Top Stories from glassBYTEs.com
These were the most-read stories on glassBYTEs.com since the last issue of AGRR™ magazine. If you’d like to stay current on all the auto glass industry news, sign up for AGRR magazine’s free business-day e-newsletter at glass-BYTEs.com™.
1 Some Shops Say COVID Sanitation Fees Being Denied
Augie DeFeo wants to know why GEICO is suddenly denying the $25 reimbursement for COVID sanitizing even though cases continue to soar.
Full story below.
2 Ford Issues Windshield Adhesion Recall
Ford Motor Company (Ford) issued a safety recall for select truck models. Ac-cording to the company, the affected vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards because the front windshields are inadequately bonded to the vehicle body structure.
Visit glassBYTEs.com and enter “Windshield recall” into the Search box.
3 Auto Glass Technician Outlines Tips for 2020 Civic Back Glass Replacement
Thanks so much to Aaron Bradford, of Driftwood Auto Glass for writing an article for glassBYTEs on how to install the Civic back glass on the 2020 model. Bradford told us that the back glass was a particularly difficult install, so he composed these instructions to help other auto glass technicians who might run into the same difficulties.
Visit glassBYTEs.com and enter “Civic back glass” into the Search box.
4 Midwest Company Expands In Florida
City Auto Glass (CAG) has a strong reputation spanning across several states, including Minnesota, western Wisconsin, northern Iowa, and most recently, mobile locations in central and southern Florida. Two of the company’s representatives shared insight on future company expansion, mobile calibrations and more. CAG opened in the Orlando territory and the South Florida market in January 2020.
Visit glassBYTEs.com and enter “City Auto Glass” into the News Archive Search box on the right hand side of the page.
5 More Issues with “Right To Repair” Law Surface
The Alliance for Auto-motive Innovation’s (the Alliance), a trade association for the automotive industry, challenge to the recently passed Right to Repair vehicle data law will move forward, according to court documents and a recent video conference hearing. Judge Woodlock dismissed a motion made by the state’s Attorney General, Maura Healy, which said additional discovery is needed ahead of a possible bench trial.
Visit glassBYTEs.com and enter “The Alliance for Automotive Innovation” into the Search box.
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Insurance
Some Shops Say COVID Sanitation Fees Being Denied
Augie DeFeo wants to know why GEICO is suddenly denying the $25 reimbursement for COVID sanitizing even though cases continue to soar.
“GEICO has consistently been paying a standard fee of $25 per job for cleaning/sanitizing the vehicle,” says DeFeo, the founder and CEO at Competition Glass in Port, Washington, N.Y. “As of recently, this service charge is being denied for GEICO on the SGC referral website. There has been no communication to us that this is no longer authorized.”
While DeFeo’s invoice item is denied, Peter Brown, president of Tiny and Sons Auto Glass in Pembroke, Mass., says GEICO is paying the fee for his company.
“We receive $25 per car,” says Brown. “As long as I get preapproval for the product I am asking for I get paid.”
But DeFeo says he always submits for preapproval as well, yet his are no longer being paid. He doesn’t have the same issue with other insurers such as State Farm.
DeFeo provided glassBYTEs with a copy of a letter, dated April 15, 2020, from State Farm which says, “We have received several inquiries regarding charges for cleaning of vehicles related to COVID-19. State Farm will allow up to one hour at your body labor rate for cleaning of the vehicle. We will also allow up to $25 for cleaning supplies. Any such charge should be listed on the estimate as COVID-19 cleaning.”
GEICO has not responded to glassBYTEs’ request for comment.
People
Joanne Feibel Joins Gold Glass
Joanne Feibel has joined Gold Glass – ALP LLC (GGG), based in Bohemia, N.Y., in the newly created position of Sun-dry Department Head and Business Development Manager.
Feibel joined the company on March 1, and has spent decades in the industry, most recently working at Pilkington. She said this is an exciting role because it incorporates many facets of her history and training, and will have her working cross functionally and interdepartmentally.
AGRR Editorial Director Delivers First Novel
AGRR editorial director Tara Taffera isn’t all about auto glass. Taffera recently completed her first novel, Love Ordained, which has been published by Winged Publications. The book is available in print and on Kindle at Amazon.com, and a soon to be published audio book.
To view the laid-in version of this article in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.
