At Car Magic we are an independent repairer and believe consumers need to know that they DO have a choice. Insurance companies should end their unethical market practices and stop treating motorists unfairly by diverting motorists away from the repairer they choose to the insurance company’s “preferred repairer”.
Some insurers are now:
- quoting for repairs from photographs instead of personally inspecting the damaged vehicle;
- pressurising “preferred repairers” to fix vehicles cheaply, resulting in corners being cut, substandard repairs and unsafe vehicles;
- offering cash settlements to motorists that do not cover the full cost of repairs.
Increasingly, insurance companies are directing motorists towards their preferred repairer network. Then the Insurers are unfairly, unreasonably, and increasingly arbitrarily, reducing quotes so low that the repairer cannot repair the vehicle properly. As a consequence, we are seeing more poorly repaired, devalued and, potentially, unsafe vehicles out on the roads.
It is not good enough to have a clause buried in the small print of the “product disclosure statement” about the choice of repairer. It needs to be clearly identified and discussed from the start.
At Car Magic we recommend all motorists ask their insurance company “Can I choose the repairer I want?”
Their answer should always be “Yes you can!”
