GEICO Warns Consumers About Fraudulent Glass Repair

[scratchy]

I would like to correct my above post after doing some checking into things for myself. This isn't about roadside tents doing shoddy repairs. This is all about steering cloaked in an attack on roadside repair sites. I just did a repair going the long call through the insurance provider and guess where the work is directed? All work goes to the local safe*** shop without any mention of other qualified shops to choose from. The customer has to already have a shop AND phone number ready to give or it defaults to you know who because they are faxing the referral number to the shop at that instant! I was wondering just a little why I get calls from LYNX to go do jobs and NEVER get calls from the Safe*** network- ever.

[mafsu]

Here is what I can do about it; I sent a complaint letter to the Director of Public Relations at GEICO. A few phone calls and I got her name and was told that she is the person responsible for all press releases. Here is a link to a copy of the letter.



Now what will you do about it? They can ignore my letter and throw it in the round file. If everyone on this forum sends a letter that's probably too much to ignore. Is it worth 37 cents and twenty minutes of your time? Here is the address:

Geico
Communications Dept.
Christine Tasher
Director of Communications
One Geico Plaza
Washington DC 20076

Her direct line is: (301) 986-2812

Removed CPanel link

[DaveC]

Mafsu,

You gave the link to view the file via your cpanel (which requires login/password) and not the web.

The actual link (since I operate many cpanel servers) is .....

http://www.ohnonotagain.com/g_files/image002.jpg

[mafsu]

thanks, I am idiot when it comes to webpages

[Delta Kits]

Mafsu,

Great letter!

I feel the same way, it would be great if people would take the time and write a letter from our side.

This is NOT a ball we want to get rolling here folks, having insurance companies telling their customers that people who set up at parking lots, etc., are fradulent and to be avoided.

Delta Kits is also sending a letter to these people at Geico, among a few others.

Again, thanks for posting the letter Mafsu, that will be a great starting point for people to write their own letters.

[Jeremiahswindshieldrepair]

CHEERS Mafsu! What a great idea that letter is, I will modify it and send my own (so it doesn't sound canned).

[Porthos]

And now, the same press release again. This time from New Orleans.

Anybody see a pattern yet?

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041014/dcth032_1.html

Press Release Source: GEICO

Consumer Alert: GEICO Warns Consumers About Fraudulent Glass Repair Companies
Thursday October 14, 1:26 pm ET

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- If your car windshield has any small glass chips or cracks, be careful about where you take it to be fixed.

GEICO's Regional Vice President Dave Pushman is alerting policyholders and consumers in Louisiana about fraudulent glass repair shops -- frequently set up in malls, county fairs, local car wash operations -- that are taking advantage of people.

Fraudulent glass companies often operate by doing improper repairs, causing cracks or chips to ultimately spread. This may necessitate the replacement of entire windshields and windows if repairs aren't done correctly.

GEICO considers these practices a form of fraud as policyholders turn in claims for inflated glass repairs by companies who knowingly make improper glass repairs.

And so on, and so forth, and so on, same as before.

[gold star wsr]

Perhaps it is time for true windshield repair professionals to push for a high standard of certification that requires adequate training. After all, one cannot simply say he's a plumber or an electrician without completing the prescribed training and passing a test (not just a written test, either, but actual work under real conditions). I would go so far too, as to have long crack repair be an additional certification. Right now, such testing and certification is strictly voluntary.

I realize that this is an unpopular position, but it is one way to weed out the creeps who dont seem to be interested in doing good repairs, and also those who arent capable of doing good repairs...I am sure there are more than a few who sincerely want to do good work, but reallly dont have a clue if the repair is done right or not, and try as they might, they just never will get it.

In addition, this press release talks about repairs that are deliberately poorly done so that the windshield will crack and the same company that did the shabby repair will then get to do an unsatisfactory replacement. How does one go about proving that the work was intentionally performed sub-standard? The real 'rub' in this, however, is the insinuation that only their 'preferred' shops are qualified to do good work! What a CROCK!!! I cannot begin to tell how many reworks I have done to clean up after their "preferred" shops.

Perhaps the insurance companies should also consider using 'repair only' shops. I know this also might be an unpopular position, but it would help to eliminate any conflict of interest, and repair only shops would certainly not have any vested interest in doing a bad repair if they have to give back the money instead of deducting it from the cost of the replacement.

Now, I know that there are many many replacement shops that also take pride in doing very good repairs. Unfortunately not all the replacement shops hold to such a high standard.

Another possible solution would be for the insurance companies to disallow the client from using the same shop for replacement if their repair failed. But there would still need to be some financial responsibilty for the failed repair, some sort of accountability.

I also dont think it is very smart of the insurance companies to use networks that also happen to own glass shops. Geico talks about fraud... but they are allowing themselves to be manipulated this way? It doesnt make sense to me.

And that's all I have to say about that. SIGH.

[mafsu]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.