PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

cphilip · #9 01-09-2009, 06:04 PM

I am dealing with one now...

Was sitting here filling out all the information they want and came to a section where they want me to tell them what I paid for the car. Now... I get to thinking... why? What business is it of theirs what I paid for the car? For instance, if my father (no longer with us) had given me the car, what would that have to do with its value? What if I had done some trading and such along with some cash (this is fairly common and did occur) then what would that have to do with its value, as it sat, and as it was when destroyed? They ask me later on what its value IS. So why do they have any business knowing what I paid for the initial hulk that I started with before I started restoring/refurbishing it?

The only reason I can think of is to give them an advantage of knowing any part of my out of pocket loss. If my loss were less than it should have been, they would have a great advantage knowing that. For example, if they knew (in that hypothetical given earlier) that I paid nothing for it and it as a gift (which is wasn't), then they would be encouraged to offer me much less than would make me whole again (having a car of same condition). Trying to take advantage of that. But yet the car was worth more. And if sold would sell for more. So would need to be valued at more to make me whole again.

So... for now I am just going to not answer that and put something like "I don't recall". The very next request is to give them that bill of sale. Well... I don't have it. What copy I had burnt up in the car. And the other one was taken by the DMV. They also then ask for his name and address. Well... I don't recall that. And it burnt up in the car!

They also ask for the registration. Well... it burnt up in the car.

I do have the title and receipts for all (most) of work done and service records will be retrieved so I do have all that. All of these had to be retrieved as the originals burnt up in the car.

But can anyone tell me what right they would have to ask what you paid for the car? Or what business it is of theirs. I am not planning on providing it. They can take what I have and determine the VALUE of the car when it was lost, which is their duty and business to do right now.