CollisionAdvice and CRASH Network have announced they are conducting a new series of industry surveys as a joint project to find out how shops’ billing practices differ from other shops.

“The training and consulting work I do has shown me that many shops aren’t aware of non-included items and operations they are doing but not itemizing on estimates,” said Mike Anderson of CollisionAdvice. “These surveys will help shops understand what these operations are, and whether other shops seek and receive compensation for them – or if they truly are ‘the only one.’”

The first of these surveys, which covers refinish-related items and operations, is available online now through April 30. Similar surveys on other aspects of repairs will be conducted later this year.

Anderson said the surveys, which will take about 15 to 30 minutes each, should be completed by the shop owner, manager or estimator who is most familiar with the shop’s billing practices and the payment practices of the largest national insurers. Each individual shop location (whether a stand-alone business or part of a multi-shop operation) may submit one response to the survey.

Each shop’s individual responses will be held in the strictest confidence and not released in any way. Only cumulative data will be released through CollisionAdvice and CRASH Network. Participants who choose to provide optional contact information will receive an executive summary of the survey findings.

Click here to take the survey.