Schmick Scratch & Dent Assist - worth it?

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  spackbace on 14/06/2016 - 18:53

  What sort of excess?

  I guess it's an insurance, so entirely up to you on whether you think it's worth it or not, or whether you'll actually claim on it.

  Don't bother with rim insurance if you've got like 15-17" rims, worthwhile if it's a small side-wall though.

  • 

    youngr15 on 14/06/2016 - 19:04

    No excess. If the damage qualifies as minor (which is based on pre-determined size) then the repair will be $50 (so guess the excess is $50).

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  mskeggs on 14/06/2016 - 19:02

  +1

  If it only fixes little things, they wouldn't have to make it very hard to make a claim before it became not worth it.

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  bobbified on 14/06/2016 - 20:19

  +1

  Sounds like this is some sort of insurance product - go to the Product Disclosure Statement and have a good read and make sure you understand what their definition of "minor damage" is. Who decides whether it's "minor" or not? You should also find out things like whether there's a limit on the number of times you can claim, what the maximum value that they'd fix is and whether there's any dispute resolution particularly where you don't agree with their decision or you're not happy with the way things have been fixed.

  You might have better luck asking people in the car forums to see if anyone's had experience with them.

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  the-mal on 15/06/2016 - 09:10

  Insurance is for mitigating risk. The only risk it makes financial sense to mitigate is substantial financial risk (big things - writing off a car, house burning down, permanent disability, getting cancer etc).

  These "micro insurance" kind of products that solely mitigate very small low cost risks will rarely if ever work out cost effective.

  Insurance companies work because they take more of your money than they grant you in claims. But they're great to cover large unforeseen costs that you don't have the capacity to plan for.

  In this instance you're way better off just saving the money you would've spent on the policy, and using it to fix your minor scuffs. You'll end up with more money in your pocket, and the amounts aren't exactly large so buying the policy really isn't mitigating much (if any) risk.

  Honestly, not financially worth it in the slightest.

  • 

    mskeggs on 15/06/2016 - 09:17

    I very much agree, but the 8 million Australians who have health extras cover disagree with us.

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  Euphemistic on 17/06/2016 - 11:01

  This sort of product is designed for milking extra funds from you. What happens is that you'll pay up front and then the hope most people will forget about claiming when the time comes.

  You are better keeping the money in your pocket and like most people you will 'self insure'. I self insure my car, pay for TPP, but if someone damages it then I'll have to claim on their insurance, or if I damage it I'll have to fix it myself (or pay for it), scratches included, like the new one I put on the bumper a couple of days ago (grrrr).

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  GLO on 15/09/2016 - 02:19

  OP, did you end up taking this up?

  • 

    PJC on 29/04/2017 - 07:59

    Good question.
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/304484

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  missychat on 14/06/2020 - 10:27

  Schmick is for schmucks.

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  Matt P on 14/06/2020 - 20:35

  Its good only if you use it. We all know what we're like when it comes to dings and scratches on cars.

  Look at your current car. Like really closely. Nit pick every scratch and ding it has and compare it to the brochure as to whether that would be fixable under the program or not.

  If your car has more hits than Elvis, its probably good. If its immaculate, this product is not for you.