Auto Body Shop rip off

Is this body shop a State Farm Preferred Provider?

 

You should get your car back no problem. The fight is between them and the insurance company. Or did you try to save some money and put the repair in your name with State Farm to reimburse you?

 

From what I remember, the repairs are initially quoted and State Farm Insurance approves the case. After tear down to fully evaluated the costs of repairs, the body shop then contacts the insurance company with a final estimate before proceeding. At that point State Farm will send a claim representative (adjuster) out to either approve, deny or possibly negotiate specific rates for the job per industry rates. Almost every job has standard rates as evidenced by the price you quoted from Toyota. If they do not contact the insurance company first (no reason not to since they are paying the bill), the auto shop will notify the owner to get authorization for the repairs and additional cost. Sometimes what happens is they go to the owner first, to get the authorization for repairs, telling the owner the insurance company will cover, they just need him/her to be aware of the additional charges. In reality the additional costs may not have been authorized or approved by the insurance company as told, intentionally or by oversight.

I do not know anything about your case, your policy or your state laws so what I say is only speculation. Based just on what you have said though, somethings stinks. I have dealt with accident insurance claims and body shops before, like most folks, and have never been blind sided like this before. All costs must be approved. It's the law, at least in this State. Sounds like you need to get a three way going with all parties present. Wish you luck.

 

Good point Toaster, I missed that possibility.

 

Procedures are giving a time and materials standard that the shop must respect. Remove and replace rear number may be 1 hour labor + parts fit and finish. Th Body Shop may be the problem since State Farm jus follows the standards. That is why adjusters are there to inspect

 

If you did not do what 2K1Toaster asked, you should be fine. Stating the rental is up implies the damage was on your nickle. That usually adds some stress to handling things. Best wishes.

 

That is why I always select the Insurance companies recommended body shop.

The body shop should not do any work without the insurance approval. Ask the body shop why he is charging more? If he thinks it needed extra work that was needed than ask why he did not seek the Adjustor approval? Can he prove it? If he can than perhaps State Farm will approve and pay. It may just me a misunderstanding.

I would start by calling State Farm and ask what went wrong and how can this be resolved.

When this is over and settled to you satisfaction you know what you have to do? Get a new insurance company and Body shop. This process should be seamless and you should never be stuck in the middle forced to take the bus.

 

Suggest you deal with the Body Shop General Manager. Best to go to the guy who can adjust his bill if need be, or the Insurance company may need to approve an expense with respected proof.

It could be that they may be using different estimating software that assigns different labor times. Insurance may be using Mitchell Software and the Body Shop is using CCC.

It could be the labor rates are different, Insurance pays $35 hour and Shop charges $60.

It could be what work was done. Body shop did additional work that Insurance was not aware of.

You heading in the right direction to bring the parties together. Make sure that you tell State Farm you just want to get this resolved and have no additional expenses.

I hear State Farm is horrible with customer satisfaction. When this is over switch.

 

I have had State Farm since 1986 without issue. Although the law allows one to take the car to a shop of your choice, you are correct in that things work better with a "Preferred Provider", and your warranty is usable anywhere in the country.

 

and the other hand on your wallet.

 

i think the laws differ by state. here in mass, it's all between the body shop and the insurance company. you can't get a check and take care of it yourself like the old days. that eliminates the hanky panky you're going thru. if you go with preferred shop, insurance co. will guarantee repairs.

 

My friend had a similar problem, insurance company was Geico.

Basically, the shop where he took it too overinflated the storage charge and repair bill above book time. Geico refused to pay but instead of mediating between the shop and Geico for a compromise of some sort. Geico wrote a check to my friend for the actual repair cost that was thousands below what the shop was charging and told him to handle the matter with the shop directly himself. He of course refused the check. Lien was then placed on his car by the shop. Long story short, he gave up the car & pink slip to the shop to settle all charges in full because the car wasn't worth a lot. Geico basically told him to take the check and screw himself. He has two years to sue Geico, which he intends to do.

 

I do remove dashboards for a living and I know
The book time for removing a dashboard for a III generation prius is 7.5 hours time the labor rate
The dealer price is right...

 

Out of curiosity, how long does it actually take you to R&R a gen III dashboard?

 

About 5-6 hours..... I do this for the body shops
When the job requires airbags and instrument panel.

 

hi

What the hell all your guys talking about, I just did remove and put it back about 3 hours, and it is 2010 prius 3 Jbl. I am in San Diego, who need to do it, let me know, 300 dollars, 3 hours. That all it take.

V/r

Khoi nguyen