Dear Colleagues
This has reference to the above mentioned subject..
Yesterday I was being deputed by M/s IFFCO TOKIO General Insurance Co. Ltd. for assessing a loss at M/s Autopace Network (P) Ltd., Panchkula and immediately I visited the workshop and attended the loss.
In the captioned claim the repairer demanded 3 Sides and 8 Panels such as (Rear Bumper Assy/Quarter Panel Assy LH/Rear Door Assy LH/Front Door Assy LH/Running Board Assy LH/ Front Bumper Assy/Panel Hood Assy/Panel Fender Assy RH) and tried to justify the entire loss in one accident.
However after the physical inspection of the insured car it was clearly visible that the loss of left side panels is old and not correlated with the cause of accident so I humbly convey to Mr. Thakur (Body Shop In charge) that loss to left side is old and not justified and only loss of front and rear is fresh and payable.
Meanwhile I was talking to Mr. Thakur across the table he immediately called to the In house surveyor of IFFCO TOKIO and told him that Mr. Dheeraj Singla is not allowing all the demanding loss/panels and asked him to change the surveyor and this all happened in front of Mr. Thakur's entire staff and in front of me.
I immediately contacted Mr. Sunil Dutt (In charge Claims) of IFFCO TOKIO and told him the entire conversation and shared all the initial photos with him. After seen the initial photos Mr. Sunil Dutt was also convinced and agreed with my decision and he also denied the loss to left side panels and also conveyed to Mr. Thakur that surveyor cannot be changed and whatever the surveyor has allowed is only payable and for this support I gratefully thanks to Mr. Sunil Dutt.
Colleagues, it is matter of great concern and in today's scenario specially in Tie-up business the repairer is dominating on the surveyor's who are on their panels or doing some Tie-up Loss for any insurance company that if any of the surveyor is not allowing any panel then the repairer will force the insurance company to change the surveyor.
It is a matter of disrespect that in front of a surveyor the Body Shop in charge is calling to insurance company and tried to pressuring the insurance company to change the surveyor.
The purpose of sharing this episode with all of you that in Tie up business the repairer is of the mindset the surveyor should merely act as a Photographer and should not raise any question about the loss and should accomodte the repairer whatever he has demanded.
Today it happens with me and tomorrow it may be happen with some one else and if we should not unite then this kind of incident will come in future.
I request all of you to kindly take up the matter seriously and boycott of doing any survey job at M/s Auto Pace Network (P) Ltd., Panchkula and ask Mr. Thakur to feel apologize for his Misbehavior.
It is the time to show our strength and unity and show that we all are not under any pressure and we are all independent professionals and will take our decision independently..
Need support of all the colleagues and hope for an concrete action.
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Regards,
Dheeraj Singla I Surveyor & Loss Assessor
M: 095309-63000 I 094177-94138