May 17th, 2005

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Vancouver
24 Comments »

Our Excellent ICBC Experience

ICBC has a de facto monopoly on car insurance in British Columbia. Pretty much everyone hates them, and has some horror story about how they or their friend or relative was screwed by the insurance giant.

So, when my wife was in a fender bender two weeks ago (she’s fine), we feared the worst. To my surprise, however, we’ve been treated with respect and dealt with fairly and efficiently. Our claims meeting was short and painless. The adjuster clearly articulated what they would and would not cover (in terms of out-of-pocket expenses). We easily obtained a rental car, covered by ICBC, when the body shop didn’t have any courtesy cars (thank goodness, because I’d feel like a pariah in one of those things). And we didn’t have to battle, squabble or plead for anything.

The key here may be that the other driver accepted 100% of the blame for the accident, and no one was seriously injured. I’m no cheerleader for ICBC, but this experience certainly was as simple and pain-free as it could have been.

I should add: if you ever complain about car insurance prices, go investigate the cost of insuring a car in Ireland. On top of the higher rates, they profile drivers more thoroughly there. A young man might pay twice as much (across the board, those rates are suspiciously low–my anecdotal experience puts the actual costs at twice that at least) as a middle-aged woman.

Comments: 24 Responses so far

donna
May 18th, 2005
12:16 am

I’ve never had anything but good experiences with ICBC. I might be biased, as my step-mother is an adjuster, so I know what it’s like from both sides… but even with accidents that were my fault (all one of them) I’ve always had good luck.

My dealings with them are four break ins, two accidents (one my fault, one 100% the other guy), and one hit & run — I have very little bad to say about them. I even got a free rental car when my truck got broken into (which must have been new, because when my car got broken into *three times in one year* I didn’t get anything.)

The hit & run (on my bike) could have been really bad… to the tune of $750 for $800 worth of damage. However, someone got the license plate. Hahaha, suckers.

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filmgoerjuan
May 18th, 2005
12:32 am

From what I can tell, you seem to get treated differently depending on which claims centre you go to. I’ve heard good results from people going to the one on Broadway in Kits. Conversely, don’t even bother with the ones in Surrey or Richmond.

That said, my (and others I know) experience with ICBC has been pretty miserable. They seem to rely on people giving up with them in frustration rather than settling claims amicably. Getting into even a minor accident is a fairly traumatic experience (or at the very least, unpleasant)…having to fight with your insurance company over every conceivable aspect of your claim is reprehensible. Far too often the attitude I’ve received has been one of treating the claimant as though they are all trying to bilk the system. ICBC is nearly universally detested and rightfully so.

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Matt
May 18th, 2005
6:29 am

The ICBC has been one of the most striking “I didn’t realize it would be this different” aspects of my moving to BC. Yes, auto insurance is very different from place to place.

Some differences to chew on: in TX, the required liability was only $10,000 (later raised to $25,000, I believe). 100x difference. No wonder the premiums here are higher, but also no wonder the number of wrongful injury lawsuits is practically zero in comparison.

Regarding profiling, my auto insurance dropped exactly in half when I turned 25 (I didn’t feel like I’d been that much more dangerous the year before, but someone did). There are few restrictions on premium equality in general, so a responsible older female driver in a sedan might be paying only US$700 a whole year, while a multi-accident young male driver in a sports car could pay as much as US$600 a month (obviously, usually they don’t, and either settle for a different car, or just go uninsured — another very common problem in the States).

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Cameron
May 18th, 2005
7:15 am

Personally, I have had decent dealings with ICBC. While, yes, there were times that I felt that I was getting screwed - I have come to realize that that is the job of an insurance corp.

Moving between BC, Washington, and now Florida I have seen auto insurance in very different lights. Seattle was the worse where I paid through the nose in premiums because I was “too young” and “too inexperienced” - for note they did not accept my BC driving history. Florida is more in par with BC. However, the biggest thing is the confusion. License & registration, uninsured motorists, etc are a big concern down here … in BC, ICBC made sure you were both licensed and registered which, to me, helps ensure that there are fewer uninsured motorists.

I like the single base-coverage and the 3rd party choices on the extended coverage model (as is currently available in BC). I think it helps protect the motorists more and gives everyone on the road a fair starting position.

ICBC is an insurance company. They are out to make money and thus don’t like paying huge settlements. They have to protect themselves from abuse and thus breed hate due to “red tape”. I think they should be held accountable as a company … though I do like them being tied to government so that they are held accountable to the people as well. (A dual role)

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Sonya
June 28th, 2006
11:31 am

I have never had a good expereince with ICBC. Recently I was in afender bender and the other driver was at fault. However, this could not be proved by examining both of our cars, I am still fighting it and am getting very angry! I understand that overall ICBC must be …good… but I however had not had the opportunity to expereince that side ot it!

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Renae Richard Reply:
December 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm

I’m collecting your ICBC horror stories to be featured in my new film which will expose how this insurance monopoly really treats people and how their decisions have effected your life.

If you were involved in a Car Accident as a driver, a passenger or even a pedestrian…

If you were unhappy with your settlement, or maybe were outright declined coverage for any reason…

Whats your story?

Who was involved?

What happened?

Where did it take place?

What was the outcome? Why are you unhappy with ICBC’s decision?

How has ICBC’s decision changed your life?

Take action! We all know the saying “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”… so lets make the biggest, squeakiest wheel ever ICBC claims centers have ever heard!

If you are really upset with your ICBC decision, I know this will be a fun and exciting opportunity to voice your opinion and help create awareness.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Sincerely,

Renae

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Bill Plumb Reply:
January 8th, 2009 at 10:38 pm

I have a story that will blow your mind…..Hit a moose far from home Dec. 5, 08…now in a battle for 34 days….deceitful, arrogant,insensative, ineffective, indifferent, vengeful, …..these people have it all. Anyone but me would give up….I hate bullies…..they are in for the battle of their lives…everyone I tell it to says ” OH MY GOD”……my ICBC sales agent is discusted (sp?)……I will get someone’s job for this….Do You want to hear this one?

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Charlika Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

Okay let me start by saying, I can understand how people find it hard to believe that ICBC, the police and the lawyers feeding off of our injuries all work together. The real point is they do not completely but their existence is dependent upon each other so they do by default. The police will target individuals for ICBC. The lawyers will run at the slightest hint of ICBC putting up a fuss or a fight. So we suffer. They are all entrenched in this corrupt system and no matter how hard it is to believe my son is the living proof of that conspiracy to defraud the citizens and especially the youth of our province. A wise man once said, “laws enforced wrongly are the most insidious form of evil.”

Late January 2001, my son is walking across Granville at Balfour and is struck by a motor vehicle while in the crosswalk. The driver stops and all witnesses are completely in agreement that he was completely at fault. I get a call on my mobile when I am downtown and arrive within ten minutes(shh don’t tell anyone but I was speeding to get there) and see police lights and ambulance lights flashing. My heart is in my throat. I park and jump out to see my son with his teeth having gone through is lip and in obvious great pain with blood everywhere. I ask what happened and the witnesses explain to me, he was hit in the crosswalk and flew through the air smashing his face on the side of the car and ripping off the side mirror with his face. He could have been killed. The driver told me he just did not see the crosswalk and stopped too late.

Now sounds like an easy claim, doesn’t it? So I referred my son to Art Vertlieb who had handled a matter for me thirty years or so earlier with great professionalism and success. This was the first mistake. I did not realize in the ensuing years Art had become very adept at working with ICBC and chasing ambulances. He no longer fights ICBC, he settles with ICBC and makes a lot of money doing it. I think it is safe to say that over fifty percent of his income has come from ICBC, so why would he want to fight them? He advises my son then and there at the first meeting, he could get $30,000 immediately but is better off to fight it, words he would later deny or avoid admitting, as seven years later he suggested and tried to force my son to accept exactly $30,000!

Art sends his investigator, Rod Wheeler to start the investigation. Subsequently a very sad fact is Rod Wheeler passes away and Art turns the entire file over to a very junior and very inexperienced attorney in his office.

In December 2001, my son is stopped while driving for no reason. Him and his passenger are handcuffed for no reason. He is arrested and forced to spend the night in the drunk tank for no reason. He gets a 24 hours suspension. The police had followed him from his home at Balfour and Granville with one police car, one unmarked police car and a paddy wagon. My son’s license was then suspended. My son fought the suspension and the 24 suspension. The police claimed they had lost all records and could not remember anything about the incident. Incredibly a few months later they asked ICBC to give back my son’s license as he had done nothing wrong. So one battle one, but soon to be followed incredibly by another.

In November 2002, my son was in the backseat of my Mercedes when an associate was driving the vehicle. They crashed and the driver ran away. My son was charged with DUI, 24 hour suspension and his insurance or my insurance was voided. So ICBC very quickly settled with the accident victim for $5500 for the vehicle and very generously $26,000 for a sore neck. Remember my son being hit in a crosswalk was still not settled. My son’s license was again suspended and ICBC refused to pay for the Mercedes which was written off or any damages to my son. Now ICBC charged him with not only a 24 hour suspension, not only with a DUI, not only refusing to pay for his vehicle but also with $31,500 for the accident.

My son fought the charges as he was not driving. In July 2004, he was ACQUITTED of all charges by a Judge in the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Great we won! Not so fast………… ICBC does not lose. There are two opinions to every accident in their thinking, their opinion and the wrong opinion. If Lord Jesus Christ himself proclaimed you were innocent, ICBC would defer to his Father. They do not accept anything except their way or the highway, which they claim to own. (Actually thanks to Campbell’s lack of courage and truth, they almost do)

So here we were 2004, two years my son had been prevented from driving and getting on with life and he was innocent but that was NOT good enough for ICBC. So we complained to our MLA, Ms. Joan McIntrye and her assistant Ms. Judith Fee. Well they cared, sort of, I mean Ms. Fee is a lovely lady and tries hard, Ms. McIntrye cares a little but will not stand up for anyone. We battled on.

After this accident my son moved to Spain to live and work in peace, thousands of miles from ICBC. He returned in August 2006, a big mistake. The police were waiting. They realized he had been let go and were determined to get him, with ICBC anxiously waiting to bounce. So in September 2007, my son is at Cheers in Delta. He is ordered to leave by the Delta Police for no reason. My son leaves with his friend in his friends vehicle. Remember my son had no license to drive in BC. So they are followed and as they go over the Patullo Bridge there are two police cars waiting for them. They give immediate chase. The driver speeds up and the police report to Port Moody that they are following a possible stolen vehicle. Now the police, just like the incident at Vancouver Airport have created a very dangerous perhaps life threatening matter. They chase the vehicle, with my son frightened out of his mind and screaming for the driver to stop, who is also frightened out of his mind due to the police activity that night. They crash at the end of St. John’s road in Port Moody. Now the police may take on average 11 minutes to respond to a murder or 16 to a burglary, but within five minutes that night there were four police vehicles at the scene. The first one that arrived was a Constable Levesque. Now this super rob cop said he could see not only through trees and shrubs at 2 AM on a dark night, but also through the vehilce itself to see my son exiting the driver’s door and so proclaimed my son to be the driver. It was get even time with the lower mainland police forces. They had forced the chase, but lying about a “possible stolen vehicle”. They did not arrest or attempt to arrest the driver, but instead jumped out of their vehicles and while my son was bent over smashed him in the head and used their boots to knock him unconscious. They then incredibly, the very same constable that proclaimed the other individual was an innocent passenger, tasered him anyway! Now the driver immediately admitted he was the driver in the police reports, but this was all ignored in the police’s need to get even with my son.

My son was brutalized, knocked unconscious and again charged with a crime and accident he was not guilty of at all.

I suppose at this point you are like me and doubting this could all be true. Am I right? Well what I did next may change your mind.

I called New West police, whom for some strange reason took my son to their jail. I asked them to get him medical attention, they refused. So the minute my son was released, I told my ex wife to take him to Royal Columbian Hospital. While there the Doctors of course were mean and belittling to him as they are always in agreement with the Police. However they had one big problem, my son had across his body, the seatbelt marks from the PASSENGER side seatbelt. He was completely innocent!!!

He was brutalized, arrested, incarcerated and the whole time and innocent passenger. So I called the New West Police, who claimed I should speak to the Port Moody Police Chief. I did so. Well you could not find a more beligerent obnoxious criminal, nevermind police officer. He simply demanded I sue them and to basically take a hike and he would see my son in court. I was stunned. The Police did not care that the actual driver was charged again the very next night or that he had a record as long as his arm. Tough shit, we nailed your son and we will make it stick. I was stunned to see the Crown actually lay charges in spite of all the excupatory evidence proving innocence. I went to the papers and NOT one single paper in the lower mainland cared. They would not even print the malicous usage of taser or the brutalty. So much for freedom of an independent press. Patricia Graham, Jamie’s favorite cousin (referring to Chief Graham of VPD and just kidding). However the North Shore News or no major publication in the Lower Mainland cared or would even consider printing a near murder of my son by the police. This is what ICBC and Campbell have created. There is more fear of ICBC then of the KGB in Soviet Russia or the Gestapo in Germany during the war. Nothing will ever be printed about the police and ICBC by any publication unless it is already news. It is that simple.

So we sued the two municipalities and the police forces and Chief Shrive suggested. Then he immediately accused us of trying to intimidate them! It is incredible. We also filed a complaint with the OPCC, Office of Police Complaints Commission, set up to protect Police against Complaints. They do nothing. The Ombudsman, remember we had been sent to them. They did less than nothing. It is all a sham to give Campbell’s buddies jobs and incomes at our expense. They could all care less about justice or our rights.

We hired our lawyer to defend my son against the malicious prosecution, all resulting from his claim many years ago for getting hit in a croswalk. No one believed it, not even me really, until what happened next.

ICBC was finally forced to make an offer to my son from the original accident in the crosswalk. They offered him $30,000 with of course all of it deducted for the accidents that he was not responsible for at all. When we protested ICBC immediately five years after the accident in 2002 filed a lawsuit. I asked a very pathetic ICBC intimidated law firm, Sager Anderson to file a counter suit for the Mercedes ICBC had refused to pay for, Sager Anderson refused to fight ICBC. They simply ran away from the case. I went to see Rose Keith another ICBC apologist to ask her to help. She too ran away and suggested my son simply pay ICBC and settle. Wow! These firms make their living off accident victims in some part and they are both unwilling to fight. This is quite astounding.

So finally Vertlieb tells my son that ICBC will offer $45,000 a 50% increase over what they had a first offered, which he said was the best offer possible, of course both times. Then a surprise, Vertileb said they would NOT go to trial after my son waiting SEVEN years and they would quit the case if he did not settle. This is all factual and yes unbelievable but true. Vertlieb also a friend of the other lawyers whom we sought to defend my son would not fight! They all just live off chasing ambulance and your pain and suffering but will not fight. Vertlieb told my son, because he was brutalized by police he would lose a jury trial! So they get you either way. If innocent you lose and if guilty you lose!

Well here we are Novermber 2007, almost seven years later and my son has been prevented from living and working in BC. The lawyers will not defend him. ICBC and the police have conspired or cooperated in the least to ruin his life. He can not work due to the injuries. He can not drive due to the false and malicious charges. His MLA has not helped. The Ombudsman has ran away. Fair Practices Division at ICBC had lied and fraudulently betrayed him. The OPCC set up supposedly to help victims actually protects the police.

[Reply]

Charlika Reply:
February 9th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

my email address: dalika21@hotmail.com

Please email me. We are still fighting to get free of this terrible situation. I am the girlfriend of the sory above, his father has been fighting to get justice but it almost seams hopeless because of ICBC’s criminal actions! If there is anyone out there that can help get CJ’s story out there and let him lead a normal life please email me! Can you imagine being hit by a truck crossing the street and ICBC doing nothing about it? CJ is the most wonderful caring man ! I love him and want a family with him, but due to injuries from the accident his back is so often sore and he needs a lot of rehabilitation on it , as the whole left side muscle is weak and causes him pain. He is 26, bright, intetlligent and he has a great future to be had his case was only brought to justice. Imagine, he can not truly start his life because of the choke hold ICBC has put on his life. If there is anyone out there, even knows a great doctor that would help in his case, please email me.

God Bless,

Angel

cory Reply:
June 1st, 2009 at 4:49 pm

i was recently in an accident in which my cousin was the other driver but he took full responsibility at the claims center but the special investigator still told me that because my motorcycle was just insured 5 days previous to the accident that he does not believe the accident happened at all and then told me if i did not drop the claim and tell him what he thinks is the truth he can charge me with fraud for making false claim and he could sue me he also wanted my cell phone records for that day

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Billy bop Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

If you are making a fim about icbc I am interested please contact me

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Jenny
November 20th, 2006
1:28 pm

I have not had a good experience with ICBC. Recently I was involved in an accident where I rear ended a lady. It was a very low impact accident, we were both fine and there was minimal damage to our cars(I did not make a claim). However, it was my fault… I was 100% responsible.

I decided to try and pay off the damage made to her car and asked ICBC to send me an invoice to review. When I received it it had the total amount and then a hand written statement for a ‘Vehicle Rental’ and an additional $45.14 charge… then another handwritten total. I had stayed in contact with the other driver and she had informed me that she didn’t use a rental car at all.

When I called the first time the ICBC employee told me the shop charged them so they will charge me… no explanation. I then called the head office, the woman I spoke to there told me that this was just an ‘industry standard’ and they automatically charge this even if a rental car is not used.

I wrote a letter to the ICBC Fairness Commission. I am not expecting them to do much… considering they run it. But I do feel this is unethical and refuse to be a ’sheep’ and follow the crowd of unhappy ICBC customers.

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Bob
February 9th, 2007
2:16 pm

I’m having a bad experience w/ ICBC right now — something hit my car when it was parked in a parking lot and I wasn’t there. I have no idea what happened, so I filed a hit and run claim.

They told me that it looks like I hit a wall — basically they accused me of lying. I called again and left a message, which they haven’t returned, so I guess I’m just stuck paying for this damage.

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John
August 24th, 2007
5:56 pm

I have had two accidents in the last three years: a very minor scrape in a parking lot, and I rear-ended a vehicle when my brake line burst (according to ICBC, a 100% my fault accident). I am now forced to pay a 250% premium which effectively means that I cannot afford anything but the very base level of insurance. According to the ICBC website, “If you cause crashes, then you pay a higher premium”.

Let me explain that I do not “cause crashes”. I am human, and I make mistakes no more or less than any other human. I owned the vehicle less than a week and had it mechanically inspected by a dealer garage before I bought it, and yet the brake line still burst.

I will now take me 12 years of paying grossly over-rated premiums before I am able to get insurance in BC for a fair premium (assuming that I don’t utilize the “services” of ICBC in the meantime).

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Paul
December 18th, 2007
5:36 pm

ICBC,

3 Points.

#1 Their intentions legally are to cause blame on you. They force people to pay fines, and our only method of retort is to “dispute”, putting blame on us making us sound bad. If your friend randomly told you to pay you 500 bucks because you spilled some soda on his couch you would tell him to piss off and you would either clean his couch or replace the cushion. Well ICBC says you did this, and were are going to gauge you for it by charging you with a fine. We cannot tell them to piss off, its an accident. They go give us cash and be on your merry way.

#2 They are a monopoly and a crown corporation and therefore should notify the public of all and every change. They do not do this nor will they ever do this.

#3 ICBC does not have British Columbians at interest, this has been proven in media many times. They are any typical private company, their main goal is based on profits, and lots of em. If their profits come from us or their investments they reward their staff (greatly) and the people of BC are the furthest thing from their mind. I understand Christmas bonus’s but if you were for a crown corporation, and you do a really good job at ripping someone off you should be hung out to dry and sentenced to decent term in jail. This might sound harsh but their jobs are to make money from us from a “technically” free thing called transportation.

Finally, if you take the 3 points above and compile/combine them together, you have technically created a monster. They have a soldier of policeman doing their enforcing of rules and regulations that can be changed at will, and can charge you with the most they can suck out of that one specific thing money wise.

The Definition of an accident:
Literally, a befalling; an event that takes place without one’s foresight or expectation; an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected event; chance; contingency; often, an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character;

Humans were not design perfectly, they have accidents all the time. ICBC gets to have free reign over VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. Grrreat.

ICBC should be relinquished of the REIGN of TERROR they have brought to BC and move onto some where else. If someone comes on here and posts, oh well you should see Ireland they make people pay even more, tell them we are not Ireland we are from BC, and we wont put up with this.

not to mention their premiums have gone through the roof, and their profits are every exceeding off or British Columbians pockets, and offering little or no competition to bring market prices down. Oh wait there is no market.

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Bob
April 16th, 2008
9:07 am

ICBC has become a criminal organization. Claims adjusters are told to settle claims in the best interest of the corporation. Accident claims are not settled fairly, they are settled in favour of the corporations bottom line. They have tended to go to a 50/50 settlement in most cases, where both drivers are found at fault and both have their rates increased.

The corporation is riddled with corruption, repaired vehicles sold without disclosure of their accident history and managers buying repaired vehicles dirt cheap on rigged auctions being the latest story to hit the news.

The corruption however, is far more widespread than that. Performance bonuses are paid to managers if the corporations bottom line increases, regardless of the reason, whether it be fewer claims because of a mild winter or cheating clients of their due.

The bottom line is simple greed. Cheat he clients and get a bonus cheque.

Sure I’ve had a few claims in the past that were settled reasonably. Got my windshield replaced for $200. My vehicle was vandalized and ICBC paid for the repairs. I also have a nearly 30 year clean driving record. These claims were simple and straight forward. Accident claims are something else. The person with the most damage will be found at fault and not covered, or the old 50/50.

When I moved to BC from Ontario my basic car insurance doubled. For a second vehicle here I pay full premiums. In Ontario the second vehicle was $300 a year. Of course this was through a large and well known private insurance company. I shopped around for the best rates and coverage.

Lets hope that the recent sudden resignation of the ICBC, CEO is a turning point. The beginning of criminal investigation into how this monster rips off each and every resident of this province, every day.

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Joe
July 17th, 2008
6:32 pm

I have had nothing but horrible expierences with ICBC. I had three little fender benders in parking lots in one year while I was backing up. Two of the times the other vehicles came out of nowhere and because my truck was lifted I could not see them. My insurance premiums went up to 250% surcharge and I was at 43% roadstar savings before the accidents. My insurance for my car is now $2000.00/month. Obviously I can not afford to pay this so I am forced to drive a vehicle that is not insured in my name. If I am put down as the principle operator then I still have to pay that ridiculous amount. So I am driving with someone elses insurance which is illegal according to ICBC.

I comute to Vancouver everyday on the #1 highway and with traffic the way it is and the roads not built for this much traffic how can you avoid the odd accident it is impossible. This Government in BC has got us all in a corner. They know the roads are conjested they do nothing about it or very little and blame us for the accidents on the roads that we are bad drivers and we have to pay yet none of the millions of dollars that ICBC has made in profits are going to build more bridges and better roads. There is no form of transit from the fraser valley into Vancouver. The average person cannot afford to live in Vancouver and now with gas prices we should all stay home and collect welfare maybe that would hit them where it hurts.

I think BC is in need of some drastic changes to its government and we as the people should be pushing this. It is too bad that people have road rage on one another and when involved in an accident the first thing that goes through your mind should not be my dahmrance is going to sky rocket. Rather this anger should be taken out on this provinces government. I dont know about you but I have had enough.

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Joe
July 17th, 2008
6:34 pm

I have had nothing but horrible expierences with ICBC. I had three little fender benders in parking lots in one year while I was backing up. Two of the times the other vehicles came out of nowhere and because my truck was lifted I could not see them. My insurance premiums went up to 250% surcharge and I was at 43% roadstar savings before the accidents. My insurance for my car is now $2000.00/month. Obviously I can not afford to pay this so I am forced to drive a vehicle that is not insured in my name. If I am put down as the principle operator then I still have to pay that ridiculous amount. So I am driving with someone elses insurance which is illegal according to ICBC.

I comute to Vancouver everyday on the #1 highway and with traffic the way it is and the roads not built for this much traffic how can you avoid the odd accident it is impossible. This Government in BC has got us all in a corner. They know the roads are conjested they do nothing about it or very little and blame us for the accidents on the roads that we are bad drivers and we have to pay yet none of the millions of dollars that ICBC has made in profits are going to build more bridges and better roads. There is no form of transit from the fraser valley into Vancouver. The average person cannot afford to live in Vancouver and now with gas prices we should all stay home and collect welfare maybe that would hit them where it hurts.

I think BC is in need of some drastic changes to its government and we as the people should be pushing this. It is too bad that people have road rage on one another and when involved in an accident the first thing that goes through your mind should not be my dahm insurance is going to sky rocket. Rather this anger should be taken out on this provinces government. I dont know about you but I have had enough.

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HASAN WASTY
October 23rd, 2008
12:15 pm

DEAR READERS MY NMINIVAN GOT STOLEN ,IT WAS 1994 PLYMOUTH VOYJOR VERY NICELY KEPT LIKE COLLECTER CAR , BUT ICBC GAVE ME A VERY SOUR DEAL ,REASON RACIAL PREJUDICE . I HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR MY INSURACE SINCE BILL BENET BROUGHT ICBC , I DID COMPLAIN TO OMMBADS MAN OFFICE BUT NO AVAIL , IF SOME ONE CAN HELP ME PLEASE !TOTTLE LOSE DEPT WOMAN HAD SO Awe attitude . i know in icbc all workers are cousins , as this is just society ! may be too much !

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Bud
June 12th, 2009
1:32 pm

My wife was parked at the grocery store. As she was putting our 3 year old in his car seat, rear passenger door open, a driver tried to pull into the next stall, hit the end of our door and bingo - we are found partly to blame. I’d love to hear others opinions/experiences. This is a new one in my experience, and I think the other driver basically hit our parked car and should be found 100% at fault. A close shave or my wife or son would have been hit, too.
Thanks, everyone ~ this burns me up. I’m an average guy supporting a family on a single income.

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Jess
June 16th, 2009
3:50 pm

The bottom line is people who drives with an excellent insurance record always get screwed up, why? because we always pay for the damage cost by the irresponsible and idiot driver on the street.
I suggest that ICBC should return percentage of our insurance fee if we were not involve in any accident or collision in a year instead giving us a stupid discount scale, through this it will convince people to drive safely. just a thought..

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Rahim
September 10th, 2009
10:36 pm

I have lived in BC for 3 years now. So far i have been rear ended by an American driver, I have had my car stolen, and i hit a cyclist @2km/h while she was running a stop sign. In that order. previos to this i lived in ontario and the UK and had never gotten a ticket, or in an accident. When my car was rear ended, they would not repair the damages to the car(an exaust), rather they pained the car, and cleaned it. wierd eh. it cost em more than 1000 dollars to do so, but it would of cost 300 to get the exaust fixed. When my car was stolen i lost all my stuff in the car, they took it 4×4′ing up in squamish(i live in vancouver). they first said i stole my own car. then they said the damages to the car were there before(fuel pump, tranny, many other pieces) thing is how would the guy who stole my car get it to squamish if it was broken before. now my car does not work correctly, so i cant drive it .. wait didnt i get my car stolen. finaly i just had my meeting with ICBC. the first thing out of her mouth was you blew the light. well if i did that why isnt the paint scraped from hitting the bike. they tried to tell me that a peson wearing all black with no lights on her bike, would win a he said she said argument cuz i have no witness. the witess said that it was the bikers fault. wierd i know that i am gonna be screwed by em. also i was told that bikes dont need to follow the street rules. mabey they woudlnt say that if they had to insure them.

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Rahim
September 10th, 2009
11:07 pm

I really dont understand ICBC and their rules. are they a government ministry? Why do they represent both sides of an argument. arnt i entitled to fair representation. seems a might unconstitutional. In ontario we have no fault insurance. that means if i hit you, both our rates go up, and our own insurance pays for our damages, and my driving record would have a blemish. potentialy if you really broke the driving rules you may not be able to be insured again. fair enough… since the rules are so harsh right off the bat people go out of their way not to be in accients. there is no thought of i can get tons of money. usaly people, when in an accident might not even call the insurance since we both would have to pay deductibles and have our rates go up even if their is only 50 dollars damage. one of my freinds pulling in to a gas station slid on the Ice, hititing anouther car. he broke the licence plate cover of the other car. he had to pay nothing for deductible cuz he had no damages, but his rates went up over 100 bucks a month the other guy who reported it also had his rates incresed since he claimed. seems harsh but both parties are protected. i bet you that there is more accidents in BC per capita than Ontario per captia even tho its much harder and more dengerous to drive in Ontario.

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Rahim
September 10th, 2009
11:13 pm

cyclists… they drive on roads with cars. they are essentially a vehicle.. i have to insure a car, a boat, a plane, and a any other vehicle i can think of. now a bike can cause a serios accident on the roads, why dont they pay insurance.. i mean its not like they would pay much… but they should have to pay to go on the roads. also police should enforce regulations agianst bikers.if they had to pay insurance and the street laws were enforced on them, do you think that they would ride so reclessly anymore.

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