Ok, how do YOU feel about how collision repair should be handled. Let’s all share our feelings and opinions.
How this thread got started:
Short and sweet: I get rear-ended last week and now I was going through his insurance to get the truck fixed. They’re trying to jerk me around by using junk yard parts (used/recycled parts) and “fixing” some of the already broken parts (straightening out a bent rusted stock exhaust and a horribly bent up SS magnaflow tip).
SO… Who on the forum works for a collision place that I can take my truck to and get an honest estimate?
I want my wife’s truck fixed right and not done half ass. I also need a frame inspection done as With the type of accident the frame is most likely out of spec.
advice when you’re talking to his insurance: keep saying you didn’t have junk yard parts on the truck before it was hit and you don’t want them after. Keep telling them you require this to be fixed as it was before the accident and everything was perfect
Much better phrasing of what I was telling them. I pretty much told them that I didn’t want junk yard parts. She told me that the parts they were getting was “clean” and warranted for life.
When I asked about frame inspection she told me “I checked it out and it looked fine.” WTF does a Progressive damage insurance claims person know about vehicle damage?
Insurance companies run the estimate game these days. Getting an estimate somewhere else won’t do you any good. In most cases, the insurance company will give you their estimate and your body shop of choice is to fix it according to what they say (yeah, things have changed…not for the better).
In some cases, if the body shop thinks that the claims rep has made a mistake, or under estimated a job, you should let them handle the insurance company. They are the experts and they can give valid reasons and work something out. So, if you think there is frame damage, have the body shop look at it. If they determine there is frame damage they can go back and argue with the claims rep to get more money for the fix. This is why it’s important to have a decent relationship with a body shop. Don’t take it to any old place out of the phone book.
BTW, some used parts were put on my car after hitting a deer and the car looks great. Body shops do this stuff everyday and the cars come out great.
In NYS I have to option to take the car anywhere I choose. As of right now I’m going to choose to take it somewhere else and they’re(progressive) going to pay for whatever that collision shop decides needs to be replaced. I was trying to do the nice thing and go through them to make it easier on everyone. When you see things like “Repair Refinish of rear body floor pan Est 0.5 hr” It tends to send a few alarms up.
You can take the car anywhere you want to be fixed, but the insurance company will only authorize the body shop to fix things the way they want it done (ie, used parts, repair rather than replace, etc…). The body shop can argue it, but unfortunately they do not have final say.
Geico has been amazing on my accident from the other week. Not that it applies here but good luck man. Oh and when I asked what to do if the shop finds more damage and need more $$$. They said to just to call the person im dealing with(cell and he answers or calls back right away) he will go to the shop, take pics, send more monies.
I’m not sure how far you’re going to get demanding new parts. You had a used car with used parts before the accident and insurance is only required to restore the car to pre-accident condition. LKQ means OEM parts through a recycler, so they’re identical to what as on your car before. You just have to be sure that they are “like quality and kind” and they’re not getting some rusty pieces of shit. Since the insurance company isn’t the one picking the parts that’s more about using a shop you trust though.
Yeah it has more to do with getting a better replacement for the rear bumper support. The plastic bumper cover I could care less about but, the rear bumper support is all coming as a package deal from the junk yard. I’m just going to go through my insurance and then have them go after progressive. My insurance just told me to send them an estimate from whatever shop I choose and they’ll cover it.
So you’re worried that the 10 year old bumper support off another, probably southern truck is going to be inferior to the 10 year old bumper support that was on your car before it was hit, and probably went through 10 years of the worst, saltiest winters in the US?
And if they can straighten your shitty rusted exhaust, then who cares?
Oh I KNOW WHY. Because everyone thinks their entitled to gifts and free shit because of their HARDSHIPS. I SHOULD GET A BRAND NEW OEM EXHAUST to replace this rusted hulk that’s clinging to life because it was slightly bent and is totally fixable.
ACTUALLY newman, almost everything on this truck is newer and in amazing condition. That was the main reason I got the truck to begin with.
I care if they can’t straighten my shitty rusted exhaust. They’ve already called me back to tell me it can’t be straightened, which is the point I was getting at to begin with.
No, you really don’t know why. I don’t believe I’m entitled to anything I haven’t earned, ever. I just don’t settle for second best in life. I thought you out of most people could understand something like that. I think that’s a pretty hypocritical post coming from you. There is a massive difference between slightly bent and bend beyond repair. Just like there’s a massive difference between making assumptions and knowing the facts. So do me a favor, come down off your high horse and hang out with the rest of us, it’s much nicer down here.
That’s the route I’m going. I’m picking it up tomorrow morning. The few things I said that I wanted changed she’s met me half way on but won’t really budge on anything else. If I didn’t know anything about cars I would have just accepted their repairs as is. I’ve talked with a few collision people so far and from pictures of the accident I’ve been told 90% of the time the frame is bent. I want to make sure the vehicle is safe over anything. If it was just me in the vehicle I wouldn’t care but, this is my family’s primary vehicle.
In your first post, you said you were unhappy that they were going to try to straighten your exhaust. If they were able to successfully straighten it, why would this make you unhappy? Probably because you thought this’d be a sweet time to get your rusty exhaust replaced on someone else’s buck.
Secondly, bumper support… I am willing to bet that unless your car was stored in a museum, that the reconditioned bumper support they’re about to put on your car is in better shape than the one you trusted previously to protect your family.
Using reconditioned parts to replace 10 year old parts is not accepting second best… it’s accepting what’s owed.
How did you EARN a bumper support that is better than the one that was previously on your truck?
The only thing that holds some water is the frame damage. If there is damage that they’re skirting, then THAT’S a safety issue and I’m on your side there.
Find whatever repair shop you want to do the work that you trust and go there.
Progressive will come out and do their assessment; and the shop will do theirs. The shop will win. What is written up at the initial inspection is just the starting point; as the car/truck gets town apart the tech assesses the damage to determine how much isn’t on the quote. The shop will go back to the ins for the additional work to repair damage that was not discovered at the initial inspection.
As for parts; All parts will be sourced at the “junk yard” first-rate parts; then Aftermarket New, then MFG new. Only time you’re going to get MFG new is if your car is a first year model and there’s none available yet in the aftermarket or junkyard (Ex: new 2010/2011 Camaro). The “Junk yard” parts are first quality parts; no rust, dings, damage/etc is acceptable. If the shop gets in parts from a junkyard and they are damaged or not up to acceptable condition they either get another one that isn’t or up to an Aftermarket Part (This is where having a good relationship with your shop helps a TON).
Bottom line… find a shop you trust who will stand behind their work and let them do their job.
