Do Auto Body Shops Work for Consumers or Insurance Companies?
Repairers often believe they’re repairing a consumer’s vehicle but being paid by the insurer. This mentality is not only wrong but can be extremely harmful – not only to the repairer, but also to the vehicle owner and the collision repair industry at-large.
What to Do When Insurance Carriers Paint You as the Bad Guy for Submitting a Supplement
If you can’t fight insurers legally, how do you combat their harmful and predatory practices?
‘You’re Not Alone’: Advice for a Struggling Auto Body Shop
By sticking to some basic business philosophies, effectively managing customers’ expectations and doing a good job, repairers today can thrive … rather than merely survive.
When in Doubt … Sub It Out!
I have a repair where the responsible insurer has refused to provide for sublet charges, saying that they aren’t responsible if we can’t perform the function. How should I respond?
What Should I Charge for Feather, Prime and Block?
We’ve begun charging for feather, prime and block, but we’re not sure what the labor times should be per area or the material rate. Is there a place I can find rates in my area or do you know what the average would be?
Troubleshooting Paint Issues
I own a body shop, and we recently received a car with damage on the paint. The best way I can describe it is that it looks like crow’s feet. How do I fix this?
What Can I Do to Get a Higher Labor Rate?
Labor rates in our area have been the same for the past five years or more, and when I asked the insurers for an increase, I was told that I couldn’t get one because I was being paid what everyone else in my area was being paid. I’m barely getting by, so what can I do?
What Steps Can I Take to Resurrect a Dealership Body Shop?
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In raising a dealership body shop from the dead, what should I do first, fix the shop or market the business? The dealer does not want to spend any money until we make some money, and we can’t make any until we spend some. Where do we start?
Do You Have Any Tips on Becoming an Estimator?
I’m looking into becoming an estimator in a high-production body shop, and I have some experience working for an insurance company that handled DRPs. Do you have any tips?
How Do I Get Insurers to Settle Payments More Quickly?
Since the Patriot Act, two-party checks have been difficult to deposit without having the correct paperwork. Insurance companies know this, and some have started ignoring the direction-of-pay on supplements. Other than legal action, which I have no problem with, do you have any suggestions? Insurance companies often use ‘bank drafts’ for settlement payments, not checks