#20
Tue, November 21, 2000
This email is a rebuttal to RipOff #3887. It was sent by Robert Sokol at [email protected] HIGHLIGHT AUTO COLLISION, TORONTO, AUTO REPAIR FRAUD (#3887) HIGHLIGHT AUTO COLLSION (Auto Repair Service) 11/19/00 (Last Modified: 11/19/00) They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report: Their email: [email protected] Their name: Robert Sokol Their relationship to the company: Consumer Advocate As for the receipt, the rule of thumb is to give the receipt to the person or company paying for the repairs. In your case, it appears your insurance company is paying for the repair, so they would be the one who would get the receipt. Likewise, most body shops give large insurance companies breaks on parts and labor. They don't always want the customer seeing the prices. When an estimate is written for a vehicle, it is impossible to know EXACTLY what hidden damage there is. If more damage is found, or the customer wants something extra done, then the body shop will write a supplement. Sometimes the insurance company will pay for this, and sometimes they won't. Your complaints about the shop trying to tow the vehicle away. In most states their are mechanical lein laws that protect the auto shop. They can hold or tow the vehicle away for non-payment in most states. Overcharging the Insurance Company - All insurance companies review body shop receipts with a fine tooth comb. They know what the work costs and they also know alot about fruad. They are not easy to fool. If you are not satisfied with the repairs of your vehicle, I would suggest that you speak with your agent first. See what he can suggest. Perhaps they can have their own adjuster check your vehicle. You can always have another body shop recheck what the first body shop did. In most large cities, there are mechanical inspectors which can also check the first body shops work. Normally the way you should have handled this is to not accept delivery of your vehicle back until it meets with your satisfaction. Once you accept delivery, any scratches, squeaks, etc, can be argued about and nothing will usually be done. Once you accept delivery, the body shop is paid (which is what they want) and very little can then be done. They don't want your car, they want their money.