I am interested to know how you as a bodyshop are handling insurance companies that refuse to pay your rates for Labour,paint materials, storage,etc ?

Basically if they refuse to pay my rate an the customer is long standing with my outfit I will have them call the adjuster directly and have it out with them. I will not take anything less than what I am asking. At the end of the day this is not a bargin shop that I run, and I don't ask the insurance company to reduce my shop insurance so why do they ask me to reduce my shop rate! Do they think that labour rates are like " fish" and it's market price!! My Labor rate allows me to pay my emploees fair wages and they will not be pleased if I ask them to take a cut because of an insurance company

You sound like a very strong individual in this regard, but what do you do when the insurance company baks and refuses to pay any additional money and they tell the customer its only your shop charging these rates and no one else as they can have the car repaired any where for those costs, do you hold the car for full payment, charge the customer the difference ?

I strongly believe in dialogue, since it has worked for me in the past. If appraiser won't or can't comply due to guidlines then speak with the adjuster. Explain your situation and ask them for the change calmly. If they don't want to change anything then it is time to explain to customer which is very difficult depending on your relationship with your customer. A call from the adjuster or claims manager will most likely be successful if you are reasonable with your request. If successsful you then should keep this document showing the adjustment since it will needed to set a precedent for the next time these things are discussed.

RE above reply
Sorry, I meant a call to the adjuster or claims manager from the customer will probably be successful.

Look, this is about owning the customer. The driver of the vehicle has signed an agreement with a third party (th einsurer) that should have no bearing on your rate. The talk track simply goes:

"Mr. Customer, the cost to properly repair your car is X. your insurance contract only covers Y. How would you like to proceed?"

Often times the customer will make up the difference.

If the insurer convinces the customer to have an improper repair somewhere else, then the insurer pays $500 for dissassembly and inspections of the vehicle and $100 per day storage. Bring a cheque ecause the car does not get released before payment.

Stick to your guns... too many shops fold.