Insurance Corporation of British Columbia: Cold Hearted Bastards of the Day

The rigid enforcing of laws without looking at reality is not the sign of a high intellect.

A young B.C. driver is facing steep insurance penalties from the provincially owned insurance corporation for an accident he had nothing to do with.

"They seem not to care at all. They just shrug it off," said 19-year-old Kevin Braun. "I spent hours on the phone with them just to hear the same thing: they can't do anything."

"For a company that you have no choice but to use, they should have better customer service."

Braun works in a restaurant in Victoria. In March, he loaned his 1996 pickup truck — the first vehicle he's owned — to his boss, Steve Madden, who then caused an accident. Braun's vehicle was written off by ICBC.

Both Braun and Madden have vehicle insurance with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Madden said he asked ICBC to apply the claim to his policy, so Braun won't face higher premiums and a black mark on his driving record, but ICBC refused.

"I've admitted guilt since day one," said Madden. "I don't want a new driver to be paying for my mistake. They say, 'Well it stays on his record either way.'"

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