|
Collision repair shops need to understand the importance of participating in the State Farm Repair Facility Survey, whether they do business with State Farm or not.
State Farm is one of the larger insurers of automobiles. State Farm is also the only insurance claims department that surveys the current pricing of repair shops in order that it can formulate a fair market prevailing price.
Until a few years ago, a State Farm representative went from shop to shop and made sure the surveys were completed. Typically this was done once per year. Recently, State Farm has gone to an internet based survey that shops can update whenever they like. While the internet is much more efficient, it only works if everybody understands and participates.
|
| Unfortunately, many shops fail to recognize the importance of the survey, or to remember to ‘go to the survey, and update their rates’. Recognizing this, ASA has taken a pro-active position to remind shop owners and managers and to help build a clear understanding about the importance for shops to keep their rates updated in the State Farm Repair Facility Survey. When shops do not keep their rates updated in the State Farm Survey, the current prevailing rate may not be accurately reflected. Included with this letter is a page describing some of the common misconceptions regarding the State Farm Survey and also a simple set of instructions for using the online survey. |
|
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS CONCERNINGTHE STATE FARM SURVEY
Ø Only Select Service® Shop’s should fill out the survey.
This is not true. All collision repair shops are invited to participate.
|
| Ø Any shop that lists a rate higher than the current prevailing pricing can not perform State Farm repairs.
Also false. Although the rates you list on the survey may not always match the current prevailing rate for your area, you can still repair State Farm vehicles at the current approved rates.
|
| Ø The survey is time consuming and difficult.
It’s not. In fact, after you complete it the first time, you will find that it is faster than the old paper form.
|
| Ø State Farm wants each shop to fill out the survey once per year.
False. You should fill out the survey whenever certain conditions change within your facility. This could be the number of technicians and/or work stalls or if the cost of doing business has changed. State Farm monitors these changes as they occur and then applies them to the formula used for determining prevailing rates.
|
| Ø Submitting lower rates in the survey will result in performing more State Farm work.
Wrong. State Farm’s policy is that the vehicle owner chooses the repair shop, not State Farm. The survey is not used as a bidding process but rather a way to establish market prevailing rates.
|
| Ø All shops need to fill out the survey at approximately the same time.Absolutely not! Only shops that may need to update the survey to accurately reflect their cost of doing business or for shops that may have never filled out the on line survey at all. |
|
FILLING OUT THE STATE FARM ONLINE SURVEY
|
|
You must first have ‘your shop specific’ State Farm ID number. All shops have already been assigned a number, however, if you don’t know what yours is, contact State Farm claims at 888-759-9034 and you will be directed to the Estimatics team manager in your area.
|
|
It takes less than 5 minutes to complete the survey
ü Go to www.b2b.statefarm.com
|
|
ü Click on drop down arrow next to Select a Business Type
|
| ü Select Auto Repair Facilities |
|
ü Select Auto Repair Facility Survey on the right side of the page
|
| ü After reading the two statements, click on the square box to the left of each disclaimer.
|
|
ü Select Agree or Disagree
|
|
ü Select Repair Facility Survey Online
|
|
ü Enter your Repairer ID and click on Continue
|
| ü Fill out survey. The questions are easy and self explanatory.
|
| ü Click on submit |
|
ü Print a copy for your records.
|
|
Survey results are weighted by the number of technicians or work bays, whichever is less, so it’s important to reflect these accurately. Technicians are defined as anyone who works on the car (i.e.: all body, mechanical, and paint technicians and helpers - not detailers).
|
| Although using the online questionnaire is the most popular way to complete the survey, you can also do this by phone. Call 888-759-9034 and ask to speak to an Estimatics team manager. |
|
Anti Trust Guidelines
“You should not discuss your rates or prices or consult with any other repair facility when updating your information. Any joint understanding or agreement among competing repair facilities concerning pricing constitutes illegal price-fixing in violation of antitrust laws and carries substantial civil and criminal penalties. Pricing decisions must be made independently and not in concert or coordination with other repair facilities.” |
