PCTG Consumer Complaint Report Record ID#: 1616412995
Date of Report Submission: 03/22/21
Consumer Information
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Daytime Phone:
Evening Phone:
Repair Facility Information
Repair Facility: Brandywine Coach Works
State Appraiser License: 153336
Shop Representative: Bob Cicconi
Address: 1209 Baltimore Pike
City: Chadds Ford
State: PA
Zip: 19317
Phone: 610-459-8860
Insurance Information
Insurance Company: GEICO
Claim Number: 0304975190101037-01
Insurance Company Representative: Ryan Popko
Date of Loss: 03/01/2021
Appraiser License Number: UNK
Insurance Company Phone: 412-443-6864
Legislator Information
Consumer Legislative Representative: N/A
Consumer Senator: N/A
Repair Facility Legislative Representative: N/A
Repair Facility Senator: N/A
Complaint Comments:
GEICO field appraiser inspected loss vehicle for supplement on March 19, 2021 and reviewed my supplement request. On my supplement was a manual entry for Covid Disinfection for $25 and 1.0. GEICO has paid this charge in the past and recognizes it as a necessary procedure during the covid pandemic to ensure that the virus is not spread to any employees at the shop. The field appraiser agreed that the charge was necessary and saw that we did, in fact, disinfect the loss vehicle and put protective covers on the steering wheel and driver’s seat, but said that he was not permitted to pay for the charge any more per GEICO management. I asked him to call his supervisor, Ryan Popko, and tell him that we did disinfect the loss vehicle and need to be paid for the procedure as we had been in the past. He did so and was denied permission to put the procedure on the supplement. I got Ryan Popko’s phone number and called him and told him that we needed to be paid for the procedure. Mr. Popko acknowledged that the covid pandemic is still present, and that GEICO has paid for the procedure in the past, but refused to pay for the procedure. The Appraisers Act clearly states that an appraiser must list all procedures necessary to repair a vehicle and that the appraiser must be free from any influence from a third party while making the appraisal. Ryan Popko clearly violated the act by his actions, and, by extension, GEICO did also, by making an arbitrary decision to stop paying for a procedure that they acknowledge is necessary and that they paid for until through February 2021. Ryan Popko stated that starting March 1, 2021 GEICO will no longer honor that procedure. My conversation with Ryan Popko took place at 1:45 PM on March 19.