Frequently asked questions:
I have a door ding, dent, hail damage in my vehicle, can it be repaired without painting?
Yes. We specialize in total automotive reconditioning. We have expertise in PDR-Paintless Dent Repair. We can remove 95-99% of the dent depending upon size, severity and location within the damaged panel. Our goal is to provide you with a repair after which there would be no apparent indication that the vehicle sustained any significant damage.
I have had an accident. How big of a dent are you able to repair?
No worries, all dents can be repaired and fixed. We professionally provide both PDR-Paintless Dent Repair and Paint and Body Repair along with Total Automotive Reconditioning. We will satisfy your repair needs or help point you in the best direction possible for the resolve you seek.
How do I schedule an estimate or repair?
You can call us at 336-766-1116 or fill out the Estimate Request Form on this site and we will contact you with in 24 hours or the following business day if it is during the weekend or holiday. If you do not hear from us with in that period of time please call us, since we all realize that technology is not 100% accurate.
Do I need to bring it to you?
For the time being: we still provide some mobile services depending on where you are located.
My bumper cover sustained some scratches and damages, can you fix it?
Yes. We specialize in Total Automotive Reconditioning which includes Bumper Repair and Refinishing Services. Quick turn around repairs at a competitive price is part of our Consumer Friendliness Policy.
How much does it cost to have a door ding repaired?
An average price range would be between $50-$150 per 1" door ding depending on how many dents you want repaired. If you have two or more, the price per dent decreases significantly. The more work you have, the better overall price you will receive.
Do the dents ever naturally come back?
No. Unless something damages the area of repair again, the dent will remain repaired.
How long will it take to repair my vehicle?
Most door dings and small dents can be repaired in 15 minutes to one hour. Most bumper cover repairs require 24-48 hours. There are some bumper covers which can be repaired with in the same day. With larger paint & body repairs, repair time depends on how many labor hours are required, part availability, and the depth of the overall repair. We can determine for the most part, the time required prior to scheduling.
Do you handle insurance claims?
Yes. Before you contact your insurance carrier beware that it may not be in your best interest to file a claim. You must initiate the claim by contacting your insurance company's claims department, we can handle the rest. If you are comparing your choices of filing the claim or paying out-of-pocket, call us first and we will be more than happy to help you in the determination process. PLEASE read below first!
Here are some things you may need to be made aware of: 1) Most every time which you are charged with a violation of the law (speeding ticket, non-moving violation, accident, etcetera) or you file an insurance claim, your insurance carrier records an “Occurrence” against you. It is our understanding in North Carolina they allow you 1 Occurrence in 3 years, or 2 Occurrences in 5 years as a margin of tolerance, if you will. As you exceed those limitations, your risk evaluation/factoring increases and your premiums rise.
We have been informed that each insurance carrier has an algorithm (formula) for which they attempt to measure you in regards to “risk factoring”. Most insurance carriers are profit driven models, so finding any grounds to increase your premiums is a method they benefit by. Paying out less than fair market value for your claim is also a method that can take place in regards to Unfair Settlement Practices. See this link and once there, scroll down to read this insightful article: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2007/02/insurance-companies-fight-paying.html
Insurance carriers have been sharing in a database known as C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) database. Think of it as one giant collection of all of your lifetime claim history. CLUE reports contain a history of losses on personal property experienced by an individual policyholder. Information found in a CLUE report includes 1) the date of loss, 2) the type of claim made, and 3) the amount paid out by the insurance company. LexisNexis ( www.lexisnexis.com ) is an organization which issues CLUE reports, and those reports are reported to reflect the past seven years of your claims.
A company called ISO ( http://www.verisk.com/iso.html ) also maintains another database known as the Automobile-Property Loss Underwriting Service (A-PLUS). A-PLUS is another smaller competitor which records the same type of information about you and your insurance claims. Some insurance companies use one or both CLUE or A-PLUS when rating you, the policyholder.
Here are links to informative articles which will help you better understand a CLUE report:
1) https://www.insurance.wa.gov/your-insurance/tips/clue.html 2) http://www.carinsurance.com/clue-report.aspx
My insurance company said I had to take it somewhere else other than where I wanted?
Insurance companies have DRP-Direct Repair Programs in place to drive work to their approved shops. By doing that, the insurance company has previously negotiated through an agreement (a contract) a predetermined discounted labor rate with the shop and sometimes even a discount on the parts. Have you ever wondered if your insurance company would in turn pass that savings onto you through discounting your deductible, for going to their shop of choice? We hope this may be your scenario one day in the near future. Needless to say we haven't heard of that being the current scenario, yet maybe in time this pattern of operation could improve, to financially help policy holder's discount their out of pocket deductible cost.
By state and federal law you have the right to have your car repaired at the shop you choose. DRP programs do have some positives. For example, the shop has to meet certain insurance guidelines and fulfill their duties to provide the customer with a quality repair. But what holds them to that promise? Insurance warranty "or" the repair shop's ethics and character? At the same time, no one individual or organization can serve two Masters perfectly. Reliable shops will always choose to make sure everyone wins in the end: the Vehicle Owner, The Repair Shop, and the Insurance Company paying the bill.
Dings & Dents® works to satisfy the vehicle owner. Period.
There are many auto body repair shops throughout the United States that do not benefit from DRP relationships. In addition, the ending product is not any better in comparison to a non-DRP repair. Dings & Dents® has dealt with some truly sincere, honest, and forthright insurance companies over the years. They are the insurance companies whose customer service speaks for itself. You do pay the premiums, correct?
Always remember that your policy is a contractual agreement between 2 parties: you and your insurance carrier, and they work for you. If you are in the state of North Carolina (or any state in the USA, similar agencies should be established) and have any legal questions or concerns in regards to your auto insurance policy, insurance company's statements, procedures, or complaints, you should contact the Department of Insurance of NC at http://www.ncdoi.gov as well as contacting the State Attorney General’s office at http://www.ncdoj.gov and/or the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org . If you have any further insurance complaints or issues or are needing assistance, it is our understanding that you may also contact The National Association of Insurance Commissioners at http://www.naic.org .
Overall it should be a seamless transaction, and your choice as to where you want to take your vehicle for repair, right? After all it is your car and your policy. (*This information is provided in good faith and thought to be true in nature.)
My insurance check is made payable to some one other than Me and My repair facility, what do I do?
In the State of North Carolina, we have contacted the Department of Insurance and they have informed us that there is no state law that requires the insurance companies to make the check payable to you and your lien holder (if you make payments on your vehicle). So you can request that the check be made payable to you and your repair facility of choice. If you experience difficulty from the insurance claims agent upon your request, ask him/her to send you a copy of your policy (the one you signed) where you agreed to such. If you reach the point of being dissatisfied with your insurance company’s customer service and after your claims are complete, contact us by using our estimate request form and we will be more than happy to provide you with our North Carolina insurance agent’s phone number, who through brokering can provide you with a list of choices and rate quotes.
We hope you will never have to experience that so easily repaired customer service problem ever again!
Question & Answer written to BodyShopBusiness.com concerning an Insurance Company's responsibility to pay a fair claim:
A question Dings & Dents® asked to BodyShopBusiness.com in 2014 : Is An Insurer Not Responsible For Satisfying a Fair Claim?
“I've experienced an array of hypocritical statements made by insurance adjusters over my 18 years in the collision repair industry. In the most recent experience, a past satisfied client brought me a hood repair job on a 2009 Scion XB-Silver and presented me with two specific concerns: 1) could I repair the OE damaged hood to a pre-accident condition, and 2) did the insurance company write a fair amount to repair my damages? My answers were yes to their first concern and no to the second. I noticed the adjuster, who had 20 years on the tech repair side and then moved over to the insurance adjuster side nine years ago, wrote for an aftermarket hood with no OE labels replaced. Most importantly, he did not write for blending the fenders and R&I'ing the front cover, headlamps and inner wheel liners. The adjuster later told me that, for the past nine years since he has been with this insurance company, "They do not write to blend vertical panels with horizontal panels in the field" since it may not be necessary. What?! I politely informed him that was not true. He then raised his voice and stated that I was pissing him off by calling him a liar. It's interesting how anger rarely arises from a person of peace and confidence. Neither this man's attitude nor ignorance intimidated me in the least. I apparently captured this man's attention when I asked him to name one time, other than refinishing a bumper cover, when he ever panel painted a silver hood, much less any panel, and did not blend the fenders or adjacent panels? He remained silent, and finally agreed. "Never," he said. My question is, is the insurance carrier not responsible for satisfying a fair claim? Is there any such case law to support this concern?”
~Asked by Dings & Dents, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Answer from BodyShopBusiness.com: First, I am not an attorney and thus cannot and do not offer or provide legal advice or counsel. With that stated, I’ll gladly share my experience as a claims adjuster and working with the legal community as an expert witness for collision repair-related matters and diminished value, but even more importantly as an experienced shop owner/manager and industry consultant for more than 25 years. Yes, insurers are obligated to conduct themselves in a 'fair and reasonable manner' to properly indemnify consumers for their losses when either caused as a result of the negligence of their insured (where liability coverage exists), an insured policyholder (third party) or when the consumer has a policy contract with the insurer to cover damages to the covered auto (first party). Where coverage applies, the insurer is obligated, either legally or contractually, to “indemnify” the damaged party. Indemnify is defined by Merriam-Webster as: To protect (someone) by promising to pay for the cost of possible future damage, loss or injury. The indemnifier "makes compensation to for incurred hurt, loss or damage." As far as any laws that govern an insurer’s behavior, yes, there are laws that govern the conduct of businesses and protect consumers from deceptive business practices. In most states, there are statutes and regulations that govern the specific business of insurance monitored by the Department of Insurance and/or insurance commissioner’s office, etc. In many states, there are actual regulations for “Fair Claims Practices."
Each repairer should be readily familiar with the laws, statutes and regulations in their individual state to fully understand their own company’s responsibilities as well as those of the insurance industry. Only then can one help enlighten and edify their customer to take action should their rights be negatively affected or an attempt be made to take those rights from them.
Like any afforded protection, if you don’t know what your rights are, and you can’t protect or assert those rights, you'll likely forfeit and lose them. Many insurers know what their responsibilities are and what not to do, but the lure of windfall profits is a great motivator for some to cross the line. And the only way to get them to see the error of their ways is through accountability and the associated liabilities. The only way accountability can be applied is by knowing what an insurer can and cannot do and encouraging the consumer to take action to stop it. As I have stated before, “Only when the risks outweigh the rewards will behaviors change!”
~Answered by BodyShopBusiness.com (Thank you BodyShopBusiness.com for all you do!)
Yes. We specialize in total automotive reconditioning. We have expertise in PDR-Paintless Dent Repair. We can remove 95-99% of the dent depending upon size, severity and location within the damaged panel. Our goal is to provide you with a repair after which there would be no apparent indication that the vehicle sustained any significant damage.
I have had an accident. How big of a dent are you able to repair?
No worries, all dents can be repaired and fixed. We professionally provide both PDR-Paintless Dent Repair and Paint and Body Repair along with Total Automotive Reconditioning. We will satisfy your repair needs or help point you in the best direction possible for the resolve you seek.
How do I schedule an estimate or repair?
You can call us at 336-766-1116 or fill out the Estimate Request Form on this site and we will contact you with in 24 hours or the following business day if it is during the weekend or holiday. If you do not hear from us with in that period of time please call us, since we all realize that technology is not 100% accurate.
Do I need to bring it to you?
For the time being: we still provide some mobile services depending on where you are located.
My bumper cover sustained some scratches and damages, can you fix it?
Yes. We specialize in Total Automotive Reconditioning which includes Bumper Repair and Refinishing Services. Quick turn around repairs at a competitive price is part of our Consumer Friendliness Policy.
How much does it cost to have a door ding repaired?
An average price range would be between $50-$150 per 1" door ding depending on how many dents you want repaired. If you have two or more, the price per dent decreases significantly. The more work you have, the better overall price you will receive.
Do the dents ever naturally come back?
No. Unless something damages the area of repair again, the dent will remain repaired.
How long will it take to repair my vehicle?
Most door dings and small dents can be repaired in 15 minutes to one hour. Most bumper cover repairs require 24-48 hours. There are some bumper covers which can be repaired with in the same day. With larger paint & body repairs, repair time depends on how many labor hours are required, part availability, and the depth of the overall repair. We can determine for the most part, the time required prior to scheduling.
Do you handle insurance claims?
Yes. Before you contact your insurance carrier beware that it may not be in your best interest to file a claim. You must initiate the claim by contacting your insurance company's claims department, we can handle the rest. If you are comparing your choices of filing the claim or paying out-of-pocket, call us first and we will be more than happy to help you in the determination process. PLEASE read below first!
Here are some things you may need to be made aware of: 1) Most every time which you are charged with a violation of the law (speeding ticket, non-moving violation, accident, etcetera) or you file an insurance claim, your insurance carrier records an “Occurrence” against you. It is our understanding in North Carolina they allow you 1 Occurrence in 3 years, or 2 Occurrences in 5 years as a margin of tolerance, if you will. As you exceed those limitations, your risk evaluation/factoring increases and your premiums rise.
We have been informed that each insurance carrier has an algorithm (formula) for which they attempt to measure you in regards to “risk factoring”. Most insurance carriers are profit driven models, so finding any grounds to increase your premiums is a method they benefit by. Paying out less than fair market value for your claim is also a method that can take place in regards to Unfair Settlement Practices. See this link and once there, scroll down to read this insightful article: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2007/02/insurance-companies-fight-paying.html
Insurance carriers have been sharing in a database known as C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) database. Think of it as one giant collection of all of your lifetime claim history. CLUE reports contain a history of losses on personal property experienced by an individual policyholder. Information found in a CLUE report includes 1) the date of loss, 2) the type of claim made, and 3) the amount paid out by the insurance company. LexisNexis ( www.lexisnexis.com ) is an organization which issues CLUE reports, and those reports are reported to reflect the past seven years of your claims.
A company called ISO ( http://www.verisk.com/iso.html ) also maintains another database known as the Automobile-Property Loss Underwriting Service (A-PLUS). A-PLUS is another smaller competitor which records the same type of information about you and your insurance claims. Some insurance companies use one or both CLUE or A-PLUS when rating you, the policyholder.
Here are links to informative articles which will help you better understand a CLUE report:
1) https://www.insurance.wa.gov/your-insurance/tips/clue.html 2) http://www.carinsurance.com/clue-report.aspx
My insurance company said I had to take it somewhere else other than where I wanted?
Insurance companies have DRP-Direct Repair Programs in place to drive work to their approved shops. By doing that, the insurance company has previously negotiated through an agreement (a contract) a predetermined discounted labor rate with the shop and sometimes even a discount on the parts. Have you ever wondered if your insurance company would in turn pass that savings onto you through discounting your deductible, for going to their shop of choice? We hope this may be your scenario one day in the near future. Needless to say we haven't heard of that being the current scenario, yet maybe in time this pattern of operation could improve, to financially help policy holder's discount their out of pocket deductible cost.
By state and federal law you have the right to have your car repaired at the shop you choose. DRP programs do have some positives. For example, the shop has to meet certain insurance guidelines and fulfill their duties to provide the customer with a quality repair. But what holds them to that promise? Insurance warranty "or" the repair shop's ethics and character? At the same time, no one individual or organization can serve two Masters perfectly. Reliable shops will always choose to make sure everyone wins in the end: the Vehicle Owner, The Repair Shop, and the Insurance Company paying the bill.
Dings & Dents® works to satisfy the vehicle owner. Period.
There are many auto body repair shops throughout the United States that do not benefit from DRP relationships. In addition, the ending product is not any better in comparison to a non-DRP repair. Dings & Dents® has dealt with some truly sincere, honest, and forthright insurance companies over the years. They are the insurance companies whose customer service speaks for itself. You do pay the premiums, correct?
Always remember that your policy is a contractual agreement between 2 parties: you and your insurance carrier, and they work for you. If you are in the state of North Carolina (or any state in the USA, similar agencies should be established) and have any legal questions or concerns in regards to your auto insurance policy, insurance company's statements, procedures, or complaints, you should contact the Department of Insurance of NC at http://www.ncdoi.gov as well as contacting the State Attorney General’s office at http://www.ncdoj.gov and/or the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org . If you have any further insurance complaints or issues or are needing assistance, it is our understanding that you may also contact The National Association of Insurance Commissioners at http://www.naic.org .
Overall it should be a seamless transaction, and your choice as to where you want to take your vehicle for repair, right? After all it is your car and your policy. (*This information is provided in good faith and thought to be true in nature.)
My insurance check is made payable to some one other than Me and My repair facility, what do I do?
In the State of North Carolina, we have contacted the Department of Insurance and they have informed us that there is no state law that requires the insurance companies to make the check payable to you and your lien holder (if you make payments on your vehicle). So you can request that the check be made payable to you and your repair facility of choice. If you experience difficulty from the insurance claims agent upon your request, ask him/her to send you a copy of your policy (the one you signed) where you agreed to such. If you reach the point of being dissatisfied with your insurance company’s customer service and after your claims are complete, contact us by using our estimate request form and we will be more than happy to provide you with our North Carolina insurance agent’s phone number, who through brokering can provide you with a list of choices and rate quotes.
We hope you will never have to experience that so easily repaired customer service problem ever again!
Question & Answer written to BodyShopBusiness.com concerning an Insurance Company's responsibility to pay a fair claim:
A question Dings & Dents® asked to BodyShopBusiness.com in 2014 : Is An Insurer Not Responsible For Satisfying a Fair Claim?
“I've experienced an array of hypocritical statements made by insurance adjusters over my 18 years in the collision repair industry. In the most recent experience, a past satisfied client brought me a hood repair job on a 2009 Scion XB-Silver and presented me with two specific concerns: 1) could I repair the OE damaged hood to a pre-accident condition, and 2) did the insurance company write a fair amount to repair my damages? My answers were yes to their first concern and no to the second. I noticed the adjuster, who had 20 years on the tech repair side and then moved over to the insurance adjuster side nine years ago, wrote for an aftermarket hood with no OE labels replaced. Most importantly, he did not write for blending the fenders and R&I'ing the front cover, headlamps and inner wheel liners. The adjuster later told me that, for the past nine years since he has been with this insurance company, "They do not write to blend vertical panels with horizontal panels in the field" since it may not be necessary. What?! I politely informed him that was not true. He then raised his voice and stated that I was pissing him off by calling him a liar. It's interesting how anger rarely arises from a person of peace and confidence. Neither this man's attitude nor ignorance intimidated me in the least. I apparently captured this man's attention when I asked him to name one time, other than refinishing a bumper cover, when he ever panel painted a silver hood, much less any panel, and did not blend the fenders or adjacent panels? He remained silent, and finally agreed. "Never," he said. My question is, is the insurance carrier not responsible for satisfying a fair claim? Is there any such case law to support this concern?”
~Asked by Dings & Dents, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Answer from BodyShopBusiness.com: First, I am not an attorney and thus cannot and do not offer or provide legal advice or counsel. With that stated, I’ll gladly share my experience as a claims adjuster and working with the legal community as an expert witness for collision repair-related matters and diminished value, but even more importantly as an experienced shop owner/manager and industry consultant for more than 25 years. Yes, insurers are obligated to conduct themselves in a 'fair and reasonable manner' to properly indemnify consumers for their losses when either caused as a result of the negligence of their insured (where liability coverage exists), an insured policyholder (third party) or when the consumer has a policy contract with the insurer to cover damages to the covered auto (first party). Where coverage applies, the insurer is obligated, either legally or contractually, to “indemnify” the damaged party. Indemnify is defined by Merriam-Webster as: To protect (someone) by promising to pay for the cost of possible future damage, loss or injury. The indemnifier "makes compensation to for incurred hurt, loss or damage." As far as any laws that govern an insurer’s behavior, yes, there are laws that govern the conduct of businesses and protect consumers from deceptive business practices. In most states, there are statutes and regulations that govern the specific business of insurance monitored by the Department of Insurance and/or insurance commissioner’s office, etc. In many states, there are actual regulations for “Fair Claims Practices."
Each repairer should be readily familiar with the laws, statutes and regulations in their individual state to fully understand their own company’s responsibilities as well as those of the insurance industry. Only then can one help enlighten and edify their customer to take action should their rights be negatively affected or an attempt be made to take those rights from them.
Like any afforded protection, if you don’t know what your rights are, and you can’t protect or assert those rights, you'll likely forfeit and lose them. Many insurers know what their responsibilities are and what not to do, but the lure of windfall profits is a great motivator for some to cross the line. And the only way to get them to see the error of their ways is through accountability and the associated liabilities. The only way accountability can be applied is by knowing what an insurer can and cannot do and encouraging the consumer to take action to stop it. As I have stated before, “Only when the risks outweigh the rewards will behaviors change!”
~Answered by BodyShopBusiness.com (Thank you BodyShopBusiness.com for all you do!)
