When Mother Nature does her thing, and your vehicle is the recipient of dozens-to-hundreds of hail-induced dings and dents you are well-advised to know everything you can about the process of the repair.

If you decide to make a claim with your insurance company, you will be required to allow the insurance adjuster to write an initial estimate of repair.  In many cases, these initial estimates are intentionally (and illegally) written “light”.  That is to say, the estimate is not enough to cover the actual cost of a quality repair.

Why would insurance adjusters intentionally write an estimate in violation of Colorado State law CRS 10-4-120, (II) (3) (b)? It is estimated that 50-70% of all hail damage claims are not repaired.  They take advantage of this knowledge. In other words, the insurance companies know that more than half of their insured (you) will cash the claim check without actually repairing the damage, choosing to put up with the dents and pocketing the claim money.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you cash the insurance claim check and decide not to repair your car, you in essence “settle” for the amount of that check.  Keep in mind that most insurance estimates are written “light”, and the actual value of your vehicle’s damage was not represented.  This becomes very important if you ever decide to sell your vehicle, as the entire amount of the damage (including diminished value) will be deducted from the purchase price.

Another very common practice on the part of many insurance companies is to strongly “suggest” that you take your car to one of their “preferred” shops.  In fact, after a hail storm, many insurance companies will set up an estimate station on the property of one of their preferred (DRP) auto body shops.  Under the guise of “customer convenience”, they will write the estimate and introduce you to the body shop management who will gladly schedule your vehicle’s repair on the spot.  This subtle form of “steering” (illegal in many states) puts pressure on you to use that body shop.  Buyer beware: you have the right to choose any body shop you want to repair your vehicle, and the insurance company is required by law to pay to have your car repaired to it’s pre-loss condition.  What YOU pay (your deductible) does NOT change… and in most cases, hail damage is considered an act of God, so your future rates will NOT be affected.

TRADITIONAL vs PDR

If you decide to move forward with repairing your vehicle, the body shop you choose will also write an estimate.  Depending upon the amount and severity of the hail damage, they will advise one of two courses of action: PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) or Traditional body work (or a combination of the two).  In many cases, PDR is the best for hail damage.

Nylund’s General Manager, John Groome says that “in most cases, we write our estimates with the intent to PDR hail damage wherever possible – as it is preferred to save a panel rather than replace a panel”.  There are cases when replacing a component is necessary, but those repairs often increase the complexity, cost or timeline of the vehicle’s repair.

NOTE: If the insurance company writes the estimate to replace your vehicle’s roof, there are literally dozens of questions that you should ask the body shop before moving ahead.  A roof replacement is a very complex repair that affects the vehicle’s structural integrity as well as many of the safety features.  If you’d like to discuss these questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Once the body shop’s estimate is complete, they will submit it to the insurance company – and typically there will be a back and forth until both companies agree to the repair plan.  The good news is, you rarely have to engage in that process.  If you chose an insurance company’s “preferred” body shop, there will be no back and forth, as they are directed by the insurance company to proceed with the least expensive repair.  If you choose Nylund’s Collision Center, we handle all of the details of your repair for you, making sure that no corners are cut, and that your vehicle will be repaired to perfection.

CONSUMER ALERT: After a large hail event, you may notice an influx of storm-chasing hail repair centers popping up around your community.  There is a significant risk in taking your car to one of these makeshift temporary “shops”.  Many times the techs are from out of state or even out of the country, and will be difficult or impossible to find should you require them to fix something they repaired.  It is far better to find a trusted, well-respected body shop who will do the repair right, and be there to stand behind their work.

The post Hail Repair Essentials appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

The post How To Be Prepared For A Car Accident Before It Happens appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

The post EyeSight is 20-20 Hindsight Can Be Expensive appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

Here is the conversation as it happened between the Claimant (our guest) and the independent body shop (Nylund’s Collision Center):

Claimant: I very much appreciate your offer to have the car in for repair on Feb 14. However, I do want to update you with the fact that American Family Insurance (AmFam) sent me a check for the amount of $4276.13.  I have filed it and will not cash it.  I feel the sending of this check is very inappropriate.  I am very concerned about this behavior on the part of AmFam. And I ask again if-given this behavior on the part of AmFam – do I need to consider hiring an attorney?

Nylund’s: All your concerns are valid and you posed great questions.  I wish this process were easier on everyone, unfortunately it’s not the case.

We are aware of AmFam’s initial estimate.  It is in no way inclusive of all that will be needed to repair your vehicle back to undetectable, pre-loss condition.  The initial estimates rarely are.

I don’t believe there is any reason to hire a lawyer quite yet.  That being said, Let’s chat about a few of your concerns and the options available.

Claimant: I asked you if I would be held responsible for any amount that AmFam refuses to pay.  It seems that once you have the car and have it fully assessed that you will again negotiate with AmFam.  However – with a worst case scenario that they refuse to pay – what then?  Now may car is in pieces in your repair shop-how do I go on from there?  

Nylund’s: In order to get Amfam to adjust their initial estimate, the vehicle will have to be disassembled and all the damage shown to the insurance adjuster.

We have no doubt they will increase their initial estimate.  The question is: will they cover all the necessary repairs?  The answer is there is no way to know until we are in the middle of it.  We go through a great deal of research on each and every vehicle and print out the manufacturer’s procedures and position statements to review and provide the insurance company when they re-inspect the disassembled vehicle.  The reason we go through all of this is to convince the insurance company of the correct way to repair the vehicle and influence them to pay for the proper repairs.

So let’s say they don’t want to pay completely for the correct repairs we describe.  If you want us to continue with the repairs, then yes, initially you will be responsible for the difference.  Here is the reason.  This is your vehicle and  the contract to repair the vehicle is between you and us. The insurance company (whether yours or someone else’s) indemnifies you, the vehicle owner as we have no contract directly with them.  

As far as any potential difference goes, many times that difference will go down because we will continue to send supplements into the insurance company during the repairs with additional documentation and photos and they will generally continue to pay a little more each time reducing the initial difference.

There are also other alternatives.

Let’s say we cannot come to an agreement with the insurance company.  You can request AmFam to remove the vehicle from our shop and bring it to one of their shops that will have to repair it for what they wrote.  The quality of the repairs will be a potential question, but you will not have to come out of pocket for anything.  

Now, let’s say that the vehicle was repaired by AmFam’s shop and the repairs were found to be substandard.  Because the repairs were completed at one of their contract shops, AmFam has to guarantee the repairs performed.   

We end up doing many, many re-repairs of vehicles that have been repaired poorly from these shops and the insurance company has to stand behind the repair and pay us to re-repair the vehicle.

Interesting that insurance companies would rather take this long road and end up paying much more than if they just paid us to repair it correctly the first time.  But unfortunately for the consumer, it happens like this quite often.

Here is another alternative.

You have us complete the repairs and pay the difference.  During the repair process, you hire a lawyer.  The lawyer sends the person that hit you a letter letting them know that you will be pursuing them directly for any out of pocket expense their insurance is not covering.  Just because they have insurance does not let them off the hook for the loss to your property. The person receiving the letter will most likely call the insurance company to ask what’s going on?  

Many times the insurance company will reassess their position at that point because if it ends up with you suing the person directly for the difference, the insurance company has to pay for and provide the legal defense for their insured in court –  and it is less expensive for them to just pay to have the car repaired correctly instead of going through all the legal expense.

Now in any of the above situations, if you own your car, you are entitled to the diminished value of your vehicle in addition to have the correct repairs completed to your vehicle.  When a vehicle has been repaired, no matter how perfect the repairs are, the vehicle is worth less than the identical vehicle that has never been repaired.  This is known as inherent diminished value.  We have a referral to a company that specializes in assisting you in getting paid this money.  If you did have out of pocket expense, many times that can be added to the diminished value claim.

Because of all the variables, it is very difficult to define how long the vehicle will be down for repairs.  I can tell you this.  It is in our best interest to get the vehicle back to you as quickly as possible because we front all the money for the complete repair and do not deposit a penny until you pick it up.  

Keep in mind, during the repairs they should be providing you a comparable rental vehicle.

You have one more alternative.

If the (insured’s) insurance company refuses to do the right thing and pay the full amount for your vehicle to be properly repaired, you may then go to your insurance company with the request for them to take over the claim. This gives you a higher degree of leverage, as your insurance company is under contract to restore your property to pre-loss condition. (This is not the case with someone else’s insurance company). You will have to pay your deductible – but you are also entitled to access more options to ensure the job gets done properly (ie. the appraisal clause).

Insurance companies have made the process of having your car repaired very complex, we do our very best to be by your side, on your side every step of the way.

I know I have given you a lot of information here, please feel free to reach out with additional question or clarification. No need to despair… we have your back.

The post What to expect from insurance after a car accident appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

The post Was I Lied To About Industry Standard? appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

How do you know where to go?

This scene plays itself out day after day for thousands upon thousands of people all looking for just one thing: the right place to take their car for repair. And its a fact: there are hundreds of options, and unless you know the ins-and-outs of the collision repair industry – even the best intentioned advice may lead you down a road you might not wish to travel.

Choosing a Body Shop 101

A. Insurance companies’ ‘Preferred’ or ‘Recommended’ shops have a two-way financial arrangement

When an insurance company recommends or suggests that you consider their preferred body shop vendors, they are helping you help themselves.  To make the ‘preferred’ list, body shops DO NOT have to qualify as the best in quality, service or guest experience. They DO have to agree to move cars through the shop as fast as they can, and they MUST NOT contest the insurance company’s demands to use less expensive used or aftermarket parts in your vehicle’s repair.  The name of this game is all about saving the insurance company money – and has little to do with the quality of repair or overall safety of the insured. There is a huge amount of information available for the savvy consumer – and here is a good place to start.  A body shop that is 100% independent of partnerships with insurance companies are often a good alternative when seeking a ‘right’ repair vs. a ‘rushed or cheap’ fix. Please note: these independent body shops will never be included on an insurance company’s ‘preferred’ list – and that is likely the best endorsement of all.

B. Dealerships may or may not provide on-site repair options

Occasionally consumers think that if they take their car to the dealership, they are more likely to get a repair with the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) parts. Few dealerships actually have body shops on-site.  If the repair is to be handled by an insurance claim, it is the insurance company who typically requires the use of less expensive aftermarket and/or used replacement parts. The great majority of dealerships refer their customer’s repair to outside shops. And those recommendations can usually be trusted, because their own reputation is on the line.

C. Word of mouth can be tricky to navigate

Many people agree that word of mouth is the very best form of marketing, however it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the myriad of voices. Who do you trust? What is the motive behind their referral? Since the rise of Web2.0 and social media, consumers have at their fingertips many different 3rd-party resources that offer (in most cases) true, unbiased reviews of the guest experience. Additionally, its a wise practice to refer to any information available to consumers by way of a shop’s website, involvement in the community and their reputation among industry leaders.  All of this is readily available to the consumer by way of an Internet search, and may prove to be more reliable than by asking close friends and family.

In the end, all reputable body shops guarantee their work.  A simple online search should be followed up by a visit to the shop and a brief interview with the ownership or management.  Remember, you absolutely have a choice of which shop you want to repair your vehicle. In the end, people do business with people that they know, like and trust. If you find one of those people, you’ll discover an excellent experience.

PS: If you’re ever unsure about the quality of repair performed by any body shop, you can always have a visual post-repair inspection done at no charge here at Nylund’s Collision Center.

The post How Do You Know Where To Go? appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

A recent article written by John Huetter in RDN Repairer Driven News highlighted the news of CAPA (Certified Automotive Parts Association) decertifying two lots of aftermarket parts after said parts failed to meet OEM specifications.  The article went on to ask the question why such parts have not been recalled at the federal level.  We agree that decertified parts ought to be recalled.

The question that, to our knowledge, is not yet being addressed is this: Who is and/or should be responsible for notifying (and subsequently protecting) the end user (the consumer) in the event of such decertification?  What happens when parts that were previously certified become decertified?  And who is telling the consumer who may currently be driving on no-longer certified parts?

It would appear to us that the current onus belongs to no one in particular. Its a game of high-stakes pass-the-buck that in fact, ultimately victimizes the end user. It is our position that the responsibility clearly belongs on the shoulders of the institution with the loudest voice requiring or endorsing the use of these aftermarket parts if and when they become decertified.

We believe that the insurance companies that continue to insist upon the use of aftermarket parts are in the best position to notify the consumer (their insured and/or claimants) of the decertified nature of affected parts. The consumer should be put on notice and be allowed to make the decision of whether they wish to continue with decertified parts, or be given the option to have said parts replaced.

Many – if not all insurance companies otherwise guarantee the replacement of aftermarket parts that are later found to be defective and not within “generally accepted industry standards”.

We are calling upon legislators and legal authorities, both here in Colorado and across the nation to investigate these insurance practices in order to protect the consumer. A process needs to be put into place where end users of aftermarket certified parts (later decertified) can be put on notice and make the final determination if they want those parts to be replaced.  And we are calling upon the insurance industry to step up to their responsibility to protect the consumer, instead of their bottom line.

Right now, we are not aware of any such process.

The ultimate solution is what we do in our business. At Nylund’s Collision Center, we refuse to use aftermarket parts.  We choose to side with the original manufacturer of our guests’ vehicles, and only make repairs with OEM parts.

The post Who Should Be Held Responsible? appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

You love your car.  That’s why you bought it. It’s been good to you, and you are loyal.  Often to a fault.  Sometimes you have to say goodbye to your favorite ride, but how do you know when that is the best option?

This brand new vehicle was “fixed” by another body shop, and returned to the owner with thumbs up and enthusiasm.  Upon casual observation to the untrained eye, one might have overlooked certain telltale signs of a poor quality repair.  But something just didn’t “feel” right, and that’s when they called Nylund’s in to perform a post-repair inspection.

From uneven gaps to buckles in the roof, this was a completely botched job on the part of the DRP shop.  The number of poorly welded sections and unprepared broken parts were almost too numerous to count. Ultimately, the compromised safety of anyone in the back seat of the car (in this case, a small child in a car seat) was the determining factor in deciding to total this vehicle. The other shop didn’t even address several structural points that had been compromised in the original accident.  Left unrepaired (but hidden from view), another collision from behind could prove catastrophic.

In the end, both Nylund’s Collision Center and the insurance company associated with the claim agreed that it would be far too expensive to re-repair the vehicle to meet all safety and pre-accident conditions.  It was decided to total the vehicle.

If your vehicle is fast-tracked through the repair process, and you’re just not sure the shop provided you with the very best (not just cosmetic) repairs, please feel free to drop it by for a free visual post-repair inspection.  It’s always our pleasure to educate our guests and it’s our sworn duty to make sure that your safety is never compromised by a poorly crafted repair.

*DRP stands for Direct Repair Program, which is an arranged relationship that some body shops have with insurance companies. These relationships, in almost every case, compromises the quality of repair because the body shop must agree to use the least-expensive options for replacement parts.  Here at Nylund’s Collision Center, we have never been a DRP shop – and NEVER WILL BE. Quality and safety in repair is our only mission!

The post When Totaling Your Vehicle Is The Best Option appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

The title of today’s Nylund’s Response is:

Say What?!?

The original article states:

Excellent Warranty
Parts manufacturers want their products to flawlessly work on every intended application. A warranty placed on the parts protects against improper fitment or function for months after technicians install the replacement components on the vehicle. Drivers can bring their vehicle back to the shop to report any issues with the way the parts work. At that point, technicians can perform quick repairs or send the parts back in for replacement to rectify the problem. Although outright failure rarely happens, clients and technicians alike appreciate this commitment to excellent from aftermarket parts suppliers.

Are we still talking about AFTERMARKET parts?  There’s only one way to guarantee that parts work flawlessly on every intended application.  And that is to use the parts that were DESIGNED FLAWLESSLY to work flawlessly.  Any change to the design (which is the very definition of reverse-engineered and made-differently aftermarket parts) immediately discounts a part’s ability to work “flawlessly”.

Warrantees do not protect against improper “fitment” (is that a word?) or function. Warrantees pay when cheap, ill-fitting and poorly crafted parts fail. Suggesting that any part is “better” because the manufacturer backs it with a warrantee is like saying “take our word for it… if it breaks, we’ll give you another one.”

Note the shift in responsibility in the next sentence… “Drivers can bring their vehicle back to the shop to report any issues…”. It’s subtle – but this idea is rampant among corner-cutters in the collision industry. It puts the quality control inspection all on the customer and makes the assumption that it’s not “wrong” if no one complains.

The original article goes on to say:

Lower Price
When automakers source body panels and other components from parts manufacturers, they essentially act as an intermediary in the transaction. Having a middleman often drives up the cost for the consumer as the parts change hands several times. Auto body technicians can place an order straight from the aftermarket parts suppliers to obtain the lowest price possible for their clients. The lower price point can eliminate the need for clients having to pay for repairs exceeding the insurance coverage amount. Lower repair costs may also keep monthly insurance rates from rising after making a claim.

Auto manufacturers source their parts from manufacturers who design them to fit perfectly with the overall design and safety standards of the vehicle(s) they are making. Auto body shops (not technicians) purchase parts from distributors (the actual middlemen that the article is trying to suggest increase the cost of the parts) – not from the aftermarket manufacturers.

It is ridiculous to suggest that aftermarket parts are better than OEM because they are “cheaper”. Consider this logic by simply opening up your refrigerator or wardrobe.  Do you purchase the least expensive “everything”? Of course not.  But what about where ultimate safety is concerned?  Do bridge builders, building contractors, or engineers who design our roadways opt for the least-expensive building materials? Such a notion is simply unthinkable.

We wrap up our CONSUMER ALERT on aftermarket parts by addressing the things that really matter.

At Nylund’s Collision Center, we do not have customers… we have guests.  And nothing is more important to us than our guests’ safety and that of their loved ones.  We will not use aftermarket parts on safety related or structural parts – ever. We take our responsibility to repair your vehicle to it’s pre-accident condition very seriously.  We will not cut corners to help insurance companies increase their profit margins.  At Nylund’s… if it isn’t perfect… it isn’t leaving.

The post Consumer Alert Part IV Aftermarket Parts appeared first on Nylunds Collision.

The title of today’s Nylund’s Response is:

Are You Flippin’ Kidding?

The original article states: Aftermarket parts manufacturers create components that meet or exceed quality metrics used by the manufacturers.

Wrong. Nope. Incorrect. Invalid. Untrue. Irresponsible.

We have made this case over and over, but for the record, let’s bang this drum one more time.  Aftermarket parts – by their very definition – ARE NOT and CANNOT BE manufactured to meet or exceed quality metrics used by the manufacturers.  Vehicle manufacturers patent their parts, which prevents ANY OTHER part – no matter how similar – to be exactly the same. With that in mind, it stands to reason that ALL OTHER parts cannot fit as well, and do not respond to impact and/or collision stimulus in the same way as the original part.

Example: The front bumper of a vehicle often houses airbag or other safety deployment sensors.  These sensors are calibrated to work specifically with the bumper and are timed within a 1/100th of a second. Think that doesn’t matter much? Take a look at this video.

When it comes to the safety of our guests and the integral structure of their vehicles, we here at Nylund’s Collision Center will NEVER compromise by using cheaper, ill-fitting aftermarket parts.  Cutting costs at the expense of safety just to increase the insurance company’s profits isn’t just wrong… it’s unthinkable.

Here is the next outrageous statement from the original article: In fact, it’s not often known that automakers frequently source their main components from outside manufacturers, and then label them with their own brand before selling the items in the parts department.

In fact, the above statement has absolutely nothing to do with whether aftermarket parts are better than OEM parts.  The origin of OEM parts isn’t in question.  They could be manufactured in Detroit, Michigan or Tokyo, Japan and it would have no impact on the actual issue being discussed. The question is – are knock-off parts as good (or better) than the ones specifically designed to work together with all other parts on your vehicle. (Spoiler alert: they are NOT.)

Please consider the following photo as we provide tangible proof of the insanity of thinking that aftermarket parts are the built to meet or exceed original manufacturer’s metrics:

Here is the Nylund’s Collision Center official Position Statement on the use of aftermarket parts.

In our next article, we will address the other Denver body shop’s assertion that aftermarket parts are actually “optimized” to circumvent original flaws in OEM parts.

The post Consumer Alert Part II Aftermarket Parts – Nylund’s Response appeared first on Nylunds Collision.