Insurance Scams
So what can you do to avoid being a victim of car insurance repair scams?
For the average individual, detecting car insurance repair scams may seem near impossible. However, there are a few things that you can do to prevent getting stuck with an improper airbag replacement or faulty parts.
Get recommendations for a good body shop
Want to avoid any chance at ever falling victim to car insurance repair fraud? The best thing that you can do is find an auto body repair shop that you can trust. By doing the following, you’re sure to find a trusted mechanic that takes pride in doing good work for his or her clientele:
Get recommendations from friends before you get into an accident
When shopping for insurance providers, ask each company what local mechanics are in their network
Take your car into the recommended auto body shop for regular maintenance or minor repairs to “test the waters.”
Ask for explanations and get more than one estimate
From the appraiser to the mechanic, make sure you ask enough questions to understand what kind of repair work needs to be done on your car following an accident. The more you know about the work that needs to be done, the less chance you’ll have of being taken advantage of. You should be provided with a detailed report of the damage to your car, and the estimated cost to your insurance company. Make sure that you keep a copy for yourself so that you can compare it with the estimate from your mechanic.
In addition to getting explanations, it is best to also have various mechanics provide you estimates on the cost of the parts and overall repairs. By getting a few estimates, you’ll be able to get an idea as to who is honest, and who is trying to scheme for a few extra dollars.
A few questions and a few additional opinions could go a long way in saving you money on your insurance rates over the long haul.
Review the repairs after they’ve been made
One of the most important things that you should do after your car has been to the auto body repair shop is to look over the repairs that were made. Chances are that you’re not a car parts expert. However, there are some simple things that you can check to make sure that legitimate repairs were performed on your car.
In the case of improper airbag replacement, you’ll be able to see if you wereReview Repairs for Insurance victim of fraudulent practices simply by familiarizing yourself with your dashboard. With a fully functional airbag in place, an airbag indicator light should light up upon starting your car. Almost immediately after lighting up, the indicator light should go out.
If, after being repaired, your airbag indicator light fails to light up at all, or flashes continuously, there’s a good a chance that you have an improper airbag. Should that be the case for you, it is best to contact your car insurance provider and ask how they recommend you handle the situation. By contacting them, you’ll also let them know that the particular mechanic you used may be committing auto insurance repair fraud.
Don’t fall for unsolicited repair advice
If you’re approached by “mechanic” that promises to provide you with an immediate unsolicited repair – run and don’t look back. These “mechanics” want nothing more than to rip you off. Even if they promise a free repair fully covered by insurance, they have ulterior motives.
Ask yourself this question: why would this mechanic solicit and perform repairs away from their shop? More than likely, it is because they don’t have a shop, they aren’t licensed, or they are a scam artist looking to prey on the naïve.
If they are insistent that they help you with an easy repair and won’t take no for an answer, ask for their card, and tell them you don’t have a spare moment. Chances are, they won’t have a business card, or the address on it is a fake one.
If you’re a victim of car insurance repair fraud, contact your car insurance provider immediately
Car insurance fraud could lead to increased insurance rates for you and everybody else, and it is best to have such fraudulent activity addressed as soon as possible. Whether the fraud involves the filing of multiple repeat claims, or the use of shoddy or improper parts, such car insurance repair scams will drive your premium up, and even lead to your insurance policy being voided.
