Louisiana TV Station Investigation Spotlights Body Shop

Louisiana TV Station Investigation Spotlights Body Shop Owner’s Fight with State Farm Over Parts

Tim Elkins, owner of Miles Paint & Body Shop, told WAFB that a recent customer's insurer, State Farm, won't allow him to use OE parts but are "pushing" for aftermarket or used parts.

Yet another TV station, this time WAFB out of Baton Rouge, La., has done a special investigation on the insurance industry and the use of used and aftermarket parts.

Tim Elkins, owner of Miles Paint & Body Shop, told WAFB that a recent customer’s insurer, State Farm, won’t allow him to use OE parts but are “pushing” for aftermarket or used parts.

“They force these parts on us. They make us use them. They’ve gotten to where now they tell us where to buy the parts and who we have to buy them from,” Elkins told WAFB.

WAFB reported that Elkins called State Farm to ask about the parts, recording the conversation. In one recording, the State Farm representative told him, “Her policy does allow us to use non-OEM parts or recycled parts on her automobile, but we do tell her if she does want to use OEM parts, she does have the option to pay the difference.”

To read the full story from WAFB and watch a video, click here.

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