Posted On: August 16, 2004, 3:24 pm CDT

Posted By: Bill

The Farmers article is misleading and inflamatory. The majority of consumers will not fall prey to replacing a windshield that is not broken. If they do the penalty is severe. In my opinion the "fraud" occurs when the consumer is bilked into replacing the windshield and then authorizes a direct bill to their insurance company without ever asking about the cost. The offers of free dinners and deductible waiver are tempting fruit to the unwary so why worry, right? I don't have to pay anything and we get free food, how nice. If the consumer paid for the glass replacement out of pocket it would be a competitive price and a different scenario with no free dinners. The unreputable glass companies will typically bill the insurance company three times the "reasonable rate" knowing their profit will come from the inflated insurance payment. It's no wonder the insurance companies are fed up with these types of scams. If we see a glass bill that is out of line we will pay only the fair and reasonable rate for the area. When the glass company receives a lesser payment the customer is the one that pays the balance of the bill. The insurance company is not " the customer" so the insured ends up going to court and paying the inflated balance. The policy of insurance is a contract which requires insureds to notify the insurer as soon as possible after a loss. If the insured falls for the free dinner caper and never questions the bill then the insured may as well get ready for small claims court. And we wonder why our insurance rates continue to rise.