A Saskatoon man says what should have been a straightforward SGI claim turned into a two-month ordeal, leaving him frustrated by delays and facing additional expenses. Jerome Konecsni is speaking out in the hope that sharing his experience will help improve the claims process for other drivers. Konecsni is now driving a new vehicle after a collision over the August long weekend. “I hit a, a light standard post, and it was total damage was over $50,000,” Konecsni told CTV News. He says that figure also included $4,000 in bumper damage from July, which he says he was told by SGI to include in this claim. Konecsni says the biggest headache came after the collision. He describes being passed between SGI representatives and the body shop while struggling to get clear answers about his claim. The vehicle, a Lexus, added to the challenges because of its cost and the difficulty of sourcing parts. On Sept. 26, Konecsni was told the vehicle could be repaired. However, he later received an email from SGI declaring it a write-off. The final decision was confirmed two months after the collision. “The customers are the ones who are paying the biggest price in terms of their time and convenience, and just pure frustration,” Konecsni said. He says the delay also left him paying out of pocket for a rental vehicle after his rental coverage ran out. SGI says it cannot comment on individual claims but provided a statement explaining: “In some cases, determining whether a vehicle can be repaired or should be declared a total loss requires additional review. We do our best to move claims forward as efficiently as we can. At the same time, we have a responsibility to carefully assess each claim and make sound decisions on behalf of the Auto Fund.” SGI also says repair shops across Saskatchewan are extremely busy following summer hailstorms. The agency adds that vehicle repairs have become more complex as modern vehicles incorporate advanced safety systems, sensors, electronics and specialized components. While these features improve safety, SGI says they can add time to the assessment and repair process. Parts and technician availability can also affect timelines. Konecsni says he understands the challenges facing the industry, including staffing shortages and the cost and availability of replacement parts. However, he believes the length of time it took to resolve his claim was unacceptable. Konecsni hopes sharing his experience will lead to improvements and help other drivers avoid hitting the same roadblock.
