Auto Insurance Claims: cash out insurance claim, auto body shop, insurance estimate

Question
Someone rear ended me.  Their insurance company took full responsibility.  I took my car to an auto body shop that was in THEIR network.  The shop told me they would have to take apart my car to get a proper estimate.  I had to sign an agreement saying I would pay $309. to have them put it back together if I did not want them to do the work.  Which I did, thinking it wasn't going to be that much.  The estimator called me a few hours later saying that the estimate was up to $4,400.  I was surprised, told him I didn't want to do the work and to put my car back together. When I picked it up, I asked for the estimate and he said I had to get it from the insurance company.  After paying the 300 plus dollars, he told me that he would have to take off some of the "fluff" on his estimate before submitting it to the insurance company.  He continued to tell me it would be in the $3,000 range.  I thought ok, it can't be more that $500 less, right?...he was being very vague.  After three days of waiting for the estimate, he finally submitted it to the ins. comp at $3,100!  I was furious that he could be $1,300 off/less!  So, I took my car to another (non network) shop and they gave me an estimate of $3,800, in which I sent to the insurance company.  I just got an e-mail from the insurance company that wasn't clear but sounded like they would not pay out on the higher estimate.  What are my rights as a consumer?  Can I demand they pay me the amount of my shop?  Should I get another non network estimate to prove that the first body shop is dishonest (which I think they are dishonest and unprofessional).  Please help!
Thank you!

Answer
Hi L,

You do not need multiple estimates. You do need to put your vehicle in the shop of your choice for the repairs. Give the insurance estimate to the shop. And the shop will call the insurance company to request a reinspection of the vehicle at the shop. Then the shop and the insurance estimator will negotiate the cost of the repairs.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh