How technology made it possible for me to submit an insurance claim for my son’s stolen car from 8,622 miles away, on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand.
October 29, 2018
Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
www.mymobileadventure.com
Robin and I made it to Auckland after traveling on standby from San Francisco. We drank a few flat whites, and set out for our first destination – Hahei Beach, Cathedral Cove, and Hot Water Beach on the Central North Island.
Hahei Beach
Cathedral Cove
Hot Water Beach
My first adventure in New Zealand was to learn how to drive on the left side of the road. My friend Eileen, a native Kiwi, loaned me her apartment and car. This is a really good friend.
I admit it was stressful. Driving in an unfamiliar area, on the left side, in my friend’s car that I don’t want to wreck, with stunning beauty all around me that I can’t look at, was a challenge. Robin sat in the passenger seat and repeatedly blurted,
“Wow! That can’t be real. Those cows and sheep are fake. This country is so beautiful!”
Imagine the rolling hills and winding roads in Tuscany, Italy on steroids.
My phone pinged with a text from my son Stevie on WhatsApp. (Fast, simple, secure messaging and phone calls for free for phones all over the world.)
“Car is gone. Talking to the police.”
I was ripped from the idyllic scenery to the reality of being 8,622 miles away from my son, with a 17-hour time difference, and patchy internet.
As I wiped the tears and snot off my face and focused on driving to a town that had better cell service, Robin texted Stevie for me.
“We are driving on a crazy windy road in the middle of nowhere.”
She sent him my insurance agent’s name and Sirius XM information for tracking the car. She Imessaged my friend Elizabeth who was keeping my car while I’m on this adventure. “FYI. Stevie may need Moira’s car.” She forwarded Stevie her contact information.
The file folder I kept on the car was locked up in my storage unit. That meant all the information about the car had to be found online.
After driving twenty minutes, I pulled into a gas station, turned on my T-Mobile hotspot and fired up my laptop. I found my car insurance policy and VIN number online and forwarded them to Stevie.
I called him using WhatsApp. The call went through easily, without any interruption. I finally connected with my son.
After I gave him lots of love, he said he needed me to sign three insurance documents, have them notarized, and returned to the insurance company. My name is on the insurance policy. The claim process would not begin until this step was completed.
Fear gave way to frustration. There was nothing else to do but drive to our destination and hope there was a notary public nearby.
We arrived at Hehei Beach. I practiced present-moment awareness as I swam in the crystal blue water.
“I’m here in paradise. Stevie is safe. Be. Here. Now.”
The following day we drove to the town of Rotorua and I found a notary public. Documents were sent via email and I fully exhaled when the insurance agent acknowledged receipt.
Technology allowed me to connect with my son during his crisis and find important information online. Mindfulness and deep breathing helped me to stay present, feel all of my emotions, and watch my thoughts come and go without attaching to them. Or at least most of them ;).