March 24 CREW to Tackle Data Privacy with a Panel of Industry Experts
The Collision Repair Executive Webcast (CREW) will look at the proliferation of data collection, protection and distribution as it relates to the privacy rights of consumers and repairers. A panel of industry experts representing differing perspectives will look at the current situation and future impact of data privacy issues. The panel includes Erica Eversman,
How Cloud Computing Affects Collision Repair
As the use of cloud computing has increased, so too have repairers’ concerns over how their data is being used. So how is it being used? And are repairers’ privacy concerns justified? We try to separate fact from fiction and see if the positives outweigh the negatives.
Match License Plate to VIN
Carfax QuickVIN is a new, free tool available to SMS providers that matches a car’s registered license plate to instantly return the vehicle identification number (VIN) as well as the year/make/model of customers’ cars. Having the correct VIN ensures the right parts are ordered, increasing efficiency and profit margins. It also can help shops retain
Wawanesa Insurance Found Liable for Bad Faith
A San Diego County Superior Court jury found on April 22 that Wawanesa General Insurance Company breached its contract by attempting to repair a severely damaged vehicle that should have been totaled. The plaintiff, Marcus Benning, was awarded $24,000 in property damage. Before the accident, Benning’s vehicle was worth $37,000. Approximately $30,000 was spent on
Diminished Value: Fact or Fiction?
Whether or not you agree with or support the idea that customers’ vehicles lose significant portions of their value after they leave your shops, the market has spoken to the issue, and it appears to be an inescapable fact.
National Motor Vehicle Title Info System in Effect, But Not All States on Board
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) took effect Jan. 1 – 17 years after the law calling for it was enacted – but not all states are sharing information with the database, the Baltimore Sun reports. Four states – Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi and Oregon – and the District of Columbia aren’t participating in
DuPont Performance Alliance to Help Shops with Marketing
DuPont Performance Services (DPS) announced it is re-launching its popular Performance Alliance offering to collision repair center customers. Performance Alliance is one of five DPS business services now available to the collision repair industry and is how DuPont Performance Coatings markets its network of repairers to car owners, insurers, fleets and vehicle manufacturers. Through Performance
Fight Steering With Steering
It’s legal for insurers to tell consumers about preferred shop programs. Problem is, if you’re not one of the shops on these programs, you likely won’t get the work. Fight back by developing other sources of referrals that steer consumers to you. While insurers are permitted to make consumers aware of the "programs it has
What’s Diminished Value Mean To You
As contentious an issue as diminished value (DV) has become in the insurance and repair industries, there’s a quiet revolution taking place in the claims business. Once limited to the owners of exotic cars, DV is now a phrase on the lips of ordinary people with damaged grocery-go-getters. And this flood of inquiries to claims
Steered Clear
Steering comes in many forms – some illegal and some legal.