Would have been processed

[tufguy]

Hi guys,

I was talking to an insurance rep over the phone and I asked her "When did you guys process the claim". She replied "It would have been on 07/14/14". So my question is, did she mean "It must/may have been processed on 07/14/14". Here "Would have been" is equal to "may have been". Am I correct?

 

[riquecohen]

Not necessarily. She might have checked her records and given you the exact date, using that ambiguous phrase. On the other hand, she could have surmised that date from the information she received from you, such as the date you filed the claim.

 

[tufguy]

So did she mean "It was processed on". So it can be used in this way also?

 

[riquecohen]

So did she mean "It was processed on". So it can be used in this way also?

Please reread post#2. She could have meant either "it was processed on..." or "it was probably processed on...."