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  • Report:  #492698

Complaint Review: Walmart Claims management Inc - Rogers Arkansas

Reported By:
Oonkuboo - Rolling Meadows, Illinois, USA
Submitted:
Updated:

Walmart Claims management Inc
PO box 5020 Rogers, 72757 Arkansas, United States of America
Phone:
8005270566
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
I took my vehicle to a local Walmart for an oil change (I know..., big mistake right?). The next day my engine starts making this tapping knocking noise but this is after the car has been driven for most of the day.

I go back to the Walmart where the service manager immediately flares up. I find out from them what their process for taking care of this would be - he's very vague and he leaves the process somewhat undefined.

I continue to drive the vehicle throughout the week and the sound gets worse. I have the vehicle inspected at a mechanics shop where I'm told the engine has a rod problem, which could be centered around oil issues. I consult with another mechanic who informs me that my vehicle has a canister type oil filter which has a check valve on it, and that if the filter is installed backward no oil will flow throughout the engine.

I'm not really certain what the actual damage or negligence could have been done, as far as I'm concerned the vehicle was one way when I took it to their store and another way when it left.

So I get various estimates, and after delaying the repairs until it would be comfortable for us to pay 2-4K+ for repairs as well as getting a definite amount of what it would cost, I file a claim with Walmart. The only thing they requested of me at the store was personal information: "That's all we need sir someone will be in touch with you from the insurance company." There was no indication about time being an issue. There was no indication about needing to submit supporting documentation.

Next day a "claims adjuster" calls : I'm denying the claim. I have photographs of oil on the dipstick which establish that the store didn't do anything wrong. (???????) And why did you wait so long to address this? (!!!!!!) We argue. He hangs up. He refuses to answer subsequent calls. No one at their "insurance" company will return my calls.

I have my suspicions about whether or not these are  Walmart employees who have received some abbreviated claims adjuster training  because this guy was unlike anything or anyone I have ever came in contact with. He was rude, snide, haughty and just plain nasty. There is no way he could have been a professional. I have photographs of oil on the dipstick???

LOLOL It's like something from a comedy.

Unfortunately for me, I can't afford to litigate this either in time or money. I'm stuck with just paying for the repairs and taking the lesson that Walmart may be good for cheap household goods, but they should probably stay out of the automotive service business. They should also stay out of the insurance business as well. Their claims process seems to be a complete sham, with no desire to acknowledge wrongdoing or make good on legitimate claims. Everyone understands that corporations must control costs, but this type of behavior borders on fraudulence.

In retrospect I would say to anyone who may have issues of this sort, take your vehicle to another mechanic first, keep detailed written accounts, and if at all possible get a statement from the mechanic stating his findings (You can type it up, just let the guy read it, agree or revise what is stated and sign it). Insist that the at fault company explain in full detail what their claims process is, what they need from you and how you may support your assertions in accordance with THEIR respective protocols.

Photographs of oil on the dipstick!



4 Updates & Rebuttals

Oonkuboo

Rolling Meadows,
Illinois,
USA
My vehicle repairs

#2Author of original report

Wed, November 25, 2009

I have stated in the original posting that I took the vehicle back to Walmart the next day. Also, it is entirely possible to drive a vehicle WITHOUT oil at all, though it would likely cause immediate damage....which is entirely the point.

Even if you are a mechanic, it is hard to make authoritative statements without examining a vehicle yourself, so don't presume anything by reading a posting online as to what could or could not have happened. Statements such as: "that story sounds funny" or "this or that COULD not have happened because....." should be checked at the door since as I have stated, it would take a trained mechanic some time to ascertain what happened and what did not happen. If Walmart maintains (and they do) that they don't have licensed mechanics in their employ changing oil and if they don't how then are they able to make mechanically sound judgments as to what damage could or could not have taken place? It would seem reasonable in a situation such as this that they would have a licensed mechanic on retainer.... to definitively state the likelihood of this or that damage. but they don't. It would cost too much money.
 
The way Walmart appears to deal with claims of potential damage to vehicles is to have UNTRAINED, UNLICENSED, NON-MECHANICS give their conjecture to their UNTRAINED, UNLICENSED NON-ADJUSTERS who then make a decision which saves the company money and their job.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT SLUG I TALKED TO ON THE PHONE IS AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER. There is no way. An insurance adjuster would gather evidence, have the vehicle inspected, etc etc etc. But if your investigation consists of looking at grainy photos of OIL ON THE DIPSTICK...........


you're an idiot.


dave

valparaiso,
Indiana,
United States of America
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL

#3General Comment

Tue, November 24, 2009

i too have problems with walmart insurance adjusters. read my problem i had when i had the fuel injection celaning done. two cracked heads with no previous problems with my truck. engine light on when i left walmart. dealer found heads cracked and i had to pay. the adjuster said was from previous overheating??? ok. why didnt i have the engine light on prior? let me know if you get anywhere with yours. i am going to court with mine. GOOD LUCK

 

 

 


Walmart Proud

Mt. Vernon,
Illinois,
USA
video

#4UPDATE Employee

Sun, November 15, 2009

I'm not sure if you're telling the whole story.  If our store makes a mistake on a vehicle and we know it is our fault we make sure that we take care of it.  Alot of time CMI approves it when we disagree with the claim and we pay it.  However, when you are mentioning a photo of oil on the dipstick I believe you should of said VIDEO!  We have cameras all over in our TLE shops as well as down in the pits.  I just don't think this story is correct.


Flynrider

Phoeix,
Arizona,
U.S.A.
You didn't mention.

#5

Thu, September 10, 2009

"I consult with another mechanic who informs me that my vehicle has a canister type oil filter which has a check valve on it, and that if the filter is installed backward no oil will flow throughout the engine."

  Personally, I wouldn't let anyone from Walmart near my vehicle, so don't take this as a defense of them.

  One critical piece of info would easily prove this one way or the other.  You didn't say that the mechanic actually did find the oil filter mounted backwards.  That would have been the end of the issue.

  The reason I ask is that it's unlikely you could have driven the car for most of the day without oil flowing through the engine.  Your oil pressure light would have been illuminated as well.  It's also unlikely that you would have been successful in driving the car for the rest of the week. 

  I can certainly see why Walmart would be skeptical of this claim.  Additionally, by waiting a long time to make a claim, you make it look even more suspicious.   Look at it from their point of view.  You show up weeks or months after an oil change claiming that they damaged your engine, with a story that doesn't quite jibe.

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