It’s about time. We’ve known about this kind of illegal stuff for many years. Now what are you going to do about it? How are you going to manage this kind of operation? The Glass shops that are prefered by the Insurance Co. are the worst offenders of this practice. You pay next to nothing for the replacement of the glass and the shops have to find the cheapest solution to make a buck, no wonder the mobile units that float around make so much money. Do they pay the local tax’s and fee for being in your town and taking your money and leaving with the money? They take money away from your community and dont spend it there. The insurance industry needs to take a closer look at the auto glass industry and then look at themselves in the mirror. They might be surprised at what they find.
Although the article is very accurate and something that we face every day, the article should reflect what the consumer should look for when getting a windshield replaced.
You should mention that there are good, reputable companies practicing good business every day. You should point the consumers to call their agents first and get a referral to a quality company in their area as a good start. You may aslo want to point your customers to the BBB or other reporting agencies that can show any reports of fraud. Simply stating that there is a problem is not enough, you need to tell your insureds what to look for. As a farmers insured, it would be appreciated!
I am in full agreement, anyone replacing a windshield that is not damaged should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s unethical and dishonest!
Farmers’ action of strongly suggesting, almost to the point of requiring, an agent recommend to their customer they use Safellite Auto Glass to provide this service, because Safellite provides Farmers a lower price is equally unethical and dishonest.
Steering a Farmers customer from an independent shop when they call the glass network (Safellite) to Safellite for service because of price, is again unethical and dishonest.
Penalizing agents with financial penalties because claims exceed an established cap, is unethical.
Get off your high horse Farmers – you’re as unethical as the “Glass Harvester” committing insurance fraud.
As an employee of a very reputable glass company. I can tell you, we are not making “all this money”. The insurance companies tell us what they will pay us. Insurance companies continue to raise their rates to the insured. But pay us less and less every quarter. Their profit margin has increased, while ours has decrease. Insurance companies do a survey to determine what the “fair and usual cost” should be. These surveys are done by using all glass shops in an area. These include shops that do not have certified installers, that work out of the homes, have no employees or insurance to cover any damage that they may do to your vehicle, use poor quality glass and some even use outdated urethane (because it is cheaper). Shops that do their work properly and will make no sacrifes to increase their profit margin are the ones to suffer. Consumers should to a certain extent use common sense. Windshield replacements are not done on a “drive thru” basis and they are not done in the rain or below freezing temperatures.
Also alot of insurance companies require to speak to the insured before any glass company can bill for repairs. To address the tax comment, we do pay taxes to the city in which the work is done. And we have brought to the tax departments of the surrounding cities a list of those who we believe do not.
Use some logic— what car owner would replace a perfectly good windshield, risking leakage or other damage? What reporter would report this without checking the facts? This a clear attempt to insure they can steer claims.
Oh, I see now… this is an insurance publication, not a journalist one…
It’s funny how the Insurance Industry will attack Glass Shops, using articles like this to conjure up this “consumer beware” type stuff.
Maybe their insureds should be educated about the fact that they are being misled everyday by their Ins. Companies when they tell them to call a certain 800 number to have a glass claim handled, and letting them think that they are speaking with their respective Ins. company.
Is it not mispresentation when an insured thinks they are talking to a rep. from an Ins. Co. and they are really talking to a third party administrator, who just happens to be in the repair/replace business also.
This article is just another example where the strength of the Insurance Industry is taking another opportunity to discredit the Auto Glass Industry.
They fail to mention that in the last two years, that 90% of all Insurance companies have posted RECORD PROFITS, yet have they decreased those “poor taken advantage of insureds” premiums??
I would like to comment on this article. I have shops in states where these car wash’s scare peope into replacements. I personally have experienced going to replace a windshield for a customer and having the network, tell me that it was just repaired 1 month ago, when in fact, the customer went to a car wash turned there car over to the car wash attendent. That attendent gained there insurance information from the glove box and billed for 3 chip repairs. A glass guy standing at a car wash, or at a gas station is just like someone beating down your door selling anything. If your not sure about it dont buy from them. Any reputable glass shop has stores, phone #’s and a van with there name on it. I would suggest asking questions before doing anything. And as for the free cash and steaks, there overbilling your insurance company and chances are you will get billed the difference if over charging occurs.
I am a retired Independent Insurance who was in the business for 37 years in Southeast Arizona. When needed we recommended several of our local well known & honest glaziers. Some 20 years ago a local Farmers Agent and an auto shop owner made false glass claims that the auto owner never knew about and over charged auto body claim invoices. They were both found guilty. The agent was terminated and the repair shop was sold. I believe that Superior Court ordered them to make restitution.
I currently have two windshield cracks damaged by rocks from roads. Neither crack impairs visibility and do not cause hasidarius glare. Iwill leave the cracks as they are until either may cause vision problems. I do not wish to make a claim until necessary. Appearence is not that important.
My Chevrolet PU is 6 1/2 years with 220,000 miles with a reasonable amount of dirt road travel with only one whndshield necessary to be replaced.
I am a TPA who specializes in Commercial Auto and Truckers first party claims. Upon receiving a bill of $4,291.35 for a windshield replaced in a bus, I deceided to research Florida law and the policy issued pertaining to that claim.
Florida law states: “627.7288 Comprehensive coverage; deductible not to apply to motor vehicle glass.–The deductible provisions of any policy of motor vehicle insurance, delivered or issued in this state by an authorized insurer, providing comprehensive coverage or combined additional coverage shall not be applicable to damage to the windshield of any motor vehicle covered under such policy.”
ISO changed this wording on the commercial auto policy under Florida Changes which states:
“A. PHYSICAL DAMAGE COVERAGE is changed as follows:
1.No deductible applies to “loss” to glass used in the windshield”
Since most commercial Auto policies provide Collision and Specified Causes of Loss Coverage (no comprehensive coverage), ISO has broadened the coverage to cover windshields in commercial autos when possibily the underwriters had intended otherwise.
This is costing commercial auto insurers Millions in Florida and possibily other states.
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It’s about time. We’ve known about this kind of illegal stuff for many years. Now what are you going to do about it? How are you going to manage this kind of operation? The Glass shops that are prefered by the Insurance Co. are the worst offenders of this practice. You pay next to nothing for the replacement of the glass and the shops have to find the cheapest solution to make a buck, no wonder the mobile units that float around make so much money. Do they pay the local tax’s and fee for being in your town and taking your money and leaving with the money? They take money away from your community and dont spend it there. The insurance industry needs to take a closer look at the auto glass industry and then look at themselves in the mirror. They might be surprised at what they find.
Although the article is very accurate and something that we face every day, the article should reflect what the consumer should look for when getting a windshield replaced.
You should mention that there are good, reputable companies practicing good business every day. You should point the consumers to call their agents first and get a referral to a quality company in their area as a good start. You may aslo want to point your customers to the BBB or other reporting agencies that can show any reports of fraud. Simply stating that there is a problem is not enough, you need to tell your insureds what to look for. As a farmers insured, it would be appreciated!
I am in full agreement, anyone replacing a windshield that is not damaged should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s unethical and dishonest!
Farmers’ action of strongly suggesting, almost to the point of requiring, an agent recommend to their customer they use Safellite Auto Glass to provide this service, because Safellite provides Farmers a lower price is equally unethical and dishonest.
Steering a Farmers customer from an independent shop when they call the glass network (Safellite) to Safellite for service because of price, is again unethical and dishonest.
Penalizing agents with financial penalties because claims exceed an established cap, is unethical.
Get off your high horse Farmers – you’re as unethical as the “Glass Harvester” committing insurance fraud.
As an employee of a very reputable glass company. I can tell you, we are not making “all this money”. The insurance companies tell us what they will pay us. Insurance companies continue to raise their rates to the insured. But pay us less and less every quarter. Their profit margin has increased, while ours has decrease. Insurance companies do a survey to determine what the “fair and usual cost” should be. These surveys are done by using all glass shops in an area. These include shops that do not have certified installers, that work out of the homes, have no employees or insurance to cover any damage that they may do to your vehicle, use poor quality glass and some even use outdated urethane (because it is cheaper). Shops that do their work properly and will make no sacrifes to increase their profit margin are the ones to suffer. Consumers should to a certain extent use common sense. Windshield replacements are not done on a “drive thru” basis and they are not done in the rain or below freezing temperatures.
Also alot of insurance companies require to speak to the insured before any glass company can bill for repairs. To address the tax comment, we do pay taxes to the city in which the work is done. And we have brought to the tax departments of the surrounding cities a list of those who we believe do not.
Use some logic— what car owner would replace a perfectly good windshield, risking leakage or other damage? What reporter would report this without checking the facts? This a clear attempt to insure they can steer claims.
Oh, I see now… this is an insurance publication, not a journalist one…
call your insurance agent first!
It’s funny how the Insurance Industry will attack Glass Shops, using articles like this to conjure up this “consumer beware” type stuff.
Maybe their insureds should be educated about the fact that they are being misled everyday by their Ins. Companies when they tell them to call a certain 800 number to have a glass claim handled, and letting them think that they are speaking with their respective Ins. company.
Is it not mispresentation when an insured thinks they are talking to a rep. from an Ins. Co. and they are really talking to a third party administrator, who just happens to be in the repair/replace business also.
This article is just another example where the strength of the Insurance Industry is taking another opportunity to discredit the Auto Glass Industry.
They fail to mention that in the last two years, that 90% of all Insurance companies have posted RECORD PROFITS, yet have they decreased those “poor taken advantage of insureds” premiums??
Who is taking advantage of the insureds???
What a crock!!
I would like to comment on this article. I have shops in states where these car wash’s scare peope into replacements. I personally have experienced going to replace a windshield for a customer and having the network, tell me that it was just repaired 1 month ago, when in fact, the customer went to a car wash turned there car over to the car wash attendent. That attendent gained there insurance information from the glove box and billed for 3 chip repairs. A glass guy standing at a car wash, or at a gas station is just like someone beating down your door selling anything. If your not sure about it dont buy from them. Any reputable glass shop has stores, phone #’s and a van with there name on it. I would suggest asking questions before doing anything. And as for the free cash and steaks, there overbilling your insurance company and chances are you will get billed the difference if over charging occurs.
I am a retired Independent Insurance who was in the business for 37 years in Southeast Arizona. When needed we recommended several of our local well known & honest glaziers. Some 20 years ago a local Farmers Agent and an auto shop owner made false glass claims that the auto owner never knew about and over charged auto body claim invoices. They were both found guilty. The agent was terminated and the repair shop was sold. I believe that Superior Court ordered them to make restitution.
I currently have two windshield cracks damaged by rocks from roads. Neither crack impairs visibility and do not cause hasidarius glare. Iwill leave the cracks as they are until either may cause vision problems. I do not wish to make a claim until necessary. Appearence is not that important.
My Chevrolet PU is 6 1/2 years with 220,000 miles with a reasonable amount of dirt road travel with only one whndshield necessary to be replaced.
I am a TPA who specializes in Commercial Auto and Truckers first party claims. Upon receiving a bill of $4,291.35 for a windshield replaced in a bus, I deceided to research Florida law and the policy issued pertaining to that claim.
Florida law states: “627.7288 Comprehensive coverage; deductible not to apply to motor vehicle glass.–The deductible provisions of any policy of motor vehicle insurance, delivered or issued in this state by an authorized insurer, providing comprehensive coverage or combined additional coverage shall not be applicable to damage to the windshield of any motor vehicle covered under such policy.”
ISO changed this wording on the commercial auto policy under Florida Changes which states:
“A. PHYSICAL DAMAGE COVERAGE is changed as follows:
1.No deductible applies to “loss” to glass used in the windshield”
Since most commercial Auto policies provide Collision and Specified Causes of Loss Coverage (no comprehensive coverage), ISO has broadened the coverage to cover windshields in commercial autos when possibily the underwriters had intended otherwise.
This is costing commercial auto insurers Millions in Florida and possibily other states.