by Tailspin » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:41 am
I wrecked my 2008 Lexus and my Ins.Co. is telling me that I need to take it to one of thier "prefered shops" or they will not warrentee the repairs nor will they pay any higher labor rate than thier shops. The shop I want to use has a great reputaion, a written lifetime warrenty, and a couple my friends have used them and are very happy. Thier labor rate is $3.00 an hour higher than my Ins. Co's shops,but is the same as several other shops in our Town . I have a $1000.00 deductible and dont feel that I should have to pay any more out of my pocket, but I want my car fixed right,by the shop I want! I live in Va. [/b]
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 03:47 am Post Subject:
i don't see why they insist on you going to their prefered shops. afterall, the repair shop that you want to use is reputable... i don't think that the difference would be great, so maybe you could discuss this with your insurance company. i feel that your insurance company is just trying to lower its costs. since the other repair shops aorund have the same price as the shop you want to use, i don't see any good reason why they should insist on you using the cheaper one.
"the customer is always right"
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 02:47 pm Post Subject:
Lori, I hope you weren't referring to my post as being erroneous
no of course not dave! if you read the thread you know which ones! :wink:oops, I think I misspelled shop.
clearly!I have produced estimates showing the higher rate from the carrier
THAT is all that is necessary...frankly I've had a shop or two tell me this...and I say, 'cool, that will end this discussion right now..get it..' as I continue to write the estimate...(you can always just change the rates)...time passes...shop manager comes back, or I have to go find him, and sayd, 'yeah, ah, i couldn't find it'...well i'm sorry cause if you could've even if the rep was wrong..(and he/she would've been) I'd have paid that rate gladly...Guess it's a good lesson that Dave is the king of to keep the highest paid labor rate estimate from every insurer...wouldn't be a tough thing to do either...oh wait I take that back..one shop did have a sheet about three years ago was one buch higher an hour than prevailing at that time....i took a picture of the sheet (to CYMA) so it was in the claim..and paid that amount...simple...I have been given the excuse that the deficiencies are because the insured or claimant might not get the car repaired.
Do you mean they are writing at a lower rate, than they would on another estimate, or that they are writing less of a sheet? Sounds like someone might be flirting with Unfair claims practices..if I'm understanding this....My company does not have DRP rates and 'other' rates..they are all set at prevailing rates...period..but the company I work for also gets no discount of anything with their drps either..so perhaps that is different than other carriers I truly don't know..If the rate of this shop the OP wants is the same as most of the shops in her town..then she (or her shop) can prove prevailing rate...
Would be a good time for the insurer to produce their survey and to check it's accuracy. Oh I forgot, that's proprietary information most likely.
Yes it would be mike, and no I don't this it is protected info. atleast with most carriers, course most likely this is a local/regional decision..i don't see why they insist on you going to their prefered shops.
they arent' they are just telling her they won't pay any higher labor rate than their drps..is what it sounds like...i feel that your insurance company is just trying to lower its costs
of course they are...May come down to (if it's true) that the majority of shops in the area have the same posted rates as the op's shop...proving this to her carrier..
There are a few 'high end' repair facilitys 'bout fifty miles south of me...that think because they only repair bmw, jag, and other high end vehicles makes them better somehow...they charge about ten bucks an hour more than any shops around...does my carrier pay it? nope...guess they need it for the four shop boys that keep that shop floor so clean you could eat on it (it IS amazing)...and of course the gourmet coffed machines in the lobby, blah blah...still doesn't make their techs any better or worse than Mikes..it is possible that the OP is dealing with one of these 'type' shops as well.
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 03:09 pm Post Subject:
I am of the opinion that if a shop (mine doesn't) specializes in high end cars that require certified repairs by technicians with factory certified training, that they are entitled to a rate, determined by them and not insurers, to make a reasonable profit in which to continue to be able to train and certify their employees. If they are required to possess specialized equipment that I am not, I certainly would not resent the fact that they would benefit from charging higher rates. Maybe in reality, it is the type of car and quality of repair wth oem parts or cheap imitations, that should determine the cost at which it could be restored to pre loss condition.
There simply should not be a prevailing rate, period. Other businesses are not regulated on their pricing, why should Applebee's be required to sell their hamburgers for the same price as McDonalds? In realitiy these rates should be referred to as the stagnant rates coerced and regulated by the insurance industry.
A post repair inspection could determine that the cheaper shop infact could or did not restore a high end vehicle to pre loss condition and that paying for re-repairs after the initial cheap repair only cost the insurer or vehicle owner more than originally anticipated.
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 03:20 pm Post Subject:
I wrecked my 2008 Lexus and my Ins.Co. is telling me that I need to take it to one of thier "prefered shops" or they will not warrentee the repairs nor will they pay any higher labor rate than thier shops
.Can you tell us whether this attempt to coerce and intimidate you came from the appraiser or adjuster which handled your claim, or did it come from making the intial call to an 800 number to file the loss?
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