Ammo to Fight Steering
I don’t know if you noticed (and I hope you did because that would mean you’re an avid reader of our weekly e-newsletter, BodyShop News, which is e-mailed to over 24,000 shop owners and managers every Thursday), but steering took the spotlight in the August 26 edition. The lead story concerned a new anti-steering law
Ameriprise Insurance Fined $71,100 for Steering
Ameriprise Auto and Home Insurance Co. – also known as IDS Property Casualty Insurance Co. – has been fined $71,100 by the Colorado Division of Insurance for steering. Records show that between September 2006 and January 2010, more than 700 Colorado consumers participated in the Ameriprise incentive program, for which they received a discount of
Maine TV Station Spotlights Insurer Steering Against Body Shops
A TV news station in Maine, WGME 13, recently put the spotlight on steering with a special “13 On Your Side” report on how insurance companies are interfering with the relationships collision repair facilities have worked hard to build with customers. In the report, a female customer talks about how she was “bullied” into taking
New Law Bans Insurers from Forcing Consumers to Use Specific Car Rental Companies
Drivers have long been led to believe that they have to have their accident-damaged vehicles repaired and replacements rented at shops selected by insurance companies. A new anti-steering law in New York, however, gives consumers the choice and requires insurers to inform them of their rights. The bill, sponsored by State Senator John Sampson, Assemblymen
California Congresswoman Uses Reciprocating Saw to Test Differences Between Bumper Rebars
Earlier this month, California Congresswoman Jackie Speier launched her exploration of the structural differences between certain vehicle safety parts by, the Collision Repair Association of California (CRA) claims, "sawing through" an aftermarket reinforcement bar in her San Mateo district office. The CRA claims the reciprocating saw she used "didn’t dent" the bar from the vehicle
Independent Glass Association to Naming ‘Steer of the Month’
Beginning in January, the Independent Glass Association (IGA) says it will select what it considers the worst steering incident from the incident reports being tabulated in its anti-steering database introduced earlier this year. An incident report form is currently being used by IGA members to catalog any issues of customer intimidation, misinformation and steering. All
CRA Opposes Class Action Against State Farm
The Collision Repair Association of California (CRA) said that it does not support litigation against State Farm in its year-end review of legislation and court decisions. However, the CRA did say it’s important to continue to file complaints against insurers with the Department of Insurance (DOI), though the association admitted it has seen little success
ASA-Arizona Is Newest SCRS Affiliate
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) announced that the Automotive Service Association of Arizona (ASA-AZ) has become an SCRS affiliate. Founded in 1963, ASA-AZ is a statewide association composed of body shops, mechanical service facilities and industry suppliers. The group provides training, legislative representation and networking opportunities to collision repairers. “The common denominator
More Shops Joining Facebook, Twitter to Increase Market Presence
Recently, a teenager who attends a high school near CARSTAR Mundelein “friended” the Illinois collision repair facility on Facebook, the most popular social networking Web site on the planet. Owner Jeanne Silver’s presence with the school was already strong due to her participation in its career fair and on its career advisory council, but this
California Steering Bill Signed into Law
Earlier this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed A.B. 1200, insurer-backed legislation that loosens restrictions on the information insurers can provide to claimants during the claims process. The bill adds the following to section 758.5 of the California Insurance Code, known as the anti-steering statute: An insurer may provide the claimant with specific truthful and nondeceptive