Dent In Nrma's Repairers
Newcastle Herald
Saturday July 9, 2005
AS of today, NRMA customers will be allowed to take their damaged cars to only 10 Hunter smash repairers out of about 120 in the region.
Country North Vehicle Repairers Association president Gary Mamic said only 10 Hunter smash repairers had agreed to NRMA Insurance's contract terms.Mr Mamic said smash repairers had been warned by NRMA if they did not sign by today no work from customers of the insurance giant would come their way."NRMA deals with about 500 claims a week in the Hunter," Mr Mamic said."These 10 shops will be lucky to get through 50 jobs a week so NRMA's customers are going to be left waiting while these shops try to get through the backlog."Insurance Australia Group head of claims and assessing, David Brown, confirmed smash repairers had been offered annual contracts."At the end of each financial year, we issue new contracts to repairers whom we want to be part of our network," Mr Brown said."To help ensure we have continually high-performing, quality repairers, the contracts are normally for a one-year term." He said NRMA's services would not be affected.Maryland smash repairer John Jackson is one of more than 100 panel beaters who had refused to sign an NRMA contract.For the first time in 30 years Mr Jackson said he would accept only cash or a cash cheque from NRMA Insurance's customers. He no longer would negotiate with the company's assessors.He said if NRMA Insurance couldn't come to an agreement that satisfied him, he would not let his staff fix their customers' vehicles.
© 2005 Newcastle Herald