The Accuracy of the State Farm Prevailing Survey Depends on You!
The Accuracy of the State Farm Prevailing Rate Survey Depends on You!
In an effort to dispell misconceptions and educate our industry, the ASA of Arizona is providing the following as part of our mission: "To advance professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair/collision industry through education, representation and member services."
Below you will find:
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 manager 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.
Common Misconception Concerning the State Farm Survey
>Only Select Service Shop's should fill out the survey.
This is not true. All collision repair shops are invitied to participate.
>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.
>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.
>State Farm wants each shop to fill out the survey once per year.
False. You hould fill out the survey whenever conditions change within your facility. This could be th 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.
>Subitting 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.
>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 online 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!
Although using the online questionnaire is the most poplar 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 lawas and carriers substantial civil and criminal penalties. Pricing decisions must be made independently and not in concert or coordination with other rapair facilities."
Automotive Service Association of Arizona - 602-544-2600 - www.asaaz.org
In an effort to dispell misconceptions and educate our industry, the ASA of Arizona is providing the following as part of our mission: "To advance professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair/collision industry through education, representation and member services."
Below you will find:
- Explanation of the importance of the survey
- Misconcepions about the survey
- How to Complete the Survey
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 manager 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.
Common Misconception Concerning the State Farm Survey
>Only Select Service Shop's should fill out the survey.
This is not true. All collision repair shops are invitied to participate.
>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.
>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.
>State Farm wants each shop to fill out the survey once per year.
False. You hould fill out the survey whenever conditions change within your facility. This could be th 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.
>Subitting 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.
>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 online 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!
- Go to www.b2b.statefarm.com
- Click on drop down arrow next o Select a Business Type
- Select Auto Repair Facilities
- Select Auto Repair Facility Survey on the right side of the page
- After reading the two statements, click on the square box to the left of each disclaimer.
- Select Agree or Disagree
- Slect Repair Facility Survey Online
- Enter your Repairer ID and click on Continue
- Fill out survey. The questions are easy and self explanatory.
- Click on submit
- Print a copy for your records.
Although using the online questionnaire is the most poplar 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 lawas and carriers substantial civil and criminal penalties. Pricing decisions must be made independently and not in concert or coordination with other rapair facilities."
Automotive Service Association of Arizona - 602-544-2600 - www.asaaz.org
Posted by Auto Fix Blog at 3/30/2009 3:20 PM 
Categories: How to Complete Survey,Collision Committee Activities
Categories: How to Complete Survey,Collision Committee Activities
Have your cost of doing business changed recently, as we continue to see rise in supplies and materials, have you evaluated changes in your business. If so, have you updated the State Farm Survey recently?
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Just a reminder to all that if there have been any changes in your cost of doing business, you may want to update your survey on the State Farm B2B website.
Wishing you a successful New Year!!!!
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Happy New Year to everyone, Best wishes on a successful 2010. Just as a reminder, if your cost of doing business has changed, you need to update your information on the survey.
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