"Our mission to enforce the 1963 Consent Decree is about the citizens of the United States and their 'right to choose,'" the site reads. "This statement is as American as the Declaration of Independence. One's right to choose a collision repair facility is as sacred as one's right to choose a doctor, a hospital, a church or which bank to use. Unfortunately for the American public, the insurance industry has gained entirely too much power. This ability to manipulate the consumer's marketplace is evident by the way our nation's state insurance departments appear to be willing to safeguard the same industry they were empowered to regulate."

In 1963, the U.S. Department of Justice, under the direction of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, investigated the concerns of the collision repair industry and found that 265 insurance companies were in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. To put an end to this behavior, a Federal Antitrust Consent Order was signed on Oct. 23 of that same year.

Many collision repairers feel, however, that enforcement of the Consent Decree since 1963 has been nonexistent, and as a result, insurance companies have been able to control the prices they pay for collision repair and also violate consumers' rights.

"I guess it's like a 50-mph sign, and the cops sit in their squad cars watching people go by at 100 mph and just go, 'Ho hum,'" read one post on the Facebook page from a collision repairer.

A special note on the site reads: "This site is totally dedicated to serious discussion in respect to enforcement of antitrust laws written to protect citizens of the United State of America. Other sites are available for gossip, technical expertise and the day-to-day trivial post. Please respect the purpose of our mission and keep the frivolous post from these sessions." 

Consent Decree Facebook page

Consent Decree website

Read the Consent Decree