The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Illinois’ (AASPI) President-Elect Mike Mattson stated that the Feb. 11, 2015 CNN story investigating a possible auto insurance scheme “was very true and ethical reporting, but it’s not just State Farm or Progressive but 99 percent of the insurance industry pushing these practices.”

Mattson, who has owned a body shop for 36 years, noted that he has “seen the insurance industry take more and more control over my business and the industry.”

Mattson stated, “It’s our choice to accept or not accept the lower standards and repair practices insurance companies require of us, but we have failed to educate our customers that they have a choice. The customer pays the premiums and has a choice to renew with their insurance coverage. And no insurance carrier wants to lose a customer – just look how much they spend in advertising to acquire that customer.”

AASPI states that consolidators seem to have “jumped on the bandwagon” of lowering the standards as well in order to compete with shops that continue to accept poor repair methods and practices. These shops, AASPI states, are cheating the customer and themselves as well.

“I keep hearing how the big players will put me out of business,” Mattson said. “I do not believe that to be true. I have always survived and profited on good, ethical business practices. Today is a good time to be in the collision repair business if you’re prepared, and being prepared means education in every aspect of every detail to complete a safe and profitable repair.”