BajaNomad

Lewis And Lewis Insurance

Baja Vicki M - 7-22-2021 at 11:28 AM

I have renewed my 6 month policy with Lewis And Lewis every 6 months since I have been here in Mexico. I also renew my FMM every six months. My husband is a Mexican National. He was driving my truck and was T-boned by an Rosarito Police truck. The protocol in Mexico is DO NOT MOVE THE VEHICLES. Each party calls thier insurance adjuster. Present the license, registration and insurance to the adjuster, and to the police. Let both adjusters chronicle the accident, fill out your portion of the accident report and sign on the little iPad they give you. My husband followed the protocol. The Police did not. They did not call their adjuster. And they moved their vehicle before the adjuster arrived. They asked my husband to move our vehicle, but he knows the law, and did not. The adjuster arrived. He assured my husband that everything would be fine and the damages would be covered. Then he spoke to the Policia. They chummed it up and had a nice little good ol' boys chat. The adjuster then returned to my husband, said our policy was null and void because he had a Mexican driver's license (not true) and he needed to cough up 20,000 pesos for the claim to be approved. He refused. The cops then issued a ticket for driving without a license. ( a claim can be excluded for an unlicensed driver), and a tow truck came and impounded our vehicle. The adjuster told us the claim was denied (untrue). He also forged my husband's part of the accident report, and forged my husband's signature. My husband filled out nothing and signed nothing. At this point, we do not know where our truck is, we have not received a lawyer (as Lewis and Lewis's site promised) None of my emails have been forwarded, with all the photos, to the regional adjuster for Qualitas, and Jordan Lewis, called me a liar and hung up on me. There is over 7000 dollars worth of damage to our truck, we do not know where it is, we do not know who is the adjuster, we do not know who is the lawyer, and it has been 6 days from the accident. I am an LCSW-R - licensed for independent practice. I have been an expert witness in court proceedings, conducted evaluations for foster homes and adoptions, and done assessments for custody and Child Protective cases. I practiced for over 34 years and am now retired. I probably could not have kept my license, nor kept a clean ethical record with zero reviews, if I was a liar. Do not use Lewis And Lewis insurance. They are incompetent charlatans.

del mar - 7-22-2021 at 11:35 AM

most of the beefs I hear about Lewis and Lewis is that they write Qualitas with a poor record.....I had a large claim with them a dozen years ago and was settled in two weeks. sounds like things have changed:(

JZ - 7-22-2021 at 11:49 AM

You should add some paragraph breaks to make your post easier to read.

That sounds awful. Hope it all works out.

I called them several times about boat policies or even just covering towing. They never had anything good to offer.

Bajabound is great to work with.

Don Pisto - 7-22-2021 at 12:11 PM

ugh, thats a cold bowl of chili Vicki hope you get it sorted out. now that you live here full time why not cut the cord and use a reputable mexican broker and support your neighbors. Bernies, Mybaja or Cuatros are good choices......jmo and good luck!

SFandH - 7-22-2021 at 12:12 PM

If you're saying you have a car registered in the states and insured by a Mexican company to be driven in Mexico, I'm pretty sure the insurance doesn't apply if the car is driven by a Mexican citizen (your husband, you said he was a Mex national). I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

Take a look at the fine print in your policy, perhaps under "exclusions".

Bajabound.com, where many nomads buy Mex car insurance, explicity states the policies they sell do not cover drivers with Mexican driver licenses.



[Edited on 7-22-2021 by SFandH]

mtgoat666 - 7-22-2021 at 12:35 PM

Cops in Rosarito are crooked. You won’t get them to give back your car until you publicly shame them. Tell your story to the press, make the cops uncomfortable. The only way to fight corruption is to shed light on it for all to see.

motoged - 7-22-2021 at 12:46 PM



Quote: Originally posted by Baja Vicki M

... I no longer carry American auto insurance of any type.


Perhaps this is part of the reason your recent accident claim was denied, as you seem to be saying the US plated vehicle had no US insurance ... which is required.... ?

SFandH - 7-22-2021 at 01:00 PM

Her husband was driving, he's a "Mexican national". The policies bajabound.com sells don't cover drivers with Mexican driver licenses. It's explicitly stated on their website. I doubt her policy does either.

https://www.bajabound.com/info/faq

look under situations not covered




[Edited on 7-22-2021 by SFandH]

JZ - 7-22-2021 at 01:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
If you're saying you have a car registered in the states and insured by a Mexican company to be driven in Mexico, I'm pretty sure the insurance doesn't apply if the car is driven by a Mexican citizen (your husband, you said he was a Mex national). I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

Take a look at the fine print in your policy, perhaps under "exclusions".

Bajabound.com, where many nomads buy Mex car insurance, explicity states the policies they sell do not cover drivers with Mexican driver licenses.



[Edited on 7-22-2021 by SFandH]


I was denied for this years ago with insurance from another company.

I have had specufic conversations with Bajabound and they told me a MX driver is not an issue if I'm in the car.

Maybe Geoff can clarify.

SFandH - 7-22-2021 at 01:08 PM

Well yeah, you just say you were driving.:lol:

Kidding, you could be correct.

mtgoat666 - 7-22-2021 at 01:11 PM

From Lewis website:

Q. Who can drive a tourist vehicle in Mexico?

A. Lewis and Lewis Tourist Mexican Auto Insurance Eligibility is captioned below:

Eligible people include:

Short-term visitors to Mexico.
Residents of Mexico who are not Mexican citizens. However, persons with a Residente Permanente permit are not eligible for this Mexican Tourist Auto Insurance policy and must make an application for their Mexican Registered Vehicle Insurance on our https://mexicanautoinsurance.com/quote/mexican-registered-ve... webpage.
People who work in Mexico who are not Mexican citizens.
People who work in Mexico who are not Mexican citizens.
People who have non-immigrant visas or permits.

(*) Mexican citizens are eligible if:
You are a dual citizen who does not reside permanently in Mexico
You have a U.S. Green card and do not reside permanently in Mexico.
You are married to a non-Mexican citizen non-immigrant.

SFandH - 7-22-2021 at 01:13 PM

It sorta makes sense. The Mex gov wants to stop Mexicans from driving cars registered in the US, so deny them the ability to obtain Mex insurance.

mtgoat666 - 7-22-2021 at 01:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
It sorta makes sense. The Mex gov wants to stop Mexicans from driving cars registered in the US, so deny them the ability to obtain Mex insurance.


Does mex govt control eligibility requirements of insurance coverages?
I suspect that insurance companies issue policies/coverage that make business sense. Perhaps the insurers have reasons to not insure mex citizens driving foreign-plated cars, eh?

del mar - 7-22-2021 at 01:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
It sorta makes sense. The Mex gov wants to stop Mexicans from driving cars registered in the US, so deny them the ability to obtain Mex insurance.


lol...the bulk of mexicans put car insurance waaaay down on their list of necessities right below current registration. cops care about one thing only, they want to see a drivers license!

SFandH - 7-22-2021 at 01:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by del mar  
Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
It sorta makes sense. The Mex gov wants to stop Mexicans from driving cars registered in the US, so deny them the ability to obtain Mex insurance.


lol...the bulk of mexicans put car insurance waaaay down on their list of necessities right below current registration. cops care about one thing only, they want to see a drivers license!


That sorta depends upon the value of the car and how much money the owner has. I think the richer Mexicans who drive new cars and have assets that they could lose carry insurance. I've heard that Mexicans who buy new cars have to show proof of insurance to register them. They're not all poor, driving beaters.

All the car manufacturers have new car dealerships in TJ and I imagine other major Mex cities.

[Edited on 7-22-2021 by SFandH]

del mar - 7-22-2021 at 01:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Quote: Originally posted by del mar  
Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
It sorta makes sense. The Mex gov wants to stop Mexicans from driving cars registered in the US, so deny them the ability to obtain Mex insurance.


lol...the bulk of mexicans put car insurance waaaay down on their list of necessities right below current registration. cops care about one thing only, they want to see a drivers license!


That sorta depends upon the value of the car and how much money the owner has. I think the richer Mexicans who drive new cars and have assets that they could lose carry insurance. I've heard that Mexicans who buy new cars have to show proof of insurance to register them. They're not all poor, driving beaters.

All the car manufacturers have new car dealerships in TJ and I imagine other major Mex cities.

[Edited on 7-22-2021 by SFandH]


like I said, the bulk of mexicans.........

AKgringo - 7-22-2021 at 02:08 PM

Kind of off topic, but does anyone know how the cost of insuring a Baja registered vehicle compares to the same coverage, for the same vehicle in the US?

sancho - 7-22-2021 at 02:32 PM

Once read, don't know how valid, is 5% of Mex Plated vehicles
are insured. The Mercedes in Mexico City, one could assume are
insured. I think Baja would be dreadfully low.
I believe the policies sold by US brokers are specifically
for tourists, not that one could not cover those facts up if
living SOB. I believe Bajabound on their application asks
something like how many days is the vehicle in Mex, or do
you reside in Mex. I believe it clearly states the policy does
not cover Mex Nationals


vandy - 7-22-2021 at 03:09 PM

It sounds like Goat's quote from Lewis & Lewis

"Mexican citizens are eligible if:...
You are married to a non-Mexican citizen non-immigrant."

might mean Vicki's husband should be covered.

Personally, I recommend dash-cams. Cheap and reliable these days.
In the case of a cop hitting my car, the SD card would be hidden quickly to keep from "losing" it.

I'll also plug the Bajabound insurance I've used for years.
I've never had to make a claim, but have heard good stories from people who have.
L&L? I saw some reviews and heard stories that didn't thrill me.
This may be another.

Bring t-boned by a cop, the vehicles disappearing and the forgery...what a nightmare!
The only recourse I can see is getting the state or federal investigators involved.
They don't like the local cops much.

charliemanson - 7-22-2021 at 04:51 PM

We had our truck we brought down from the states, after importation as we don't want to be someone who is trying to cheat the system, and we were hit by an uninsured worker with nothing and we were fully covered by L&L, (ran by Quantus) and never an issue. Truck repaired at Toyota the next week and never paid a dime, peso.
Great service and when traveling in the US with Mex plates we are covered for less than 30% of US insurance.
Guess it all comes down to circumstances.
Sorry you are having difficulties as in our experiences we have never had an issue

SFandH - 7-22-2021 at 07:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by vandy  
It sounds like Goat's quote from Lewis & Lewis

"Mexican citizens are eligible if:...
You are married to a non-Mexican citizen non-immigrant."

might mean Vicki's husband should be covered.



Good catch! Maybe the adjusters don't know about that detail. Hope she reads this.


[Edited on 7-23-2021 by SFandH]

monoloco - 7-23-2021 at 06:25 PM

Lewis and Lewis is great until you have a claim.

JC43 - 7-24-2021 at 07:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by monoloco  
Lewis and Lewis is great until you have a claim.


Which reads like: L&L is a great company as long as you pay for your insurance. It is a itzie-bitzie-tinie company when it comes to a claim.
I do have an example like the one in this thread: A customer from L&L (used to live in the Oasis/Mulege) came down from Orgegon w/ a trailer.
Trailer was rather big for his truck and the customer made a crash down a slope into a rockfield. L&L denied the coveridge for tha truck b/c the truck was pulling a trailer. They have a lot of mouse traps to deny coveridge. They have the best "Claim-Denial-Agents" on board !!! Bad company to my undestanding.

mtgoat666 - 7-24-2021 at 08:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JC43  
Quote: Originally posted by monoloco  
Lewis and Lewis is great until you have a claim.


Which reads like: L&L is a great company as long as you pay for your insurance. It is a itzie-bitzie-tinie company when it comes to a claim.
I do have an example like the one in this thread: A customer from L&L (used to live in the Oasis/Mulege) came down from Orgegon w/ a trailer.
Trailer was rather big for his truck and the customer made a crash down a slope into a rockfield. L&L denied the coveridge for tha truck b/c the truck was pulling a trailer. They have a lot of mouse traps to deny coveridge. They have the best "Claim-Denial-Agents" on board !!! Bad company to my undestanding.


Isn’t Lewis just the sales guys? I think your claims are handled by the actual insurer.

AKgringo - 7-24-2021 at 08:27 AM

I have towed a small (4'x6') trailer behind my Kia a couple of times, and made sure that it was included on the policy. All I was buying was liability insurance, but I am pretty sure that all insurers require that you declare anything being towed.

gallesram - 7-24-2021 at 09:39 AM

Everyone has a different experience, so I'll post mine. Purchased L & L policy for my Suburban which was totaled in roll-over accident. I contacted the claims number on the policy the next day (not L & L but rather an English-speaking claims department for the insurer). Driver was jailed (not me) and an attorney showed up at the jail the day after the accident to provide legal representation for the driver. So far, so good. But after that I got mired in lot of red tape. Bottom line, I was on the phone with both L & L as well as the insurer (Qualitas) on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis trying to get my claim resolved. They always seemed to need another piece of paper. Accident was in October, I got paid the blue book value of the Suburban in March (5 months later). But it required a lot of calls, documents and even a letter to the California Insurance Commissioner complaining about the product being sold by L & L. I just figured that this was how insurance claims were handled in Mexico.

JC43 - 7-24-2021 at 02:48 PM

especiqally @ mtgoat

Woke!

“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

Not Baja related in the first place but somehow: Sorry my friend, wrong question from that guy who initially said that. (Not a smart man per se!) If you pay taxes to your contry, you can expect from your country to spend your money wisely. Wich means first of all: Do not exaggerate any spending into the military. Ther U.S. is spending more money into the military than the rest of the world combined - including China and Russia. Cut that spending in half and half again the rest of the world won`t feel threatened the way it is today. Including Russia and China.
What has that to do with Baja? Well Baja is located right inbewteen the U.S and China i.e. (at least somehow)

[Edited on 7-24-2021 by JC43]

TMW - 7-25-2021 at 10:28 AM

JC did you forget to take your meds?

Don Pisto - 7-25-2021 at 10:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
JC did you forget to take your meds?


yesterday was National Tequila Day.....:coolup:

JC43 - 7-25-2021 at 03:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
JC did you forget to take your meds?


What meds r u talking about?? I´m only pouring paint thinner into my Corona mask. That cleans your mind like nothing else !!! LOL

Don´t you agree with my point in my previous thread? It is the truth Buddy, nothing but the truth. To make peace on this planet, politicians need to understand that boosting the military is the wrong way. If you are reading all what´s written here, you might know that I do have contaxct with aliens. (Those guys putting the rows of rock together!) And the aliens are friendly as heaven. BUT: They told me, if the U.S. is spending more money into the military this year, and raising the debt level again for that reason, they might come and play with the earthlinks the hide and seek game. That will put all of the earthlinks together, they said. Cinese, Russins. U.S guys and, and, and. As then, all nations of this planet have only one enemy to mess around with. Smart thinking of these guys, to teach us a lesson. Don´t you agree?
What the heck has that to do with Baja??? Well, Baja is a part of this world. And certainly the BajaNomads are a part of "Global Thinking". Evidance: Baja Blanca is travelling abroad. And some U.S guys are travelling SoB. to Baja. Surprise Surprise !

[Edited on 7-25-2021 by JC43]

motoged - 7-25-2021 at 05:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  

... but I am pretty sure that all insurers require that you declare anything being towed.


Some also want a declaration what is being carried by vehicle without a trailer.