Took truck in to get the transmission repaired under warranty. fouth one the alison is going in in a few months.

I was told that the truck would be kept in a secure area. They left the truck out in front over night and it was broken into supposedly (alarm did not go off and I believe that the truck was left unlocked)
The thieves got the stereo amp, turbo timer, new back up lights, tools, file box of paper work and receipts and check book (bottom of box), ski jacket, equipment keys etc. Total of about eight hundred to thousand dollars.

I have two questions. will the factory alarm sound on these truck if a slim jim is used to get in?

Do you think that the shop is responsible for the loss since they failed to keep the truck in a secure area?

 

It's absolutuly their liability. As to the alarm, I have no idea...

 

The alarm will be armed if the doors are locked with the fob or the power lock button. It will be triggered if the door is opened without disarming with either the fob or the disarm switch on the lock cylinder. I don't believe a slim jim will disarm it as it would be generally used on the interior lock button linkage.
Hope that makes sense.

 

slim jim won't disarm it, it should have gone off. At cadillac on some of the older models you could unlock the door and if you turned the key slow enough you could disengage the lock to open the door but the alarm would still go off. Key was not turned far enough to disengage alarm. This one we had was an elderly lady's car, her complaint alarm keeps going off when she unlocks the car.

Sorry to hear about that. Check for signs around that shop, usually they have signs not responsible for lost or stolen property so they could park it out front with the doors wide open and somehow not be liable.

 

First I do not know beans about the alarm system, so someone else may have to help you there. Still, an alarm that is fooled by a slim jim ain't worth spit.

Second, the shop may be liable, but it will be easier to get your money from YOUR insurance company(ies) if you have the right coverage. My homeowner's coverage covers whatever personal property is in my vehicles anyplace in the world. It is probably subject to a deductible, but the bonus here is that if your company pays you something for the stuff lost, there is a good chance they will lean on the shop to pay them back through the shop's insurance. Good luck, and remember: never let an insurance company off the hook for something they agreed to cover. It's bad for you, and it teaches the insurance company bad habits. It's like putting your dog's dish on the table and letting him eat from there. Soon it won't matter whether it is his food or yours--he will be eating all his meals off the table.

 

When I worked at a dealership the paperwork that people signed when dropping off the vehicle always stated that we were not liable for stolen/damaged property. However, we still tried to make things right if we knew we were at fault. Usually I think it is cheaper for a dealership to just repay you damages rather that deal with their insurance.

 

Probably there is an equilibrium point where it is cheaper to pay than turn it in. But if you get your ins. company involved, they may well insist on repayment of the amount they paid you, and if they do not get it they will turn it in to the dealer's insurance.

 

i would definately look into the shops policy. the shop i used to work at, every night when we closed we would bring all vehicles left overnight into the shop so they were in a locked building. if they neglected to lock it up, i would pressure them to reinburse you.

 

The shop I worked at(dealer) at the end of the day the porter would walk the lot and check all the vehicles to make sure the doors were locked, pull handle, next car pull handle.....etc.

 

agree, that's why they have insurance for Sue their asses if they don't pay up.

 

The alarm will definitely, without a doubt, go off if the door is opened any other way than disarming it with the key fob or the key in the door. It's easy to check: roll down your windows, close your doors, arm the alarm with the key fob or key in the door lock, wait until the red light flashes, unlock the door with the manual door lock **** thingy or the interior door handle, wait for neighbors to come out and look at you. I have an air horn and the neighbors come out pretty quick....

 

Every repair order I have seen in Cali has a not reponsible clause in it.You should always read before you sign.A repair order is a legal document just like any other contract you sign.Good luck,

Bob

 

AND you may be able to negotiate something. 4th tranny repair??, Left on street, alarm operational and not set off, etc.

Also, your property insurance may cover it less deductible less depreciation. Note that insurance companies keep a database with all claims assigned to an address. Multiple claims may make your property uninsurable. Also, premiums may go up as a result. Read your contract and consult with your agent on a HYPOTHETICAL basis. Any claim filed goes into the database regardless of claims paid.

Consider options but negotiating with the shop should be 1st choice. Don't act like an azz - at first. You don't want to pis of the person in the best position to help.

 

Don't bother using your insurance and get a jump in rates. The shop has insurance and it is their responsabilty to repair or fix the damage.

I left a Rav4 at Tires Plus once, they parked it outside, a huge hail storm came by and totaled the whole car. I've got full coverage from their insurance, in 10 days I had a check in my hands.

It's on their property and they will have to pay.

 

disclaimers of liability are not binding if they are negligent,and that sounds like what happened