WE JUST FINISHED WATCHING the Woody Allen movie “The Front.” As some may recall, it’s about Hollywood blacklisting in the early 1950s. Writers, directors and actors alike were accused of being so-called communists; they couldn’t find work, some committed suicide, some worked as ghost writers, and some left the U.S. altogether.

Running an independent repair facility in a small town today, there are some eerie parallels. A similar scenario is playing out right now: The claims departments of insurance companies are spreading the rumor that choosing a local shop to do collision work “won’t get the insurance company’s guarantee,” thus denying us our livelihood by sending customers to large, out-of-town shops.

Delaying the inspections, only writing for half the prevailing labor, saying that a shop isn’t on an “approved list” and using that shop could raise your rates — these are some of the tactics we are seeing of late. The real doozy: “WE WON’T GUARANTEE THE REPAIRS.”

These are only some of the “research-proven lines” consumers are now hearing, day in and day out. They are being steered to a strange shop, in another town, at the insistence of the insurance industry. Of course, we don’t think every insurance company operates in this manner — but if they are suggesting to you that you leave Benicia, then our point is made.

As far as a guarantee is concerned, an individual repair facility supplies that guarantee — not any insurance company. They don’t fix vehicles; their only responsibility is to pay for the repairs. Directing and controlling the repair is illegal and borders on collusion.

Their right to inspect is only a courtesy. If their direct repair shops repair without an inspection, why do they need to physically inspect a non-direct repair shop? There is something ethically wrong with this argument. The same anti-trust laws that shops have to abide by, the insurance companies ignore!

And why would any shop renege on a written lifetime warranty when it’s their good reputation at stake? Doesn’t make any sense, does it?

Insurance companies have been known to delay a claim, avoid getting out to inspect the damage, say they’ve “never heard of that shop” … the list of tactics is endless. Delays and more waiting is the game that seems to be prevailing. But they will stop the games when you’ve been steered to their direct repair shop.

The fact is, insurance companies no longer want small, local shops. They want to use large out-of-town facilities, sometimes consisting of a commission-based work flow that resembles an assembly line, and usually with a kickback or deal, all in favor of the insurer.

Paying a claims adjuster is also costly to many insurance companies. Just as doctors are “baited” with a book of clients, repair facilities have been led along with the same similar promises. So if they can get their direct repair shops to handle claims for free — something they previously paid a company adjuster to do — they are saving an enormous amount of money. When you add the freebies they expect the shop to perform, it’s obvious they are purely profit-oriented!

So isn’t this all about making more money for the insurer?

When huge corporations like these do business in California (and generally most of the other 49 states), they are not just “selling insurance.” They have done plenty of research into what drives people to their doors — and, obviously, what doesn’t. So today we see cleverly worded scripts with just enough mumbo-jumbo to pass legal muster, but that nevertheless borders on the illegal practice of insurance steering.

As I stated above, these days it’s all about a guarantee. Doesn’t everyone want a safe, happy world without any surprises? Calling on an expert repair facility is very troublesome for many people, and fear of the unknown is what seems to be the issue. The insurance industry is using this fear to propel the consumer — because as we all know, an insurance company employee would never lead you wrong, right?

What matters, Benicia, is supporting your local business. If you never support the local guys, who will? These are your neighbors, who in many cases have been here for many years — and we’re obviously doing something right or we wouldn’t be here.

At Simpkins Auto Care, we have always fought on the consumer’s side. After all, we are all consumers. We handle the claim, we will rent you a reduced-rate car or give you a ride where you need to go, and we negotiate for you. It’s still a personal agenda for us!

Whether you shop at our local competitor or with us, all we ask is that you SHOP BENICIA FIRST!

Bill Simpkins is the owner of Simpkins Auto Care, a Benicia automobile repair business.

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