Car Missing : The dos and don'ts.

A few years ago, I lost my car. Well, actually, I lost many other things then, but let's just stick on the car.

You might feel sick, you might want to cry, scream, rape someone, curse, or even put yourself in the most embarassing pose in public. Whatever you do, it'll be forgiven. Read on, this might be useful someday..

Here's what to do, should any of you experience the trauma like I had.

• Do not panic. Its just a car, its insured.
• Check your payment with your finance company, if you have missed more than two installments, your finance company might have towed them away. Call the finance company and verify with them first.
• Go to your nearest police station, bring all the necessary documents, ie
• copy of the registration card
• copy of your NRIC
• copy of your driving license
• The police will then refer your case to the nearest Crime Investigation Police Dept. Get copies of your report. Confirm with the investigating officer (normally i the rank of sergeant) on the final date for them to close the case.
• Bring the report to your insurance company. Make sure your form is in order.
• Bring along the original copy of your insurance policy.
• Call your finance company and get their latest amount outstanding from you, for your hire purchase agreement. send the details to your insurance company.
• Get the closing of case letter from the investigating police office. this letter will verify that the police found that your car could not be located, and they will close the case.

The insurance company will now send an adjuster to the crime scene, where the car owner will be interviewed, and they will send report to insurance company on the status, etc.

You have to call the insurance company (repeatedly) to follow up on the progress.

Bank Negara Malaysia has stated that any insurance claim should be settled before 6 months from the date you submitted your claim. Any other reason to delay your claim is a total bullshit.

If you have submitted every documents stipulated by the insurance company, and they still delaying things, write a formal letter of complain to Bank Negara. Write to Jabatan Pengawalan Insurans, for details, look at the back of your insurance policy.

Should your insurance company send you a settlement offer letter, stating the percentage that they are willing to pay, make sure you reach to satisfactory percentage (mine was 98% of the insured amount) You can argue and negotiate to have a higher settlement.

Get the original copy of the registration card from you finance co., both of your car keys, yes both keys, and some indemnity and acknowledgement letters from the finance company agreeing to release the rights to the stolen car to the insurance co.

Thats it. After you receive the payment, its time to browse for a new car...

Good luck.