Body Shop Woes

[Danny46]

So the 'ol lady wrecked her cherokee right before Christmas and the body shop got it on the 2nd of January. Pretty good amount of front end damage (she rear-ended someone) and the airbags all went off.

Body shop initially said 10 day turned around, then they said one more week, then they said one more week again (supposedly waiting on parts and "not their fault") and that is the point that I got involved. We are now on day 38 today and still do not have the vehicle back. They said we would have it last Friday but then the airbag light wouldn't go off and their technician doesn't work weekends. They have given us 5 different dates the vehicle would be ready.

Now this wouldn't be so terrible if she had a rental car but she does not. Her insurance only covers 30 days of a rental car and we are well past that now(she paid out of pocket for two weeks and had to turn it in as she could no longer afford the rental, so she is currently vehicle-less). The body shop refused to provide a rental until I got involved and now the the owner says he'll "work with us" on the rental but has not stipulated what exactly he plans to do and is conveniently never there, out of the country, etc. I have not actually talked to the owner, only his manager who apparently doesn't have the power to do much of anything except relay messages.

What can I do here? I'm guessing they are not obligated by any kind of law to provide a rental are they? Is there a course of action aside from filing a complaint with the insurance (they were insurance recommended) and smearing their name via every avenue I can?

CLIFF NOTES: Car at body shop, body shop said ten days, almost been 40 days, still no car back and they wont give up a rental.

[ktm300hater]

Drive your other car through the front door? Lol

I feel your pain. I had a new truck that got wrecked a few years back but it was the other parties insurance dragging their feet. Took 2 months to get it done. I made the first payment on it while it was sitting at the Bodyshop.

[Fourx4Brad]

Stop by in person.

It's easy to rattle off excuses for being late over a phone but in person you can rebut the facts and watch their body language to spot lies.

[Danny46]

Stop by in person.

It's easy to rattle off excuses for being late over a phone but in person you can rebut the facts and watch their body language to spot lies.

Yeah I have actually been there twice now in person, (last Friday and the Friday before). I've already caught them up in a lie regarding the insurance but have not played that card yet.

[GeorgeG.]

sell the car....it'll never be the same.

I'm [this] close to selling my truck due to a smashed window/break in and the body shop tech for some reason, felt he needed to adjust the door. Now I get all these annoying little rattles and squeaks.

[Rick Modena]

If in fact they had to "wait on parts", then the Insurance company will extend the rental. It is all done between the shop, customer and insurance company. If the first two don't respnd to the IC, nothing will get extended or approved.

Also, all complaints need to go straight to the IC, that's who pays the bills and if they are not cooperating you can start shouting fraud and that will get the IC and CRC speeding shit up.

[Shaggin Wagon]

The shop in good faith should cover the rental. If the part was on back order, I could see that being an issue if it really was a part issue. Insurance is going to cover 30 days max, no ifs and or buts.... I would go up there everyday asking for status. How much is the repair?

[Danny46]

If in fact they had to "wait on parts", then the Insurance company will extend the rental. It is all done between the shop, customer and insurance company. If the first two don't respnd to the IC, nothing will get extended or approved.

Also, all complaints need to go straight to the IC, that's who pays the bills and if they are not cooperating you can start shouting fraud and that will get the IC and CRC speeding shit up.

Is there some kind of state law stipulating this? We have been in touch with the IC but they havent been much help, they havent contacted the body shop from what I'm aware of to help speed things along

[Danny46]

The shop in good faith should cover the rental. If the part was on back order, I could see that being an issue if it really was a part issue. Insurance is going to cover 30 days max, no ifs and or buts.... I would go up there everyday asking for status. How much is the repair?

I agree, I can see a few days or even a week or two, but a month past the date quoted is ridiculous.

They did say the parts were on backorder because the car is so new (Its a 2014), I've asked to see the invoices for all the parts so I can see what dates they were ordered. I have a feeling they just ordered the parts late and are now dealing with the aftermath of the backordered parts.

[Rick Modena]

You have to complain to the IC, they approved the repair, they have cut the check, they need to be told to contact the shop directly.

[Rick Modena]

I agree, I can see a few days or even a week or two, but a month past the date quoted is ridiculous.

It is not uncommon to have a car in the shop for 30 days or more. You get the car to the shop, shop has to wait on the IC to inspect the vehicle, the shop cannot order parts or touch the car until IC comes to inspect. Sometimes they approve it right there and then, other times they have to go back to the office and will contact the shop on when to start repairs, this can take a few days. Meanwhile, tick, tick, tick, this can take days (weekends don't count as work days) from accident to IC approval. And there are going to be parts that were missed, so now a supplement estimate needs to be approved, tick, tick, tick. Now the shop gets the approval and guess what, parts are not available, tick, tick, tick, more day's. Now when the parts get there, one simply does not stop what they are doing (IE other cars) to work on yours, no matter the circumstance, again, tick tick tick.

They did say the parts were on backorder because the car is so new (Its a 2014), I've asked to see the invoices for all the parts so I can see what dates they were ordered. I have a feeling they just ordered the parts late and are now dealing with the aftermath of the backordered parts.

Like I said, stop talking to the shop, CALL THE IC DIRECTLY AND COMPLAIN TO THEM!

[Danny46]

It is not uncommon to have a car in the shop for 30 days or more. You get the car to the shop, shop has to wait on the IC to inspect the vehicle, the shop cannot order parts or touch the car until IC comes to inspect. Sometimes they approve it right there and then, other times they have to go back to the office and will contact the shop on when to start repairs, this can take a few days. Meanwhile, tick, tick, tick, this can take days (weekends don't count as work days) from accident to IC approval. And there are going to be parts that were missed, so now a supplement estimate needs to be approved, tick, tick, tick. Now the shop gets the approval and guess what, parts are not available, tick, tick, tick, more day's. Now when the parts get there, one simply does not stop what they are doing (IE other cars) to work on yours, no matter the circumstance, again, tick tick tick.


Like I said, stop talking to the shop, CALL THE IC DIRECTLY AND COMPLAIN TO THEM!

Interesting input, thank you.

Yeah we have been talking to the insurance company, just found out they called this morning to see how things were going and were surprised that the car still wasnt done yet.

[Shaggin Wagon]

It is not uncommon to have a car in the shop for 30 days or more. You get the car to the shop, shop has to wait on the IC to inspect the vehicle, the shop cannot order parts or touch the car until IC comes to inspect. Sometimes they approve it right there and then, other times they have to go back to the office and will contact the shop on when to start repairs, this can take a few days. Meanwhile, tick, tick, tick, this can take days (weekends don't count as work days) from accident to IC approval. And there are going to be parts that were missed, so now a supplement estimate needs to be approved, tick, tick, tick. Now the shop gets the approval and guess what, parts are not available, tick, tick, tick, more day's. Now when the parts get there, one simply does not stop what they are doing (IE other cars) to work on yours, no matter the circumstance, again, tick tick tick.

This is true and why I was asking how much the job is. When we get 12k+ jobs, they can be complicated, multiple supplements, multiple parts and are very timely.

[Danny46]

This is true and why I was asking how much the job is. When we get 12k+ jobs, they can be complicated, multiple supplements, multiple parts and are very timely.

Sorry forgot to answer that, not sure on the exact number but I know it is more than 10K. The airbags went off so that always adds up quick. The front end took a pretty good beating but wasnt terrible, the car she hit fared far worse.

[jammeejamm]

all that said above and also any time air bags are involved there will be delays. once the car was together and they tried to program the srs module, it may have called for more parts. those parts may have been on backorder.

parts are on backorder now and again. for example, right now gm has 07-13 silverado left bedside assemblies on backorder.