Massachusetts Senate Considering Anti-Steering Bill
The Massachusetts Auto Body Association is encouraging repairers to support anti-steering legislation that now sits before the state’s senate. The Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously passed the legislation, House Bill 5056, July 31 and sent it to the state Senate. Once passed by the Senate, the bill would need to be signed by Gov. Deval
Stagnant Collision Labor Rates Highlighted in New York Newspaper
Insurance companies’ tendency to underpay on collision repair labor was spotlighted in Newsday, a New York newspaper, thanks to Long Island Auto Body Repair Association (LIABRA) Executive Director Edward C. Kizenberger. In a letter to the editor reprinted below, “Labor rates for cars not high,” Kizenberger disputes claims made by state insurance Superintendent Eric Dinello
ABAC and CCRE Collecting Donations for Coccaro
The Auto Body Association of Connecticut (ABAC) and the Coalition of Collision Repair Excellence (CCRE) are taking up donations to help Greg Coccaro of North State Custom in Bedford Hills, N.Y., pay his roughly $200,000 in legal bills following a court case with Progressive. Progressive Insurance sued Coccaro for alleged fraud in charges for a
Judge Tosses Progressive’s Fraud Suit Against New York Body Shop
New York body shop owner Greg Coccaro can mark one in the industry’s “win” column after a New York state Supreme Court judge yesterday tossed out a fraud case filed against him by Progressive Insurance. Coccaro and his Mercedes-Benz certified collision repair facility – North State Custom Auto in West Chester County, NY – were
Legislative Lowdown
Federal – The Insurance Information Act of 2008, HR 5840, was recommended for passage by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on July 9. The bill, introduced in April, would create a federal-level Office of Insurance Information within the Department of the Treasury that would provide legislators with expertise and guidance on insurance issues and
From Red to Black
We lost more than $150,000 on paint and materials last year. The reason is because the old dollars times paint labor hours formula is outdated. The
solution is invoicing.
CCAR Announces New Staff Leadership
The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has announced new leadership for the organization’s staff, based at its headquarters in Overland Park, Kan. Daren Fristoe has been named CCAR’s president and chief operating officer. Before joining the organization in April 2008 as chief marketing officer, Fristoe’s background included collision repair franchising, e-commerce procurement, telecommunications, international
‘Raw vs. Primed Bumper Cover’ Flier Available for ASA Collision Members
Because repair facilities have seen an increase in the delivery of raw replacement bumpers and other raw parts from some of today’s leading manufacturers, the Automotive Service Association’s (ASA) refinish subcommittee has created a “Raw vs. Primed Bumper Cover” flier to document the additional steps required in refinishing a raw bumper cover compared to a
I-CAR Board Elects New Officers and Executive Committee Members
The I-CAR International Board of Directors elected new officers and executive committee members after the organization approved a change in the I-CAR fiscal year from July 1 to June 30 to Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. This change required an interim fiscal year of July 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2008, termed “F’08.5.” The first
Capping Bill Passes California Assembly
The California Assembly approved the fifth revision of Senate Bill 1371 (Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana) – legislation designed to limit the insurance company practice of placing “caps,” arbitrary limits, on reimbursements for collision repairs – on Monday with a 75-0 vote. In February, when the bill was introduced in the Senate, it stated, "No