Fort Washington Auto Body Inc

Review: 11/17/12 I was rear ended by a USAA Insurance holder’s pickup.

11/26/12 - I acquired an estimate for repair from [redacted]’s Auto Service and Body Shop [redacted]. This estimate was to replace the rear bumper and repair the right quarter panel. $1055.00

12/05/12 - I was directed by [redacted] Insurance to acquire an estimate from their preferred shop, Ft. Washington Auto Body [redacted]

12/06/12 - I met with [redacted] at Ft Washington Auto Body and upon inspection he stated, “Okay, replace the bumper and paint and repair the quarter panel.” I went to the waiting room while he was supposed to write the estimate. After about 10 minutes waiting I saw him back out at my car on his phone for maybe 15 minutes. I waited about another 15 minutes and he came with the estimate that was not for a replacement bumper but a repair. I reminded him that he initially said the bumper would need to be replaced. He told me that he probably would have to replace it when I bring it in for the work but that the insurance company wanted him to write the estimate for the least amount of work. I told him I wasn’t necessarily bringing to them for the work to be completed and that the initial estimate I received from the non biased repair shop dictated that the bumper would need to be replaced to honor any warranty and I reminded him of his initial assessment.

12/14/12 - [redacted] at [redacted] said that [redacted] needed the repair estimate from the [redacted]’s Auto Service and Body Shop. I faxed it to them.

02/01/13 - [redacted] at [redacted] spoke with [redacted] at [redacted]. He said they never received the repair estimate from Ft Washington Auto Body nor do they have the one I faxed them from [redacted]’s Auto Body. They are going to call Ft Washington Auto Body to get the estimate sent. She should know something in an hour or so. [redacted] told them that the estimate needed to be for a replacement bumper but they said they couldn’t make an amendment until they received the initial estimate. After they receive that, they can then request an estimate for replacing the bumper.

02/01/13 - I received a call from Ft Washington Auto Body asking when I was going to bring the vehicle in for repair. I told them I was not bringing it to them for repair but that they needed to forward their estimate to [redacted].

02/04/13 - [redacted] advised that [redacted] had not received the estimate yet. It could be in the company somewhere but not in the file. Could take 2-3 days…

02/22/13 - [redacted] at [redacted] called [redacted]. According to [redacted] at [redacted] Insurance, Fort Washington Auto Body has still not sent the estimate to them so that they can compensate me for the damage to my car.

In summation, it appears that Ft Washington Auto Body is holding my estimate hostage until I agree to have them do the work to restore my vehicle to its condition before the accident and then they will ask for additional funds from [redacted]. It also appears that [redacted] Insurance is using delaying tactics to wear me down to a lower estimate. It should not take 90 days to process this claim.

A consumer should not be forced to take a low ball estimate that the body shop clearly knows would result in an amendment if the work is performed because they are supposed to be the experts, not the insurance company.Desired Settlement: Fort Washington Auto Body needs to send a repair estimate that includes the cost to replace the bumper as their estimator indicated during our discussion.

Business

Response:

See attachment or check attachment tab.