PCTG Consumer Complaint Report Record ID#: 1360179470
Date of Report Submission: 02/06/13
Consumer Information
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Daytime Phone:
Evening Phone:
Repair Facility Information
Repair Facility: HUNTAUTOBODY
State Appraiser License: 144440
Shop Representative: MARK VETTORI
Address: 10 LINCOLN CIRCLE
City: FAIRLESS HILLS
State: PA
Zip: 19030
Phone: 215-946-8488
Insurance Information
Insurance Company: STATE FARM
Claim Number: 38-2B64-28101
Insurance Company Representative: TOM FINNELL
Date of Loss: 01-16-13
Appraiser License Number: 143221
Insurance Company Phone: 800-839-8080
Legislator Information
Consumer Legislative Representative: Santarsiero, Steven J. (D) - District 31
Consumer Senator: McIlhinney, Charles T., Jr. (R) - District 10
Repair Facility Legislative Representative: Galloway, John T. (D) - District 140
Repair Facility Senator: McIlhinney, Charles T., Jr. (R) - District 10
Complaint Comments:
In regards to safety being paramount according to the appraisers act, we feel that State Farm is disregarding not only the safety of the vehicle owner but to all other drivers on the road by the use of junk yard suspension parts. In an act of good faith we told State Farm we would consider using such parts if they could prove to us and the vehicle owner that these parts are safe by paying to have these parts tested using a dye penetrant test on aluminium parts or a magna flux test for steel parts. This is the only way we could confirm if these parts have any micro cracks which are not visible to the naked eye. The presence of these micro cracks would severely disable the integrity and safety of a vehicle. It would also be nearly impossible to prove that the part failed. The response from the appraiser was that they have a number of "approved" shops in our area that use these parts without protest. These "approved" shops sign an agreement to honor the insurance companies repair policies. These shops will never protest the usage of said parts if they wish to keep having work steered to their facilities. I don't understand how these agreements, which supress the true market costs of doing business, can be used to supress the rest of the industry. Please respond at your earliest convenience.