| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
She's a step ahead of most large truck drivers in Central California. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I will have to second this. Had a door painted for a girlfriend a while back and they body shop warned me beforehand that the metallic gray was gonna be a difficult match....and it was apparently because in the sunlight it was quite apparent they newly painted door was a slightly different shade. Not as bad as my neighbors burgundy F-150 tho. He got hit in the rear and they only painted the rear of the truck (left the cab portion the stock color). It's now a two tone burgandy F-150. I want to ask him if they refunded his money because it's that bad, but I don't want to be a jerk. (Message edited by fresnobuell on June 20, 2018) | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
I know it sucks, and I understand your anger, but its just a car and it's THEIR fault (IE: they'll be paying for the repair/replacement). Chill out a little, be thankful no one was injured and enjoy the rental till you get the deuce back | ||
| Pwnzor |
Yeah, their fault... but if the car gets totaled, I'll be out of pocket for the difference between what I owe and the "fair market value". Lame. They still haven't even looked at my car yet... the adjustor hasn't shown up for the second day in a row. | ||
| Etennuly |
The Autobody repair industry has been taking a turn the last decade or so. They like streamlining the process by utilizing franchise and or pro shops who specialize in doing insurance repairs. Of the last several insurance jobs I have done, even as an independant shop, they had me write the estimate, take good pictures, and email it in. They even took care of a supplement I sent in after the fact. I never saw an adjuster at all, just emails and checks in the mail. Outside adjusters cost extra money, take extra time, and are an extra cog in the gear. The internal adjusters handle thousands of wreck cases like yours every year. I've known some who could look at the pictures you took and guess something like X amount of dollars for the repairs and x amount for peripherals, and be within $100 on bigger wrecks that run into $20,000. But you cannot guess. There are just too many variables. A radiator in one car might be $125.00. One that looks just like it in another brand of vehicle might be $1200.00. Given all of that I would speculate the cost of repair if you'd like. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Vern, send me your email address, and I'll send you more pictures if you want to check them out. The adjuster came in 2 days ago according to the body shop, but they have not received the estimate yet. | ||
| Airbozo |
Last year when the SO's car was damaged by a falling branch it took the adjuster a week to show up at the body shop (even after we worked with them to arrange the date) and then almost 2 weeks to approve the repairs (after I threatened them with a lawsuit). They then refused to cover the rental car until I had a serious discussion with my insurance agent. I got a call from the Nationwide rep who told me it was our fault because we didn't take it to their shop to be fixed. I had to "remind" him of the law here in California (and elsewhere I am sure) that we are not required to use their repair centers and do not have to use third party parts. He actually argued with me about it and said they were not going to approve the repairs unless we used non OEM parts. I told him we would see them in court as I hung up and called my agent back to tell him what happened and to find me new insurance. The nationwide rep called me back the next day to apologize for the "misunderstanding" and to inform me the repairs were approved and our rental car would be covered for the full cost the whole time our car was in the shop. Due to the delays caused by Nationwide it took them almost 2 months to fix a broken rear window and water damage. I HATE Nationwide. Not just for this, but during the same time, my car was damaged by a falling rock and massive pothole caused by intense rains. Nationwide tried to blame me for not braking in time to miss the rock and purposely driving through the pothole which was hidden under a foot of water. They ended up paying and had to pay for another rental for 3 weeks. I HATE Nationwide. | ||
| Macbuell |
I guess they weren't "on your side". | ||
| 86129squids |
LOL- where's that rim shot emoticon? "Nationwide, taking your backside"?  | ||
| Court |
Insurance companies . . . . in many cases . . . should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I, just this last week, started getting dunning letters from someplace called National Accounts or some crap. They are basically threatening over some doctor bill they claim is mine. If it is . . . . its over 3 years old and from a doctor I've never heard of. Before even offering ANY explanation they demanded a litany of personal financial information. I explained that I didn't get an 830 credit score by ducking bills and sent them a certified letter to send any documentation they have to my attorney and then, and only them, would we discuss settlement terms. I had a great time about 2 years ago when an insurance company actually filed a lawsuit and got a default judgement. The insurance company sent me the official court notices of award and demand for payment . . . . now, to make this punchline work . . . you have to understand the amount was $39 and I am dealing with their "real attorney". I owed the money . . . but, since they were dicks, I exchanged no less than 17 certified return receipt letters with the attorney, filed (after reading and discovering I had the right to) for one hearing to have them discuss settlement for a reduced amount. Finally . . . I got tired of dragging the squirrel under the car and sent the $39 with a note that . . . by my rudimentary calculations . . ."if you're being paid more than $1.28 and hour . . . you just got screwed royally by your own stupidity". Maybe I was as dumb as they were . . . . but, I had at least $39 worth of fun. Assholes | ||
| Strokizator |
As a kid in California, don't know if it's the same elsewhere, I lived next to a guy who worked for the state insurance commissioner's office. I remember him telling my father that if he was ever bullied by an insurance company to just tell them he is referring the matter to the commissioner. Seems every complaint, whether it's legit or not, goes on their record. Enough complaints and they can no longer do business in the state. Years later I had a '67 mustang get rear ended at a stop light. The owner's insurance company company wanted to give me $500 to total the car. I came back with, "Well, my uncle works for the commissioner's office in San Francisco and he said . . ." That's all I got out before the guy asked, "Where do you want to get it fixed?" | ||
| Sifo |
Many years ago I got rear. Nothing terrible, I think it was about $1800 in damages. I did the "right" thing and notified my insurance agent. He filed a claim for me so I could get it fixed without waiting for the other drivers insurance. I also carried a $1000 deductible, so most of it was still on me until they got the other guys insurance to pay. Next thing I know, my insurance company is sending letters about the accident where my vehicle was rear ended by myself! Now I was going to have to pay my deductible, and have the claim on my record, and my insurance was going to go up because of the claim. I spent months trying to get them to get it straightened out, that I didn't rear end myself. I finally got a hold of the other guy's insurance company myself. 2 days later, they had a guy out to inspect my car, and wrote me a check on the spot. Day after that, I got a new insurance company. I won't mention the name, but they are available in "all states". | ||
| Tootal |
I had insurance with the same family for two generations and it was about to be three when the company, that was available in States with Farms, decided they didn't want my friend to give the family business to his son as his father did. So they split up his customers and I was forced to receive insurance from another agent. Well I went to my friend and asked if I could go back to him and he said yes. In fact there were many folks who did the same thing. Well the company just figured he was calling everybody, which he wasn't and was not supposed to, and asking them to come back so they fired him. I wrote a letter to them and they ignored me. My friend went and got a brokers license and now has several companies to chose from so I quit and went back with my friend and saved money too! These large insurance companies can be real jerks but I can vote with my check book! | ||
| Crusty |
Just remember; the Good Hands are holding a Piece of the Rock and they're just waiting to drop it On Your Side. | ||
| Tootal |
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| Etennuly |
I've been dealing with insurance companies from the other side of the fence for over 40 years. Most people don't know the "rules" and have difficulty believing their body shop guy wants other than to rip every body off. Can't blame them. It has been happening for a long long time. And when a shop rips people off everybody looses. Honest shops are out there, but touting honesty is the best way to get people to not trust you. Ha ha ! I worked in some very reputable shops doing some great work. For a long time. Also did some short gigs figuring out the boss' were. thieves. The whole problem with collision repair is the ghost effect. When the job is done right no one will know you did it. Your $30,000 in tools, 20 years of education and experience puts you on top of your game. The best of the best by the best. Do you see the artistry in the 100 hours I spent repairing your car? The 30 hours of highly skilled color matching fine art, topped by texture matching the finish? Nope! Not if I did everything right. There will be no evidence that I have done anything. The car will be parked in a WAl-Mart parking lot near you soon! No body will ever know. It is so different for most other occupations. Court puts up electric towers, giant windmills and such, you see them in awe of there stature and we go home to turn on the lights. As it should be, you can see what he did. When Matthew's boss sees a five fold increase in business over a few years of hiring him to get and keep their trucks running it is visible in their physical growth. When an architect designs and builds a building you see it. When Leonardo, or Rembrant, or Michaelangelo created their art work you see it. You see what they created. When I do my work it disappears. I fix your $100,000 brand new Corvette back to brand new status. If you see the tinyist little flaw in the paint, a single dust nub of .002 will show up, I have failed. If you go down the road and it does not handle quite right, or it pulls to one side or wears tires uneven, I have failed. Not the alignment guy who shoots for within spec, but me, the repair guy. Ya want better insurance coverages, read the fine print that says you will accept aftermarket parts. A good body shop won't mind having you involved in knowing what is going on with your car. Some shops now run blogs to their customers sending daily updates and pictures of the progress on the job. Anything to appease the customer. I sometimes do things like motorcycle parts to justify the art. To take something messed up or the wrong color and make it right. It is fun actually. But when people tell me how good it looks I'm glad they are happy with it, but they do not know how easy that is compared to what I actually do for a living. The ghost work. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I had to call the body shop yesterday and ask them to turn off the automated text messages they keep sending me... such as: Update: Hi Matthew. Your Toyota repair is underway! No worries! The repair process is coming along nicely. Abra Auto Body Repair of America Reply "STOP" to cancel. Wednesday, June 20 2018, 9:25 AM Of note: The appraiser hasn't even given the estimate yet, and nobody has physically touched my car other than to open the door and get the mileage off the odometer - as of Thursday at 4pm  | ||
| Pwnzor |
They just called. $3700 is the preliminary estimate, before tearing it down. The rep from Abra Auto Body said they often find hidden things after they get it all apart, but he doubts it would be more than $500 worth of additional cost. I said fine, as long as I can have my car back, it's all good to me. We'll see how it looks when they get done. | ||
| Etennuly |
They should do well. This company sets everything up as close to an assembly line process as possible. You will be annoyed by that oh so accurate computer text system. Have any questions about the repairs or process I'm glad to help if I can. You must dictate that as the claimant you want OEM parts. These conglomerate body shops are buying up the aftermarket parts manufacturers. The grade and fit of aftermarket parts varies widely. I recently returned a part that it was blatantly obvious that the CAPA certified sticker had been stuck on over a non certified part sticker. Then I found out the parts company had recently been taken over by a body shop conglomerate. Ergo, these guys push the insurance companies hard to sell their products. Sure they pump a blind guarantee, what ever it takes to pump up sales. Life time guarantees are easy to promote and not worry about being collected. The average car owner has it less than two years after being repaired. | ||
| Glitch |
Ain't livin' in a First Word country great! | ||
| Crusty |
It beats the hell out of the alternative... | ||
| Pwnzor |
Yep I told them on the phone I want OEM. There is a spot on the paperwork to sign, authorizing non-oem... I didn`t sign it. Will keep you posted. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I just received a check in the mail for ~$3200 which is the amount of the repair minus a $500 deductible. WHY would they send ME a check, I'm not the one doing the work, the car is still sitting in the same exact spot. Shouldn't the other people's insurance company be sending a check directly to the body shop? I've never had to deal with this before, so I'm flying blind here. | ||
| Crusty |
Ask the body shop. They have to deal with the Insurance companies every day, and they know all the scams those scumbags try to pull. Don't sign or cash that check until the body shop tells you it's OK. | ||
| Aesquire |
Glad no one was hurt. That's not bad, I hit a tiny deer Christmas eve on the way to work in my VW and it was $5k. German cars are crazy expensive. If I knew then... I'd buy another if I wanted to trade in the day before the warranty expired at 3 years, and be happy. $50 a set of proprietary wiper blades? A buddy had the trailer wheels of an 18 wheeler roll over the front of his Fiero. The plastic just popped back. But it did scratch the finish enough to need a repaint. I was lucky in getting a good shop do my VW, at a Dodge dealer, no less. Good job on matching the silver, a very hard color. | ||
| Court |
Read that check . . . the back of it . . . and any paperwork that accompanied it. You MAY be signing a full and unconditional release. I won't bore you with what you can and can not waive away . . . . . . but read the fine print. Fast . . . free money frequently comes . . . not always . . . but, often, with strings attached. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I'm not accepting this check. The money is not for me, and I don't care how long it takes for my car to get fixed - I'm not paying one damn cent. Calling my lawyer tomorrow. | ||
| Sifo |
WHY would they send ME a check, Because you have a conditional estimate that states there may be additional damage uncovered when things are disassembled. If you cash that check, they are almost certainly off the hook for any additional damage that gets uncovered. Let the body shop deal with the insurance co. It's in their interest to make you a happy customer. The other guy's insurance co. couldn't care less about if you're happy. | ||
| Etennuly |
No need to get lawyer. At this point. That shits in your own soup. That is what i will help you with to avoid that. Frequently a claimant will get the check. As often some of the three or so people have marked the wrong box on 'claimant' vs 'insured. Now do they do that on pirpose when nation wide it could save them millions every month, i could only guess. Right now just call your agent or adjuster and tell them what you got. They will happily correct it and might even apologize. They prefer to send the check to the claimant because it is your car and you have "chosen" to go to that shop so any warranty is between you and the body shop leaving the insurance company out of the transaction. Keep that check. They will send you one for the $500. You sign these at the shop when you have inspected the car and are satisfied with the repair. They release the car when they get paid. The check is like cash in your hand making any purchase. Everything must be in writing. They may have you sign a ' direction to pay' form for them to collect any supplemental money due. This happens when the car is ready and the time to get a supplement check is short. But get a detailed invoice for the repair and anything they are sending as a supplement. Piece of cake. Lawyers •••• up all of the check processes. And cost you money. | ||
| Etennuly |
It may seem unusual. But it is how it is always done. I have done literally thousands of these transactions with the insurance companies and the customer. I managed a busy Allstate body shop before I had my own shop, and spent a good deal of my time explaining this procedure to my customers up front so they know what to expect. There should have been someone at the body shop explain all of this to you. My number one thing at this stage is to comfort the customer in knowing that this is normal and any errors can be corrected. There are at least three sets of eyes that the estimate has to pass before that first check happens. They have to review everything dealing with the accident including the where, when, how, injuries?, towing, shop, prices. Claimant or insured, collision, comprehensive. Sometimes someone touches the wrong button. It is a deep process for a district office who will handle thousands of claims a week. They know what they are doing in every aspect. Including litigation which will take more time cost extra moneys and get you right back to exactly these procedures. Matthew ya got my number, feel free to call me with any concerns. |
