QuestionAbout 1 month ago my car was rear ended while it was parked. I didn't didn't have collision on my auto insurance but the other person was at fault and their insurance agreed to pay damages.
The lady handling the claim steered me into having my repairs done at a repair shop she told me was said was "prefered" by their company. I agreed because she said their was an adjuster onsite and that I would be able to get service done faster that way. I drove down and there was no adjuster onsite. My car was looked at by someone working there, he took down the mileage and I asked him if he thought it would be totaled. I told him I had just bought the car and that I wanted it repaired if possible. He told me it might be close, and that they would fax or call me with the estimate after the adjuster came by and looked at the car. It was a friday and he said an estimate would be done by next week. They called a rental car, that Allied agreed to pay for, and I drove away.
Next week came and went, no fax or call. I called the monday after the preceding week. The man that looked at my car told me that the adjuster didn't total the car and that they were waiting on parts and that it would be done by next thursday. He also said that he would get an invoice out to me after the parts came. I was happy it wasn't totaled so I waited patiently. Never thought to complain I didn't see a estimate before the repairs started.
Thursday came and went, no phone call. I figure there was a hold up and that I would wait it out. It ended up taking a month and 1 day after I had dropped my car off, I recieved a phone saying my car was done. I came by the shop, they handed me a form to sign saying that I approved of the repair. I said I wanted to look at the car first. So I looked at the car. It looked ok so I signed the release form and drove off.
The next day, it was overcast weather. The lighting was different and I begain to notice things on the car. I noticed that there was a crack in 2 of the taillights replace. And that the repainted area didn't match the orignal car. So I look at it more closely and found a scratch in the paint. So the next day I brought it back to the repair shop. They had a warranty through guaranteeing the work. So I told them about the cracked taillights and scratch in paint. They only agreed to replace on taillight saying the crack in the other one's crack wouldn't spread out. They hand painted to scratch telling me not to worry it wouldn't rust. I told them I was not happy. I asked them if I should complain to the insurance. They told me to nag the insurance company and that I might get more money. I drove off unsatisfied.
So the next day I was not trusting the repairs they did on my car. I found oil stains, bondo and paint dust all throughout my car. Also I looked under the car to look at the welds, all the welds had rusted already. I have pictures of everything
I don't trust this repair shop now. I looked them up on the Better business bureau and they have a bad record. Yes this "preferred" shop has a bad record! I going to have to have the repairs redone and my interior cleaned out. What should I do? I don't think I should have to pay for any of this.
AnswerHi Scott,
You should call the insurance company that referred you to the body shop. Demand a meeting with a claims manager & the body shop manager at the body shop. Make a written list of all of the problems and make 3 copies. When you meet with the 2 managers, go over each item and get their agreement that these things need to be taken care of. (You might also want to take digital pictures of the problem areas.) Then you may need to give the shop 1 attempt to make the corrections. Let them know that you will be taking the vehicle to another shop when they are doneand if the repairs are not done properly, you will be filing a complaint with your statr insurance commissioners office as well as contacting an attorney to see about suing the body shop and the insurance company.
I hope this helps.
Richard Hixenbaugh
