Be careful when you are dealing with MPI! (Manitoba Public Insurance) - after market parts

I have decide to share my experience with MPI so others can beware.

As some of you might already know, I had a Jeep accident a few months back.
So I have took the opportunity to replace the front stock bumper with an after market one.

Although it's cost the body shop more then 1100$ in parts to replace the old stock front bumper (it is more the one piece), IF you get an after market bumper (one piece) MPI will only reimbursed you for the "Bumper face bar" part (437$), and will NOT accommodate for the other bumper parts as they don't pay for parts that "NEVER BEEN INSTALLED" on your Jeep!!!
MPI DON'T CARE THAT THOSE OTHER PIECES ARE PART OF THE BUMPER! THE WAY THEY SEE IT IS A PART FOR PART!

So please keep in mind that you will not get your money back against these parts:
Bumper bracket (10$)
Bumper Air Dam (104$)
Lower bumper cover (73$)
Bumper Beam (175$)
Bumper applique (259$)

Is there any way to sue MPI!?

*I also got the after market -bumper skid plate with the new bumper, and now I'm fighting to get that part against the Bumper Air Dam...
Will update back.

 

Wait - were those parts you listed needed to accomodate or complete the installation of the aftermarket bumper?

 

NO.
As the new aftermarket bumper replace all those parts.
The stock bumper is modular, build from a few pieces, the new aftermarket bumper is not.
the way I see it is: I just replace a few small parts (modular stock front bumper) with a one piece (new aftermarket bumper), which has the same price and value.
But MPI don't care!

 

So, you wouldnt have needed those parts correct? In a sense, I kinda agree with MPI. Mpi is willing to pay out the replacement value of those parts had you wanted to go back to the vehicle's pre-collision state. This is also why a lot of shops frown on changing things up like this for autopac claims, and why MPI is very watchful over what gets approved now.

 

It's still not fair...

 

People still complain about automobile insurers not covering aftermarket parts? I thought it was relatively common knowledge that if you are going to mod, don't expect to get reimbursed for the associated parts. :shrug:

Have things changed in Canada since 2006 (the last time I lived there)? Is there now a reasonable expectation to be reimbursed for modifications?

 

Insurance is supposed to indemnify you against loss. In this case, you've lost the parts as a result of an insured peril, that being collision.

Indemnity is defined as replacement value, less any depreciation, or plus any appreciation. Used vehicle parts are known to depreciate, generally.

You are entitled to a "cash settlement" on the parts, if you do not replace them. Which means the parts replacement price, less depreciation. Depreciation would be primarily based on vehicle's vintage and kilometers.

Further, indemnity quantum is established on the depreciation, and you may negotiate it based on longevity of the parts, including propensity to wear.

Therein, the arguement exists that a steel bracket, for example, would have virtually no wear, and resultantly, one may contend, there would be only minimal depreciation.

You should seek a reasonable cash settlement on ALL afftected parts, and then go buy your replacement bumper with the proceeds of your claim.

Your BodyShop/Original Dealer should be there to help facilitate this, and application of equitable credits toward a subsitute repair part.

 

Finally someone who understands!!!!

 

He's not complaining about being reimbursed for an existing modification. He's complaining that even though it would cost MPI ~$1100 to bring his vehicle back to stock form, he can't simply spend the full ~$1100 for an "equivalent" aftermarket bumper.

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I had the same situation with MPI where I was hit and wanted to upgrade my stock front bumper with an aftermarket. My total claim cost was ~$1500. I asked the adjustor if I could replace it with an aftermarket bumper and informed him that the total cost would be cheaper than to bring it back to stock. He said they would give me the replacement value of only the original bumper, which is like $450. They wouldn't include the replacement value for air dam, bumperettes, etc.

They would have saved $600-$700 if they'd simply covered my aftermarket bumper. Instead I made them pay out the $1500 to bring it back to stock. (In my case, it actually worked out better because the shop discovered the front cross member was bent. The MPI adjuster missed it so they also covered cutting it out and replacing it with a new one.)

They also covered my rental while it was in the shop for a week so it cost them another $250. If they'd covered the aftermarket I'd have installed it myself in a couple of hours and not had to bother with a rental. The cross member could have caused me some headaches though...

 

I know you're only kidding but... Good luck finding a lawyer willing to go against MPI in a civil case. You're basically suing the Provincial government... It'd cost you ~$8-15K in lawyer fees just to try and if/when you lose, you'll pay MPI's legal costs as well as your own.

They seriously are pretty much "untouchable" vs. the little guy.