Guys, need some legal advice

[devilock76]

No they are not, only with cars. With mororcycles no such clause exists because the cost of insuring it for theft is the price of the actual bike itself. They could never sell a single motorcycle if it came with a mandatory $600 a month insurance policy. In CA anyone under 25 has to pay the full price fo the bike to insure it for theft, which obviousely defeats the purpose. Most companies won't even insure the motorcycle at all, all the big ones at least. And I don't even have any tickets or accidents since 2008 I think it was. It's what happens when you live ina city like Los Angeles or San Francisco, vehicle theft rates are too high so it isn't profitable for the insurance companies when it comes to motorcycles since they can be lifted onto a truck.


Oh, but I have to buy insurance for it before it is allowed to leave the lot... which is another expense I can't afford to pay while these fees compound daily, even on days when they are closed...

That much, really. I pay nothing near that to insure my Fatboy, granted it is an older EVO but still. Here in NC it is a good bit less expensive than that.

However that being said a motorcycle is a high theft item, and although I subscribe to the Carlin irony of things such as "life insurance is like betting someone you are going to die and hoping you are right:, I can't understand not insuring a motorcycle against theft in CA, or more exactly in any major metropolitan area in certain states across this country. Anyway I don't wish to be cold, but it sounds to me like you are either going to need to lawyer up and pay that or pay the state. You took a gamble that you wouldn't need it insured and you lost that gamble.

Ken

[sgreger1]

That much, really. I pay nothing near that to insure my Fatboy, granted it is an older EVO but still. Here in NC it is a good bit less expensive than that.

However that being said a motorcycle is a high theft item, and although I subscribe to the Carlin irony of things such as "life insurance is like betting someone you are going to die and hoping you are right:, I can't understand not insuring a motorcycle against theft in CA, or more exactly in any major metropolitan area in certain states across this country. Anyway I don't wish to be cold, but it sounds to me like you are either going to need to lawyer up and pay that or pay the state. You took a gamble that you wouldn't need it insured and you lost that gamble.

Ken

A gamble implies that I had a choice. I simply cannot afford $600 a month, I cannot, this is why I sold my car and bought this motorcycle, because I couldn't afford a regular car for 400-500 a month. I tried insuring it, but unfortunately was denied, I could have bought a brand new porsche for the fee they wanted (and they wanted it all upfront, not like in monthly installments or something. Must be 1 lump sum and then 2 additional payment or something along those lines.) So like 6,000 cash upfront to get ensured, then a few more payments of $600-1,000 a month.

I tried about 17 different insurance companies before giving up. All of my freinds with motorcycles are in the same situation. I've yet to meet anyone in CA who could afford the theft insurance. You also have to keep in mind that I am under 25 years old, so I still get the asshole insurance rates here. The rates drop DRAMATICALLY after I turn 25, or so the insurance companies tell me.


The point isn't about the vehicle theft and resulting loss per-se, it is about how the city practices it's recovered vehicle process. Instead of following their own protocol which is clearly outlined in their standing operating procedure manual, they chose to impound it instead of contacting the owner to come pick it up. They claimed to not have even taken any contact information when I filed the police report. So instead of giving me an oppertunity to get the bike, they decided to charge $700 instead + a bunch of other fees and hoops which tripple that number each week. Unfortunately I don't have the money all up front and they won't do a payment plan, so they are just going to sell it to pay for the stolen vehicle recovery fee.


It's kind of like your house. What if someone burnt your house down, and then the city charged you a huge fee because your house got burned down (even though they won't help put out the fire, they just want a fee simply because your house burned in their city). But then when you can't pay it, they say "nope, sorry, gotta sell your house to pay the fee".

The crime does not fit the punishment as they say. Would you see it fair that people said "LOL, should have gotten fire insurance, it was only $5,000 a month you dumbass! Now you lost your house because of your own fault!"

[devilock76]

A gamble implies that I had a choice. I simply cannot afford $600 a month, I cannot, this is why I sold my car and bought this motorcycle, because I couldn't afford a regular car for 400-500 a month. I tried insuring it, but unfortunately was denied, I could have bought a brand new porsche for the fee they wanted (and they wanted it all upfront, not like in monthly installments or something. Must be 1 lump sum and then 2 additional payment or something along those lines.) So like 6,000 cash upfront to get ensured, then a few more payments of $600-1,000 a month.

I tried about 17 different insurance companies before giving up. All of my freinds with motorcycles are in the same situation. I've yet to meet anyone in CA who could afford the theft insurance. You also have to keep in mind that I am under 25 years old, so I still get the asshole insurance rates here. The rates drop DRAMATICALLY after I turn 25, or so the insurance companies tell me.


The point isn't about the vehicle theft and resulting loss per-se, it is about how the city practices it's recovered vehicle process. Instead of following their own protocol which is clearly outlined in their standing operating procedure manual, they chose to impound it instead of contacting the owner to come pick it up. They claimed to not have even taken any contact information when I filed the police report. So instead of giving me an oppertunity to get the bike, they decided to charge $700 instead + a bunch of other fees and hoops which tripple that number each week. Unfortunately I don't have the money all up front and they won't do a payment plan, so they are just going to sell it to pay for the stolen vehicle recovery fee.


It's kind of like your house. What if someone burnt your house down, and then the city charged you a huge fee because your house got burned down (even though they won't help put out the fire, they just want a fee simply because your house burned in their city). But then when you can't pay it, they say "nope, sorry, gotta sell your house to pay the fee".

The crime does not fit the punishment as they say. Would you see it fair that people said "LOL, should have gotten fire insurance, it was only $5,000 a month you dumbass! Now you lost your house because of your own fault!"

Well one, I have home owners insurance, and two, I didn't buy it on a credit card.

Look I don't want to judge your finances but if money is an issue how is buying a motorcycle for over 10,000 on a credit card a wise idea, especially when you can't afford to insure it? I mean you can buy many used cars and motorcycles for under $2000.

I understand they did you underhanded, but you didn't really take the steps to protect yourself so you have severely limited your options in this matter.

Ken

[sgreger1]

Well one, I have home owners insurance, and two, I didn't buy it on a credit card.

Look I don't want to judge your finances but if money is an issue how is buying a motorcycle for over 10,000 on a credit card a wise idea, especially when you can't afford to insure it? I mean you can buy many used cars and motorcycles for under $2000.

I understand they did you underhanded, but you didn't really take the steps to protect yourself so you have severely limited your options in this matter.

Ken

1. I just came back from the military and was newly married with a brand new child at the time, no money. My wife had a car and I had a car. I could not to pay for both, and hers was a better family car, so I sold my car and bought the bike, which is only $89 a month. I know that is a shitty deal, but it was all I could afford. I had to get to work and they won't finance any vehicle under 10k, and I had no cash to buy a junker because I had to spend all of my money moving my shit back to California from north carolina.

So it was either no vehicle or finance a motorcycle. Cheapest on gas and maintenance and the absolute minimum that I could get an auto-loan for.


2. I didn't know about insurance until after I got the bike. I always assumed that it was like a car and that I would be required to get ful coverage because of the loan etc. Unfortunately I did not know that it would be impossible to insure it.



I know, it all boils down to the whole "you weren't rich enough so it's your fault for not buying protection". It's like healthcare, it's the person's fault for getting sick and not having insurance, even if they couldn't afford insurance or they were denied from getting it.


I just want to get it out of the impound so I can at least stop the game, but it seems like that's not going to happen at this point.

[GoVegan]

I think we have all bought stuff before that we later regretted. I remember my first purchase in the military was a gigantic 400 watt stereo. The payments were OK but the interest rate was double digits. To top it off, I lived in the barracks and would never be able to crank it up. We all have made impulse buys that we later regretted. It just sucks sgregor has to pay out the government after he got ripped off. It is wrong for our government to try and make money off somebody's misery, unless they are Republican.

[devilock76]

1. I just came back from the military and was newly married with a brand new child at the time, no money. My wife had a car and I had a car. I could not to pay for both, and hers was a better family car, so I sold my car and bought the bike, which is only $89 a month. I know that is a shitty deal, but it was all I could afford. I had to get to work and they won't finance any vehicle under 10k, and I had no cash to buy a junker because I had to spend all of my money moving my shit back to California from north carolina.

So it was either no vehicle or finance a motorcycle. Cheapest on gas and maintenance and the absolute minimum that I could get an auto-loan for.


2. I didn't know about insurance until after I got the bike. I always assumed that it was like a car and that I would be required to get ful coverage because of the loan etc. Unfortunately I did not know that it would be impossible to insure it.



I know, it all boils down to the whole "you weren't rich enough so it's your fault for not buying protection". It's like healthcare, it's the person's fault for getting sick and not having insurance, even if they couldn't afford insurance or they were denied from getting it.


I just want to get it out of the impound so I can at least stop the game, but it seems like that's not going to happen at this point.

Trust me I am not saying what has happened to you is your fault, just your limited options are, but also as you are saying you have limited options from the get go. OK so it sounds like it is a manufacturers credit.

Bottom line is right now your choices are as such, and this is all I can come up with:

1. Get a layer
2. Pay the state

There is another possibility, do you know anyone in the repo business?

Ken

[devilock76]

I think we have all bought stuff before that we later regretted. I remember my first purchase in the military was a gigantic 400 watt stereo. The payments were OK but the interest rate was double digits. To top it off, I lived in the barracks and would never be able to crank it up. We all have made impulse buys that we later regretted. It just sucks sgregor has to pay out the government after he got ripped off. It is wrong for our government to try and make money off somebody's misery, unless they are Republican.

Way to USE someone's misery as a chance to espouse your political view point!

Ken

[sgreger1]

I think we have all bought stuff before that we later regretted. I remember my first purchase in the military was a gigantic 400 watt stereo. The payments were OK but the interest rate was double digits. To top it off, I lived in the barracks and would never be able to crank it up. We all have made impulse buys that we later regretted. It just sucks sgregor has to pay out the government after he got ripped off. It is wrong for our government to try and make money off somebody's misery, unless they are Republican.

Well that's what sucks the most is that I was trying to sell this damn bike so I could ****ing get rid of it. I bought it at a time where it was the onyl vehicle I could obtain QUICKLY, and now it has runs it's course and I want to sell it, which would not be a problem since it is nearly brand new and has very few miles on it. Would have covered almos tthe entire amount I owed. But then this happed and now the bike is broken and worthless and ontop of that fact I have to pay a ransom fee to the police to get it back, but the ransom fee keeps increasing so I have no way to save for it. If it were a regular impound fee of $300 or something that would be different. We're talking thousands. I just can't come up with that kind of money over a weekend, it takes time. But the longer I take the more moeny they want. It's a circle.

[sgreger1]

Trust me I am not saying what has happened to you is your fault, just your limited options are, but also as you are saying you have limited options from the get go. OK so it sounds like it is a manufacturers credit.

Bottom line is right now your choices are as such, and this is all I can come up with:

1. Get a layer
2. Pay the state

There is another possibility, do you know anyone in the repo business?

Ken

Unfortunately I don't know anyone in the repo business. I want to pay the state, but they keep dragging it on, they own't let me just come in there and pay the money. I have ot sit around for weeks while their computers "update the system" before I am allowed to pay and get the bike. The whole time it is accruing rediculous fees, like the $500 it accrued WHILE I WAITED IN LINE TO PAY IT AT THE POLICE STATION. It's ****ing extortion. I would be more than happy to just pay the $700 and be done with it but that's not one of my options.

Lawyers say "yah it sucks, but the state can secure your vehicle on their lot and charge whatever they want and assess any fees they want, even if you don't watt them to store it there.". So no help there.

I guess i'll just keep calling back and hoping they have "updated their system" so I can pay the money and get the bike out. I have a feeling these fees are going to get MUCH bigger before their "system updates" though, call it a hunch. Another irony is they charge me for not coming to pick it up, even on days when they are closed. Oh, and I have to take a day off work each time since none of this can be done over the phone. I have to spend a full day at the police station just to ask if they have updated their system and if I can get my car back.

[GoVegan]

Have you thought about calling legal aid in your area? A lot of times they can help you over the phone. I am guessing that there might be a way to make a payment arrangement on this.

http://www.usattorneylegalservices.c...alifornia.html

[sgreger1]

Have you thought about calling legal aid in your area? A lot of times they can help you over the phone. I am guessing that there might be a way to make a payment arrangement on this.

http://www.usattorneylegalservices.c...alifornia.html

Thank you! That is the best resource that has come out of this thread yet. I will call them once i'm off work and see what they say.

[GoVegan]

Thank you! That is the best resource that has come out of this thread yet. I will call them once i'm off work and see what they say.

Most of them will probably have income limits and you won't qualify for actual assistance but sometimes they are happy just to give you free advice over the phone. I would love to see the impound rules changed. Nobody should be hit with a ton of fee's after they have had their vehicle stolen.

[sgreger1]

This is the last straw. I can't even tell you guys how mad this makes me. I've been off the ****ing hinges for 3 days trying to get this thing. I just want to go and pay the ****ing money and get my bike back, I don't see why they insist that it be kept there while they get their paperwork together. It should be as easy as paying their extortion fee and being on wtih it. Instead Ihave to take every other day off work to drive up to san francisco and ask if their system shows my payment has been received yet. It's beena month and they havn't processed it yet, so I have little faith that it will happen this week.

But I can't call them on the phone to find out, gotta drive there and take time off work. ****ing bastards. I hope the terrorists win. Next time 9-11 happens, i'll be rooting for the guys flying the plane. There is nothing good to preserve in this country, it's corrupt from the very top all the way down to how parking tickets and stolen vehicles are reported. There is nothing left to save, burn it all down.

[GoVegan]

Hang in there! It will work out in the end. You might be broke but it will still work out. You can always wait for the lien sale if it gets to be too much.

[GiantsNut57]

That's not even bad man, when I went to handle my thing at the police station, the guy next to me had a way worse situation than even I did, check this out: He was hit by a drunk driver, he woke up in the hospital. Gets out of the hospital and has to pay thousands of dollars to get his car back. Doesn't have thousands of dollars, missed a day of work due to the accident, and has no health insurance so has a huge insurance bill. But they won't give his car back untill he pays, so they are selling his car too. Can you believe this shit?



I am going to set up a website to find others who this has happened to. If I can find enough than I am going to file a class action.

You have got to be kidding me! Where do we place the blame here? PD? Higher up? That is wrong on sooooo many levels dude. Shouldn't they be trying to, idk, FIND the guy who hit him and have him pay for all the damages?