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AutoMuse®, call it a blawg, blog, or just downright useful information on automotive consumer and legal issues, including diminished value, the Used Car Review™, collision repair, insurance, fair market value, valuations, law, cars, trucks, car, truck, vehicles, consumer, government, attorneys, lawyers, Like Exchange™, and what makes a car blog, car blawg, auto blog, or auto blawg.

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Last Entry: September 02, 2009 at 17:21:13

CT Attorney General Blumenthal Demands Auto Insurance Practices Investigation

Posted on September 02, 2009
Once again, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is the only government official who appears to have any knowledge or concern about consumers and what they receive from their state-mandated auto insurance. Bloomberg.com reports that AG Blumenthal is asking the U...

State Farm Not Hip with Clip

Posted on June 13, 2008
Today’s good news is that State Farm has put in writing that its adjusters are NOT to write estimates calling for a “clip”. For non-collision repair familiar folks, a “clip” is like creating a Frankenstein vehicle. It occurs when the repairer cuts your car in half and welds a salvage yard half from [...

Insurance Lobbyists Twist Facts Says National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Posted on April 04, 2008
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) today released a press statement defending its members from insurer criticisms of slow administrative filing processes. Kansas Insurance Commissioner and President of NAIC, Sandy Praeger, refuted the criticism from “high-paid insurance lobbyists” and noted the irony of insurance representatives complaining of slow action on the part of [...

Collision Repair Code of Ethics Update

Posted on March 12, 2008
For those interested in the next meeting to discuss the Collision Repair Code of Ethics, make plans to attend the Northeast Regional Autobody/Automotive Trade Show in Suffern, NY. Northeast Regional Autobody/Automotive Trade Show Rockland Expositions, Trade Show and Exposition Services and Rental Equipment If you would like to see the changes that were made to the COE [...

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Another Progressive Concierge Repaired Vehicle Declared Unsafe

Posted on February 29, 2008
How many unsafe vehicles have to come out of “Direct Repair Program” or “Concierge” shops before consumers, legislators, and governmental officials say “Enough is Enough!  We want cars traveling our roads to be safely repaired!”?  Yet another Progressive concierge-repaired vehicle was discovered recently to have been unsafely repaired...

California Legislator Looking to Stop Insurer Referrals

Posted on February 29, 2008
California joining other locals to stop insurance company referrals to “preferred” body shops. Steered wrong? | Santa Rosa Press Democrat // News for California’s North Bay and Redwood Empire Technorati Tags: insurer, auto insurance, collision repair, auto body, accident, legislation

Steering You Wrong? IL Consumers Join CT with Insurer-Recommended Repair Complaints

Posted on February 28, 2008
“Chicago — Choosing the best body shop to repair your car is never an easy decision. Now, some customers complain that some insurance companies are steering them to body shops that might not be best for their cars. Larry Yellen has this investigation...

Is Anything Real in Today?s America? Or is it All Just Fluff and Puffing?

Posted on February 21, 2008
eAutoclaims has created “Collision Repair Centers” of America to try to get a piece of the direct repair program action. But when you dig deep enough, the consumer-friendly-looking site turns out to be just another face of the insurance business...

?Good Hands? Slapped ? US Supreme Court Tells Allstate ?Nay?

Posted on February 20, 2008
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Allstate Insurance Company’s last chance to override a Texas law that prohibits insurance companies from owning collision repair shops. Docket for 07-775 Allstate, and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sterling Collision Centers, Inc...

Progressive Boots President of Claims Group 2

Posted on February 12, 2008
Well, it’s about time someone senior at Progressive got told the company’s claims adjuster mantra, “We don’t pay for that.” Buh-by, Brian J. Passell. Guess we’ll keep you’re salary and kickers to help pay for our tanking stock prices...

Connecticut AG Speaks Out Against Insurers? Direct Repair Programs

Posted on January 18, 2008
Again this year, Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, is trying to ensure that repaired vehicles returned to his State’s and the nation’s highways are safe. At yesterday’s press conference Connecticut’s Attorney General demanded that consumers be permitted to exercise their free choice in selecting the shop to repair their vehicles...

Florida Pulls Allstate?s Ticket

Posted on January 17, 2008
In yet another shocking display of hubris, Allstate Insurance Co. — you know, “the good hands people” — defied the Florida Insurance Commissioner’s subpoena to produce documents pertaining to the insurer’s relationships with insurance trade associations, risk modeling companies, and others...

Progressive Field: This is Cleveland

Posted on January 14, 2008
Progressive announced last Saturday that it will pay 57.6 million over the next 16 years for the right to rename the Cleveland Indians home, currently called Jacobs Field, to Progressive Field. Progressive Field, New Home of the Cleveland Indians Perhaps this explains the vicious job cuts at Progressive the Thursday before Thanksgiving...

Tata Nano, Not a New Video Game

Posted on January 11, 2008
Despite the name, the Tata Nano is a car. Yes, a motor vehicle — at a cost of $2,500. Of course, that reminds us all of the Yugo days (OK those of us who are actually old enough to remember the Yugo). India’s auto maker recently unveiled the world’s most inexpensive car...

Allstate asks U.S. Supreme Court to Dismantle Texas Statute

Posted on December 27, 2007
Although losing twice before in a Texas district court and before a 5th Circuit appellate court, Allstate Insurance and Ken Starr are hoping to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to take review of the Constitutionality of the Texas statute prohibiting insurance companies from owning collision repair shops...

CAFE Increase Passes Senate, Just in Time

Posted on December 14, 2007
Senate OKs CAFE hike - Automotive News With the current legislative session running out of time, the Senate finally approved the increased CAFE standards that the House has already voted on and passed. All we need now for the new CAFE increases — moving vehicle fuel efficiency up to 35 miles per hour by 2020 [...

I-CAR Says General Sectioning Methods Not Recommended

Posted on December 11, 2007
I-CAR - Current Events/News: e-newsletters: Advantage Online: December 3, 2007 I-CAR recently published its Advantage Online Newsletter for December questioning whether general sectioning methods were appropriate for today’s modern vehicles. I-CAR’s conclusion? General sectioning methods are no longer recommended...

Code of Ethics Comments

Posted on October 15, 2007
I’ve received a number of comments from people about the Collision Repair Code of Ethics and have asked permission to share those comments here so that others can consider them. Don’t forget, you can comment directly here at AutoMuse� — after signing in...

Collision Repair Code of Ethics

Posted on October 11, 2007
While attending some outstanding presentations on the first day of the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence (CCRE) fall seminar in October of 2006, I realized that one of the significant impediments the collision repair industry faced in business was that it had no uniform principles governing ethical conduct...

Progressive Admits Claims ?Specialist?s? Representation of CT Law is Wrong

Posted on October 08, 2007
If you are or have been a party claiming diminished value against a Progressive insured in Connecticut, you might have been put off by a misleading statement by a Progressive claims representative. One such claimant’s attorney was told blatantly that the Connecticut Insurance Department refuses to allow insurers to offer diminished value coverage, and, [...

Ohio Collision Repairers Just Say ?No? To Unsafe Repairs

Posted on August 24, 2007
Lucky for this customer that she went to an independent collision repair facility rather than one willing to simply follow the dictates of an insurance company bent on saving money. Williamsburg, Ohio shop owner Jim Krotchen, of All Makes Collision Repair Service,�determined that his customer’s 2002 Honda CRV needed to be repaired using a new suspension, [...

Cerberus Pays $7.4 Billion For Majority Interest In Chrysler Group and CFS

Posted on May 14, 2007
PRESS RELEASE: Cerberus Takes Over Majority Interest In Chrysler Group and Related Financial Services Business for $7.4 Billion From DaimlerChrysler - Automotive News($) So, Cerberus Capital Management has agreed to buy a controlling interest in Chrysler and Chrysler Financial Services...