"Certified mail seems a bit much, but hey, better safe than sorry..."
Honestly, certified mail isn't overkill at all—especially when dealing with insurance. Had a similar headache last year after a cracked windshield. Sent photos and emails, thought I was good... nope, they claimed they never received anything. Now I screenshot everything, keep email receipts, and yeah, even send certified mail for bigger claims. Might seem paranoid, but insurance companies aren't exactly known for giving the benefit of the doubt. Better cautious than out a few hundred bucks again.
Good points—insurance companies definitely play hardball sometimes. I've never done certified mail myself, but I do keep email trails and screenshots just in case. Curious though, has certified mail ever actually saved anyone's claim here, or is it mostly peace of mind?
"Curious though, has certified mail ever actually saved anyone's claim here, or is it mostly peace of mind?"
I haven't personally had a claim saved by certified mail (knock on wood), but a coworker of mine swears by it—he had a dispute go south, and having certified mail receipts made the insurance rethink their stance pretty quickly. Maybe it's like carrying an umbrella...the day you don't have it is when the skies open up.
Certified mail is one of those things you hope you'll never need, but when you do...man, you're glad you have it. Had a friend whose insurance tried to deny a claim over some paperwork "never received." He casually mentioned having certified mail receipts, and suddenly—miracle of miracles—the documents magically appeared. So yeah, mostly peace of mind, but when push comes to shove, it's nice knowing you've got proof in your back pocket.
"He casually mentioned having certified mail receipts, and suddenly—miracle of miracles—the documents magically appeared."
Haha, this hits home. Had a similar thing happen to me a couple years back—I had a fender bender, nothing major but still stressful enough. Submitted everything promptly, took photos, made copies...you name it. Thought I was golden until the insurance said they never got my accident report. Luckily, I had sent it certified mail (thanks to my dad drilling it into me that you always cover your bases with insurance companies). Just like your friend, once I mentioned that tracking number and receipt, their tune changed real quick.
Honestly, it's frustrating that we even have to go through this hassle in the first place. But yeah, if you're dealing with insurance—especially if you're like me and your driving record isn't exactly spotless—certified mail is worth every penny for peace of mind alone. Better safe than sorry...
