What Insurance Companies Don't Tell You

"A Coat of Paint Hides a Multitude of Sins"

A number of insurance companies have made agreements with a select few shops to provide them with a great deal of work in exchange for discounts or concessions to the insurance carrier, so the shop is really working for the insurance company and not you. Some insurance companies actually have ownership in some shops, which would make one wonder who the customer really is. The repair shops under these agreements don't always make repair decisions based upon what is best for you, and instead cater to the insurance company. We feel this is not always best for the consumer. There are a number of things the insurance company does not tell you and some of these repair decisions could cost you $100's or even $1000's of dollars when you go to sell or trade your vehicle.

When you are involved in an accident, there are many things that happen and since most people don't have accidents very often, it can be very confusing at best. You have many questions

• * What is covered, how much am I going to have to pay?
• * What is an aftermarket part?
• * What is a Quality Replacement Parts?
• * What is a Direct Repair Shop (DRP)

Did you know many times insurance companies specify aftermarket (A/M) or quality replacement parts (QRP) that save them money? The problem with this is that is saves them money but could potentially cost you hundreds and even into the thousands of dollars when you go to sale or trade your vehicle in. And Insurance companies will tell you that it is to save you money on premium cost. We don't know many people who have had an accident and then their premiums went down. If this is you we would love to hear from you. please contact us. This simply does not happen.

Companies want you to believe that they are looking out for your best interest when in fact they are managing their bottom line. You should always check your policy, because some policies have provisions that allow them to pay for non-OEM parts, and some policy that are non-standard policies have a number of different provisions that are not in your best interest.

So how can a person deal with some of these policies? For one it makes a big difference on weather you are a first party claimant or third party claimant, another words is it your insurance company because your are at fault or is it someone else's fault and they are paying the bill. You always have a little more leverage if you are not at fault and the claim is against the other person's insured. There are a number of different ways to collect and protect the investment you have made in your vehicle. One way is a diminished value claim, click here for more info. There are other ways which involve small claims court, it is not as difficult as some people think, but you have the right to file a small claims case against the individual that hit you, it is their responsibility to make you whole, and although most people don't want to do this, it is the game that has to be played out to get what you are entitled to. We are not attorneys but we have taken several insurance carriers to bat with the Texas Department of Insurance and have had some successes through the complaint process.