Can I turn down Geico Auto Repair Xpress program?

by ywarke » Thu Apr 16, 2009 01:01 pm
Posts: 2
Joined: 14 Apr 2009

Has anyone used Geico Auto Repair Xpress program? I have Geico and need to get my car fixed from an at-fault accident. When I reported this to Geico, they said that i "qualify" for the Geico Auto Repair Xpress program (as I was in an area that supported it).

I just don't know if this would result in good quality work, because if you use the Geico Auto Repair Xpress program, then you have to take it to a body shop that they want.

Any opinions?

Total Comments: 61

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 06:20 am Post Subject:

Sadie, it sounds more like a plan to make the bodyshops rich. No doubt it would cause inconvenience to the customer but the body shop would get a chance to double bill the insurer for the same repair works. I guess people should do some research before they get enrolled for other programs like the geico roadside assistance program.

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 02:11 pm Post Subject:

Hi Sadie,

Geico is pushing it hard because they save money and from what Iv heard repairs are well...not done well.


In other words they're simply playing with people's lives..

I work for geico in the claims department as a claims adjuster.


It's great to have you with us. Your association might just help a lot of insurance consumers who visit our community forums. Please do keep in touch.

Steven

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 03:38 pm Post Subject: Premium adjusted

Hi Sadie: When Geico considers adjusting the customer's premium due to at-fault accident, is it making any difference whether you use Geico Auto Repair Xpress or not? Thanks,

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 05:11 pm Post Subject:

When Geico considers adjusting the customer's premium due to at-fault accident, is it making any difference whether you use Geico Xpress repair? Thanks,



No not really. If you don't use the Xpress program, Geico will still interfere with the process by inspecting and writing an appraisal on the vehicle. They (and just about every other company for that matter) will instruct the owner to present the estimate to the shop of their choice. If the shop agrees to use the estimate, it is just like using the program.

The Geico Auto Repair Xpress program, in a nutshell pretty much works like this. The outcome must always be in Geico's favor and the shop must produce numbers to profit Geico. Once the shop fails to produce, Geico pounds sand and finds some other shop down the road to set up shop.

Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 03:49 pm Post Subject: The right to choose

By Federal law, you have the right to choose which Body Shop you have your vehicle repaired at. An Insurance company can ONLY suggest a body shop....they can not force one on you. If they make it sound like you have no choice or if they may limit your benefeits, call your State Board of Insurance and report it.

Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 04:26 pm Post Subject:

With a background as a collision shop owner and given insurance is presently regulated by the state and first party claims fall under the unfair claims practices in each state, I would be curious as to which federal law you are referring to.

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 01:28 am Post Subject:

I work for GEICO and am very familiar with the auto repair xpress program. I constantly see people make uninformed decisions when it comes to their vehicle and where it gets repaired.

The ARX program is simple this: it allows you to meet with an adjuster at a repair shop that GEICO has very carefully and cautiously picker to be part of their program. They pick them based on customer service and quality of work. Because it is a GEICO ARX they are able to start taking the vehicle apart right there to see what the damage is, and they show you. The repairs start then too, the average repair time: 4 days! Do you realize how quick that is??

Alot of the time people will go to a drive in appointment with an adjuster who looks at the vehicle as is and writes an estimate. They cant take it apart or even look under it to see what else is damaged. Then you call your body shop of choice who cant take your vehicle for 2 weeks. Once it gets there they find more damage and repairs are at a stand still until the adjuster can come back out and look at.

The Auto Repair Xpress offers a quick, easy and efficient one stop shop for your repairs. We have so much faith in these shops that we back their quarantee for as long as you own your car. 2 or 5 or even 10 years down the road they will fix the vehicle if something is wrong with it due to that accident. I took a call from someone whose 1999 jeep was fixed in an arx back in 2000, it had rust. Clearly its a 10 year old car but we still fixed it.

How does GEICO benefit?
We can see more vehicles in ARX than sending an adjuster out for every vehicle. Approximately 4 times more in a day. For every customer we get into an ARX we can quarantee we are going to get fewer calls than if we were to send an adjuster out. What does that mean? Less field adjusters needed meaning less money to spend meaning keeping low premiums for our valued customers.

I wasnt always a GEICO employee and I declined the ARX when offered to me once. I had a 3 month old Scion TC. I only wanted someone I knew working on it. I went somewhere my dad advised because he sells tools to mechanics and its what he knows. Big mistake. They botched the work and I waited there 3 hours when I picked it up for them to fix it. If it was an ARX the GEICO adjuster would have inspected it before I picked it up.


Make an informed decision. Ask the questions you want the answers to. We are there for you, utilize us. We know what we are talking about. Your car is one of the most expensive and vital things in your world, be smart.

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 02:35 am Post Subject:

I work for GEICO and am very familiar with the auto repair xpress program. I constantly see people make uninformed decisions when it comes to their vehicle and where it gets repaired.

The ARX program is simple this: it allows you to meet with an adjuster at a repair shop that GEICO has very carefully and cautiously picker to be part of their program. They pick them based on customer service and quality of work. Because it is a GEICO ARX they are able to start taking the vehicle apart right there to see what the damage is, and they show you. The repairs start then too, the average repair time: 4 days! Do you realize how quick that is??

A lot of the time people will go to a drive in appointment with an adjuster who looks at the vehicle as is and writes an estimate. They cant take it apart or even look under it to see what else is damaged. Then you call your body shop of choice who cant take your vehicle for 2 weeks. Once it gets there they find more damage and repairs are at a stand still until the adjuster can come back out and look at.

The Auto Repair Xpress offers a quick, easy and efficient one stop shop for your repairs. We have so much faith in these shops that we back their quarantee for as long as you own your car. 2 or 5 or even 10 years down the road they will fix the vehicle if something is wrong with it due to that accident. I took a call from someone whose 1999 jeep was fixed in an arx back in 2000, it had rust. Clearly its a 10 year old car but we still fixed it.

How does GEICO benefit?

We can see more vehicles in ARX than sending an adjuster out for every vehicle. Approximately 4 times more in a day. For every customer we get into an ARX we can quarantee we are going to get fewer calls than if we were to send an adjuster out. What does that mean? Less field adjusters needed meaning less money to spend meaning keeping low premiums for our valued customers.

I wasnt always a GEICO employee and I declined the ARX when offered to me once. I had a 3 month old Scion TC. I only wanted someone I knew working on it. I went somewhere my dad advised because he sells tools to mechanics and its what he knows. Big mistake. They botched the work and I waited there 3 hours when I picked it up for them to fix it. If it was an ARX the GEICO adjuster would have inspected it before I picked it up.

Make an informed decision. Ask the questions you want the answers to. We are there for you, utilize us. We know what we are talking about. Your car is one of the most expensive and vital things in your world, be smart.



Wow. I don't even know where to begin with this statement.

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 05:53 pm Post Subject:

I formerly worked for one of the other "Big Blue" carriers who are big at getting customers to direct repair shops. Irrespective of where you have your car repaired, the quality of the repair will depend solely on the qualifications of the technicians who work on your car. You can take your car to the shop in town who works on all of the high end cars and still end up with a bad repair. On the flip side, I have seen some of the best quality work come from a small cinder block building with a paint booth and a body/prep area, all in the same room. Working in insurance for the last six years and in a body shop before that, I would personally take any insurance claim job to a direct repair facility.

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 06:22 am Post Subject:

Hey AdjustedtoTX, I guess you're hinting that the technicians in direct repair shops posses more expertise and qualifications. I think by 'quality repairs' we mean good parts and good finish. Did you conduct any customer satisfaction survey while you were working for the big blue carrier? Pinkfloydfan

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