They went into body shops, asked for an estimate and were given estimates for repairs. None of the estimates for written for insurance companies or submitted to insurance. This is not illegal.
Garamendi has declared war on behalf of the insurance companies on independent repair shops. All shops listed are independent and not direct repair. The insurance commission has yet to fine an insurance company for steering, or discounting repairs under the existing laws. When is the insurance commission actually going to regulate the insurance companies.
According to the article, the individuals who wrote the estimates knew that they were participating in a fraud scheme by providing those estimates. By doing so, they facilitated the alleged scheme and were party to it. An honest individual would have refused their requests for falsified documentation and reported the encounter to the authorities.
It sounds to me like it was a set up. I find it hard to believe that shop owners would agree to help a complete stranger commit fraud. If the undercover agent went in and asked for an estimate for a complete paint job then why wouldnt the body shop provide him with that? Was it clearly explained to all body shops that the undercover agent was trying to defraud his insurance company? I doubt it. Let’s hope for the Shop owners who mistakenly fell prey to an “undercover agent” things can be cleared up and reputations arent destroyed.
The article states that these shops wrote the estimates after being told the party was going to defraud the insurance company and some even coached on how to make the damages worse. How you can think that these charges will never stick is beyond me. Some I am sure will be aquitted, but I feel the majority will face punishment.
If we in this industry stand firm in the support of C.D.I. and our District Attorneys in the discovery and procescution of this type of insurance crime, then and only then can we raise the
integrity level of this profession to the level it deserves. Rememering that we must
serve our clients interest first and by doing so we also help the industry as a whole. Let’s be firm in our honesty and integrity in the insurance business.
Retired multi-state broker & teacher.
Jim Connick CA0597870
If we in this industry stand firm in the support of C.D.I. and our District Attorneys in the discovery and procescution of this type of insurance crime, then and only then can we raise the
integrity level of this profession to the level it deserves. Rememering that we must
serve our clients interest first and by doing so we also help the industry as a whole. Let’s be firm in our honesty and integrity in the insurance business.
Retired multi-state broker & teacher.
Jim Connick CA0597870
These charges will never stick.
They went into body shops, asked for an estimate and were given estimates for repairs. None of the estimates for written for insurance companies or submitted to insurance. This is not illegal.
Garamendi has declared war on behalf of the insurance companies on independent repair shops. All shops listed are independent and not direct repair. The insurance commission has yet to fine an insurance company for steering, or discounting repairs under the existing laws. When is the insurance commission actually going to regulate the insurance companies.
Can you list the names of the body shops? If you cannot, where can a list of the shops be obtained?
According to the article, the individuals who wrote the estimates knew that they were participating in a fraud scheme by providing those estimates. By doing so, they facilitated the alleged scheme and were party to it. An honest individual would have refused their requests for falsified documentation and reported the encounter to the authorities.
The charges should stick.
It sounds to me like it was a set up. I find it hard to believe that shop owners would agree to help a complete stranger commit fraud. If the undercover agent went in and asked for an estimate for a complete paint job then why wouldnt the body shop provide him with that? Was it clearly explained to all body shops that the undercover agent was trying to defraud his insurance company? I doubt it. Let’s hope for the Shop owners who mistakenly fell prey to an “undercover agent” things can be cleared up and reputations arent destroyed.
The article states that these shops wrote the estimates after being told the party was going to defraud the insurance company and some even coached on how to make the damages worse. How you can think that these charges will never stick is beyond me. Some I am sure will be aquitted, but I feel the majority will face punishment.
If we in this industry stand firm in the support of C.D.I. and our District Attorneys in the discovery and procescution of this type of insurance crime, then and only then can we raise the
integrity level of this profession to the level it deserves. Rememering that we must
serve our clients interest first and by doing so we also help the industry as a whole. Let’s be firm in our honesty and integrity in the insurance business.
Retired multi-state broker & teacher.
Jim Connick CA0597870
If we in this industry stand firm in the support of C.D.I. and our District Attorneys in the discovery and procescution of this type of insurance crime, then and only then can we raise the
integrity level of this profession to the level it deserves. Rememering that we must
serve our clients interest first and by doing so we also help the industry as a whole. Let’s be firm in our honesty and integrity in the insurance business.
Retired multi-state broker & teacher.
Jim Connick CA0597870