Expert: Bennie719 - 2/11/2008

Question
I began an auto claim with my insurance company around 4 months ago. My vehicle was repaired by a body shop of my choice and the work was done poorly. The time came to receive my vehicle and upon arrival I noticed a nonaligned hood, bumper, and driver fender.
The body repair shop said he didn't replace a front core support because it wasn't included in the statement from the "damages estimate" from my insurer. He never brought this up before this time, only on my arrival. He went on to say the front core support exchange would have fixed this misalignment problem.
Before this date I have contacted my insurance company about the longevity of being without my vehicle and the paint workmanship so far that I could see. Here is their response:
" I am not sure where your vehicle is being repaired. Our file notes reveal you had a repair shop of choice you were going to use. Unfortunately this is a matter you will need to take up with your shop. From your e-mail it sounds like poor workmanship."
I hesitated adjusting my original claim at the time because of my need for a vehicle during the holidays. Could you please let me know how long I have to adjust my claim from its origination date? I would like to have knowledge about this before contacting my insurance company about this adjustment.
Thank you

Answer
Hi Mike,
It is quiet common for a body shop to find 'hidden damage' once they start a tear down to repair your car.  They then have an obligation to contact your insurance company to have an adjuster come out and inspect and verify the additional damage and write a supplemental estimate and make payment for the additional damage.
If you had used one of your insurance company's 'preferred provider' repair shops, you could have rejected repairs and refused to accept delivery of your car.
Since you bypassed that method and took the car to a shop of your choice, your insurance company is expecting you to resolve the repair issues (failure to replace the front core support exchange and poor quality of paint job) directly with the shop.
You may have to file small claims court action against the repair shop if you can't convince them to correct the items that you mentioned.
I don't understand the final paragraph of your question.
"I hesitated adjusting my original claim at the time because of my need for a vehicle during the holidays. Could you please let me know how long I have to adjust my claim from its origination date? I would like to have knowledge about this before contacting my insurance company about this adjustment."
What do you mean by the statement 'adjusting my original claim'?
Please send me a follow up to clarify.
Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area