Experience with Progressive roadside coverage?

[thejumpsuitman]

If you read my other post about Coach-net, you know what's going on.  I did not follow procedure with them, so they are most likely not going to reimburse my 85 mile tow to Atlanta.

I do, however, have Progressive.  The problem is that the tow bill was invoiced to "Williams Detroit" in Atlanta, and Williams now considers that bill to be part of their total bill to me.

I have 2 questions...

I do not think Progressive is going to reimburse me for the tow the way it is written, so should I have the tow bill re-invoiced to me personally and just pay it?

And has anybody else had any experience with Progressive's roadside coverage? 

Marc

[rv_safetyman]

We have used Progressive towing and the experience was OK.  They have no clue who to get to two you, so they sent a big rig from over 100 miles away when their was a service close by.  The tow was for about 10 miles to the house.

We actually have three tow services:  Progressive, AAA HD RV, and Good Sam    We just added Good Sam, so have no experience.

Last year we had a transmission ECM shoot craps about 100 miles from home.  We called Progressive, and they said their policy was to tow you to the closest facility.  We wanted to be towed home.  We then called AAA and they said they would tow us 100 miles.  Shortly after the two conversations, the towing company called and asked what was going on.  They had been contacted by both Progressive and AAA and wanted to know who we wanted to bill.

So, long story short, Progressive towing some pretty significant limitations on where they will tow.

My strong suspicion is that NO towing insurance will pay for an after-the-fact event.  All insurance (health, auto, house) demand to be involved from the start so that they can "control" the decisions.  I think that is reasonable.

Jim

[thejumpsuitman]

Thanks Jim,

Sounds like you believe in redundancy.  Glad I have at least the two, Coach-net and Progressive.

Actually Progressive does have a reimbursement policy, and their voice prompts offer instructions as to what to submit.  After making a call to a friend, he came up with an obvious solution.  That would be to have Williams split the bill, one for repairs, the other for the tow.  I will have to pay the tow bill in full, then submit the paid receipt to Progressive and they should reimburse me for it within 2 weeks.

Marc

[Busted Knuckle]

Marc,
I may be wrong here (once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken), BUT I think that they should take the invoice you have shown us and pay from it! It doesn't matter WHO the bill is from, as long as it has you name as the customer, the vehicle info, TOWING, and the amount! The (quote/invoice you showed us) does have all 4! It does SAY TOWING, shows your name & bus info, & the amount! It doesn't matter if it has all the repair info on it too! IT SAYS TOWING and has the rest of the needed info!
(I have billed my shop customers the same way and they have never complained about reimbursing them that I know of!)
Of course if customer came in and asked me for a separate invoice I would have no problem with that either!
  BK 

[paulrobie]

We have used Progressive towing and the experience was OK.  They have no clue who to get to two you, so they sent a big rig from over 100 miles away when their was a service close by.  The tow was for about 10 miles to the house.

We actually have three tow services:  Progressive, AAA HD RV, and Good Sam    We just added Good Sam, so have no experience.

Last year we had a transmission ECM shoot craps about 100 miles from home.  We called Progressive, and they said their policy was to tow you to the closest facility.  We wanted to be towed home.  We then called AAA and they said they would tow us 100 miles.  Shortly after the two conversations, the towing company called and asked what was going on.  They had been contacted by both Progressive and AAA and wanted to know who we wanted to bill.

So, long story short, Progressive towing some pretty significant limitations on where they will tow.

My strong suspicion is that NO towing insurance will pay for an after-the-fact event.  All insurance (health, auto, house) demand to be involved from the start so that they can "control" the decisions.  I think that is reasonable.

Jim

Reviewing my progressive policy, the key words that stand out to me are: Qualified Repair Facility.

To me, that means that if the nearest "qualified repair facility" for my particular vehicle is 400 miles away then that is where it should go, correct? From what I understand any old Diesel shop isn't going to do if something breaks down on my 6V-92, or my particular model of transmission or whatever. At least that's my two cents worth, the language of their contract makes it clear where they must cover a tow to. They wrote the policy so they should adhere to the language they wrote.  A bus is not your standard RV, right?

In a case of towing it home vs towing it to the "nearest qualified facility", I think that the case should be made to the rep when you call that if home is closer than it would be in their interest to tow it home (cheaper) rather than the "nearest qualified facility".

What constitutes the nearest qualified facility? I would think, that in the case of say, an MCI bus, it would be one of their service centers, (though that might be difficult to argue but I would).

The real problems come when you don't follow "the rules". However, if you play by their rules, their language, etc., you should get a satisfactory result. Even Progressive has a clause in the policy regarding unauthorized service providers but the "qualified repair facility" language is still in there and they do cover it.

Read your policy!

[luvrbus]

I think Progressive has a limit on tow mileage all the rest do all  when they say qualified shop not authorized they determine that not you but if you stay in the mileage range they don't have a problem taking it to your shop at least Coach/net doesn't you will never get a 400 mile tow from anyone plan

[thejumpsuitman]

I am happy to say "never mind."...

I am delighted to report that W. W. Williams just called me to tell me that they are going to eat the tow bill....!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am absolutely delighted!  I thought all along that they should, and now they have done what I consider to be the "right thing." 

KUDOS to W.W. Williams and THANK YOU!!!!!!

[paulrobie]

I think Progressive has a limit on tow mileage all the rest do all  when they say qualified shop not authorized they determine that not you but if you stay in the mileage range they don't have a problem taking it to your shop at least Coach/net doesn't you will never get a 400 mile tow from anyone plan

Not one to argue at all but.... the policy (which is what they fall back on to deny/approve a claim) is the gospel according to the law. As the term Qualified Repair Facility is ambiguous in the policy one could argue that qualified IS authorized. Also, in the policy there are no limits stated (as to amount of miles towed) as are other exclusions/restrictions. If there were a limit on miles, it would specifically state that as it does anything else that there is a limit or restriction on. That policy is written for the insurance company, granted, but the policy is the policy, what is says is what they give you and what you get. Nothing more, nothing less. After dicking with insurance companies after a hurricane, I am aware more now than ever of the words in the policy and their definitions or lack thereof.

[thejumpsuitman]

Indeed.  The Progressive recording itself made me nervous.  It said "To submit your tow bill for reimbursement consideration, mail to ....."

[luvrbus]

Knock your lights out Paul just wait till you need it I am not going to make a contest out of it

good luck

[luvrbus]

I told you they would Marc lol 


good luck

[paulrobie]

Knock your lights out Paul just wait till you need it I am not going to make a contest out of it

good luck

Me either brother, me either... Hopefully I will never need it.. Just hate getting screwed by insurance companies, happened once and that was enough.

[Bill 340]

had a roll back  come out 75 mi pick up my car and brought it home, towed to garage they gave me a copy pf the tow bill and I submitted it to progressive they paid it in full, Pays to deal with a garage that wants to help,Was Central florida bus in lakeland fl.. Great shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Van]

Clifford,lol! you must be on the qualified repair facility list, being a university ( U of Two Stroke )and all! Had no problems hauling ours your way, and they sent 2 Landoll's, the drivers flipped a coin lol!