The Joys of ICBC and their "knowledgeable" staff
Posted: Nov 29th, 2012, 6:23 pm
This topic is a little bit of a rant as well as hopefully some useful information and insight for people looking to purchase a vehicle out of province. It might even spark up some people who may be able to help me out or provide information on what to do and where to go. It's been 2.5 weeks and I "own" a vehicle that according to ICBC, has no owners with power over it. If you chose to read this whole page, keep track of the amount of phone calls made to our lovely Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and the amount of half wits and overpaid employees they have staffed.
I'll try to make this as short as possible. I purchased a 2005 Subaru from calgary on the 16th of november, had it provincially inspected and passed within the first 2 days after returning home. I purchased the required Binder of Insurance for coverage through ICBC of which I later found out was over charged for, as well as a transit permit from Alberta. I had all documentation for the vehicle, including alberta registration papers showing that I was the new purchaser of the vehicle but when I went to insure the car, all hell broke loose.
Since the vehicle was leased for the first 3 years of its life in Alberta (05-08), the leasing company (GMAC Lease co.) is still on the title of the vehicle. The vehicle has been paid out and lease free for the past 4 years, but in Alberta removing the leasing company off the title is not mandatory, no does it affect any other purchasers within AB, or so I've been told by multiple people. The person I purchased the vehicle off kept the right side of the registration for his records as well as to cancel insurance and take his name off the vehicle. After providing the insurance broker with the necessary inspection papers, bill of sale, and left side of registration it was discovered that nothing could be done since the leasing company is still on the record. Que the first phonecall to an ICBC employee from which I was told I need a separate Bill of Sale from the leasing company with a $0 value showing they no longer hold interested in the vehicle. I now have to contact the person I purchased the vehicle off of to contact the company and get such paperwork. Easy enough right?..... WRONG. Since the company hasn't held power or interest in the vehicle for the last 4 years, the only paperwork they can provide is a "Letter of Release" stating they no longer hold interest in the vehicle I've purchased. I receive said letter and provide to the insurance agency of my choice and "due to ICBC standards, a letter is not acceptable". Que second call to ICBC and mention what I have in hand and again am told that the only way around it is to either have a Bill of Sale from GMAC or to have the person I bought the car off go to the registry in AB and have GMAC released from the title. Luckily the person I bought the car off of is a very kind individual who is willing to go do so and pay the charge. But, since he no longer owns the car, has it insured, or has power over it, they cannot release GMAC off the title. Que 3rd call to ICBC and mention what has happened, and get transferred to a higher power individual who records all my information and says to me that the reason I'm having problems is that I don't have the right side of the Alberta registration. Should be as easy as contacting the person again and getting him to send me the right side of the registration that he needed to cancel his insurance and registration with. Again, not at all how it works. I receive the right side of the registration, taking it to the insurance agency thinking, "finally after 2 weeks and all the headaches I get to insure my car and be able to drive to work and not be late or rely on other people". Is anyone seeing a pattern being set up here? Well there is, I was yet again declined insurance due to the fact that GMAC is still on the title. Que 4th call to ICBC to be told that "you're the first person to have this problem it seems because I've never even heard of your situation", and that they'd have their superiors contact me within the next couple days. I was then asked by the same individual "which insurance company do you get insurance with", which I was dumbfounded by the question (guess why) and simply replied back with, "well since I live in British Columbia, who else other then ICBC would I be able to get insurance through?". The person on the other end went silent then replied with, "you're right, that was a silly question". These are the people who make good money working for the Government through ICBC yet can't seem to realize that the company they work for is the only auto insurance place in BC. Needless to say I called back for a 5th time in hopes to get someone who might be a little bit more knowledgeable and helpful and after explaining everything I've been through simply stated, "hmmm I don't know how to help you". At this point I got (excuse my french) really f$#@ing mad and called back yet again. This time after getting no where again and being told that their Supervisor would have to review my file and contact me again sometime next week, I had a thought come to my mind. "I have no insurance on the car, I hold all the papers and AB registration to the vehicle, yet according to ICBC no one owns the car". that all prompted me to ask about getting storage insurance since god knows how long this is going to take to get resolved and I don't want a car worth a fair chunk of coin to have something happen. So I then asked about getting some storage insurance and surprise surprise, No coverage can be purchased since the car isn't registered in BC, nor can any insurance be purchased from AB since I am not an AB resident nor hold the title of the car in my name. So here I am, 2.5 weeks after purchasing a car, having it BC inspected and multiple attempts at getting insured just sitting by my house, with no possible way of getting any protection on it AT ALL.
Any input or thoughts on what to do next would be much appreciated. I've been told by some friends to contact CHBC for a news story since we all love ICBC and they might be interested. any thoughts, feelings, or general feedback would be great.
I'll try to make this as short as possible. I purchased a 2005 Subaru from calgary on the 16th of november, had it provincially inspected and passed within the first 2 days after returning home. I purchased the required Binder of Insurance for coverage through ICBC of which I later found out was over charged for, as well as a transit permit from Alberta. I had all documentation for the vehicle, including alberta registration papers showing that I was the new purchaser of the vehicle but when I went to insure the car, all hell broke loose.
Since the vehicle was leased for the first 3 years of its life in Alberta (05-08), the leasing company (GMAC Lease co.) is still on the title of the vehicle. The vehicle has been paid out and lease free for the past 4 years, but in Alberta removing the leasing company off the title is not mandatory, no does it affect any other purchasers within AB, or so I've been told by multiple people. The person I purchased the vehicle off kept the right side of the registration for his records as well as to cancel insurance and take his name off the vehicle. After providing the insurance broker with the necessary inspection papers, bill of sale, and left side of registration it was discovered that nothing could be done since the leasing company is still on the record. Que the first phonecall to an ICBC employee from which I was told I need a separate Bill of Sale from the leasing company with a $0 value showing they no longer hold interested in the vehicle. I now have to contact the person I purchased the vehicle off of to contact the company and get such paperwork. Easy enough right?..... WRONG. Since the company hasn't held power or interest in the vehicle for the last 4 years, the only paperwork they can provide is a "Letter of Release" stating they no longer hold interest in the vehicle I've purchased. I receive said letter and provide to the insurance agency of my choice and "due to ICBC standards, a letter is not acceptable". Que second call to ICBC and mention what I have in hand and again am told that the only way around it is to either have a Bill of Sale from GMAC or to have the person I bought the car off go to the registry in AB and have GMAC released from the title. Luckily the person I bought the car off of is a very kind individual who is willing to go do so and pay the charge. But, since he no longer owns the car, has it insured, or has power over it, they cannot release GMAC off the title. Que 3rd call to ICBC and mention what has happened, and get transferred to a higher power individual who records all my information and says to me that the reason I'm having problems is that I don't have the right side of the Alberta registration. Should be as easy as contacting the person again and getting him to send me the right side of the registration that he needed to cancel his insurance and registration with. Again, not at all how it works. I receive the right side of the registration, taking it to the insurance agency thinking, "finally after 2 weeks and all the headaches I get to insure my car and be able to drive to work and not be late or rely on other people". Is anyone seeing a pattern being set up here? Well there is, I was yet again declined insurance due to the fact that GMAC is still on the title. Que 4th call to ICBC to be told that "you're the first person to have this problem it seems because I've never even heard of your situation", and that they'd have their superiors contact me within the next couple days. I was then asked by the same individual "which insurance company do you get insurance with", which I was dumbfounded by the question (guess why) and simply replied back with, "well since I live in British Columbia, who else other then ICBC would I be able to get insurance through?". The person on the other end went silent then replied with, "you're right, that was a silly question". These are the people who make good money working for the Government through ICBC yet can't seem to realize that the company they work for is the only auto insurance place in BC. Needless to say I called back for a 5th time in hopes to get someone who might be a little bit more knowledgeable and helpful and after explaining everything I've been through simply stated, "hmmm I don't know how to help you". At this point I got (excuse my french) really f$#@ing mad and called back yet again. This time after getting no where again and being told that their Supervisor would have to review my file and contact me again sometime next week, I had a thought come to my mind. "I have no insurance on the car, I hold all the papers and AB registration to the vehicle, yet according to ICBC no one owns the car". that all prompted me to ask about getting storage insurance since god knows how long this is going to take to get resolved and I don't want a car worth a fair chunk of coin to have something happen. So I then asked about getting some storage insurance and surprise surprise, No coverage can be purchased since the car isn't registered in BC, nor can any insurance be purchased from AB since I am not an AB resident nor hold the title of the car in my name. So here I am, 2.5 weeks after purchasing a car, having it BC inspected and multiple attempts at getting insured just sitting by my house, with no possible way of getting any protection on it AT ALL.
Any input or thoughts on what to do next would be much appreciated. I've been told by some friends to contact CHBC for a news story since we all love ICBC and they might be interested. any thoughts, feelings, or general feedback would be great.