Talk of The Villages Florida - Florida Oddities? What have you experienced?

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The racket of insurance companies required to replace cracked windshields, with no deductible...or raising your premiums.

Since the windshield repair companies know this, it costs on average about 2-3 times as much here (with the insurer paying)...as states that don't have this racket.

I believe at last count, there were only three states that have this law (Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina).

Not to mention, that it isn't the insurance companies...that eventually pay for this scheme.

Windshield Replacement Scheme (click here)

Quote:

According to the Florida's insurance commissioner, windshield replacement schemes are driving up the price of auto insurance throughout the state.

The issue is most rampant in the Tampa Bay area.

It involves drivers with cracked windshields signing over their insurance benefits to repair contractors, some of which then pursue payments from insurance companies at inflated prices.

Known in the industry as "assignment of benefits," insurers say the practice has become riddled with fraud and abuse, often at no fault of the actual policyholder.

Under Florida law, windshield replacement claims cost nothing out of pocket for insured drivers, making it a lucrative opportunity for those looking to cheat insurance companies.

"Consumers are told that there is a crack in their windshield, and 'we can replace it right here in the parking lot for you," said David Altmaier, Florida's insurance commissioner. "We just need to sign this form please.' What this is is an assignment of benefits. They replace the windshield, and there is a dispute between the windshield company and the insurance company that goes to litigation. It begins to start to drive costs up."

According to Altmaier, there were 19,000 "assignment of benefits" related windshield claim lawsuits in the state last year.

That's up from less than 500 a decade ago.

We don't need no Stickin' Inspection. http://blog.consumerguide.com/wp-con...title_card.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWGUY (Post 1621365)

:) Made me think about it so I looked it up.

Vehicle inspection in the United States - Wikipedia :ho:

When I lived here in the early 70's Florida had mandatory inspections every year. That was the only time you had to show proof that you had insurance. You guessed it, all these insurance companies opened offices around the inspection stations and would sell policies that people would cancel within a month. I think they charged the people for a month.

Speaking of inspection stations. All of the inspection stations were built by and owned by the state. There simply weren't enough of them, especially in South Florida, to keep up with a fast growing population. You could wait in a line of cars for 6-8 hours before your car was actually inspected. Cars would run out of gas, overheat etc while waiting in line. Then, if you got into the station and they found something wrong, they couldn't fix it. Not even a light bulb. You had to take your car to a garage and get the repair done because you had to bring a paid receipt from a garage back when you went for a reinspection to prove the work was done. Speaking of a reinspection, you once again had to wait in a line of cars for 6-8 hours to get back into the inspection station. I think they gave you 10 days to get the repair done and the car reinspected.

As you can see, it was a mess. Due to so many complaints and the state not being able to build and staff enough inspection stations to make it work, they just did away with inspections altogether.

One of my most enjoyable Florida experiences occurred in the early 1970's. I drove through Haines City and the surrounding area late at night. I had all the windows in my car down and experienced for miles the incredible fragrance of the orange blossoms in the orchards through which the road passed. It was almost intoxicatingly delightful!

I really like the pleasant central Florida accent and manner of speech.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rapscallion St Croix (Post 1621352)

I find the lack of safety inspection requirements for automobiles odd.

I am all for safety inspections, but what I love about Florida is there is no need for emissions inspection. In Massachusetts they will fail your car, which is completely safe and runs like clockwork, because of some stupid emissions test that requires you to spend over a thousand dollars on a catalytic converter, which will fail again in a few years.

Being a native Southerner the biggest oddities in TV are people from up North but I tolerate it.

No coat closets in the entry way. And then I thought .... what ever for???

Quote:

Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 1621459)

I am all for safety inspections, but what I love about Florida is there is no need for emissions inspection.

I very much agree with that.

The 'check engine' light came on in our 13 year old car in 2016 and I never got it fixed. The car kept running great and is still doing fine three years later.