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Who pays what for body repairs?
Page 103
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• THE CHARGE-OUT RATE allowed by all major insurance companies on bodywork repairs is to be probed by the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association. The VBRA is running a detailed survey among its 2,800 members.
The Charge-out Rate Survey is expected to produce comprehensive data on exactly who is paying what for repair work. It is intended to provide an accurate national picture of insurance company rates.
It has long been held by the insurance companies that it is the repairers who set the chargeout rate for vehicle body repairs. The VBRA, therefore, feels that its members should have all the information necessary to make an accurate assessment of what constitutes an acceptable rate.
"In the past our members have had to rely on hearsay and rumour, or on the insurance company engineer to tell them what the going rate was for their area," explains VBRA directorgeneral Bob McCartney. "However, by conducting this confidential town by town, insurance company by insurance company, national survey, our members will be able to use the results to make an accurate assessment of what they should charge, for themselves.
'it will also provide the asso
ciation with invaluable information to use in its presentations to groups and official bodies outside the industry, such as the Government, the Consumers Association or the Office of Fair Trading.'
The insurance companies being highlighted in the questionnaire are, in alphabetical order: Bradford Pennine; CIS; Eagle Star; General Accident; Guardian Royal Exchange; Lloyds; Norwich Union; Royal Insurance; and Sun Alliance, In addition, there will be space for the vehicle body repairer to provide information on up to three more companies not listed.
The VBRA intends to conduct the survey on an ongoing quarterly basis, to keep an accurate picture of any fluctuations in rates, which may occur through factors such as interest rate changes or inflation.
All VBRA repairer members are inspected by the Automobile Association to ensure they have the equipment to carry out repairs to makers' specifications.