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BREAKING NEWS Updates Windshield Chip Repair Blog Windshield repair Directory
Louisiana Auto Glass Shop Operators Arrested for Insurance Fraud
March 16, 2012
Two operators of a Louisiana windscreen repair and replacement business are under arrest for twenty-four counts each of claimed insurance crime. Stephen Sanderson, 52, and Sherry Williams, 46, run an auto glass business in the Ouachita Parish. At press time the business ' name hadn't been released.
Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance reported more than eighty purported fraudulent claims that were submitted to the insurance firm between 2006 and 2010. State Farm has additionally purported insurance fraud from the auto glass business in 2010.
"The business corrected rock pecks on a customer's window and billed the insurance company for a glass replacement. In circumstances where a windscreen was replaced, they billed the insurance companies for costlier glass items and other services that weren't performed," read a public relations release from the Louisiana State Police.
Both Williams and Sanderson were each charged with twenty-four counts of insurance crime and are currently being held at the Ouachita Correctional Center with bond set at $36,000 each.
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March 2, 2012
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Windshield Replacement Wars
March 1, 2012
Insane Money Funds Dash to Regulate Auto Glass Mend
For ages the country's roughly 300 independently owned auto glass shops outfits like Ace Glass, Quackt Glass and Dr . Glass have been fighting a turf war with huge glass conglomerates over the insurance-funded window repairs.
The Palmetto State is one of a few in which if your automobile windscreen cracks, your auto insurer must swap it for no deductible, provided you have thorough insurance. The insurance companies use a structure of preferred repair shops to do the work, and those shops give discounted rates to the insurance corporations for referrals.
The eventuality has caused a battle among smaller glass-repair shops, insurance firms, third party directors that own glass firms and insubstantial scammer-type operations known as harvesters.
If you call insurance firms Allstate or Across the nation, for example, it is the Ohio-based Safelite Solutions, a 3rd party director, that handles calls for a glass claim. Safelite also operates a state glass-repair business.
"They're steering their customers to themselves," announces Fred Price, owner of Ace Glass, a business that has been installing glass in Columbia since 1939, about corporations like Safelite.
Outstanding legislation is aimed at stopping that. Last year, the S.C. House passed a bill by a huge margin that would ban third-party directors from owning 10 percent or even more of a glass-repair business. The bill is already in the Senate.
"What this [legislation] does is just sort of levels the playing field ; it just stops the steering," Price asserts, adding that he has had best friends standing at his front counter while on the phone with a 3rd party administrator that was attempting to steer him away from Price's shop.
"The shopper does have the legal right to who repairs their windshield," Price announces.
With the bill now in the Senate, Safelite is fighting back. Both sides have employed lobbyists and Safelite has been throwing around some significant money.
Call it the window wars.
The state Chamber of Commerce has come out against the bill. The South Carolina Business & Industry Political Education Panel has determined the law is "business negative," a deal breaker for many judiciary whose votes are influenced heavily by the potent BIPEC PAC.
Critics of the law, like Safelite, say it will raise insurance costs.
"Oftentimes, clients rely on their insurance firm to refer them to a credible repair center, backed by the insurance company," said Brian DiMasi, Safelite's senior company lawyer, in a statement. "Claim costs will rise, guaranty claims will rise, and customer grumbles will rise."
Fans of the bill call that a scare tactic because it is the insurance firms that set the price .
This autumn, Safelite donated $1,000 each to more than 12 of the state Senate's 46 members. It also wrote huge checks to both the Senate GOP and Democratic caucuses.
"We caught them sort of flat-footed last year, so they had all summer to power up for the Senate," says State House lobbyist Warren Tompkins, who represents the independent glass shops, about Safelite. "They're spending money right and left."
The independent glass shops, also , have given money to judiciary.
As the cash flows backwards and forwards and the discussion goes on, it has illuminated a seedier side of the business of auto-glass repair [*T].
Ever been stopped at a car wash, gas station or corner shop car park and been hounded by someone who's noticed your chipped window and presses you to enroll for an appointment to fix it?
They're known as harvesters and they prowl anywhere parked vehicles are plenty. Some have even been charged with actually causing the damage. The companies are hard to track, and some motorists have accused them of doing crappy work.
In the windshield wars, these harvesters have been piled in on the side of the independent repair shops that share a lobbyist in Tompkins to the detriment of their effort to get the legislation passed.
"Essentially they are sting artists shakedown artists," announces Safelite lobbyist Tony Denny about harvesters that he blames for driving up cover rates. That's the reason why the industry set up preferred repair store networks, he is saying.
Those operations though, asserts Tompkins, only exist because companies like Safelite have been squeezing the independent shops to the point at which they've had to advertise by hiring harvesters.
Sue Berkowitz, director of the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, claims some of the lobbyists have come to her and questioned if she would get involved because it is a consumer issue. Her organization advocates for the lowincome community.
February 27, 2012
Today it has formed a new company, Guardian Auto Glass Bloomington, LLC to acquire the assets of Glass Specialty Company based in Bloomington, Illinois. Guardian Auto Glass provides glass repair and replacement services for automobiles, buses, trucks and recreational automobiles and now has more than 75 Locations all though the U. S. . Glass Speciality commenced operations in 1957 and now provides auto glass replacement and repair services from multiple servicing locations across Illinois.
Ron Talley, current CEO of Glass Specialty will serve as vice president and handling partner of the new company. "We at Glass Speciality are delighted to Partner with Guardian Auto Glass and anticipate expanding our business in Illinois and in opposite communities," recounted Talley.
"Glass Specialty is a well-established business with experienced and dedicated Employees," declared Marc Talbert, VP and handling partner of Guardian Auto Glass.
"This new collaboration will provide Guardian Auto Glass the opportunity to expand our footprint." Guardian Auto Glass LLC was formed in 2010 between Guardian Glass Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Industries Company, and LRST LLC to control and grow the retail auto glass business of Guardian. Guardian Auto Glass LLC is seeking business owners, qualified sales pros and operations managers who seek possession and / or employment opportunities in their markets, across the US.
Allstate launches New Auto Glass Replacement claims service.
February 27, 2012
Allstate launches auto-claims service in Texas Allstate Co. Has rolled out a new service in Texas called Claims Satisfaction Guarantee. Under the new feature, if an admissible client is discontented in any way, for any reason whatsoever, with the standard of service received on a paid auto claim, Allstate ( NYSE : ALL ) will provide a credit to the customer's auto-policy premium. The proviso is that customers will have to express their dissatisfaction in writing within 180 days of the situation that caused the claim. This new feature is automatically available on each Allstate auto policy in Texas, including Austin, effective Jan. 1, 2012. There aren't any costs at all associated with it, say Allstate officers. Allstate tested this program last year in Indiana, Ohio and Georgia to standard auto policies. Claims Satisfaction Guarantee is now available in 31 states with additional states planned throughout 2012. The service is designed to complement Allstate's Your Choice Auto products, including Accident Clemency, Deductible Rewards and its Safe Driving Bonus check. Allstate is one of the state's largest in public held private lines insurer.
Court Permits Previous PGW Workers to Request Documents on PGW's Reduction-In-Force
February 25, 2012
The former Pittsburgh Glass Works ' employees, who are alleging age discrimination against the company, have been granted authorization by the court to file a motion to compel discovery related to documents relating to reduction-in-force at PGW during October of 2011.
In the joint status report filed last week PGW objected to this request claiming it is "irrelevant to the claims in this matter."
The parties were told to call the court if any issues arise in the deposition of James Wiggins, PGW's CEO. The deposition was also a point of contention in mediation discussions, as the former staff needed to question Wiggins about his ownership in other firms, his financial footing and private net worth. PGW has objected to providing information on those subjects.
The suit was initially filed in October 2010 and the plaintiffs in the suit include seven former workers who allege they were let go in a March 2009 reduction-in-force due to their age. Mediation was held on February 2, but stopped with the releasing of the joint standing report claiming the former employees and PGW couldn't come to agreement.
The former staff will have till March 6 to file the motion to force discovery and, if filed, PGW will have until March thirteen to file a reply.
Precision Auto Glass Sells Out too Private Equity Firm Owned Glass America.
February 24, 2012
Chicago-based Glass America has completed a transaction to procure auto glass repair and replacement retailer, Precision Auto Glass in western Big Apple. Precision Auto Glass has been serving the Buffalo, New York area for many years and functions as a competitor for area locations of Glass America.
"This transaction broadens Glass America's market share in western Long Island and brings the company immediate additional growth and other fascinating opportunities," says Mike Barry, CEO of Glass America.
As an element of the transaction Glass America will obtain Precision Auto Glass' purchaser list.
"The owner of Precision Auto Glass was content to blend our customers with his and needed to move on from the auto glass business," claims Scott Wills, chief finance officer for Glass America. "We have operations in the western New York market as well and we considered Precision Auto Glass a competitor of ours so we are quite happy with the acquisition and with the sizable buyer list that we have obtained."
"Customers of Precision Auto Glass will enjoy the full armoury of benefits and quality craftsmanship that all Glass America purchasers receive," says Alan Resnick, VP of Glass America. "They can expect fast, prompt service, the fit of original-equipment glass, AGRSS licensed technicians and an hour safe drive away time.".
Rockland auto glass company marks 10 years in business
Friday, April 20, 2012 3:03 AM
As The Patriot Ledger celebrates 175 years of publication this year, we're taking a look at other local businesses with big anniversaries in 2012. We asked Christopher Allen, owner of Allen Auto Glass in Rockland, about his company as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year.
GLASS RECYCLED Invites Automobile Manufacturers To Utilize Recycled Auto Glass In Their Corporate Offices
Friday, April 27, 2012 5:35 PM
GLASS RECYCLED announces that they are seeking automobile manufacturers to feature recycled glass tabletops in their offices and boardrooms.Plano, TX (PRWEB) April 27, 2012 GLASS RECYCLED is challenging the automobile industry to make an environmental statement by featuring recycled auto glass surfaces in their offices and boardrooms. This new initiative is paired with their soon to be released ...
ABRA Auto Body & Glass Acquires Bradshaw Collision Repair Centers
Monday, April 30, 2012 9:48 AM
ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a Minnesota-based damaged vehicle repair company and industry leader announced today the acquisition of Bradshaw Collision Repair Centers in the Nashvil
All Star Glass Celebrates 35 Years of Excellence
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:14 AM
The auto and truck glass repair/replacement company would like to thank its valued customers for an amazing 35 years in business. (PRWeb May 16, 2012) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9511799.htm
Columbus men form new auto glass repair business
Saturday, April 21, 2012 10:40 PM
“It’s about time.” That’s the response Kevin Jaixen got from customers when he opened All Star Auto Glass in February, bringing co-workers Mike Henggeler and Andrew Bruhn with him to the new business.
Minneapolis Glass Repair and Replacement Company Celebrates Earth Day with a New State-of-the-art Glass Recycling ...
Friday, April 20, 2012 1:16 AM
Rapid glass, an Auto Glass Repair and Home Window Glass Replacement company, has established a cost effective “Green” alternative to waste disposal using pulverized glass recyclingMinneapolis, MN (PRWEB) April 20, 2012 It has always been a difficult and costly proposition for glass repair and replacement companies to dispose of their broken glass. Until recently they could only recycle a small ...
Picture brightens on auto-tinting smart windows
Friday, May 11, 2012 9:22 AM
Big building companies back smart-glass startups Soladigm and Sage Electrochromics to get auto-tinting glass out of the labs and into buildings.
Picture on auto-tinting smart windows brightens
Friday, May 11, 2012 8:52 AM
Big building companies back smart-glass startups Soladigm and Sage Electrochromics to get auto-tinting glass out of the labs and into buildings.
New auto body and glass shop to open in north Bibb County
Monday, May 7, 2012 2:33 PM
Minnesota-based ABRA Auto Body & Glass bought the former BMW dealership at 111 Riverside Parkway, and spent nearly four months renovating the building.
Melissa Preddy: Windshield blocks sun rays, unlike windows
Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:08 AM
Do you ever think of dabbing on sunscreen before your morning commute or a Sunday drive? If not, you may want to toss a tube of SPF 15 into the glove compartment.
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