We’ve said it before, and we’ll say
it again, we are not your favorite group of people to see. We get it, who likes
getting in an auto accident? Nobody comes to Oakdale Collision, throws open the
doors and exclaims how excited they are about getting their car repaired. This
is an inconvenience to you, your family, and your wallet. We want to make sure
that before, during, and after this confusing time you know your rights as a
consumer.
You
have the right to pick where your car is repaired. This one baffles some
people, because your insurance sometimes seems to omit this detail. Your
insurance company has direct repair facilities it prefers to work with out of
ease and contractual agreements holding the shop to certain rates.
Occasionally, they will make recommendations to their clients where they should
take their vehicles. This by no means requires you to use said body shop,
however. You still have the option to get your vehicle repaired at whichever
shop you prefer, regardless of where your insurance mentions.
You
have the right to pick what kind of parts are used on your vehicle. This
one can be a bit less clear, but you have a say in what kind of parts are put
on your vehicle. There are typically three types of repair parts we could use;
OEM, Non-OEM, or recycled parts. An OEM part is an “Original Equipment
Manufacturer” part, meaning it was made by the manufacturer. A Non-OEM part is
any part considered aftermarket, or made by someone other than the
manufacturer, and a recycled part is exactly what the name suggests, recycled.
Some insurance companies have you waive this right when you sign their policy
statements, but for the most part you have the right to choose which type of
part goes on your vehicle.
You
have the right to a safely repaired vehicle. You can ask us any time about
our processes, what we are certified in, and how we fix your vehicle. After the
vehicle is finished, we will present you with an itemized copy of everything we
did to your car. Our goal is always return your vehicle back to pre-accident
condition, and that includes it being a safe vehicle to operate.
Our
goal at Oakdale Collision is to build a relationship with our customers based
on trust, and assurance that we are the very best at what we do. We know it’s
true, and hope that one day you can see it too! If you need an estimate, need a
repair, or just have some questions about what you should know as a customer,
call us today! We’d be happy to help.
