State Farm Short Pays Impact Shops and Policyholders

At Medines Collision Center in Baton Rouge, our sole focus has always been on the client and quality repair of their vehicles. We make every possible effort to ensure not only the satisfaction of our customers, but also the safety of their car when they leave our facility. Of course, to do our job to the best of our ability, there are a few external factors that come into play with the most influential being the insurance provider. 

As safety conscious, law abiding citizens, most of us carry auto insurance in an effort to protect ourselves in unfortunate circumstances such as a collision. When these events do occur, we can rest assured that the damages will be covered and we can quickly get back on the road. However, as many car accident victims can attest, this is not always the order of things. Instead, there are often hoops to jump through just to receive what is rightfully yours from a company that you pay to protect you in such situations. It is quite the opposite of what it should be.

While many insurance companies can be guilty of such practices, State Farm is among the worst in our experience. Many times, our own facility, as well as countless others, has repaired or even cleaned a vehicle as is necessary to return it to its pre-accident condition, only to have reimbursement disputed and denied. Even something as simple as buffing a bumper can, and has, become problematic. In multiple instances our shop has been told that we need to contact the adjuster to have work such as this approved beforehand. However, doing so only causes lengthier delays and continued denials of legitimate work. In the end, the car would either not be repaired to our standards or clients would have to wait additional days or even weeks to receive their vehicles, a situation which Medines is unwilling to accept.

Even more troubling are client reports that these same insurance companies assure them that all work will be completed and their vehicles cleaned to pristine condition if they use one of their preferred shops. This practice, known as steering, is a common tactic that may benefit the insurance provider and their direct repair facility, but it only serves to harm clients and honest shops that provide top quality work. Unfortunately, what many customers do not realize until later is that their vehicles receive substandard parts and repair at these facilities. Although there may be fewer headaches when operating as a DRP, Medines always has and always will work for our clients, not an insurance company. No matter the additional time or effort, our clients can always count on getting the quality repair that they deserve.