by Guest » Mon Jun 28, 2010 02:24 am
Gonna receive a check from my insurance company in the next few days.
they accepted my collision claim and are making the check out to me.
now comes the question of what to do about getting the work done and car repaired...
since the check is made out to me, how do i pay the body shop?
does my insurance company need to be a part of the selection process?
obviously, i want the best possible work done, and thankfully i have a wealth of automotive mechanical knowledge...
if i start comparing places to get the work done, will they ask for my claim number?
can i simply ask them for an estimate on the damage and if it is at/under the check amount, use the money to pay them?
im worried that if i share the insurance company estimate with the collision center, they will do the bare minimum of work and use the cheapest parts since they know they will be getting the full amount of the check etc.
thanks in advance
:)
they accepted my collision claim and are making the check out to me.
now comes the question of what to do about getting the work done and car repaired...
since the check is made out to me, how do i pay the body shop?
does my insurance company need to be a part of the selection process?
obviously, i want the best possible work done, and thankfully i have a wealth of automotive mechanical knowledge...
if i start comparing places to get the work done, will they ask for my claim number?
can i simply ask them for an estimate on the damage and if it is at/under the check amount, use the money to pay them?
im worried that if i share the insurance company estimate with the collision center, they will do the bare minimum of work and use the cheapest parts since they know they will be getting the full amount of the check etc.
thanks in advance
:)
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 03:58 am Post Subject:
You need to pick a reliable shop that does good work. This is your responsibility. If you don't have a lien holder on the vehicle then you should be the only one on the check. How is works is... you pay the shop. The insurance company should include a copy of their appraisal. Give this to the shop before they start work to make sure that their repairs line up with the amount allowed by the insurance company. If there are additional repairs needed, the shop will contact the insurance company and work this out. The shop should make the same repairs as they are listed on the insurance companies appraisal.
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 04:43 am Post Subject:
Thanks for the reply, i am the original thread poster...
what if the appraisal amount for the damage was over the actual cost to repair?
i would ethically want the money to go back to the insurance company, but what is to stop the body shop from inflating the prices for supplies and labor so that they can keep the money?
and to tcope...
so i would pay the body shop, but wouldnt they wanna do their own assessment first to see if they would wanna take on the job and make budget?
if i give them the check before they start work, wont they wanna use the full amount, even if there is money left over?
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 05:18 am Post Subject:
what if the appraisal amount for the damage was over the actual cost to repair?
When is the last time you heard of an insurance company paying too much on a claim? Insurance companies use programs (same as body shops) with the going rates programmed into them. Could you find a shop to do the work for less? Perhaps... but would you want the company with the lowest bid to work on your vehicle?what if the appraisal amount for the damage was over the actual cost to repair?
You would not need to return the money and to be honest... the insurance company probably would not accept the money back. Your contract with them states that they will pay for the repairs. If they estimate it at $x.xx... then almost every shop in your area is going to charge that amount (or perhaps _want_ more... but they will honor the insurance companies amount.if i give them the check before they start work, wont they wanna use the full amount, even if there is money left over?
You don't pay them until the work is done. You do give them a copy of the insurance companies appraisal. Yes, this will show the dollar amount but that is fine. As I mentioned, the insurance company polls shops in the area to find the going rates and insurance companies and body shops all use programs to tell them the time need for repairs.Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 06:38 am Post Subject:
Original poster here again, thanks again Tcope for your replies!
as an example...
one of the new parts needed for repairing my car, according to the insurance company's repair estimate costs $480.00
i can get this part online, new and OEM for $320 and change.
i havent recieved the check yet, but i am assuming that the check is for the full amount stated in the repair estimate, minus deductible.
therefore, wouldnt the insurance company be "paying too much" for that part? effectively giving me or the body shop the extra money?
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 06:45 am Post Subject:
therefore, wouldnt the insurance company be "paying too much" for that part? effectively giving me or the body shop the extra money?
What if the part does not fit correctly... who pays to have it shipped back? What is your time worth to order the part, accept it and deliver it to the body shop? New OEM parts are delivered to the body shop by the local dealership free... as the dealership marks up the price. In return the dealership also guarantees the part against defects. What type of guarantee is offered from the online place? Who pays to take it off and put the new one on if something goes wrong? I doubt any of this will happen... but this are a few reasons why the local part is more.If you would like to order the parts and supply them to the shop, the shop will probably be fine with this. Since your acting as the middle man, you should be entitled to pocket the difference for your time. If the shop does not have to pay for a part... they should not put that on their bill. But they still need to see what the insurance company is paying for as far as labor to install and paint.
Also, the shop may not offer any type of warranty for the labor if they don't supply the part. Again, I doubt a part is going to show up as defective after it's put on... but you never know.
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 01:31 pm Post Subject:
Your best bet would be to visit some shops in your area. Find out what they are all about, how can the service you pre and post repair. What is their warranty, tour the facility, ask to see work in progress as well as finished work. Take a personal interest in and them and see how they are willing to assist you. Choose a repair shop in much the same way you would purchase anything else. Research, compare-try looking at Angie's List website and read reviews of past consumers. A reptutable and professional shop will be more than happy to answer any of the questions you have here and assist you in having your vehicle repaired to your satisfaction, not the insurance company. For more information, please click the link in my signature.
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 01:48 pm Post Subject:
one of the new parts needed for repairing my car, according to the insurance company's repair estimate costs $480.00
i can get this part online, new and OEM for $320 and change
Do you take your own eggs to the cafe when you order breakfast? Parts markup is one of the ways all business's pay for overhead and make a profit. The profit margins in body shops are very small "as it is" with insurers implementing cost containment into their estimates to ensure stockholder profits. Profit is not a dirty word even for the collision industry though some insurers feel it may be their prerogative to stifle it.
Chances are the insurance estimate is missing several things; many appraisers write for damages that they have been trained to observe from a vertical position therefore missing anything under or behind the vehicle's bumper covers. After a disassembly or after a more thorough inspection by a bodyshop, it is likely there will be significant more damage found and your check that you are now trying to shop around for the best price will not cover your loss if you are relying on the intial insurance guestimate and funds.
That is why they are called estimates! The insurer owes you for what ever the actual cost to repair your vehicle is within limits of your policy. If you limit your repairs based on their intial estimate, it is likely you have not collected everything that is owed to you from your policy or the amount of the loss owed to you by the at fault party.
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:43 pm Post Subject:
Well said Mike.
Very good points.
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:19 am Post Subject:
After a disassembly or after a more thorough inspection by a bodyshop
But, but Mr. Ozark, what if the appraiser finds more damage than the shop? :twisted: :twisted:
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 03:43 am Post Subject:
But, but Mr. Ozark, what if the appraiser finds more damage than the shop?
That would probably be one of those times when an adjuster missed the mark on a previous estimate and said they'd make it up on the next. (bad business ethics :lol: ) Kind of like a make up call by an umpire for that 3 foot strike above the head of the batter.
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