My Husband was robbed and carjacked at gunpoint

[MoonChild2007]

I am glad your husband is all right and do I hope that after this incident, certain pizza places have a better security measure taking place, espeically if the neighborhood happens to be bad. They also shouldn't be delivering pizza at 10:30at night. I mean, who eats pizzas at 10:30? Some of us are in bed by that time.

[Andara Bledin]

Don't let them try to get the money that was stolen back from you. Check with your local labor board, but every instance I've seen has listed that as patently illegal. Not to mention unethical and just downright sucky.

And I second the call to talk to a workman's comp person. Since this happened on the job in the normal execution of duties for the job, and only happened because of the job itself, the job should be the one covering.

^-.-^

[Geek King]

I mean, who eats pizzas at 10:30? Some of us are in bed by that time.

Resident Night-Owl here.

I try to order earlier, but sometimes I forget and don't order until the hunger noises start. I do tip well enough to get quick serve, so I hope I don't impose too much.

[wagegoth]

it may be covered by workmen's comp

Oh, excellent point. He was on the job.

[boringscreenname]

I will have him call workmen's comp, since he was on the job while this happened and it was a direct result of the job he was supposed to be performing.

They didn't issue him a new social security number but there are fraud alerts on it, and he was issued a new license and voided out the old one. I'm 99% sure the guy is going to try and steal his identity. My husband had some old bills and junk mail in the car, and those were gone. So we've put a fraud alert on all our bills, etc....

I want to get a fireproof box, he wants to get a safety deposit box at a bank. We'll be looking into both and deciding from there.

We received the paperwork from insurance today to file a claim, so we have to fill that out and get it notarized and returned to them. They still haven't picked up our car from the towing lot. I guess they somehow misinterpreted our message that said "The car is ready to be picked up and has been released to you." We also found out that there's a $200 limit on personal belongings so at the most that's all we'll get back. Fortunately I'm getting a free stroller from a coworker and $200 should be enough to get a GPS and carseat.

[Andara Bledin]

What is up with insurance companies and getting stolen & recovered cars out of impound?

A work vehicle was stolen a copule months back, and the insurance people said they'd handle everything, but it turns out they handled nothing, and we got a notice from the lot that the car was going to be sold at auction!

Thankfully, it wasn't, but not because of any effort the insurance company put into it.

^-.-^

[taxguykarl]

Safety deposit boxes are just too expensive to just keep replaceable papers in.

In my neck of the woods they are, in fact, $20/year on up (depending on the bank and size). They can also deductible as long as you store a document that generates taxable income. As I tell my customers, buy a savings bond and stick it in there.
If your meeting with the lawyer does not go well, you try claiming a casualty loss.
Info:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p547.pdf
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i4684.pdf

I'm glad to hear that boringscreenname's spouse is (at least physically) OK.

[boringscreenname]

Definitely some good ideas in this thread. Well the insurance adjuster went and looked at the car and took it to their lot. The insurance adjuster wasn't very forthcoming with any info, but they're taking it to their lot and they're running a bunch of diagnostic tests or something like that, that will take 6-8 hours and based on those results they'll decide what to do, I guess.

We think the car is definitely totaled, but not sure whether insurance will pay it all off or not. We do have full coverage insurance, but we owed more than the car was worth, so I don't know how that will work out. We did have GAP coverage through the dealership and I've heard if insurance doesn't cover the entire amount then the GAP coverage will, so we'll wait and see.

[boringscreenname]

I figured I would update again on this situation. Insurance picked up the car, had their people look at it and surprise it's totalled. Insurance is going to cover about half of what we owe and then GAP coverage will pay off the rest.

Insurance will only give us $200 for our personal belongings that were in the car. Which sucks because we paid more than that, but it's better than nothing. First priority is buying our son a new carseat and stroller, then we'll worry about the GPS.

The insurance company is also letting us keep the rental car for three more weeks. My husband is still having problems finding another job, he either can't reach the people, they're not interested in him, or it's a scam. We still have my paychecks coming in, but I don't make enough to pay all the bills plus put a downpayment on a car, and keep food on the table. So we'll have to apply for public assistance, which sucks but I'll swallow my pride because we need it, and I'm still working and paying into the programs, and this is a temporary solution until we get back on our feet.

Overall the situation still sucks, but I'm sure it will turn around in time, if we're patient.

[wagegoth]

Thank you for the update.

Also, contact your local victim's network. You may be able to receive some financial help. And, some states have victim reimbursement programs. Even a hundred dollars here and there could make a big difference.

Has your husband applied for unemployment? He lost his job involuntarily, so he should qualify.

[tropicsgoddess]

Holy crap! I'm so glad that your hubby is okay and that you guys found your car. I hope they catch that slimeball that did this to your husband and his colleagues.

[Der Cute]

BSN:

You're doing it the right way - asking for help when you really truly need it. (and I'd think you're there!)

Can you contact your hospital you gave birth at, and ask about carseats at discounts? (I know the hospital I am going to has that program.)

If you're with WIC, you may want to ask them about a car seat. I know, they're nutrition, but hey, they might know someone who does know.

Good ideas so far about victim's network etc.

PS - if you still use a land line, and you're on public assistance, you can get landline for supercheap. Talk to your public asst. office. Any little bit to help you save cash - it's needed.

Good luck

Cutenoob

[Damien]

What an awful thing to happen to your husband, BSN and an awful ordeal you all are enduring.

I really do hope things get better for you very soon.

[AriGriffin]

I'm sorry to hear what happened. Here are some links for victims of crime.
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/Main.aspx
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/findvictimservices/search.asp

[boringscreenname]

Thanks for all the awsome ideas, links and support. I'm going to have my husband call the unemployment office on Monday. I'm not sure that he would qualify for unemployment because he voluntarily quit after all this happened. But I'll have him call and explain the situation, and maybe they can do something for him.

They caught and arrested the guy who robbed him yesterday. I guess the Police Department has been giving his former job updates, and they pass along the messages to us. Not sure what will happen from here. I really doubt my husband will be used as a witness. He already told the cops he couldn't identify the guy by looks or voice. He was approached from behind, and obviously with a gun to his head wasn't thinking about looking at the guy.

My husband does want to go to either the trial or the sentencing, maybe both we're not sure yet. He wants to give a Victim's Impact Statement, which I totally agree with and support. Our son and I will not be going, the guy already knows what my husband looks like, I don't want him to know what I or my son looks like, just for privacy and safety's sake. It's probably slightly paranoid thinking, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.