Illinois Supreme Court Overturns Avery v State Farm
The billion-dollar judgment against State Farm for deceiving policyholders by specifying the use of non-OEM parts was tossed on a technicality — while massive amounts of evidence went unnoticed (or, as one justice contends, ignored).
Panel Bonding One (Uh)Oh One
If the vehicle manufacturer doesn’t endorse a procedure,
who the heck are you to override their decision?
Build a Better Mousetrap, and the World Will Beat a Path to Your Door
7 strategies for quality-driven shops to maintain profitability in a marketplace fixated on “fast” and “cheap.”
Putting the “Expert” in Witness
By using your repair knowledge in the courtroom, you can make upward of $150 an hour – and educate and protect consumers at the same time.
Know Your Customer
Insurers are contractually responsible to reimburse their insureds for the reasonable costs of repair. Shops are contractually responsible to the owner of the vehicle for performing a repair as per the estimate/RO. In other words, you have no legal obligation to negotiate with insurers.
Itemizing Estimates: Where Do We STOP?
If you’ve been involved in this industry as long as (or longer than) I have, you may still remember the days when handwritten estimates were a way of life and computers and computerized estimating systems were still just Buck Rogers science fiction. Since estimates were handwritten back then, they were often as few lines as
Legislation and Intrigue in Illinois
It’s not easy getting laws passed that help consumers (and collision repairers) – especially when people in your own industry set out to sabotage your efforts.
Is It Ok to Cost Shift to Help out the Adjuster and Get You Paid?
I find the practice of cost shifting morally repugnant. Why is it morally wrong and illegal (fraud) if I as a repairer charge a customer differently than the actual repair performed, but when an adjustor "bends" his company’s rules (even if it’s for our "benefit") that it’s somehow OK? I don’t understand the double-standard. The
Insurers Don’t Control Pricing
“That’s almost like asking, “How much does a Chevrolet Tahoe cost?”
Keep This Job
Insurers are illegally trying to control the cost of repairs by steering consumers to particular shops, while at the same time, trying to distance themselves from any liability associated with negligent repairs.