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BREAKING NEWS Updates Vehicle Glass Auto glass repair Directory
Louisiana Auto Glass Shop Operators Arrested for Insurance Fraud
March 16, 2012
2 operators of a Louisiana windshield mend and replacement business are under arrest for 24 counts each of alleged insurance fraud. Stephen Sanderson, 52, and Sherry Williams, 46, run an auto glass business in the Ouachita Parish. At press time the business ' name had not been released.
Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance reported more than 80 claimed fraudulent claims that were submitted to the insurance company between 2006 and 2010. State Farm has also alleged insurance fraud from the auto glass business in 2010.
"The business mended rock pecks on a customer's window and billed the insurance firm for a glass replacement. In circumstances where a windshield was replaced, they billed the insurance companies for costlier glass items and other services that were not performed," read a public relations release from the Louisiana State Police.
Both Williams and Sanderson were each charged with 24 counts of insurance crime and are currently being held at the Ouachita Correctional Center with bond set at $36,000 each.
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March 2, 2012
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Windshield Replacement Wars
March 1, 2012
Mad Cash Funds Dash to Control Auto Glass Repair
For years , the state's roughly 300 independently owned auto glass shops outfits like Ace Glass, Quackt Glass and Dr . Glass have been fighting a turf war with large glass conglomerates over the insurance-funded window repairs.
The Palmetto State is one of a handful in which if your car windscreen cracks, your auto insurance firm must substitute it with no deductible, provided you have comprehensive insurance. The insurance firms use a network of preferred repair stores to do the work, and those shops give discounted rates to the insurance companies for referrals.
The eventuality has been responsible for a battle among smaller glass-repair shops, insurance firms, third-party administrators that own glass firms and undependable scammer-type operations known as harvesters.
If you call insurance corporations Allstate or Nationwide, for instance, it is the Ohio-based Safelite Solutions, a third-party administrator, that handles calls for a glass claim. Safelite also operates a state glass-repair business.
"They're steering their clients to themselves," announces Fred Price, owner of Ace Glass, a business that's been installing glass in Columbia since 1939, about firms like Safelite.
Outstanding legislation is targeted at stopping that. Last year, the S.C. House passed a bill by a gigantic margin that would ban third-party administrators from owning 10 % or more of a glass-repair business. The bill is already in the Senate.
"What this [legislation] does is just sort of levels the playing field ; it just stops the steering," Price claims, adding that he has had good friends standing at his front counter while on the phone with a third party director that was attempting to steer him away from Price's shop.
"The client does have the legal right to who repairs their windshield," Price announces.
With the bill now in the Senate, Safelite is fighting back. Both sides have employed lobbyists and Safelite has been throwing around some serious money.
Call it the window wars.
The state Chamber of Commerce has come out against the bill. The South Carolina Business & Industry Political Education Panel has determined the law is "business negative," a deal wrecker for many legislators whose votes are seriously influenced by the potent BIPEC PAC.
Critics of the legislation, like Safelite, say it will raise insurance costs.
"Oftentimes, consumers rely on their insurer to refer them to a credible repair center, backed by the insurance company," asserted Brian DiMasi, Safelite's senior company lawyer, in a statement. "Claim costs will rise, guaranty claims will rise, and client grumbles will rise."
Fans of the bill call that a shock tactic because it's the insurance corporations that set the cost.
This autumn, Safelite donated $1,000 each to over twelve of the state Senate's 46 members. It also wrote huge checks to both the Senate GOP and Democratic caucuses.
"We caught them kind of flat-footed last year, so they'd all summer to gear up for the Senate," asserts State House lobbyist Warren Tompkins, who represents the independent glass shops, about Safelite. "They're spending money right and left."
The independent glass shops, also , have given money to judiciary.
As the cash flows back and forth and the discussion goes on, it has highlighted a seedier side of the business of auto-glass repair[**].
Ever been stopped at an auto wash, gas station or food shop carpark and been harassed by someone who's spotted your chipped windshield and presses you to enroll for an appointment to mend it?
They are known as harvesters and they stalk anywhere parked vehicles are plenty. Some have even been charged with really causing the damage. The corporations are tough to track, and some motorists have charged them of doing cheap work.
In the windscreen wars, these harvesters have been lumped in on the side of the independent repair centers that share a lobbyist in Tompkins to the detriment of their effort to get the legislation passed.
"Essentially they're scam artists shakedown artists," announces Safelite lobbyist Tony Denny about harvesters that he blames for driving up cover rates. That's why the industry set up preferred repair store networks, he says.
Those operations though, says Tompkins, only exist because companies like Safelite have been squeezing the independent shops to the point where they have had to advertise by hiring harvesters.
Sue Berkowitz, director of the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, says some of the lobbyists have come to her and asked if she would get entangled because it is a purchaser issue. Her organisation advocates for the low-income community.
February 27, 2012
Today it has formed a new company, Guardian Auto Glass Bloomington, LLC to procure the assets of Glass Specialty Company based in Bloomington, Illinois. Guardian Auto Glass provides glass fix and replacement services for automobiles, buses, trucks and recreational vehicles and now has more than seventy five Locations through the US. Glass Speciality started operations in 1957 and currently provides auto glass replacement and fixing services from multiple servicing locations across Illinois.
Ron Talley, current CEO of Glass Specialty will serve as vice president and handling partner of the new company. "We at Glass Specialty are delighted to Partner with Guardian Auto Glass and look forward to expanding our business in Illinois and in diagonally opposite communities," claimed Talley.
"Glass Speciality is a well-established business with experienced and dedicated Employees," said Marc Talbert, vice chairman and managing partner of Guardian Auto Glass.
"This new collaboration will supply Guardian Auto Glass the opportunity to expand our footprint." Guardian Auto Glass LLC was formed in 2010 between Guardian Glass Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Industries Corp, and LRST LLC to control and grow the retail auto glass business of Guardian. Guardian Auto Glass LLC is seeking business owners, qualified sales professionals and operations managers who seek ownership and / or employment prospects in their markets, across the US.
Allstate launches New Windshield Repair claims service.
February 27, 2012
Allstate launches auto-claims service in Texas Allstate Co. Has rolled out a new service in Texas called Claims Satisfaction Guarantee. Under the new feature, if an eligible shopper is discontented in any fashion, for any good reason, with the level of service received on a paid auto claim, Allstate ( NYSE : ALL ) will supply a credit to the customer's auto-policy premium. The proviso is that buyers will need to express their disapproval in writing inside 180 days of the incident that caused the claim. This new feature is automatically available on every Allstate auto policy in Texas, including Austin, effective Jan. One, 2012. There aren't any costs at all linked with it, say Allstate officials. Allstate tested this program last year in Indiana, Ohio and Georgia to standard auto policies. Claims Satisfaction Guarantee is now available in 31 states with further states planned through 2012. The service is intended to complement Allstate's Your Decision Auto products, including Accident Clemency, Deductible Rewards and its Safe Driving Bonus check. Allstate is among the nation's biggest in public held private lines insurer.
Court Permits Previous PGW Staff to Ask Documents on PGW's Reduction-In-Force
February 25, 2012
The former Pittsburgh Glass Works ' workers, who are alleging age discrimination against the company, have been granted permission by the court to file a motion to compel discovery related to documents regarding reduction-in-force at PGW during October of 2011.
In the joint status report filed last week PGW objected to this request saying it is "irrelevant to the claims in this matter."
The parties were also told to call the court if any issues arise in the deposition of James Wiggins, PGW's CEO. The deposition was also a point of contention in mediation dialogues, as the former staff needed to query Wiggins about his ownership in other corporations, his financial position and private net worth. PGW has objected to providing info on those topics.
The suit was initially filed in October 2010 and the plaintiffs in the suit include 7 former employees who allege they were let go in a March 2009 reduction-in-force due to their age. Mediation was held on February 2, but ended with the release of the joint status report saying that the previous workers and PGW could not come to agreement.
The previous staff will have till March six to file the motion to force discovery and, if filed, PGW will have until March 13 to file a response.
Precision Auto Glass Sells Out too Private Equity Firm Owned Glass America.
February 24, 2012
Chicago-based Glass America has finished an exchange to acquire auto glass repair and replacement retailer, Precision Auto Glass in western Manhattan. Precision Auto Glass has been serving the Buffalo, Manhattan area for several years and functions as a competitor for area locations of Glass America.
"This transaction broadens Glass America's share of the market in western New York and brings the company immediate additional growth and other fascinating opportunities," asserts Mike Barry, GENERAL MANAGER of Glass America.
As an element of the exchange Glass America will get Precision Auto Glass' customer list.
"The owner of Precision Auto Glass was willing to combine our clients with his and wanted to move on from the auto glass business," announces Scott Wills, chief financial officer for Glass America. "We have operations in the western Manhattan market as well and we considered Precision Auto Glass a rival of ours so we are quite happy with the acquisition and with the large buyer list that we have obtained."
"Customers of Precision Auto Glass will enjoy the full armoury of benefits and quality workmanship that all Glass America purchasers receive," says Alan Resnick, vice president of Glass America. "They can expect fast, prompt service, the fit of original-equipment glass, AGRSS certified engineers and 60 minutes safe drive away time.".
Rockland auto glass company marks 10 years in business
Friday, April 20, 2012 3:03 AM
As The Patriot Ledger celebrates 175 years of publication this year, we're taking a look at other local businesses with big anniversaries in 2012. We asked Christopher Allen, owner of Allen Auto Glass in Rockland, about his company as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year.
GLASS RECYCLED Invites Automobile Manufacturers To Utilize Recycled Auto Glass In Their Corporate Offices
Friday, April 27, 2012 5:35 PM
GLASS RECYCLED announces that they are seeking automobile manufacturers to feature recycled glass tabletops in their offices and boardrooms.Plano, TX (PRWEB) April 27, 2012 GLASS RECYCLED is challenging the automobile industry to make an environmental statement by featuring recycled auto glass surfaces in their offices and boardrooms. This new initiative is paired with their soon to be released ...
ABRA Auto Body & Glass Acquires Bradshaw Collision Repair Centers
Monday, April 30, 2012 9:48 AM
ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a Minnesota-based damaged vehicle repair company and industry leader announced today the acquisition of Bradshaw Collision Repair Centers in the Nashvil
All Star Glass Celebrates 35 Years of Excellence
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 3:14 AM
The auto and truck glass repair/replacement company would like to thank its valued customers for an amazing 35 years in business. (PRWeb May 16, 2012) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9511799.htm
Columbus men form new auto glass repair business
Saturday, April 21, 2012 10:40 PM
“It’s about time.” That’s the response Kevin Jaixen got from customers when he opened All Star Auto Glass in February, bringing co-workers Mike Henggeler and Andrew Bruhn with him to the new business.
Minneapolis Glass Repair and Replacement Company Celebrates Earth Day with a New State-of-the-art Glass Recycling ...
Friday, April 20, 2012 1:16 AM
Rapid glass, an Auto Glass Repair and Home Window Glass Replacement company, has established a cost effective “Green” alternative to waste disposal using pulverized glass recyclingMinneapolis, MN (PRWEB) April 20, 2012 It has always been a difficult and costly proposition for glass repair and replacement companies to dispose of their broken glass. Until recently they could only recycle a small ...
Picture brightens on auto-tinting smart windows
Friday, May 11, 2012 9:22 AM
Big building companies back smart-glass startups Soladigm and Sage Electrochromics to get auto-tinting glass out of the labs and into buildings.
Picture on auto-tinting smart windows brightens
Friday, May 11, 2012 8:52 AM
Big building companies back smart-glass startups Soladigm and Sage Electrochromics to get auto-tinting glass out of the labs and into buildings.
New auto body and glass shop to open in north Bibb County
Monday, May 7, 2012 2:33 PM
Minnesota-based ABRA Auto Body & Glass bought the former BMW dealership at 111 Riverside Parkway, and spent nearly four months renovating the building.
Melissa Preddy: Windshield blocks sun rays, unlike windows
Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:08 AM
Do you ever think of dabbing on sunscreen before your morning commute or a Sunday drive? If not, you may want to toss a tube of SPF 15 into the glove compartment.
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