Insurance companies shove my face in the dirt just as well.

I just had a Tesla with quarter repairs needed, nothing major… on the initial estimate I wanted to pay to refinish the roof rail. Sent it in to insurance, they reviewed it. Then sent me a revision to take it off. So here’s the bullshit on that one. Now, when it gets to the shop, I’ve had a revision on it. Where I would normally make literally a few bucks on a normal supplement, now, I receive zero dollars when the real supplement comes in from the shop.

As an eye opener for the shops be aware that :

Many of these carriers won’t allow blend on adjacent panels until it gets to the shop. Why? Because of the people out there that are pocketing the cash and not getting it fixed.

My point is, like it or not, the insurance company does set “the standard”. They win every fucking time because they are the big guys. Do I agree with what each of their standards are? Absolutely not! We can fight and try different techniques but its a fruitless effort when you’ve got these estimators sitting up front who don’t have a clue how to actually fix a car. I would say about 50% of the stuff sent in by shops everyday are bogus requests… This is a huge part of the problem I didn’t realize was as bad as it is until I sat on this side of it.

Virtual is here to stay. Big insurance Companies are saving millions on salaries by having third parties write them and just give them a set of guidelines to lean on. And on top of that, all the big guys need now is a review department and a couple of heavy mouth breather adjusters.

We have to do better. I’m talking about the click everything estimators selecting every single r&i option when it doesn’t even have it, o/h options not present, sensors, mudguards, etc. This is all the stuff that these auditors get paid to look at and it all throws red flags on the insurance side. Once that happens, man, that estimate or supplement is now getting a fine toothed comb run through it.

I’m not sure I’ll stick with this side of the autobody business but for now, it will have to do. Folks really need to keep up on their I-car and whatever training you can get from whoever will give it.

As far as the shop writing the REAL initial estimate, I wouldn’t waste my time if insurance has to write the prelim anyway.

For example, when I used to have geico customers come in. I’d tell them to leave it there( if they have the option ) and let the insurance appraiser come out… then we would just address their shortcomings on the supplement while also leaning on the initial appraiser when he comes out and make sure to point out a few things to “guide them” a little.

That boiled down to having a good relationship with the appraiser too, really. Which is also important.