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LOWELL -
It's becoming a pretty common story: cars damaged in the Birthday Bash flood that are worth less than the amount owed to pay them off.
When we spoke to Stacey Kinyon last week, she was on pins and needles concerned about the damage to her 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan.
But on Sunday at the Ionia County Fairgrounds her fears were realized.
"They opened up the van doors, and the stench that came out of that van was just horrid," said Kinyon.
It marinaded in flood water for about a week.
Her AAA insurance adjuster said it was a total loss, the electrical system, the interior. And don't even get Kinyon started on the Stow-and-Go seating.
"Because it's a hard surface, they'd have to rip out the whole flooring," said Kinyon.
The insurance company cut her a big check for the damage, with only one problem--the check wasn't big enough.
"If you owe on something--like this it's totaled. They're only going to give you the value of that, and that doesn't even come close to what we owe on the van," said Kinyon.
The difference was $5,000.
What she's hoping for now is GAP insurance: Guaranteed Auto Protection, insurance that would cover what she still owes.
She wasn't covered through AAA, Kinyon's hoping she might have been covered through her auto loan provider.
The Kinyons managed to salvage their cars seats from the van. In the time being, they're driving another car. Stacey's mother Alice bought the car through her employer, and they're paying him off.
That's the lone bright spot. But it still means two car payments.
She's contacted a woman who put an ad in several local newspapers about forming a class action lawsuit against Clear Channel.
"It might come eventually you know?" said Kinyon. "Like some help might come out of it, but it might be a little bit down the road versus needing it right now."
Clear Channel hasn't decided if there will be a Birthday Bash next year.
When we spoke to Stacey Kinyon last week, she was on pins and needles concerned about the damage to her 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan.
But on Sunday at the Ionia County Fairgrounds her fears were realized.
"They opened up the van doors, and the stench that came out of that van was just horrid," said Kinyon.
It marinaded in flood water for about a week.
Her AAA insurance adjuster said it was a total loss, the electrical system, the interior. And don't even get Kinyon started on the Stow-and-Go seating.
"Because it's a hard surface, they'd have to rip out the whole flooring," said Kinyon.
The insurance company cut her a big check for the damage, with only one problem--the check wasn't big enough.
"If you owe on something--like this it's totaled. They're only going to give you the value of that, and that doesn't even come close to what we owe on the van," said Kinyon.
The difference was $5,000.
What she's hoping for now is GAP insurance: Guaranteed Auto Protection, insurance that would cover what she still owes.
She wasn't covered through AAA, Kinyon's hoping she might have been covered through her auto loan provider.
The Kinyons managed to salvage their cars seats from the van. In the time being, they're driving another car. Stacey's mother Alice bought the car through her employer, and they're paying him off.
That's the lone bright spot. But it still means two car payments.
She's contacted a woman who put an ad in several local newspapers about forming a class action lawsuit against Clear Channel.
"It might come eventually you know?" said Kinyon. "Like some help might come out of it, but it might be a little bit down the road versus needing it right now."
Clear Channel hasn't decided if there will be a Birthday Bash next year.
