Repair work is often a place where individuals are scammed if they do not choose the right company. Auto body collision repair is not immune to this problem, unfortunately.
Anytime you have a situation where skilled labor is required, unscrupulous companies can take advantage by cutting corners with the integrity of their work.
Here are some ways to be sure that your Auto Body shop is on the up and up, and is taking care of your needs properly.
- You Call on Them, They Don’t Call on You
Tow truck and street side repair suggestions are the first indications of potential fraud. If someone walks up to you as you are entering or exiting your vehicle and offers repairs, say no.
This is not professional behavior and frequently is a sign of someone who wants your money rather than someone who wants to help.
It is common practice for tow trucks to ride around looking for accidents and taking advantage of you in your time of need.
Know this, you have the right to choose what collision repair shop you want to take your vehicle to.
- Make Sure They Have a License and Certifications
Inside the shop’s office, you should see items such as a license to operate and certificates that show the workers are qualified.
For any properly registered, legitimate repair business, these items should be on prominent display. Most shops are proud of their workers’ qualifications, and might even display customer endorsements.
- Ask for an Assessment of Damages
You should receive a detailed written assessment of damages that is separate from your estimate. An estimate simply covers the cost of labor and parts, it doesn’t describe the damage that is being corrected.
A detailed written assessment, in addition to photographs of the damage, can help your insurance adjuster make an accurate estimate of payment needed.
- Get a Written Estimate
Get that written estimate of costs for parts and labor. This keeps your repair person honest and helps you and your insurance adjuster to properly budget cost repayment.
If something is discovered when the vehicle is disassembled, you should be told right away before any further work is done.
- Their Willingness to Work with Insurance Companies
This goes both ways, many times insurance companies will try to cut you a check before you even take your car for an estimate. This is not good. Insurance companies will try to undercut costs.
You must find a collision repair shop that knows how to work with insurance companies and will fight for additional funds to make sure your repairs are all covered properly.
They should also be able to handle your deductible accordingly should you have one.
- Airbag Reset or Replacement
Airbag repairs or replacements are expensive. They can also figure into fraud. Some shops will insist that your airbag needs to be replaced or repaired, even if it doesn’t. It is hard for a layperson to tell the difference.
Sometimes they will attach a faulty airbag to push insurance adjusters to pay for one, whether it is needed or not. And, finally, an unscrupulous shop owner might reuse aftermarket parts instead of installing new ones.
- Choose Your Body Shop!
We mentioned earlier that you have the right to choose your auto body collision repair shop that you want to take your vehicle to. Many times your insurance company will try to make you take your vehicle to a shop of their choosing. This is not only wrong, but it is not legal. Do your due diligence and choose the company that you want.
- Online Reputation
There is an abundance of information at your fingertips with your phone. Let’s say that you do not currently know a collision repair shop, you can easily google: “Collision repair shop in Philadelphia”
In doing so, you will find a list of potential collision repair shops in your area. From here, you can easily check reviews of any auto body shop that you are considering and see what their previous customers have to say. This is a great way to choose the right one!
Conclusion
At Nigro’s Autobody, we make every effort to show how much we want to be your auto body collision repair shop in Philadelphia in 2020, and many years to come.
To do that, we provide honest estimates as well as quality workmanship by dedicated professionals. Our clients are very pleased with the results of our work. We use the latest technology, but apply our years of experience in auto bodywork to help you deal with your insurance company the right way, and to make your vehicle work and look great again. You can check our reviews here
