Southeast Edition Florida Georgia Alabama Mississippi
31
YEARS
www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com
The Georgia Collision Industry Association Discusses PartsTrader with George Avery The Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) will feature George Avery from State Farm for an indepth discussion on their PartsTrader pilot program at its Sept. 20 meeting. According the to GCIA newsletter, “Unless you live under a rock, you have probably heard of State Farm’s PartsTrader program being tested in several markets in the U.S. However, State Farm has not provided much in the way of details on the program. Industry media have been mostly unsuccessful getting State Farm to respond to requests for more information. “Now you have an opportunity to hear first-hand about PartsTrader from State Farm’s own George Avery. Mr. Avery has agreed to be the featured speaker at the September 20th GCIA meeting. If you don’t attend but one GCIA meeting this year, this is the one.” This meeting is open to all collision repair professionals and industry supporting vendor representatives. Cost is
$10 (member/$20non-member). Members may pay at the door and check or cash is accepted. “This may be the most important collision industry George Avery meeting you will attend all year,” said Howard Batchelor, GCIA Executive Director. Due to an overwhelming response, the meeting location changed from MAADA headquarters in Marietta, GA, to the Wyndham Atlanta Galleria, 6345 Powers Ferry Road NW in Atlanta. See website for directions. In other GCIA news, the 16th Annual Golf Tournament is set for Oct. 3 at the Trophy Club of Atlanta. Contact Howard Batchelor to learn more about sponsoring or reserving your player spots. Email to Howard@GCIA.org or call 770-367-9816.
VOL. 3 ISSUE 8 OCTOBER 2012
Gunder’s Has 15 Insurers Paying New Labor Rate “15 and Counting,” answers Ray Gunder. “That’s how many insurers, since this past August, have seen fit to pay our revised labor rates rather than to try and legally defeat what we deem to be ‘reasonable and necessary!’” Gunder goes on to state: “It’s been a busy few weeks, and while 14 of the 15 insurers conceded without so much as a whimper, Infinity Insurance needed a bit of persuasion. With the help of our legal counsel, Attorney Brent Geohagan’s representation of Gunder’s Auto Center, Inc., they too came to the right conclusion and are paying our new labor rates for body and refinishing, as well as an elevated labor rate for frame/unibody repair. Of course they are also paying applicable legal fees and costs for the lawsuit as well.” Gunder has 12 current lawsuits pending against State Farm, Allstate, USAA and GEICO for their failure to pay “reasonable and necessary” al-
lowances for labor and materials and five lawsuits against the insurers for labor rates alone. “I can’t express what a feeling of freedom and an incredible sense of independence it gives me to once again have control over my business and its destiny,” said the founder of the Central Florida-based 44-yearold colliRay Gunder sion repair shop. “For the first time in a long time, I able to offer my employees a pay raise! They have stuck with me through thick and thin and it’s time they were rewarded for their loyalty and support.” Gunder went on to say, “Like many, I suppose, I’d forgotten what it was like to operate my business without other’s telling me what I could and couldn’t do.”
ranties, paint booths and other issues. The questions on the survey included: “Do you use the procedure pages to prepare estimates?” Every shop answered ‘yes.’ “Are there any procedures identified by your database as not included in the published repair labor allocation which you do not intend to be paid for? If so, please identify them.” While the terminology differed with the persons filling out the survey, the conclusion was 100% in that every shop intends to be paid for all the required performed procedures. Not one shop identified a procedure they did not expect to be paid for. “This association intends to seek fair treatment for its members from the insurance industry,” Mosley said. “We will no longer sit back and have an industry tell the member shops ‘I won’t pay this because you’re the only one in this market area asking to be
paid.’ This is a deceptive tactic used to intimate or scare a small business and it will not be tolerated any longer. Not in Mississippi, anyhow. “The member shops are growing and are learning we can stand together united in a cause while competing for business in a fair manner. Every day, more shop owners are realizing we are not enemies because we seek the same customer. As allies, we have a powerful voice. Our voice is being heard.” The survey also addressed the PartsTrader issue, and member consensus was “100% that PartsTrader is being considered for nothing more than State Farm’s profit and will be not any benefit to the consumer or repair industry,” Mosley said. For more information about the Mississippi Collision Repair Association, please contact acting president John Mosley at (601) 924-2159 or email him at clintonbodyshop@comcast.net. No website at this time.
Mississippi Collision Repair Association Plans to Expand to the North and South the October meeting will be held in north Mississippi. “Our goal is to have three well-organized districts addressing the local members’ needs on a regular basis,” said acting president John Mosley. “We will have the membership vote on having a statewide meeting/convention annually.” The MCRA recently submitted a survey to their membership, addressing training, database providers, war-
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
The Mississippi Collision Repair Association met Aug. 20 to discuss how shops can collect the balance on short paid claims. Attorney Melvin Pace explained how by having vehicle owners sign Power of Attorneys to give shops the right to make repair decisions and collect all money owed for repairs. The newly revived association has plans to expand in north and south Mississippi. The next meeting will be held in Gulfport, MS, on Sept. 20 and
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244