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Industry Responds to CNN Segment Exposing “Steering” & Use of “Sub-par” Parts in DRPs by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
The recent CNN news report about the collision repair industry gave viewers an inside look at the challenges body shops face in order to repair cars safely for consumers. It aired on the Anderson Cooper 360 show Feb. 11. The 11-minute segment, entitled “Auto Insurers Accused of Pushing Cheap and Sometimes Dangerous Repairs,” explained the widespread use of “salvaged” or aftermarket parts as well as the practice of insurance companies “steering” work away from certain shops that aren’t part of their select service programs. In addition, the program discussed the lawsuits filed by more than 500 body shops in 36 states against the top insurance companies in the country to address their concerns. “This was just another validation of, as CNN put it the ‘scheme’ that’s
going on within the insurance industry and anyone associated with them. It also validates what shops all around the country have been seeing and dealing with for years,” said Ron Perretta, owner of Professionals Auto Body in Pennsylvania. “This segment [CNN] strengthens our position with the nationwide suits,” said Perretta. “These types of tactics are tragic and offensive, deliberate and most of all hurting family’s of consumers financially through diminishing the values of the second largest investment people are making all across the country and their safety.” During the show, Drew Griffin, CNN Special Investigation Unit Correspondent, looked into the allegations. He interviewed Bill Burn, a national auto repair expert, as well as Matt Parker, owner of Parker Auto Body in Monroe, LA. Both addressed the issue of “bad repairs” conducted See CNN Segment, Page 32
2015 Ford F-150 Long-Term Road Test
VOL. 5 ISSUE 12 MARCH 2015
only about the reaction to the story we reprint the article here with permission of Edmunds.com.
The following article was written by Travis Langness, Associate Editor at Edmunds.com. It was published on Jan. 26 and has generated a lot of commentary online. Since many readers heard
Aluminum Body Repairs Part 1 I hit our brand-new long-term 2015 Ford F-150 4X4 SuperCrew with a sledgehammer. On purpose. Twice. See 2015 Ford F-150, Page 24
Travis Langness, Associate editor at edmunds.com, takes a sledgehammer to a brand new aluminum Ford F-150 to test the collision repair process. Photo credit: Edmunds.com
AASP/NJ Hosts NORTHEAST™ 2015 Automotive Services Show March 20–22 by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Charles Bryant file photo
March 20 is right around the corner, bringing with it AASP/NJ’s 38th Annual NORTHEAST™ Automotive Services Show.
The increasingly popular event will be held March 20th through 22nd at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, located at 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ, 07094. The association has planned an informative schedule of seminars, demos and other industry events to ensure that attendees receive as much
value as possible from the weekend. Charles Bryant, Executive Director of AASP/NJ, explains, “We host the Northeast Tradeshow to allow everyone in the industry to come together and see
all of the new and exciting things that are being introduced into the industry, and allow National Leaders of the industry to speak at the Leaders Meeting See NORTHEAST ™ 2015, Page 10
See also details on Courses and Presentations, p. 14
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