Browning's Auto Body Shop Insurance fraud on auto repairs that were not done correctly deceptive company Manassas Virginia
I was involved in an auto accident that caused my convertible to be in for a lot of repair. Browning's kept telling me that they were waiting for parts, however, $600 dollars later for the rental car (my insurance portion for the rental car was over the limit allowed and I had to pay for the rental myself) and 4 month later, I finally got my car back. My insurance guaranteed the repairs for as long as I kept the car because I used a approved auto body repair that is listed with my insurance provider.
I was glad to get my car back, but I noticed that the car made noises and the window's leaked. I took the car back two more times only to be told that I need inner tie rods on the font end of my car and that is they broke, I could lose my steering. The cost $800-$1000. I did not have that kind of money - I had to wait.
As time went by, my window's leaked as if I had the top down!! I had to remove metal shims that were stuck in the passenger's side of the door. After removing 5 shims, that still didn't help with the water leaks. Plus the noice from the front of the car was getting worse.
I called my insurance company and they told me to take the car to the dealer for inspection. After three days - I had to take the car back to Brownings. No other auto body repair shop would touch my car because it was attempted to be repaired at Brownings.
I found out that my frame of my car was still bent from the accident and that the moldings around the door was not the proper molding. The passenger and hood was not aligned properly and the convertible top was not shutting properly.
After 21 days - I received my car back and my auditor for the insurance company assured me the work was complete because he had to monitor Brownings while they completed the work. The noise regarding the inner tie rods - never existed. My car's frame was bent and could not even pass the dealer's inspection. The insurance agency wasn't sure if he was going to have to total my car or not. Thankfully to him, the frame was able to be stretched back in place with the help of the genius' machine.
My car is fixed and no leaks or noises. My insurance agency did tell me that Brownings Auto Body is not on the approved repair list anymore.
Thank goodness I was able to keep my car and get the car repaired correctly; especially because my children ride in this car.
Linda
Haymarket, Virginia
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Tracy R.
Gainesville,Virginia,
United States of America
Outstanding business!!
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, May 07, 2010
I have (unfortunately) had reason to take several cars to Browning Auto Body over the past 10 years. I have always been treated well, have always been able to speak with anyone I needed to, and had my calls returned quickly. I have never been less than thrilled with the repairs done to my vehicles. I would recommend this company (and have) to everyone.
David
Charlotte,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Former employee
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, June 10, 2006
I worked at Brownings Auto Body years ago and I am not surprised at this complaint. I have no idea what the company is like now but when I worked there, it was all about the money. They would all inferior work leave the shop if they thought they could BS their way through it. They only worried about collecting the money. Never the quality. I also had trouble getting frames repaired correctly. I would send them to the frame person, they would come back not even close to correct. I'd send it back again with the same results. I complained and was told "what's the big deal? Just keep sending it back until the parts fit well enough to get the job out the door. I would not recommend having a car repaired there. Knowing the owner, I can't see how things would have changed much since then.
None
Manassas,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Meeting Our Responsibility to our Customers
#4UPDATE Employee
Mon, February 28, 2005
It has been brought to our attention that a letter resides on your web sight that negatively depicts our business. Fraud is a vile allegation that should not be given credibility lightly. After some careful research, we would like to set the record straight with the FACTS.
Our business has maintained its integrity for over thirty years. We employ only qualified technicians who are annually re-certified through attending educational courses with hands-on training and on-line courses that add to their professional stature. Each stage of the collision repair process is monitored and inspected before a vehicle is released to the owner.
Statements in a letter from Linda, from Haymarket, VA need to be followed up with facts.
RENTAL CAR COVERAGE: Rental car provisions are controlled solely by the insured's policy. A dollar figure is set in the policy and the extent of vehicle damage and repair time does not affect rental coverage. As an example, if your policy contains a $600.00 rental coverage, an economy car rental @ $19.95 a day would afford you a 30 day rental. A mid-size rental @ $39.95 a day would only allow for a 15 day rental. If you elect to rent a luxury vehicle @ $59.95 a day, then your coverage would be for a mere 10 days. The extent of damage and length of repair time is not dictated by a policyholder's rental coverage. The collision repair facility has no control over these matters.
PARTS ACCUISITION: We order parts only from established vehicle parts manufacturers. Back-ordered parts are due to the manufacturers lack of supply. We, as a collision repair facility, do not manufacture automotive parts. Our professional Parts Department will exhaust all avenues to secure and expedite parts arrivals.
It has never been to our advantage to have a vehicle on our lot for a longer period of time than necessary for the repairs to be completed. We do not collect payment for a job until the vehicle has been satisfactorily released back to the owner.
WEARABLE PARTS: A wearable part, as defined by the Insurance Industry, is any moving or electrical part of a vehicle. This would include batteries, tires, alternators and suspension parts.
There are two issues with the letter from Linda, from Haymarket, VA. First, the Insurance Company is solely responsible for paying or denying payment for items not deemed part of the collision. A collision repair facility does not make that determination.
Secondly, we feel that it is our duty to the consumer to point out non-collision issues that should be dealt with. It is up to the consumer to elect or reject repairs. Linda from Haymarket, VA obviously rejected the needed repairs.
FRAMES: We have always owned and maintained state-of-the art frame equipment and machines and follow ICAR standards that meet and/or exceed manufacturers recommendations. We employ highly qualified and certified frame technicians solely dedicated to frame repair. There is no magic or stretching a frame back into shape. Careful measuring and following repair standards are the only means of correcting a frame alignment. We ensure that all safety issues are addressed before continuing with the collision repair process. After meeting with the Insurance Representative at the dealership to inspect Linda of Haymarket's vehicle, it was agreed that the damages referred to in her letter were the result of damages incurred AFTER the repairs had been completed at our shop. Instead of confronting Linda of Haymarket, the insurance company paid us to repair the additional damages.
With regard to no longer being on this insurance company's Preferred list, it was a mutual agreement between our shop and the insurance company to be removed from this list because we do NOT agree with all of this company's practices and policies toward repairing a customers vehicle. We subscribe to the belief that all vehicles should be repaired to pre-accident condition.
We are appalled that a letter would be printed that does not depict factual information. This letter is defamatory to our industry. Our responsibility to our customers is to repair a vehicle to its pre-accident condition and ensure that the vehicle meets all of its pre-accident safety requirements. That is our commitment to our customers that we meet with each repair.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES:Based on Better Business Bureau files, our company has a satisfactory record with the Bureau. The Bureau has received and processed one complaint in its past three-year reporting period. The complaint was resolved. To have a "Satisfactory Record" with the Bureau, a company must be in business for at least 12 months, properly and promptly address matters referred to it by the Bureau, and be free from an unusual volume or pattern of complaints and law enforcement action involving its marketplace conduct. In addition, the Bureau must have a clear understanding of the company's business and no concerns about its industry.
In closing, Linda of Haymarket, VA, we're sorry that you did not fully comprehend the repair process of your vehicle and your insurance company's role in that repair process. We also look forward to the removal of your letter from this web sight.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Trained Technicians and Staff of Browning's Auto Body