Cost of living is not getting cheaper folks. These businesses have operational cost, employee pay, benefit coverage for each etc.. That said, it's about charging what's fair given current cost of parts, labor, and other business overhead. We live in a capitalist society folks. We trade time, effort, skill for for pay to cover our cost of living . A business wouldn't stay in business very long if they became a charity and charged only what the vast majority may be able to afford. This why it's important to carry the proper level of insurance coverage. Can't afford it? Search for a better paying job, and use public transportation in the meanwhile. 😉 7:25 10:59
I work for fleet management company and we are self insured on collision. What can I do if shops charge 30 hrs for tear down once the vehicle is declared a Total loss. They refuse to release the vehicle unless we pay 30 hrs or tear down and other misc fees
any body shop :) Need to get understanding what it takes to repair or replace panel and what goes with it. Thank you transfer than on to the repair order
There are a few options, but none of them are very "formal". The key is getting access to an estimating system If you're paying on your own the lowest cost is Webest. Once you have estimating system access there are exercises you can do that gets the process started.
whats collision hubs take on say state farm refusing to pay scan invoices or out right refusing to pay for any scans, and allstates position on never paying for prescans. i have contacted a few who write for the trade mags but they wont discuss this topic.
First thing is to remember that the insurers indemnification promise is to the customer, not the shop. Indemnification agreements (contracts) may also have limitations. Such as "market rate". If an insurer can get a service performed that is "the same" as anothers, an insurer may say we're only paying X. Typically that's where the ".5" labor comes in. With that, we tell shops to bring in the customer and sit down with them. Explain the systems, not the OE position statement. What it is you as a vehicle expert feels should be done to the car to insure their safety. We explain the differences in tooling and possible pit falls of AM scan tools. They need to buy in on the process. Then you tell them to present the information to the insurer. We'll also show them DRP estimates where those insurers are paying pre and post scans as labor and some as dealer sublet. At that point the customer takes over the negotiation. We have found,specifically with State Farm, once the customer pays the shop they are almost always reimbursed... IF the charges are "reasonable".
