had been purchased the previous year
for $12,000.00 did not sway him.
He
claimed that wholesalers were able to buy the comparable
vehicles for $3,000.00 in bulk. I told him that I was not a
wholesaler, and I also asked if they could purchase a comparable
vehicle for my loss instead of a check.
Sadly, I was told that they could not find any comparable
vehicles at the stated value. I felt I was treated unfairly.
I have
not as of yet resolved this situation with my insurance company
and since then I have purchased a comparable vehicle from
another fire department. I took the vehicle to a professional
auto appraiser as per recommendation from the adjuster. The
vehicle is valued conservatively at $8,000.00. I submitted this
document to my insurance company to be sent to the adjuster. As
of yet, I have not heard back from them.
To say that I am doubly despondent and frustrated from my
insurance company would definitely be a understatement. I will
be sending a letter to the Insurance commissioner to get his
opinion if I am being treated unfairly. I think I am. However,
it has occurred me that I may be a little over sensitive. After
all, there are two sides of any story. Since I think that it may
be possible that I may be too single minded on my pain and
feeling of loss, I will leave this to the court of public
opinion.
Perhaps
you could tell me if I am being wronged or if I am being over
sensitive and if in fact my insurance company is being fair in
their dealings with me.
I will ask the public to for their support or at least to be
fair their opinion as to whether they believe that my insurance
company should pay the appraised price of the fire departments
first vehicle or the value that my new vehicle is listed at?
Should they only be required to pay what they offered, or
perhaps even less?
You be
the judge. Please sign which way you vote on the letter that I
will provide. For the sake of fairness and transparency, I will
submit the petition of your vote regularly on the Internet.
Back to
Mission Statement & My
Biography and Philosophy
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