I was reading some archived post, when I came across this reply from a ACT rep in response to someones question about the insurance billing process.
Daveycrewcut wrote:Most insurance companies do not handle their own auto glass claims. They use 3rd party administrators like Lynx, SGC, Harmon, Quest to name a few. You need EDI software to do your own invoicing but some allow you to fax or submit invoices over the internet. If you fax or mail them, there is usually a manual processing fee. Our Autoglass Claims Team, Inc (A.C.T.) will help you get enrolled with all the networks and submit your invoices for a lesser fee than faxing or mailing direct. We will also, for a flat $12.95 fee provide full service, meaning you will have only one toll free # to call no matter what the insurance company is and then you will be on the phone for only 15-30 seconds, then we will have you put your customer on the line so you can go back to work and we will conference in your customer with the correct claims center for whoever they have insurance with. After verifying coverage and getting authorization, we will submit your invoice for you via EDI. We also have a 3 day pay plan where you don't have to wait 2-4 weeks for payment.
We will pay you on Tuesday or Friday whichever comes first. You can reach A.C.T. at {removed by moderator} and Delta has applications.
With the above paragraph in mind, I would like to ask: what happens if you start the repair (according to the advice above), only for the cars owner to discover later in the conference call that the claim is denied. I don't see this being a problem if the owner agreed to pay cash for the repair if the insurance didn't cover it, but if they were strictly getting it repaired because they believed that it would not cost them, I could then see it being a problem. How do you handle this?
I only have a few years repair time under my belt.I have only a couple months doing it on my own. Denial seems to happen so infrequently that when it does I just do the repair and send them on thier way...no charge...after I learn who the carrier is and I know them to be a carrier that pays for repair, I will start...if for some wierd reason they don't?? well no biggie in my opinion.its only happened to me maybe twice in a few years....and because they have a card that says full coverage, they believed they had full coverage, and a spouse changed coverage to liability after a vehicle bacame paid for....its best in mind to let em leave happy regardless....they might refer some friends your way...plus I feel good in my soul about it....I despise fighting over a few bucks.....
Just give them the damn repair if it becomes too big of an issue. Think of it as a marketing expense...they will surely tell friends and family of the kind gesture you did for them. What's the most you could lose $10?
Eric is right,
It will be the best PR you could ever do, and the customer will use you for life. I have given quite a few away on folks that thought they had the coverage but did not and a few that just do not have the money. Even a 24" long crack was a freebie. At the cost of material I think we can afford to give something away at times.
I do agree with Just Chippen Away. We have been doing, over a course of some 15 years, many repairs at no cost to the customer, insurance company, rental or leasing company. It is not worth the trouble to go after your money and you will have a very happy customer. It does not happen everyday.