War between insurers and car repairers

Many insurance companies are engaging in unnecessary battles with car repairers due to their appetite for quick cash.

These companies have deviated from their primary responsibilities and are now competing with the repairers.

They want to decide who repairs cars that are broken-down cars or have been involved in accidents.

They are going as far as dictating the type of spare parts to be used and their cost. This invasion into repairers’ territory is unethical, especially because the main victims are innocent consumers.

Let every party keep to their core business for which they are licensed. The double standards applied by insurance companies and the short-cuts to procure cheap spares parts are unlawful.

Supplying spare parts is not the responsibility of insurance firms. Garages must be given a conducive environment to operate and these firms cannot pretend to know it all. There has also been a problem with repairers.

The Consumer Protection Act 2012 provides that “on repair of a vehicle, every repairer shall be deemed to warrant all new or reconditioned parts installed and the labour required to install them for a minimum of 90 days or 5,000 kilometres, whichever comes first, or for such greater minimum as may be prescribed”.

We have witnessed cases where rogue repairers don’t return replaced motor vehicle spare parts as provided in the law. Similar cases have also be reported to us where a repairer, by false pretence, misleads or purchases, on behalf of the consumer, a counterfeit spare part.

The same practice has been perfected by rogue staff of insurance firms. We have also witnessed cases of delayed compensation by insurance companies.

It’s either the policy papers presented to consumers are complicated or insurance companies change terms and conditions once the risk insured has occurred to deny clients due compensation.

The companies must operate above board and the regulator should investigate and expose those who break the law. Also, insurance companies must use simpler language in their policy documents. The endless fights between insurance firms and repairers is harming the public.