Is An Insurer Not Responsible For Satisfying a Fair Claim?
I recently had an adjuster tell me they don’t pay for blend time, and when I informed him this wasn’t true, an argument ensued. Is an insurer not responsible for satisfying a fair claim? Is there any such case law to support this?
Reader’s Choice: Capping Paint and Materials
“Legally speaking, how can insurance companies limit paint and materials charges?”
How Do I Get An Insurer to Pay My Posted Labor Rate?
State Farm does not want to pay my labor rate of $48 per hour because it says our market rate is $45. What is the best angle to take to get the difference without burning any bridges with them?
How Do You Determine Whether an Insurer or Shop Is Responsible for Fraud?
I recently conducted a post-repair inspection and found a quarter panel was repaired and not replaced, contrary to the “replace rear quarter” line on the estimate, by a GEICO shop. Did GEICO steal from the customer or did the shop?
What Are the Rules for Authorization of Repairs When It Comes to the Registered Owner?
A husband-wife team has been scamming California body shops. The husband drops the car off and authorizes repairs, but then the wife comes to pick up the car, claiming she didn’t authorize the repairs, and is given the car without charge. What are the rules for authorization of repairs when it comes to the registered owner?
How Do I Get an Insurer to Pay for Storage and Tow?
We have a car that is a total loss, but Mercury Insurance does not want to pay for the storage charges and the tow and is saying that we need to address this with the vehicle owner. What can I do?
Two-Party Checks
A new customer asked me to sign over the two-party check made out to us and them so they could keep the money. But to me, this is fraud. What’s your take on this?
Why Do Some Insurers Pay the Difference and Others Not?
Insurers will sometimes tell me, “We don’t pay higher labor rates for frame, structural or mechanical – it’s the same as your body rate.” This doesn’t seem right to me. Why would some insurers pay the difference and others not?
Storage Issues with an Insurer
An insurer is refusing to pay storage charges on a vehicle they let sit in my shop while ignoring my requests for a status update. What can I do?
Can a Technician Be Sued for an Improper Repair?
Can a body/frame technician be sued if a car is not repaired correctly but according to how the insurance company allows if somebody is hurt in that vehicle?
Is It Legal for an Insurer to Make My Customer Pay the Difference in My Rate and Their Preferred Rate?
An insurance company told my customer that she has to pay the difference between the $34 per hour they’re willing to pay and the $48 per hour I actually charge. The $34 per hour is their preferred shops’ rate. Is this legal?
Reader’s Choice: Post-Repair Inspections
“What are some things you look for in post-repair inspections? As a tech, I’m always looking to put out a better product. Also, I’m interested in getting into the field of auto appraisal, either insurance or classic cars.”
