Results of 1996 Society of Collision Repair Specialists Paint Capping StudySteps To Overcome Arbitrary Paint CappingRepairers who continue charging for paint and materials by multiplying a dollar amount times the paint refinish hours on the repair will continue to run into resistance from the insurance companies. Arbitrary paint capping can be overcome with the proper procedures. When the cost of paint and materials exceeds the insurance company's cap, the repairer needs to document the paint and materials for that job. Then those charges are no different than charges for a part. It's the cost of those specific paints and materials. Eleven Insurers State Their Position Eleven insurance companies have replied to the SCRS inquiry of their position regarding arbitrary paint capping. Basically, they say when the repair shop documents paint and materials costs that are more than the cap amount, it will be considered for additional payment. They are: Allstate State Farm USAA Integon Nationwide Metropolitan Safeco Shelter Automobile Club/Southern California Farmers California State Automobile Association/Northern California Five Insurers Won't State Their Position: They are: Travelers Erie Liberty Mutual EMC Mercury Thirty Six Insurance Departments Said Arbitrary Capping Of Paint and Material By Insurance Companies Was A Violation Of The Policy And Department Regulations They are: Alabama Alaska Arizona California Colorado Delaware Georgia Guam Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Mississippi Minnesota Montana Nebraska New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Dakota Texas Virginia Washington Washington D.C. Wisconsin Wyoming Twelve Insurance Departments Said Maybe It's Illegal: Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia Four Said They Never Received A Complaint: Arkansas, Connecticut, South Carolina, Utah One Has Not Replied: Massachusetts |