Helping car customers after collisions
By Emily Howard, Madison Record
One of the most important things to do when getting car repairs is to ask lots of questions, said Nancy Corlett of Corlett Auto in Huntsville.
“Consumers should never assume anybody is looking out for their best interests,” Corlett said. “They should find a shop that works for the vehicle owner and doesn’t try to appease any party outside of the vehicle owner/shop relationship.”
Corlett Auto, which has been in business in Madison County for 25 years, is part of the Collision Repairers for Consumer Choice, a new organization created to educate Alabama consumers in need of collision repair.
She said a major mistake consumers make when getting car repairs after a wreck is assuming someone will “take care of them” and assuming all repairs and repairers are the same. Each repair is unique and should be treated that way, she said.
“Most consumers have very little knowledge of proper repairs. They hand over that damaged car to a repairer and assume it is going to take care of everything that needs to be done. This is the biggest reason consumers are getting bad and unsafe repairers,” she said.
The Collision Repairers for Consumer Choice want people to get the best repairs possible after a car wreck. Many times internal damage is overlooked or hidden and can remain un-repaired. Vehicle owners can protect themselves from unscrupulous repairers and shoddy repairs by asking the right questions before committing to any repair of their automobiles. Asking the following questions developed by the Collision Repairers for Consumer Choice Task Force is often the remedy to overwhelming car repair issues following an accident.
Before leaving your keys at a repair shop, ask the shop manager:
Have you made any oral or written agreements with any outside entity that may alter your professional recommendations concerning the needed repairs to my vehicle?
Have you made any oral or written agreements to discount parts and/or labor with any outside entity for
the repairs to my car? Am I entitled to that discount? Why do you offer these discounts?
Have you made any oral or written agreements that may cause you to withhold any important
information from me concerning the repairs to my vehicle?
Will you provide me with a copy of the agreement with the insurance company handling my claim (if
shop has agreement)? If not, why?
Should my vehicle be repaired using only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts? Why or why
not?
Are aftermarket, non-OEM, and used parts the same as the parts on my car? If not why?
Will you provide a written opinion concerning the use of OEM parts to repair my vehicle?
Will you deal exclusively with me without influence from an outside party?
Do you work for me or the insurance company or both? How can you satisfy my interests and those of an
entity outside of my repair contract with your shop?
Does your shop install used or salvaged suspension parts to repair vehicles?
Does your shop install used air bags, seat belts or other safety equipment to repair vehicles?
Does your shop install any used or salvaged frame and structural parts?
Does your shop install any used or salvaged weld-on structural sections or body panels?
Will any parts or processes used in the repair of my vehicle alter or void my factory warranties?
For more information, please contact the Collision Repairers for Consumer Choice Task Force at crccal@bellsouth.net or contact Corlett Auto at 539-2451.
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