Seeing clearly through windshield scams may not be as simple as it seems

Glendale, Avondale, Maryvale, and Goodyear Residents: In the previous issue, we introduced you to the confusing world of windshield repair and auto glass replacement scams. (To review the previous article, click here.) In this article, we will show you some of the typical ways scammers approach drivers in an attempt to make money off your auto insurance policy, and subsequently, how their actions can increase your auto insurance premiums. Also discussed is what has been happening to some of the people who get involved in such scams.

In the next article, the third in the series, we will discuss both honest and dishonest incentives, the impact that the fraudulent windshield repair and auto glass replacement companies activities have on us all, and how you can spot and safeguard yourself when presented with scams.

There are more ways to perform windshield repair and auto glass replacement scams than probably any one of us could think of. Windshield repair and auto glass replacement scams aim at defrauding auto insurance and car rental companies, and have involved both large and small auto glass replacement and windshield repair companies.

It may seem difficult to tell the difference, sometimes, between honest companies offering incentives as a sales promotion or discount, and dishonest ones offering incentives as a form of enticement or bribes to get the unsuspecting motorist personally involved in these auto insurance fraud schemes. Windshield repair and auto glass replacement scams can be rather simple to spot but require a little thought and judgment on the part of the consumer.

The key to avoid becoming a victim of this type of fraud is to be aware of the types of scams being done, the ramifications of being involved in a scam, and knowing how to clearly see the difference between honest offers and dishonest ones.

Some Common Windshield Scams We Can See in Glendale, Avondale, Maryvale, or Goodyear

Here is a typical scenario: A consumer drives into an automated car wash, and someone there, while the driver is waiting his or her turn, approaches and offers to fix a rock chip in the windshield. The person, often referred to as a windshield harvester, explains that he can repair the chip at no cost to you, the driver. State regulation mandates that your auto insurance company is required to waive the comprehensive deductible for all chip repairs, and is required to offer a $0 deductible for auto glass replacement. The scammer/harvester then asks the driver for his auto insurance policy and information for billing.

As an incentive for the driver to innocently participate, the unsuspecting participant may be offered free dinners for a year at a well-known local restaurant. They may also offer a freezer full of steaks, a cash rebate, season tickets to the ball game, or some other offer that may total far more than the cost of a new windshield! The driver gets a “receipt” for the windshield repair (maybe $25 for multiple chip repairs) and the insurance company gets a bill for hundreds of dollars for a new windshield replacement. In fact, the auto insurance company may receive claims repeatedly on the same auto insurance policy without anyone ever knowing it, unless the policyholder happens to check.

The Accidental Windshield Repair

A variant of this windshield repair scheme is that the simple repair is started but an “accident” occurs which ruins the windshield. A small hole is drilled to facilitate the repair by stopping the spread of a crack and, “woops,” the drill penetrated the internal laminate layer that gives safety glass its shatterproof characteristics. In doing so, the integrity of the windshield will be compromised and the windshield safety glass will be ruined. At this point, there is no option but to replace the entire windshield. That kind of replacement likely turned over to a "fly-by-night" company that does the work in a cheap, shoddy, sloppy manner with cheap materials by someone who does not possess the necessary skills. This combination causes the driver ongoing problems with a windshield that was not needed, improperly installed, and possibly not even wanted.

-FRAUD ALERT-
Avondale, Glendale, Maryvale,
and Goodyear Residents

Is the address on your bill or claim the same as where the windshield repair or auto glass replacement took place?

Another illustrated method came through one convicted Louisiana scammer who was billing auto insurance companies from a street address in a rural Mississippi town. The address belonged to a homeowner who knew nothing about the fact that a fraudulent windshield repair and auto glass replacement company was using his address as a place of business. The reason for this is that legitimate auto glass shops in rural areas can bill the auto insurance company more for windshield replacement than would be allowed in more densely populated and more competitive urban areas. This illegally increases the revenue taken from the auto insurance company by hundreds of dollars per window.

Some might think or say, “What is the difference since the work was free?” The difference is that the harvester stole money not only from the auto insurance company, but also from every one of the insurance company’s policyholders, who really foot the bill through their insurance premiums. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. "Nothing is for free".

More to come in the next issue

In the next article, the third in the series, our discussion will focus on another unusual approach that scammers can use to affect those who rent cars, the widespread impact of these scams and how the prosecution of this crime can affect the driver. We will also provide you with things to watch for and several tips on how to keep yourself safe from those who would take your money in needless repairs.

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SunTec Auto Glass is a family-owned business located in Arizona, serving most of Maricopa and Pinal counties. We are auto glass repair professionals and specialize in windshield replacement, auto glass repair, window tinting and glass etching. The expert installers at Suntec Auto Glass are perfect for the job. SunTec Auto Glass understands the importance of using only the best quality auto glass available for your vehicle and for the safety of you and your family. Anywhere in Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear or Maryvale look no further. For professional help and premium quality automotive glass, parts, and moldings. Contact SunTec Auto Glass today to handle all of your auto glass repair and windshield replacement needs.

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(480) 782-5489