Body shop operators continue to deny some ICBC repair bills inflated
Posted January 31, 2018 6:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Why would we bite the hand that feeds us? That today from the head of an organization representing roughly one thousand body shops across BC.
Ken McCormack with the Automotive Retailers Association is again dismissing reports of mechanics overcharging ICBC for repairs.
“We’re actually losing ground. Glass repair hasn’t had a labour rate increase or significant labour rate increase for almost 20 years, so it’s not escalating labour costs. In fact, we continue to struggle as among the lowest paid technical trades in the province.”
Earlier this week, we learned ICBC’s expected to lose more than a billion dollars this fiscal year.
While most of that is attributed to rising payouts for injuries, Attorney General David Eby says claims of overbilling are part of an overall review he ordered a few months ago.
McCormack welcomes calls for more frequent inspections and audits, but he compares the situation to going to the dentist.
“You have to fix your teeth or maintain your teeth, but nobody likes paying the bills. If in fact there are some shops that have been billing in excess of what the programs allow, we would expect ICBC to enforce their own programs and policies.”
He adds many shops depend on business from the Crown corporation.
“In some sectors as much as 60 or 80 per cent. Obviously, any conditions at ICBC that adversely impact that are of significant concerns to us. ICBC’s policy holders are our customers as well and we have every intention of making sure we’re satisfying that demand.”
In October, longtime ICBC estimator Lance Leswick told NEWS 1130 he’s been reporting violations as far back as 2001.
McCormack says he’s expecting the review ordered by Eby last year to confirm most repairs are fairly priced.
“We don’t want the public to have the impression that body shops or automotive service providers are part of the problem. We’re about as lean as we possibly can and the profit margins for shops are quite frankly so low, it’s beyond sustainable if things don’t change.”
He also says ARA members want to work with the government to help lower costs by giving mechanics more freedom to use recycled parts for repairs.
