Getting to Know GTG: Josh Dykstra the Boat Guy

Posted By Jay Toole
February 13, 2019 Category: Boat Insurance, Marina Insurance, Eriesponsible

Towering over everyone in the office at 6 foot 5 inches, Josh is our go-to guy for files on the top shelf or if you need a really high, high-five. Being our marina and boat insurance specialist, you can usually find him on Lake Erie with his wife and son, catching as much Cleveland sunshine as possible before Winter sets in. Recently, Josh’s passion for our Great Lake moved him to starting a non-profit dedicated to protecting and preserving this resource. The aptly named Eriesponsible has a mission to take steps now to preserve the health of Lake Erie for future generations. They take a common sense and economically viable approach that anyone can be a part of. From simple trash pick up as we boat or enjoy a beach front park to being more careful and using proper procedures when refueling your boat, Eriesponsible is dedicated to leading the charge. They will be offering educational programs, selling ecofriendly boating equipment, and doing their part to protect the lake for generations to come. Do you own a boat, marina, or dock along Lake Erie? Reach out to Josh at Josh@Eriesponsible.org or Josh.D@InsureOhio.com with all your questions on keeping our Lake clean, marine and boat insurance, or to be a part of the next beach clean

The Dollar Bill Tip and How Your Credit Card Company Could Help You While on the Road

Posted By Jay Toole
February 01, 2019 Category: Dollar Bill, Travel, Insurance Tip

When Tim Graydon decided to catch some sun rays during this cold, Cleveland winter, he and his wife headed down to Florida for a week to get away. Most of the bookings for the trip were done using his credit card that had some helpful perks including reimbursement for damage to rental cars if said card was used for the payment. This will be important later. During a leisurely lunch stop, Tim pulled his rental car into a spot next to a well-kept BMW and went in to enjoy a bite to eat. Upon leaving, the unfamiliar turn radius of the rental led to rubbing against the BMW leaving a 4-inch scratch across the door. After kicking himself for a silly mistake, Tim snapped a photo of the scratch next to a dollar bill and alerted the driver of the car. Dollar Bill Tip: Using a piece of US currency is greatly encouraged by insurance companies as it gives adjusters a uniform reference when looking at claims in photos. Being a nice car, this scratch ran a hefty bill of $700. We will cover the pros and cons of submitting a claim for an invoice this size in a future post but Tim’s auto coverage had a deductible of $250. This means that Tim’s insurance would cover the remainder of the bill after Tim paid the full deductible of $250. This is all standard stuff until you factor in the credit card company’s reimbursement perk. After submitting the proper paperwork to the credit card company, they agreed to pay the deductible due to Tim using the card for the