Jeep theft Document problem, ATTN Canadians.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
........Lewis and Lewis is an agent, referred to as a SURPLUS LINE BROKER. Their product is SERVICE. I've dealt with SLB's whose interest is 99.99% collecting your money and .01% in helping their insured. L&L has gone out on a limb to help their insured so many times I have lost count. But what people seem to not understand is a liability only policy does not do a damned thing to help you legally. A bad accident means the plaintiff can DEMAND that the guilty party be held securely so they do not flee the country. IT CAN TAKE MONTHS FOR AN UNDERWRITER TO SETTLE A SERIOUS CLAIM. IF you are judged to be at fault, having mere liability proof is a JOKE. Until the plaintiff's claim is SATISFIED the accused goes to PRISON. Let me spell it out. PRISON is not "jail", it is the place where tall white concrete walls have guard towers on all four corners.

The ONLY thing between an insured and this horror, is a Surplus Line Broker that is aggressive. Someone who has an intimate relationship with the underwriter. Not someone who telephones and the answer is: We'll get back to you as soon as possible. A LEGAL AID PACKAGE and an aggressive surplus line broker is most important to keep your butt out of jail.

Separate insurance from the temporary import permit. Apples and Zapotes.

If you depart Mexico WITHOUT the proof of surrender document in your possession, you WILL BE DENIED A TIP the next time you try to get one. I don't give a damn if you have a letter from the president of Mexico's brother in law. When the Banjercito computer says "NO!" it does not mean "almost maybe".

The only way to clear a violation is through Mexico City ADUANA and the process is slower than a glacier and guess what a lot of people do it by the numbers and after SEVEN YEARS of waiting, they are still denied entry.

I hate to sound so negative, but I do not ascribe to BS or fairy tales. This is the way it "Is" and this is not the way it "Ought To Be". Deal with the "Is's" and save yourself a lot of headaches.

The term COMPLETE AUTO LIABILITY COVERAGE is a joke. More correctly put it should read. "COVERAGE SO IT's GOING TO HURT A LOT LESS"

Not sure who your comments are directed at, but in my case it was simple - reach an agreement with Qualitas on a write-off value on my vehicle, and get Aduana to cancel my original Temporary Import Permit, (TIP).
As I noted, it took approx. 5 months to reach a settlement with Qualitas - with virtually no assistance from Lewis & Lewis, though I tried.
Cancelling the TIP took another year - with no help whatsoever from Lewis & Lewis, and only slow, minimal and grudging assistance from Qualitas.

Maybe, in the case of a liability claim, the Lewis & Lewis/Qualitas combination would provide the "aggressive" approach necessary to keep their clients out of jail. Perhaps L&L/Qualitas could tell us how many months, on average, their liability claimants spend in Mexican jails before settlement?

As far as accepting the "what is" rather than whining about "what ought to be", that surely shouldn't apply to Lewis & Lewis and Qualitas. They must have had enough car thefts and vehicle write-offs over the past decade that the procedures and processes must be second nature to them. This experience should translate into accurate and timely information for new claims.... but no ..... it sounds like the wheel must be reinvented with every new claim.