Insurance Companies

We were an approved repairer for a major insurance company for well over 20 years. Yes, 20 years. That's from the start or the last recession to the middle of the current recession.

We had our contract terminated in summer 2009 in favour of just one, large 'group' repairer who will handle all repairs within the M25. That's one repairer handling all the repairs for a major, major player in the insurance industry within the M25.

No problem. Life goes on. We are reshaping and restructing our business right now. In fact, the independence is quite refreshing.

A few points about so called 'Approved Repairers':-
 In 95% of cases your Insurance company's Approved Repairer is contractually obliged to fit non genuine, non OE, pattern parts. These parts from Taiwan and Thailand are cheap and cheerful and are essentially rubbish (in terms of quality and fit for purpose). As we are no longer under contract, we will only fit Genuine, OE parts. Period. Your car's authenticity is assured. That's a promise.
 Approved repairer's and their contracts. Insurance companies demand a lot from their repairers. A hellava lot. We have been there. Many insurance companies are large Coporations under pressure to satisfy shareholders. Bottom line discounts, tight labour rates, fitment of cheap, pattern parts and juicy paint discounts are the norm. Many Approved Repairer contracts are signed for Labour Figures of just £24.00 per hour! Worse still, some contracts are based on 'average repair cost'. This is based on a set repairer payout of
  around £1350.00 per job! So, imagine: you have a 'coming together' on the
  motorway in your beautiful BMW 3 series. A hit in the rear and maybe the front
  too. A new bonnet costing £412.00, bumper costing £409.00 and bootlid
  costing £450.00 doesn't leave much left over to paint them and fit them and
  that's before assesing any other damage including checking the integrity and
  geometry of the steering and suspension. Unbelievable. But true. Just imagine
  the pressure the Repairer asserts on their staff in order to carry out repairs
  as quickly as possible. And imagine the corners the Repairer maybe tempted
  to cut in order to squeeze a profit from the job....
  No wonder "Approved Repairer" Tecnicians are all on bonus schemes
  encouraging them to 'bang out' the jobs 'yesterday'.