Hello all!
A friend recently got into a fender-bender. She has full coverage with State Farm. An adjuster came out and determined the cost of repairs (a reasonable amount). But when it came time to talk about payment, the adjuster claimed a check would only be issued to her body shop of choice, and not to her directly.
I have a fairly well equipped private shop, where I restore projects and repair vehicles for my own purposes (it is not a commercial body or repair shop).
I've been through this before a couple of times in the past, with family and friends in similar situations. I would look at the adjuster's estimate, call and argue if anything was overlooked, etc. Then the insurance company would pay the policyholder directly, and I could proceed to perform the work on the policyholder's behalf.
Without extolling the virtues of using an established commercial shop or otherwise knocking this (both she and I are well aware of the pros/cons), can anyone answer me these two questions:
1) Is it normal for State Farm to refuse issuing a check to the policyholder - and if so, does she have any easy recourse (i.e., not involving suing anyone)?
2) Failing that, what qualifications are required for State Farm to consider one's bodywork operation worthy of issuing payment to?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide....
--kt
A friend recently got into a fender-bender. She has full coverage with State Farm. An adjuster came out and determined the cost of repairs (a reasonable amount). But when it came time to talk about payment, the adjuster claimed a check would only be issued to her body shop of choice, and not to her directly.
I have a fairly well equipped private shop, where I restore projects and repair vehicles for my own purposes (it is not a commercial body or repair shop).
I've been through this before a couple of times in the past, with family and friends in similar situations. I would look at the adjuster's estimate, call and argue if anything was overlooked, etc. Then the insurance company would pay the policyholder directly, and I could proceed to perform the work on the policyholder's behalf.
Without extolling the virtues of using an established commercial shop or otherwise knocking this (both she and I are well aware of the pros/cons), can anyone answer me these two questions:
1) Is it normal for State Farm to refuse issuing a check to the policyholder - and if so, does she have any easy recourse (i.e., not involving suing anyone)?
2) Failing that, what qualifications are required for State Farm to consider one's bodywork operation worthy of issuing payment to?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide....
--kt