I routinely look around the web to see what people are talking about when it comes to auto glass. As such, I was not shocked to see a question about how to get rid of a scratch in a windshield that a Yahoo! user who calls herself countrygirl76 posted, in which she purchased a truck with a scratched windshield.
What I did find shocking was that another user advocated committing fraud to have the windshield replaced. Paraphrasing, this person said to file a claim with her insurance, and if she didn’t have the coverage, to add it to her policy and then file the claim.
We all pay
When someone does that, they’re essentially asking you to pay for their misfortune.
Insurance is a product that helps you manage risk. Every one of us that owns a car is at risk of damage to our auto glass. Cracks happen. Door glass breaks. You could have a golf ball come through your rear windscreen. You never know! If you don’t want to have to pay for your car’s glass repair when it happens, you can buy insurance to help pay to return your vehicle to its original condition. The amount you pay for insurance is less than the amount insurance would pay out in the event of a substantial claim, but it works because the risk is spread among several customers.
In this case, the original condition is a scratched windshield. That’s how the truck was when she bought it, so even if it were covered by insurance, she didn’t own insurance on that vehicle when it was damaged.
I suppose it’s all a moot point, as a scratch caused by a worn windshield wiper is normal wear and tear, and insurance typically does not cover this type of thing any more than your insurance will buy you knew tires. Still, I got worked up when I read this, so I had to say something.
Insurance fraud only works when it’s undetected (unlike other crimes, like a bank robbery, where the perpetrator of the crime can potentially escape with the money). Because of that, it’s hard to say exactly how much it takes place, but the Insurance Information Institute estimates that a staggering 10% of all property and casualty losses incurred are fraudulent. That’s about $30 billion a year!
Back to my original soap box point: insurance companies will not operate at a loss. They pass the costs incurred via fraudulent claims on to all of us – in the form of higher premiums.
I’ll get off my soap box now, and return you to your more cheerful TeleGlass posts tomorrow.
Read more from
James Lee.
In 2009 he joined
TGSC Group as the managing director of product development. James brings expertise in customer satisfaction and service delivery to the team. He guest blogs for TeleGlass and is an
amateur photographer. Find him on Twitter @
jronaldlee.
Tagged as:
Fraud,
Insurance
Today’s Ask TeleGlass question was not asked by one specific person, it is however a question we are asked constantly by consumers. “If a windshield is not cracked, not chipped, but has tiny pits all over the windshield, is that something that is covered by insurance?”
The short answer to this question is that each insurance company has their own criteria as to what they will cover and you would be best off checking with your insurance carrier to answer this question.
The licensed insurance adjuster in me would tell you that your comprehensive insurance coverage (which is where your auto glass coverage lives) covers the auto glass when it is broken. In a nut shell, your insurance company insures you against things out of the normal course of events with your vehicle, and the insurance company would make your vehicle whole again after a loss. For example, some crazy kids go and vandalize your vehicle and break your door glass and you have comprehensive coverage, well that is covered. You didn’t plan on that happening, and there was nothing you could have done differently to prevent this from happening.
A pitted windshield however, is one of those things that does not happen overnight. Pitted windshields, or sandblasted windshields, look like little diamond specks all over the windshield, especially when it is sunny out. Pitted windshields occur over time and are often considered normal wear and tear on the vehicle. For insurance coverage, you can view a pitted windshield like you view rust on a vehicle. Rust on a vehicle is an occurrence that can happen over the life of your vehicle, and rust is something that would not be covered under your insurance as it is normal wear and tear on a vehicle.
Even though pitted windshields are often considered wear and tear on a vehicle, at TeleGlass we can still help you replace that windshield by providing you with a great price and a quality shop to get that windshield replaced.
Read more from
Rachel Letourneau.
System Process Manager, Rachel has been with Teleglass for six years. In addition to making a mean birthday cake, Rachel has an extensive grasp of the auto glass business. Find her on Twitter:
@rachelcrocker.
Tagged as:
Insurance,
Pitted Windshield,
Windshield
Fair warning – I’m about to get on my soap box.
Rachel has written a couple of posts about the creepy windshield stalker. That guy who says you have a free windshield coming to you. It’s free, you already paid for it when you bought your insurance, just sign here and I’ll take care of everything…
I’ve helped with wording on one of those posts, because it’s a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Growing up, two of the authors that influenced me were Robert Heinlein and Ayn Rand. In Heinlein’s The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, he popularized the acronym TANSTAAFL – There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. Rand’s Atlas Shrugged is pretty iconic. Whether you agree with her politics or not, it’s hard to argue with her sense of personal accountability. I think both author’s would agree that someone that works hard, displays strong personal ethics, and is responsible with how they spend their money is someone who has bettered society. I could probably write several thousand words on this topic, but this is, after all, a blog about auto glass. I will stop myself before I digress too much.
A non sequitur?
I listened to this week’s This American Life program on my way to work this morning. The hour long radio magazine this week is titled “Someone Else’s Money.” It’s an hour of very thoughtful commentary about the health care debate that is going on in our country. Again – what does this have to do with auto glass? And why would I bring up health care in a blog that is decidedly non-political?
First, I think it was an hour well spent, and would encourage anyone who is curious about the economics of health care to listen (you can download it for free for the next couple of days by clicking the link above). More importantly, the economics of insurance in general was discussed, and a point the program made was that when you are completely removed from the economics of a decision, you don’t always make the best economic choices.
That’s where Rachel’s creepy windshield stalker comes in. If your insurance covers the cost of your windshield repair or auto glass replacement, it’s easy to not be too concerned about who does your auto glass repair. Some state regulations even allow the auto glass company to persuade you to use them through the use of gifts. I’m not faulting the hard working auto glass companies that give away gift cards when you choose them – there are a lot of great company’s out there fighting hard to run a quality business, and my friends in the business work hard to earn your business. Sometimes that includes a gift.
My question to you is this: Who pays for this?
Your insurance company, right? But here’s where Heinlein would remind you that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. The insurance company doesn’t sell policies because they have some sort of altruistic goal of helping you avoid risk. Sure, that’s the benefit you get, but there is an economist working for the insurance company who crunches numbers all day long to make sure that the company doesn’t lose money. If the price of windshield repair doubled tomorrow, everyone’s rates would go up when their policies renew.
That’s where I think TeleGlass, and its parent company TGSC, come into play. We manage tens of thousands of auto glass repairs every year, helping your insurance company manage their costs so we can keep your premiums lower. This Web site is dedicated to furthering that cause. We feel like we’re really good at what we do, and want you to be able to avail yourself of that expertise. When you book your auto glass appointment or get a windshield repair quote on TeleGlass.com, you’re tapping into expertise that we’ve spent a long time developing, making sure that your autoglass is repaired by local service providers in your area that have made a commitment to using quality parts and industry leading techniques to make certain you get the best repair possible at a fair price – whether you’re paying out of pocket or your insurance company picks up the tab.
After all – there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.
Read more from
James Lee.
In 2009 he joined
TGSC Group as the managing director of product development. James brings expertise in customer satisfaction and service delivery to the team. He guest blogs for TeleGlass and is an
amateur photographer. Find him on Twitter @
jronaldlee.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
Insurance,
Soap Box
It is with great pride that TeleGlass National embarks on a new relationship with QBE Regional Insurance companies as of today, September 1st. We have been named one of two prefrerred providers for auto glass repair and auto glass replacement for the companies’ insureds.
QBE Americas Regional Insurance is comprised of several companies referred to as their Pillars. These pillars include General Casualty including Southern Guaranty, National Farmers Union, Unigard and Agri. As the previous primary vendor for General Casualty we are excited about the opportunity to expand our relationship to include the other companies.
We are confident that our continued relationship based on high quality service will translate into a win/win for all parties.
Read more from
Sheila O'Toole.
Managing Director for TeleGlass National. Having spent almost two decades in Auto Glass, I truly enjoy the dynamic, fast-paced culture the industry provides. Every day I get to help people out which is truly fulfilling.
Tagged as:
Insurance,
Introduction,
QBE
Did you know that most insurance companies cover the cost of a windshield repair even if the policy includes a deductible? That means that if your windshield looks like this
Your insurance will pay for it to be repaired in most cases.
Windshield repair has been around since 1972. Recently, with greater awareness about the environment and environmental responsibility, consumers have become more aware that often windshields can be repaired instead of replaced. Because the windshield is not removed in the repair process, the factory seal is left intact and there is no glass to dispose of which would end up in a landfill. This makes a windshield repair the environmental friendly choice. Also, a windshield repair is more cost and time efficient. A typical repair only takes about 30 minutes to complete and is safe to drive with no wait time.
If your windshield looks like the image above or the common images below, our TeleGlass.com providers will examine your windshield and determine if it can be repaired. Typically, those small chips, bulls-eyes or cracks can be repaired up to 6 inches (about the size of a dollar bill). These should be fixed as quickly as possible so that the damaged area does not become contaminated or spread to a size that can no longer be repaired and may be subject to the deductible that Rachael spoke about in Seeing Clearly yesterday. The drill seen in the last picture may leave a small mark on the windshield, but the repair process fills the crack restoring windshield strength and preventing further cracking.
Schedule your auto glass windshield repair today on TeleGlass.com and we can contact your insurance carrier for you and determine if your repair is fully covered. If you don’t have coverage, windshield repairs are $65.00 at all of our local TeleGlass.com auto glass providers.
Windshield Repairs Help to Save the Environment
Read more from
Michelle Chalmers.
As the Director of Member Relations, I find the "best of the best" auto glass companies to become members of TeleGlass.com. Our goal is to provide swift, quality service for all windshield replacements or repairs and it takes a keen eye to find the best.
Tagged as:
Repair,
Windshield
This week’s Ask TeleGlass question came from a fellow named Jim on Monday, and I had to send it out with a quickness as we get many questions about auto glass deductibles, where and when it applies and it is always good for a refresher.
Auto glass deductibles fall under the comprehensive portion of your automobile policy. If you have a deductible on your comprehensive coverage (which all of us who have this coverage do) then you would think you would be subject to that deductible in all auto glass cases. However, this is not necessarily true. Certain states have auto glass waivers that apply towards your deductible when you have a windshield replacement or any piece of auto glass replaced.
[click to continue…]
Read more from
Rachel Letourneau.
System Process Manager, Rachel has been with Teleglass for six years. In addition to making a mean birthday cake, Rachel has an extensive grasp of the auto glass business. Find her on Twitter:
@rachelcrocker.
Tagged as:
Ask TeleGlass,
Auto Glass,
Insurance
Quick Tips on Filing an Automobile Insurance Claim
If you’ve ever been in a car accident, chances are you can recall feeling flustered and upset. And it probably dawned on you that, yes, maybe you should’ve read the manual from your car insurance provider. Discovering you have a crack in your windshield or heading out to your car before work to find your door glass shattered into a thousand little pieces can leave you feeling the same way. Here are some quick, easy tips that everybody should know about filing an insurance claim to get your auto glass repaired.
If you discover your vehicle’s glass cracked, chipped or broken, call your insurance company immediately so they can be notified of the damage and your need for glass repair or windshield repair. Usually car insurance companies have a twenty-four hour hotline in which to report incidents. Many insurance companies have built a relationship with a glass expert, like TeleGlass, in order to handle the repair of your auto glass.
It really helps to have your motor vehicle registration handy, as well as any insurance policy information to speed the process dramatically. When you are reporting the loss you will be asked to provide specific details about your vehicle so the more information at your fingertips the better. Once you have filed the claim, a company like Teleglass, would be able assist you in finding a qualified provider of auto glass repair, if applicable, or full glass replacement if necessary.
If you have comprehensive coverage from your insurance carrier, that will cover any repairs for auto glass work that you may need. And to relieve your stress, TeleGlass is more than happy to work with insurance companies and handle claims and paperwork on your behalf. In fact, TeleGlass is one of the most trusted names in Windshield Repair and Auto Glass Service Delivery. We work with consumers, just like you, everday to connect them to qualified, professional glass repair shops for any insurance carrier.
Read more from
Sheila O'Toole.
Managing Director for TeleGlass National. Having spent almost two decades in Auto Glass, I truly enjoy the dynamic, fast-paced culture the industry provides. Every day I get to help people out which is truly fulfilling.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
Windshield
To all my peeps out there that love that brand new car and hate that brand new crack in the windshield, I want to give you some info on what exactly a “dealer windshield” is. On the insurance end of our business we receive calls all the time from customers who have a broken piece of glass and insist on getting a “dealer windshield.”
Lexus for example manufactures cars, but Lexus doesn’t have an auto glass manufacturing plant. Neither does Ford, Toyota, or Honda, so what’s the deal? How is it possible to get a “dealer windshield” when the auto manufacturer doesn’t make their own glass?
[click to continue…]
Read more from
Rachel Letourneau.
System Process Manager, Rachel has been with Teleglass for six years. In addition to making a mean birthday cake, Rachel has an extensive grasp of the auto glass business. Find her on Twitter:
@rachelcrocker.
Tagged as:
Auto Glass,
Windshield
(photo courtesy AMagill)
It’s not exactly news, but it’s starting to pick up some steam. Progressive has released two separate press releases with information about their MyRate (SM) program being unveiled in Connecticut and Colorado.
MyRate is Progressive’s program in which drivers can voluntarily install a device in their vehicle which tracks your driving habits, and uploads what you’re doing into Progressive’s computers for analysis. Drive like a teenager late for a concert where he’s going to meet the girl of his dreams for their first date and your rates go up. Behave more like the head of AAA’s driver’s education program, and you can get a discount.
[click to continue…]
Read more from
James Lee.
In 2009 he joined
TGSC Group as the managing director of product development. James brings expertise in customer satisfaction and service delivery to the team. He guest blogs for TeleGlass and is an
amateur photographer. Find him on Twitter @
jronaldlee.
Tagged as:
Progressive
In this week’s Ask TeleGlass, Barb Anderson asks TeleGlass:
“I was under the impression that Connecticut was one of the states that had the state mandated deductible waiver for auto glass claims. In checking your site however, it indicated that this is apparently not the case. Did this change recently and if so, please advise when. Thanks so much.”
Well Barb, that is a great question. We have heard that question many times, typically from consumers who live in a state where “Full Glass Coverage” is a commonly added coverage.
In the state of Connecticut, there are no state mandated waivers of deductibles for auto glass. Connecticut does however have something they call “Full Glass Coverage,” which is an additional coverage that can be purchased by the consumer. Many consumers are unaware they are paying an additional premium for the full glass coverage as the agents tend to write in the additional premium automatically as it is benefit to their consumers. Typically we have seen that the additional premium is something that 99% of consumers we work with have signed up for.
If you live the state of Connecticut and drive a car, chances are that you will crack or a chip in the windshield, and that you will need to get a windshield replacement or a windshield repair. If you do not have “Full Glass Coverage,” sign up for that coverage and save yourself a few bucks!
For more information, please go to the Connecticut Insurance Departments Consumer Page.
Thanks for the question Barb, and if you need to use that coverage on a broken windshield, keep us in mind and we will help you find a qualified auto glass company in your area.
Read more from
Rachel Letourneau.
System Process Manager, Rachel has been with Teleglass for six years. In addition to making a mean birthday cake, Rachel has an extensive grasp of the auto glass business. Find her on Twitter:
@rachelcrocker.
Tagged as:
Ask TeleGlass,
Insurance
