More on ... Troubled Times
4/1/2008
Your
“Troubled Times”
article was a good one. The “Top 5 Stress Inducers” hit the nail on the
head. A big problem is that the non-DRP shops aren’t treated the same
as most DRP shops. For example, DRP shops don’t have to fight and argue
for every labor hour. Still, most independent shops are partly at fault
because they continue to accept the low estimates written by insurance
companies. And that’s because they don’t know how to negotiate claims
properly.
The biggest obstacle we face is steering by the insurance companies.
Most insurers at least ask customers if they have a shop of choice, and
if they do, they won’t put the hard sell on them. But other insurers
are relentless. State Farm says it doesn’t have to do that; the largest
insurance company in the country is really flexing its muscle and feels
that it’s above any moral or state laws. All I hear is that the new
State Farm pays for nothing and items that used to be paid by Service
First aren’t paid for anymore. Everything is included.
I won’t give up or back down. I’ll keep a record of every car steered from my shop. Some day, it’ll be useful.
Steven Capuozzo, owner
Excel Frame and Front End Service, Inc.
Houston, Texas