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[Gateway]

Well if you get it fixed for $800, or just pocket the money for $800, that's your choice...that's not insurance fraud, and is your right to choose to get it fixed or not.

Also, something I also forgot to mention, is alot of times the claimant (that's you) and the shop, will work together and overstate the damage to get more money. It happens ALOT, and that also drives up insurance.

I get to read alot of stories about how people "fake" their vehicle being stolen, vandalized, etc etc, to get "free" money basically, but what they (and you) don't realize that it just drives up the cost of insurance for EVERYONE.

It's estimated that you pay an extra $200 - $2000/year extra for insurance just because of insurance fraud. How would you like to have your insurance premiums cut in half? Well if people were honest then it would be that way.

This is just a sore subject for me because auto insurance is my job, and after I became an agent, my ways have changed when it comes to things like this, and it just upsets me when so many people think it's "ok" to fuck over the insurance industry.

On a daily basis, I read www.insurancejournal.com and usually 1 article per day talks about someone busted for fraud. One day, it could be you. The penalties for insurance fraud are so strict now, as well. Usually people get sentenced to 10 years in jail + have to pay back what they got in the first place.

I am not trying to sound like this "holier than thou" person and come down and talk about how bad you guys are, I really am not. I was just trying to explain to you that it's not right.

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by Gateway

Usually they have preferred shops they want you to go to and stuff like that. Also, if you had 2 different estimates and showed them that, I'm sure they would make you take it to the one with the lowest cost, of course it would have to be a reputable shop.

how do they make you go to one of those 2 shops? don't they just cut you a check for that amount? (the lesser of the two). the only 'check' they have is to follow up with you. actually, they should follow up with that shop to make sure that you brought your car there as promised.

for them to just make you get 2 estimates, then cut you a check for the lesser of the two amounts, and let it end there....well that's just plain stupid.

IMO, if insurance companies were truly worried about rising insurance prices, then they would take more initiative and be more responsible to find out where 'their' money pay-outs are going.

[youngvr4]

I completly agree. Im typing through a phone right now but though that may be fraud i do not agree with there ways. Nothing against u gateway, but i belive they owe u the best job done and if u want to fix it urself or watever. That should be ur choice. Ill post later