Do not pay 3rd party insurance repair

[Little Jim]

Hello, I am new to post to this forum, but have been reading it since forever.
Now that it has become clear I have been played by insurance company Mapfre, I want to let other cruisers to learn from my experience.

December 2018 in Gran Canarias marina Pasito Blanco I was hit by local boat during berthing maneuvers in calm weather.
Marina people helped to translate and contacted Mapfre inspector and found company to repair the damage, which is 2x10cm hole through gelcoat to fiber.

Pictures and information were exchanged between me and inspector. Local boatyard calculated a quote for the fix, which Mapfre inspector approved via email.
It was important to fix damage quickly so that voyage towards Cape Verde could take place as there is simply no infrastructure in Cape Verde to lift boat on hard. If anything need to be fixed, do it in Canaries. Waiting too long with the fix would let sea water to seep in to the fiber.

Now comes the tricky part: marina wanted me to pay the repair myself, so they do not need to await insurance company. I felt this is just reasonable as they have no role in the damage, why should they need to wait their money?

Still today, June 2019, six months after damage, Mapfre has not made contact, let alone sent compensation. And to my horror I have come to realize there is NOTHING I can do about it. They. Just. Do. Not. Pay. Mapfre Spain - big and sinister corporate as it is - maybe wants to teach foreign yachts to use their own respective kasko insurances instead, by delaying compensations forever.
Maybe there indeed is a pattern here... like... a new business model?

Lesson learned: never pay damage yourself. Always agree with the yard for them to get payment directly from insurance company.

Regards,
Jouni Lahdelma

[redneckrob]

Originally Posted by Little Jim

Hello, I am new to post to this forum, but have been reading it since forever.
Now that it has become clear I have been played by insurance company Mapfre, I want to let other cruisers to learn from my experience.

December 2018 in Gran Canarias marina Pasito Blanco I was hit by local boat during berthing maneuvers in calm weather.
Marina people helped to translate and contacted Mapfre inspector and found company to repair the damage, which is 2x10cm hole through gelcoat to fiber.

Pictures and information were exchanged between me and inspector. Local boatyard calculated a quote for the fix, which Mapfre inspector approved via email.
It was important to fix damage quickly so that voyage towards Cape Verde could take place as there is simply no infrastructure in Cape Verde to lift boat on hard. If anything need to be fixed, do it in Canaries. Waiting too long with the fix would let sea water to seep in to the fiber.

Now comes the tricky part: marina wanted me to pay the repair myself, so they do not need to await insurance company. I felt this is just reasonable as they have no role in the damage, why should they need to wait their money?

Still today, June 2019, six months after damage, Mapfre has not made contact, let alone sent compensation. And to my horror I have come to realize there is NOTHING I can do about it. They. Just. Do. Not. Pay. Mapfre Spain - big and sinister corporate as it is - maybe wants to teach foreign yachts to use their own respective kasko insurances instead, by delaying compensations forever.
Maybe there indeed is a pattern here... like... a new business model?

Lesson learned: never pay damage yourself. Always agree with the yard for them to get payment directly from insurance company.

Regards,
Jouni Lahdelma

If this is common behavior among insurance companies then I doubt you'll find a yard willing to take on the pain of collecting from the insurance company for you, they'll just refuse the work knowing that you have to get it done regardless. Or you'll have to be willing to compensate them for the pain you don't want to incur that they'll have to incur for you by taking on the collections chore.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Little Jim

Hello, I am new to post to this forum, but have been reading it since forever.
Now that it has become clear I have been played by insurance company Mapfre, I want to let other cruisers to learn from my experience.

December 2018 in Gran Canarias marina Pasito Blanco I was hit by local boat during berthing maneuvers in calm weather.
Marina people helped to translate and contacted Mapfre inspector and found company to repair the damage, which is 2x10cm hole through gelcoat to fiber.

Pictures and information were exchanged between me and inspector. Local boatyard calculated a quote for the fix, which Mapfre inspector approved via email.
It was important to fix damage quickly so that voyage towards Cape Verde could take place as there is simply no infrastructure in Cape Verde to lift boat on hard. If anything need to be fixed, do it in Canaries. Waiting too long with the fix would let sea water to seep in to the fiber.

Now comes the tricky part: marina wanted me to pay the repair myself, so they do not need to await insurance company. I felt this is just reasonable as they have no role in the damage, why should they need to wait their money?

Still today, June 2019, six months after damage, Mapfre has not made contact, let alone sent compensation. And to my horror I have come to realize there is NOTHING I can do about it. They. Just. Do. Not. Pay. Mapfre Spain - big and sinister corporate as it is - maybe wants to teach foreign yachts to use their own respective kasko insurances instead, by delaying compensations forever.
Maybe there indeed is a pattern here... like... a new business model?

Lesson learned: never pay damage yourself. Always agree with the yard for them to get payment directly from insurance company.

Regards,
Jouni Lahdelma

Just be prepared for them not to launch the boat till the Insurance company pays up.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Jouni.
Sorry to learn of your insurance woes.

[Celticsailor45]

Suggest you follow up with this link...

https://www.mapfreglobalrisks.com/ri...aims-spain.jsp

[SailingFan]

Interesting little clip from their site...


"Prior to presenting a claim or complaint, there must have been an action or decision taken by MAPFRE with which you are not in agreement."


So if I take this literally, it means that if they do not act, they have taken no action or decision, so complaint cannot be logged? I sure hope that it is NOT that way with this company, because fewer insurance companies mean less competition for clients, and that means higher premiums and even poorer customer service levels.

[Boatguy30]

Why would the marina pay? Was the local boat berthed in the marina? Does the marina require all boats to be insured?

You have a witness about the local boat? Shouldn't they be paying? In theory, I assume they have no insurance....

[PamlicoTraveler]

That is a big company to be pulling that type of shenanigans. They even have a pretty big US presence. I would be the biggest thorn they ever had, and this forum is a good start.

I am going to link to this thread on Twitter. Let the word get out.