What’s Good for the Goose: A List of Preferred Insurance Companies
Take a gander at this idea: I have a list of preferred insurance companies that I steer my customers to. Not only have we been the reason many customers changed insurance companies, but we deal more now with the insurers we like — and less with the ones we don’t
Will Insurers Eventually Purchase All Parts Directly from OEMs, Eliminating Shop Profits on Parts?
I’m going to play the devil’s advocate and say, ‘Yes, but only if we continue in our present path of doing nothing to stop them.’ We wouldn’t even be discussing this problem if all shops realized that the repair contract is between you (the shop) and the vehicle owner. Contrary to common, but misinformed belief,
How to Drop 13 DRPs — and Live to Tell About It
It didn’t take long to learn that more volume doesn’t always equal more money.
A 10-Letter Word for Pain in the Butt
How can repair shops go on fighting for D-E-D-U-C-T-I-B-L-E payment when insurance agents keep selling customers on deductibles they can’t afford? I’ve got an idea that just might work.
The Great MQVP Parts Snafu
This repair took 39 days when it should’ve taken only five to seven. Why? I’m guessing because we’re not a “Blue Ribbon” shop.
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).
Spotting Trouble: Arbitrary Changing of Paint Times
Been asked by an adjuster to change the paint time on a panel? If insurers would pay for the prep and want a spot paint – and as long as the hours equal the full time – shops might embrace the procedure. Since that’s not happening, shops need to learn how to justify their estimates.
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.
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?”
‘Managed” Repairs
“Freedom of choice just went down the toilet. Welcome to ‘managed care,’ collision-repair style,” says an Austin, Texas, shop owner about Texas Senate Bill 14 (which became law in ’03 and went into effect Dec. 2004). “The repair industry was blindsided. Nobody knew a bill like this was even being considered, let alone that it
The Insurance Industry Loves Your Apathy
If you continue to sit back and let things happen, when you finally do decide the insurance industry has gone too far, it might be too late to do anything about it.