Consent Decree: Enforceable or Forgetable?
In 1963, 265 insurers signed a Consent Decree drafted by the U.S. Justice Department and Attorney General Robert Kennedy. By signing, they agreed to abide by the Decree’s terms: no more demanding discounts, setting hourly rates, boycotting repair shops and using specific appraisers. It’s still a binding agreement today … but will it ever be enforced?
In Court with State Farm
The trial against State Farm for its usage of aftermarket crash parts is underway. Since you can’t be there in the courtroom, we’re doing the next best thing: bringing the courtroom to you.
Ending The Blending Debate
The issue isn’t about whether or not you should blend — make it a standard operating policy and just do it! The issue is about blending correctly, meeting vehicle owners expectations and getting paid by insurers.
Shift This: Dealing with Cost Shifting
Fed up with the games people play, a Connecticut body shop manager has developed a way to keep himself out of trouble when insurance companies cost shift.
A New Profit Center: Part 3 of “Getting Paid for What You Know”!
It’s estimated that more than 100,000 people in the United States need — and will pay for — your automotive expertise on a daily basis. This is the last part of a three-part series designed to show you how to get paid for what you know.
Drop the Gun and Step Away from the Adjuster
Believe it or not, there are seasoned appraisers in the industry who aren’t the enemy — and who aren’t happy with insurers’ penny-pinching policies that disregard quality and fair profit In my September Editor’s Notes, I wrote about an appraiser named Pat, who has some interesting views regarding the industry. You see, Pat is on
A New Profit Center: You
Now that you understand the theory behind how professionals get paid for their hard-earned knowledge and expertise, it’s time to apply it to your business.
When Worlds Collide: Collision Repairers vs. Insurers
Can collision repairers really fight off the insurer invasion of the industry? Or, rather than waging war, should they learn to live together in peace?
Insurers: Cowboys At Heart?
Some insurers are rounding up consumers and steering them out of shops like herds of cattle – leaving many shop owners to ask: “Where’s the beef?”
Aftermarket Crash Parts vs. OE
Some people view the aftermarket crash parts vs. OE parts debate as a war, with the sides being the collision repair industry (wearing the armor of the OEMs) battling the insurance
industry (sporting aftermarket armor).