No updates as of today from Costco or RXO. They haven't reached out once since the mediation. I've been asked to take the temperature down until after this is resolve I court, so that's what I'm doing.
I still get emails from viewers of his website - 3-7 a week - that detail hw either Costco, RXO, or both put them in similar situations. I don't get a chance to reply to them all, but I read all of them. There is a clear pattern to the way these companies treat those whose property they damage that maximizes profit at their customers expense. The goal, it seems, is that since most of their claims are going to be for $5000 or less, is that they will offer you pennies on the dollar for actual damages in hopes that you will file a homeowners insurance claim. If you file a homeowners insurance claim, RXO or Costco pay you nothing, and for such small amounts, the insurance company isn't going to subrogate the loss to Costco or RXO, or if they do, it will be rare and recovery will be limited. By doing this, Costco and RXO are able to get by without paying you a dime. However when you file a homeowners insurance claim, you pay a deductible and you will increase your premiums for 3-5 years - so you're going to end up paying for it all out of pocket. This is the strategy they have taken.
Costco and RXO self insure for small losses. They don't use insurance for claims (less than 1 million I assume) so they don't have to abide by insurance laws each state has. There is no time limit to correct the issues, no requires information sharing - nothing. It is a well thought out corporate strategy mitigate their cost for damages they cause. Until the creation of this website, I couldn't find enough testimonial data to determine that this was happening, but with so many people reaching out and sharing their experience, aggregate data shows this is the strategy used. It's sickening and morally corrupt.
After exploring all options available to me and to you, my best advice to you to combat this issue is to take them to small claims court for each and every claim you have against them if they don't offer to make you whole upfront. Each state has a limit of small claims court, so you'll have to research your state - but filing is simple and you do not need an attorney. In my state, Florida, the small claims court limit is $8000. Filing is straight forward and the courts usually have some type of self service form and guidance to help you file easily. In an example I received last week from this website, Costco and RXO offered a customer $650 to settle for repairs caused, despite the customer giving them an estimate that it was going to cost $2500 to repair the damage. Their hope is that the customer will accept it because it's not worth the time or effort to sue them, or that the customer will file a homeowners insurance claim (although with a deductible it may not even be worth it). Either way, statistics show that they can get out of this for $650 if you accept, or nothing if you don't. That is the strategy, and it works. However, if this customer filed a small claims court suit against both of these companies, the cost of them just respond to the lawsuit will exceed the $2500 claim they have. They will offer to settle with you upon receipt of the lawsuit. The cost for them to defend against the lawsuit will cost them much more than just setting the claim and making you whole.
Remember, these companies are motivated by their bottom line and making sure they come out spending the least amount of money. Making you whole is not the goal. They are not your friend. If everything held these companies feet to the fire and sued them in small claims court they would have to adjust their practices or at the very least change their insurance to account for smaller losses. Do not let these companies bully you - there are alternatives.
In my case, which I'm sure is rare, small claims court won't cut it. I had to hire an attorney and spend larger amonts of money to sue. This lawsuit is being file by September 1st. Will link to it when filed.
I just received notice today RXO did not pay their share of the mediation we had in May. Each party owed $660. I paid my share (disgusting that I would have to pay to mediate when they know how much they owe me) and apparently so did Costco, but RXO did not. What a loser organization.
Comments sent at the form below
I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. Costco is just not who we've been led to believe they are.