Choice Autobody Repair Association (CARA) of Cadiz, Ohio, has partnered with Collision Billing LLC (CBS) of Jackson Mich. CARA promotes consumers’ awareness of their individual rights when dealing with insurance companies and auto repair shops.
Like this article? Sign up to receive our weekly news blasts here.The CBS claims database is comprised of information submitted by their subscribers documents listing what was paid or not paid on each job, which includes labor rates, included and not included operations and manual entries. They use this data to get their shops payment on these items.
“This seemed like the perfect fit for CARA. Given the restraints that are put on us as an association by anti-trust legislation our partnership with CBS will allow us to accomplish our long-terms goals in a short amount of time. The key is that CBS is not bound by the same restraints as we are as shop owners.” Rick Finney, shop owner and CARA President.
“We have had some members successfully pursue the same issues that CBS addresses with their program but when it’s said and done, they almost always end up spending more money in legal fees then what the case is worth. While it’s good to make a point and set precedence, individual shops just can’t afford financially to keep doing this.”
Recently a CARA member won a jury verdict against two Nationwide insureds for refusing to pay a sufficient amount to properly and safely repair two consumers’ vehicles. Taking an assignment of proceeds on both third party claims, they were able to demonstrate for a jury that the amounts Nationwide Insurance Company wanted to pay were less than the true cost of the repairs.
They successfully sued both insureds for the unpaid portions of the repair bills.
In the end they ended up spending eight times more in legal fees than what he was rewarded. “This is one of the key reasons we have partnered with CBS, because now our members won’t have to spend their hard earned money to prove a point on two claims but have their claims bundled with all the claims from our members and other CBS subscribers, and with Erica Eversman leading up their legal team I know they will be effective.”
Although CBS is a national company Rick Finney felt it was important to the association to get involved with them to help make a quick and meaningful impact in their local market. “With the partnership and high participation by our members we can quickly change the practices and policies in our local market using CBS’s national data. Putting to bed statements ‘like you’re the only one asking for that’, or ‘we don’t pay that’. CBS is giving us the opportunity to change our focus, instead of discussing at our meetings about how we can change the industry, we will now discuss how we are changing the industry.”
CBS President Chuck Gosney had this to say; “It’s important for us to work with local associations like CARA, they have paved the way for change for years, we are simply providing them the tool to come together as a group to take it to the next level, not only in their local marketplace but for the whole collision industry.”
As the association’s President, Rick Finney felt it was important to be aligned with CBS, “While our association has a lot of Associate Members (vendors) who provide valuable services to our members, we felt that what CBS was offering was more in line with the overall scope and purpose of our association. In our eyes they are not simply selling a product, rather providing the solution to the problems that have been plaguing our industry for years. I would encourage all associations out there that are looking for meaningful change to contact CBS as well.”
About Choice Autobody Repair Association (CARA) CARA, Choice Autobody Repair Association promotes Consumers’ awareness of their individual rights when dealing with insurance companies and automotive repair shops; and to promote common business interest of individuals and corporations engaged in the auto-body repair industry as well as foster education of both private and industry members.
For more information visit www.collisionbilling.com.
