http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jun/19/news/mn-12160
I saw this article, albeit an older article, however the same principles hold firm regarding body shops and the Bureau of Automotive Repair. We have seen an increase in Bureau undercover runs to body shops after the recent inspection program provided by the Bureau, scrutinizing every repair performed by the shop.
You know as well as I do that Bureau expects the world for body shop repairs. Just because the shop repairs vehicles with acceptable trade standards and practices, doesn’t mean the Bureau agrees with your craftsmanship.
If your seams aren’t immaculate, if you’re filler is more than 1/16th , if the color is a smidgen off, look for the Bureau to come down on you hard – and expect subsequent undercover runs to determine if you’re “doing it by the book.”
Running a Body Shop can be a difficult task.
With pressure from insurance companies to keep labor hours low, squeezing labor amounts at historically low levels, threatening to feed their work to other shops, and using their templates for how long it takes to complete certain jobs (despite the mangled mess you’re going through), it’s a nightmare.
Not to mention the hassle to authorize subsequent repairs after disassembly of the car, requiring the adjuster to “visit the shop to confirm the need” two weeks later – meanwhile the car is sitting idle taking up space while the customer yells at you for taking so long.
It’s funny how consumers and media alike promulgate the misconception that all shops are dirty. Like any profession, there are good shops, and bad shops – it’s would be nice if the media noticed this once and a while.
When they go to shut down Body Shops, some the charges are bogus, citing codes and statutes of trade standards and practices are drafted nice and neat in a complaint filed through the Attorney General’s Office, however, like Automotive Repair Dealers, some of the charges are unfounded – don’t let the Bureau shut you down without a fight.
-William Ferreira