These laws are in place to protect us from price fixing, like buying, 70cents of grain in a paper box and calling it Shedded Wheat for the price of $3 a box. For years companies have been challenged but justify the price based on advertising costs. Unless we launch a communist plot to fix shop rates, nationwide I think we are safe talking about this subject. The biggest anti-trust issue I see is the right is of a third party to set what you are paid to perform a estimated service. Last year we trained more disgruntled body shop owners that took their investments and quit doing Insurance repairs jumping into Fabrication, Powder Coating, Restoration. We made the switch in 1982, and oppurtunities are stronger now than ever before, the time in takes to build a car is the same as 1988 but a 72 chevelle in 88 was a $1800 auto that same piece is $75000 today. We see shop rates all over the country, most are based on overhead/location,equipment and talent. Right now based on the Performance Fabrication, Assembly,and Custom Finishing shops it's not uncommon to see shops charge between $1 to $2 a minute, alot more than the $40 an hour average for insurance repairs thoughout the southeast.

.....is this a good spot to put in a few lawyer jokes?

price fix, what the hell are the oil companies doing

great plan jay!!.

We locally have a collision shop (chain) that decided to change and cater to the customer and not the insurance co.'s any longer...all the other shops thought it was the worse thing they could do (business wise)...without the insurance co.'s on their side, it would be the end of the business for sure! Well, the exact opposite happened and they are now one, if not the, leading shop simply because customers know they are working for them and looking out for them first...not the insurace co.

When you stop letting the third party run your business it allows you to make proper /safe repairs using quality parts.