[Mr 5 0]

Originally Posted by blown5oh

Thanks Mr 5.0. I know he won't give up his insurance info.......and I most likely won't see my stuff or $$$ back, I just hope he doesn't have the chance to do this to anyone else that may think about bringing their car to him.

All is not lost. Read on.

I'd hate to make the claim to my insurance......and risk having my rates go up for this knucklehead. Maybe a BBB complaint and my FYI thread will be enough to hurt him where it counts.

I'm a former auto insurance representative and my wife works in auto and home insurance claims. I'm going to give you some advice that I hope you'll take seriously.

Comprehensive claims do not raise your insurance rates. You are making a claim based on theft and/or vandalism, not an accident. You were not driving the car when the loss occured and it was not an accident-connected loss so the insurance company will not hold you responsible and so, cannot raise your premium.

In addition, if your company pays your claim, and they should, they will then subrogate (a legal term) with the shop's insurance company to recover their loss. You see, if a shop has the keys to your car, they have control of it - and that puts them in a legally liable position.

Of course, your insurance company's payment for your loss will be less whatever deductable you have. Still, it's far better than nothing, which is exactly what you will get if you simply stew and post complaints on the internet - which, while it's a good idea as a warning to others - still doesn't pay for your loss, which never should have happened.

I wish you well.