Empire Glass Companies, Inc. Fraudulent ripoff business. Phoenix, Arizona
A Window on my suburan got broken, Empire Glass tells me that they take care of deductibles. After getting it fixed a week later, they bill me $100 (my deductible).
The story:
My suburan got broken into. They smashed out the passenger side window. Since I was going to get it fixed I also put another claim in for the front windshield just because it was pitted bad. We called around for prices. I have a $100 deductible on each claim.
The insurance agency called Empire Glass set everything up so they knew there were to claims. When the job got done we asked is there any charge, they said no everything has ben takn care of. A week goes by and Empire Glass sends me a bill in the mail $50 for one claim and $50. for the other.
We called to see what this was about and she tried telling us they didn't know it was 2 claims. I called my insurance agency and talked to them and they said yes they did because they were to seperate bills. I called them back and asked her about it, and she turned me over to so one else.
I asked them why when I left I asked if there was anything I owed and they said no then. Do you normally do business like this get them in and charge them a week later? Her reply yes, sometimes.
I had my husband call back the next day as a customer and ask them "I have 2 seperate claims with $100 deductible on each, do you take care of them both". Her reply, "why yes we will".
Lori
Glendale, Arizona
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Michael
Clayton,North Carolina,
Check the paperwork ..insurance companies sued for steering
#2Consumer Suggestion
Sat, May 25, 2002
I'm an autoglass technician and I have had a lot of experience with insurance claims. One thing that most people don't know is that every major insurance company has preset pricing. You can get all the quotes you want, but insurance companies regulate what they pay, so they are our master. Basically, the price I quote you over the phone may be higher or lower than what I would bill your insurance company based on their pricing structure.
Many companies have a disclaimer on the work order that states something along the lines of you are responsible for any amount that your insurance company does cover. If they submitted the paperwork to you insurance company, the company may have sent them less money then they invoiced and now they are trying to recoupe it by billing for part of the deductible.
My only advise in the future is to ask individual glass shops if they abide by your insurance company's pricing. Also check state regulations regarding your right to choose the shop you want.
Most states have laws in place that prohibit insurance companies or there representitives from telling you who does the repair. That's called steering. The largest autoglass replacement company in the U.S. also administers the claims for most of the major insurance companies in the U.S. and are at present being sued for steering.
Please check your paperwork befor signing. If it's not in writing, it's hard to make it stand up in court.