Insurance referring steering Who Should Write the 1st Estimate from Network Auto Body

'The 1st Estimate - Insurance Steering Warning'
Watch this important consumer information video before getting your 1st Estimate!

Network Auto Body
Automotive Consumer News and Tips
For Immediate Release - and - Media

'Protecting Your Repair'
Insurance Steering
'Who Should Write that 1st Estimate, Your Insurance Company, their referred Body Shop or a Body Shop
of Your Choice?'

Starring:

rich neubauer production manager lease return inspeciton experts www.autobodycalifornia.com

Richard Neubauer
Production Manager - Network Auto Body

...Deciding who should write that 1st estimate for your car, the body shop you choose or your Insurance company, can make a big difference! You might think, “what does it matter, so what if my insurance company writes it first.” Well, keep the following in mind.

consumer awarness and valuable information from www.networkautobody.com estimating photo

As an insured motorist you have the right to take your car to the body shop of your choice. While Insurance companies may offer you referrals to one of their 'preferred' body shops, those are usually shops on what they call their DRP or Direct Repair Program, but, they cannot require you to have the work done there. You may also ask, “do you really want the company that's paying the bill to write that estimate?” There are many body shops that feel that it should be illegal.

Getting your car repaired is no different than the Medical field in principle!

Who would you go to, your Doctor you have gone to for 20 years or
one that was referred to you by your insurance company?

CFC Opposes AB 1200 (Hayashi) - Hurts Consumers, Helps Insurers - Signed by Governor
by Consumer Federation of Caliornia

California’s anti-steering law grants policyholders the right to have auto body repairs done at a repair shop of the policyholder’s choosing. Insurers are prohibited from recommending repair shops unless the consumer has requested recommendations, or the insurer has informed the consumer in writing that the consumer has the right to choose a repair shop.

AB 1200 would allow the insurer to make this disclosure verbally. It allows an insurer to attempt to persuade a consumer to replace his or her chosen auto body shop with a shop that has a contractual relationship with the insurer, after the policyholder has made his or her selection, and even if the policyholder has not asked to receive any further information about other repair facilities.

Many insurance companies have 'Their Own' best interest as a priority and often try to sway the customer into taking the car to one of their adjusters or one of their DRP shops. Herein lies a controversy that is affecting body shops across the country. If the insurance company writes that estimate first it could make it decidedly more difficult for you if you want to take your car to a body shop of your choice for a second quote” states Richard Neubauer, production manager for Network Auto Body. of Hollywood. North Hollywood and Temecula, California. Network Auto Body is referred to as 'The Body Shop to the Stars', due to serving some of Hollywood's top Movie Stars for over 22 years. “This controversy of controlling the estimate first appears when an insurance company writes the estimate first or sends you to one of their DRP shops for that 1st estimate and that shop is on a 'Cap' in their contract for repairs, meaning a limit on what they may charge per hour," adds Neubauer.

Watch the Consumer Information Video from Network Auto Body on
Writing the 1st Estimate before you get yours!

Many major insurance companies will come directly to your home or office to do your estimate. While this may seem convenient, you have to ask yourself, “are they catching everything?” This is due to the fact that if they come out to your home or office they don't have the facility to remove any parts or do a thorough inspection. In most cases what they will then do is add what is called a 'supplement' to their Estimate. “Many times these supplements don't cover extensive hidden damage that can only be discovered by a proper 'in-shop' inspection of your vehicle,” says Neubauer, "and this is just one of the problems with letting the insurance company do an 'on-site' inspection."

choosing an auto body collision paint and repair center consumer protection tips from www.autobodycalifornia.com photo

The main questions to ask of the shop include; are they looking for 'everything' that needs repairing? Have they removed even a part or two to look for hidden damage that could affect the safe handling of your vehicle? If the answer to these questions is No then you may have lost control of getting a proper estimate for your vehicle.

Insurance companies state in their contract with body shops that they must bring the vehicle back to ''pre-accident' condition. However, here is where some controversy arises. By not taking command and taking your car to the body shop of your choice 'First', you may get a substandard quote. You could end up with an estimate from your own insurance company, or their preferred DRP body shop, that is actually lower than what may be required to cover all of the damages and make it harder for your shop to negotiate for you on repairs that should be covered in order to bring the car back to its 'pre-accident' condition. “Also by the customer dropping their car off at the shop of their choice it speeds up the process”, says Neubauer. “Most reliable auto body shops have the experience at writing the estimate and can negotiate with the insurance company 'one time', adds Neubauer, “ this allows for quicker turn around time for the repair and return of their vehicle.”

Network Auto Body of Southern California has a multi-media website at www.autobodycalifornia.com that provides video tips and articles on important consumer affairs for insured motorists, including a broad list of insured motorists rights. Richard Neubauer is the production manager for Network Auto Body of Hollywood located at 6421 Selma Avenue, Hollywood CA 90028, and handles all pre-accident technical matters for the company.

.“Remember, at Network Auto Body 'The Body Shop to the Stars', you'll get Academy Award Winning treatment, we want to make you our Next Star!”

Insurance Steering Valuable Consumer Information

Insurance Steering
Valuable Consumer Information