Don't become a victim of auto glass replacement scams! Here are some facts to help protect you!
It is believed that there are an average of 80,000 auto glass replacements in Arizona every month!
But just how much of this auto glass repair in Scottsdale (or surrounding areas of Paradise Valley,
Fountain Hills, Cave Creek and Rio Verde) was actually performed by a trusted Auto Glass Shop?
We have all been approached by tenacious auto glass professionals representing Cave Creek auto glass shops at car washes. They say things like:
"I can repair those chips in your windshield within minutes"
"We just need your insurance policy information and you will be on your way with new auto glass"
However, repairing little chips and cracks is one thing; a total auto glassreplacement when it isn't necessary costs everyone, including you, additional money and possibly even jail time!
In some cases, insurance companies are expected by law to waive the deductible for damaged or broken windshields in an attempt to encourage vehicle owners to get the repairs done. However, some Cave Creek auto glass shops are using that loophole to convince consumers they can have new windshields totally free since they are fully compensated.
The dishonest Scottsdale auto glass shops, also referred to as "glass claims harvesters," will rent parking lot space from Arizona auto repair facilities, car washes or gas stations to seek business through unnecessary auto glass replacements. Once the car owner agrees to the deal, the harvester will subcontract the windshield replacement with another, less expensive Cave Creek auto glass shop and turn a profit from your insurance claim. Some harvesters will impersonate the insured and obtain multiple auto glass replacement claims.
The following are several Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, and Rio Verde auto glass replacement scams you should beware of:
Replacing expensive windshields which only have a small crack or chip that could easily be fixed.
They might also charge insurers to replace several chips when only one chip was repaired. Some crooks charge your policy for several windshield replacements without you knowing it!
The con artists might convince motorists to participate by offering gifts such as steaks, movie tickets or car washes. In addition, they might offer cash rebates or inflate the repair bill to cover the deductible.
Oftentimes, these "fly-by-night" auto glass operators are poorly trained and work out of pickup trucks in parking lots, hastily disappearing once the poor quality auto glass repairs. You might see them approach people at car washes, gas stations or convenience stores. In addition to the safety risk from cheap substandard auto glass or shoddy workmanship, you could face increased premiums or possible loss of coverage due to multiple hits on your policy.
And the worst possible scenario? You could face jail and fines for insurance fraud!
Everyone else's premiums also increase in the long run due to fraud losses passed onto honest policyholders.
According to Doug Ashbridge, Director of Special Investigations for Farmers Insurance Group, property casualty insurance fraud costs consumers $20 billion each year and is probably present in as many as 10 percent of claims filed.
If you are approached by a Scottsdale auto glass shop insisting on an unnecessary windshield replacement, just say no! Report the incident to your state insurance department. If you need auto glass repairs, contact your insurance agent for reputable Scottsdale Auto Glass Shops.
SunTec Auto Glass , an Auto Glass shop in Scottsdale Arizona, has highly trained and certified auto glass technicians and is a member of the National Glass Association (NGA). We also endorse AGRSS (Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council) which is dedicated to the safe replacement of auto glass in Scottsdale. Contact us for reliable, honest service and industry expertise. Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, and Rio Verde customers, take advantage of our free mobile service.
