Know Your Rights

We understand that some insurance companies are putting pressure on their customers to use a shop that participates in their “repair program”. We would like to address this and answer some questions you might have. We do participate in some of these programs and we feel that they can be very beneficial in streamlining the entire repair process. However, we also feel that we must continue to earn your business by performing the highest quality repairs, investing in training for our technicians, state of the art equipment and technology, and superior customer service that we feel separates us from any other facility in the area. You ultimately have the choice in which collision repair facility to choose, and here are some facts that you should know to help you make an informed decision.

Wisconsin state regulations mandate that you have the right to have your vehicle repaired at the shop of your choice.

It is the vehicle owner’s choice to have their vehicle repaired at the repair facility that they prefer. The decision of where to get your vehicle repaired should be based on factors that are important to you, such as quality, reputation, and customer service.

The insurance company will pay for additional or “supplemental” damages repaired by your shop that are accident related.

You may already have an estimate from an insurance company or an estimate written by a different shop and believe that the insurance company will pay no more than the original estimated amount. This is not the case! The insurance company must pay the amount necessary to repair the vehicle properly. An estimate is just that; an estimate of the visible damage. Once a vehicle is disassembled, a reputable shop will be able to more accurately assess all of the damage. Any additional damage discovered during this process is called a “supplement”. Supplements occur on most repairs and it is an everyday procedure to work with the insurance company to have this added to the amount of the repair. We have extensive experience working with insurance companies and have internal processes in place to document, photograph the damage and ensure that we have agreement with your insurance company to pay for your repair—including any supplemental damages.

The repairs to your vehicle will have a lifetime guarantee

Some insurance companies try to scare customers away from using shops that are not on their “repair program”. Other insurance companies will tell you that they warrant the repairs, but it is ultimately the collision repair facility’s responsibility to perform proper repairs on your vehicle. Since we began in 1985, MJ Collision Center has always offered a lifetime guarantee on all of our work.

The repairs to your vehicle will not take longer for MJ Collision Center to deliver

Another way insurance companies try to intimidate customers is to suggest that the repair will take longer if done by a shop outside of their “repair program”. If you choose MJ Collision Center for your repairs, this is simply not true! Between our relationship with each insurance company and our focus on efficient processes throughout our operations, we pride ourselves with getting your vehicle back to you in pre-accident condition as quickly as possible.

We base the time of repairs of a vehicle on six hours of labor per day. This is a realistic number that allows for prewashing and checking in vehicles, drying of body fillers, primer, and paint, and other real world factors in the repair process. Sometimes repairs go smoothly and end up repaired more timely than planned. If a repair facility is promising turnaround times that seem too good to be true, they may be cutting corners or compromising quality in the repair process.

Ultimately the choice is yours. We work very hard at being one of the most comfortable, dependable, and most sought after collision repair facilities in the area. Each of us at MJ Collision Center feels our people, technology, processes, and overall service are second to none!