by Guest » Wed Aug 10, 2011 04:57 pm
Wife backed into a mailbox damaging rear of my car trunk, spoiler and bumper called allstate and reported it told to get an estimate got and estimate for 1200 dollars allstate then decides to send their own adjuster 10 days later only wants to pay 890 dollars what can be done to get the rest of what the body shop wants to fix my car?
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 05:13 pm Post Subject:
First, why the difference? I could give you an estimate for $10,000 on that repair... it does not make it correct.
I'm guessing part of the difference might be labor rates and/or repair times but another difference might be aftermarket parts/salvage parts vs OEM parts. Most likely your policy only allows for non-OEM is available.
Lastly, is the difference your deductible?
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 05:51 pm Post Subject:
Labor and parts are the difference, but that is the amount the body shop is willing to except. Minus the 200 dollars deductible the check will only be 690 dollars.
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 06:43 pm Post Subject:
Parts should not be a difference as parts are parts and parts prices are known. Are labor hours or labor rates an issue?
Have you asked the body shop to call the person that write up the insurance company estimate in order to discuss?
Have you taken the appraiser's report to another shop to see if they can repair it for that amount?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:08 pm Post Subject:
Labor and parts are the difference, but that is the amount the body shop is willing to except. Minus the 200 dollars deductible the check will only be 690 dollars.
Winner winner chicken dinner! The shop was willing to accept what the insurer was offering. Many insurers make the claim that all they owe is an amount that they have determined and that they have a shop willing to perform the work at the insurer's price. Can anyone say price fixing? The insurer is setting the price even though it might be less than the prevailing rate or an amount that fails to restore the vehicle to pre-loss condition simply because a shop is coerced or willing to repair at less than their normal rate because they fear the job will go down the road or fear the insurer will steer against them in the future for refusing to perform the work as determined by an insurer estimate. An insurer estimate is simply a document that the insurer uses to determine an amount to place in reserves to pay for a loss. It should not be the blue print for a repair.
With this practice the insurer is allowed to set prices in a market, steer to co-operating shops, specify both parts and labor procedures for which they will bear no liability. What a perfect world for the insurance industry! We collect money from you to tell you how much your loss and the person you hit is worth and what we are willing to pay as opposed to what the market will determine and our hands are clean, even is we specify a rusty used suspension that fails because "that is all we owe". Isn't this a lot like the fox guarding the hen house?
While many insurers create a document called an estimate of record that a willing shop will perform the work for, the customer can still refuse to authorize the repairs. Then the insurer must take control of the repairs by selecting the option to repair and they may become liable. If vehicle owners would simply tell these shops that have been coerced and co-opted into performing repairs at an amount that the insurer is willing to only pay, they should notify the insurer and the shop that they will have a post repair inspection to determine if their vehicle meets pre-loss condition based on contract fulfillment and that all reasonable repairs have been completed. Also they should be held liable since they negotiated with an insurer agreeing to do so. Many might not be willing to stick their collective necks out, if they knew their work would be inspected by a third party for meeting the terms of full indemnification or being made whole in a third party loss. But then again, that’s just my opinion and view on the matter.
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:53 pm Post Subject: insurance claim
well it depends upon the companies terms and condition so I think you should consult the insurance provider
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