Following the arrest of several windshield repair technicians in Arizona for insurance fraud, the National Glass Association (NGA) has issued an industry alert asking members to watch out for instance…
Following the arrest of several windshield repair technicians in Arizona for insurance fraud, the National Glass Association (NGA) has issued an industry alert asking members to watch out for instances of “claims harvesting”. Claims harvesting involves the filing of fictitious insurance claims for windshield repairs that are never performed or charging insurance companies for more repairs than were actually delivered. The incidents precipitating the alert occurred when consumers were approached for windshield repair service at car washes in Phoenix but, according to the NGA, could occur at any location. NGA Vice President Leo Cyr explained, “Windshield repair at car washes and other automotive service centers is a perfectly legitimate and workable business model when executed with properly trained technicians doing legitimate repairs. The problem is not windshield repair or where those repairs are performed. The problem stems from the actions of a few people that tarnish a legitimate industry populated by dedicated professionals”. According to Jay Sampson, Chairman of NGA“s National Windshield Repair Committee, “Windshield repair professionals save consumers and their insurance companies millions of dollars annually by repairing and thereby extending the useful life of millions of costly windshields. These same repairs also save the precious fossil fuels that would be wasted to produce replacement windshields”. Mr. Cyr concluded by saying, “The practice of claims harvesting is offensive to every one of thousands of conscientious windshield repair professionals who have worked so hard to build the reputation and credibility of the industry”.