Steering Part II

There are numerous ways that insurance companies steer customers. What is common to all situations is that the personnel that you are dealing with are trained while you are inexperienced and expect them to help and take care of you.

One method is to tell the consumer that they have to go to a shop in its network or:

They will not get their vehicle repaired promptly.
Their repairs will not be warrantied.
They may be required to pay additional costs

Another method is by telling a consumer that “you can take your car anywhere you want for repairs, but you must take it to XYZ Autobody for an estimate.”

After the consumer gets an estimate from XYZ, the insurance company states they will pay no more since XYZ is “capable” of repairing the vehicle for its estimate.

Whatever the ruse the end result is the same; The consumer is pressured to go to a repair shop that offers the insurance company concessions or possibly made to pay out of pocket for quality repairs. Neither of which should be allowed and both of which are borderline illegal at best.

Bottom line: The insurance company is responsible for the proper and complete repair to the vehicle and the vehicle owner is entitled to go to the repair shop of their choice.

Good sources for additional information are available at:

www.yourvehicleyourchoice.com
as well as

www.stopsteering.com.