How to avoid Windshield repair scams
Has a stranger ever walked up to you at the gas station or carwash telling you forcefully that you have chips/cracks in your front windshield? You think to yourself, “that’s random, I can’t see any chips or cracks at all. Wouldn’t this be something that I noticed on my own, as I drive my car for hours every single day.”
The stranger insists on helping you for free to replace the glass on your vehicle’s windshield. Your auto insurance will pay for everything, the stranger says. He also promises $200 in cash on the spot plus an incentive for friend referrals.
This is what the people who are trustworthy in the industry call a “Windshield Swindle” We caution our readers to please BE AWARE of this RED FLAG. It might possibly lead to a very serious safety hazard, con your insurance provider, increase your car insurance premiums, or even worse, give you a ticket to go to jail.
SOME OF THE SCAMS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER:
Replacing windshields that don’t have damage to them. Typically, crooks will persuade drivers to replace windshields that don’t actually need to be replaced. These crooks then deceive your insurance provider that your windshield is in need of repair because of serious damage. Next they’ll demand your insurer inflated replacement fees
Magnify actual damages. Scammers might replace an expensive windshield that only contains a tiny chip or crack that rather should be repaired vs replaced. They also tend to charge insurance companies for more than one chip replacement when all of the work they say they did was not actually performed
Scammers charge for everything. Certain scammers usually charge your car insurance company for more than one windshield replacements without your concent or you even knowing they did so. As soon as they have your ins. information, you could be at their mercy, and feel the after effects long after the incident occurs.
Fly by Night workers. Usually the scammers are fly by night operators. They are not certified nor trained to do the work you are hiring them for. They don’t even work out of an office but rather their own cars or trucks. They often get in touch with people at gas stations or car washes, or any place where these people are standing outside of their car with easy access to walk up to them. The crooks are aggressive in nature, & will sell you on unnecessary repairs and.or replacements.
Crooked automotive shops. For the most part, autobody shops can be trusted, but outsourced scammers may try to scam you on windshield repairs when they don’t even work for the body shop. So be alert when bringing your car in for repairs.
Business’ with high volume. Windshield scammers make most of their money from these high volume businesses. It’s very easy for them to replace or repair windshields, and they can do it with a quickness… then markup the cost to your insurance company.
Offer cash rebates. They also may offer you a cash “rebate” or inflate the repair bill to cover your deductible. In states that require insurers to waive the deductible for repairing windshields, crooks may mention this loophole to convince you the repairs really are free.
HOW YOU END UP PAYING THE PRICE:
Both your passengers, as well as yourself, could face a critical safety risk.
1. If the windshield is cheap, glass could easily break or shatter while you are driving. A poorly installed windshield can cause your sight to be impaired. This distorts your sight and road view, as well as keeps you from seeing actual road hazards or signs.
2. What if the windshield is installed poorly? If this happens, the windshield can come off while involved in a crash, which can make your accident more serious and even deadly. Incoming debris then could strike occupants; drivers and passengers could be ejected.
3. Their repairs are not quality. This will lead to larger cracks or breaks and end up costing even more money, but out of pocket.
4. Your car insurance premiums will increase
5. Your car insurance company could deny you coverage, even for basic insurance if they were to find out the truth.
6. If your premiums increase, so could everyone else’s
7. Lastly, and this rarely happens. but you could be charged with insurance fraud, regardless of whether or not you know you are working with a scammer.
FIND A REPUTABLE COMPANY:
With that said, you may get overwhelmed by the amount of Autoglass Companies you find in Arizona. Don’t be lured in by some deal where you get cash back. The best way to go about finding a solid company is by doing research. Once you have done your research, we hope you will consider using AGD as your premier windshield or autoglass service Our reputation in the community says a lot about the work we do.
AGD Auto Glass & Tint Co.
3414 S Mill Ave | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-759-5900 | Website
Central: 602-759-5900
East Valley: 480-289-5108
West Valley: 602-275-5066
Windshield Repair/Replacement Services, Auto glass Film, Car Wraps & More Serving the valley as well as the entire state of Arizona.
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