After a car accident, I had my car repaired at a body shop my insurance company referred me to. But I'm not happy with the work – what should I do?
Start by talking with the manager of the body shop directly. Explain that you selected the shop on the recommendation of your insurance company and express your confidence that the situation will be resolved in a satisfactory and professional manner. Then, be clear about your concerns and what you would like the repair shop to do about it. A service-oriented facility will be more than willing to try to make things right. Further, in some states, repair shops registered with the state are legally responsible for safe and proper repairs.
But what if the repair shop is uncooperative? First of all, don't sign anything saying that you're satisfied with the work done on your car. Next, call the claims adjuster at your insurance company and ask the adjuster to work with the repair shop on your behalf. And, don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor if your adjuster is busy and isn't making the progress you're looking for. In some states, insurance companies that use preferred shops may guarantee the quality of the repairs from their referral shops – giving you the confidence you need when asking for their help.
If you still aren't getting anywhere, contact your state's insurance division and find out if you have any recourse (e.g., arbitration). As a last resort, you might think about hiring a lawyer if the damage to your vehicle was substantial.
