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Rely on Our Auto Body Experience to Help You
Dunshee Body And Frame, Inc. has the answers you need to your auto body repair questions. For over 40 years, we've been the trusted name in auto body repairs and service throughout southwestern Michigan. Our friendly staff is always happy to give you the answers you need to make your experience with us the best it can be.
Our Frequently Asked Questions
I've never needed collision repairs before. Can you briefly explain the claims process?
You must contact your insurance company to make the initial claim. The insurance company will ask you to explain what happened and then will assign you a claim number. With your claim number, we can handle everything for you from that point including preparing an estimate and working with the insurance appraiser. We can email the estimate and photos to your insurance.
Do I need an appointment for an estimate?
Yes, we have changed to doing all estimates by appointment only Monday-Friday during select times. Kalamazoo location: Estimates by Appointment Only Monday-Friday 8am-3pm. Vicksburg location: Walk In estimates available Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. Battle Creek location - Walk-in estimates Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. You can call our Kalamazoo location at 269-375-2100, our Vicksburg location at 269-649-8100 or our Battle Creek location at 269-962-0401 to set up a time.
How long does an estimate take?
It depends on the extent of the damage, but generally between 30-40 minutes. It can take longer in the winter months since we need to wash off the snow, ice, and salt to see the damage well.
Do I need to get 2 or 3 estimates?
No. There is no law that requires this. It is the insurance companies' obligation to adjust your claim fairly. If you leave your vehicle with us we will work with the insurance appraiser and make sure they write an accurate estimate that will restore your vehicle back to its pre-accident condition.
Do I have to go where the insurance company directs me?
No. It is your legal right to do business with the shop of your choice. Some insurance companies will try to steer you to one of their direct repair shops. Beware of this tactic. Many of these shops in exchange for referrals from insurance companies, agree to skip certain repair procedures, use imitation parts, offer discounted labor rates and parts discounts that go directly into the insurance company pocket, not yours.
How can I know if a body shop will do a good job?
The Better Business Bureau is an excellent source for the consumer to check on the validity of any shop. Ask your friends, co-workers, your mechanic and anyone else you can think of. If you are able, go to the shop and look at the facility. Ask if they have the proper equipment to handle the repair. Ask the shop to show you some vehicles they've just repaired.
What are OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts?
These are the parts made by the manufacturer of your vehicle for your vehicle.
What is an "LKQ" part?
This generally refers to a "used" part. Insurance companies may figure "LKQ" parts on your vehicle. Our standard for "used" parts is that they must be at least as good, if not better, than the one that was on your vehicle before the accident. In the event our source of "LKQ" parts is not able to either find the part or find one that is acceptable we will contact the insurance company and request "new" parts from the manufacturer.
What is a "Quality Replacement" part or "Aftermarket" part?
Quality replacement parts or aftermarket parts are parts that are manufactured by someone other than the vehicle's original manufacturer. These parts carry warranties similar to that of OEM parts.
If there is a problem, who should I contact?
If there are any problems related to the repair on your vehicle contact us right away so that we can make the necessary arrangements to resolve them right away. We guarantee our work for the life of the vehicle.
What are "Betterment" charges?
Parts that wear out and need replacement with time and use (i.e., tires, batteries, and suspension parts) are commonly subject to betterment charges when they are replaced during the repair process. These betterment charges are determined by your insurance company and are pro-rated based on the actual miles on your vehicle.
When do I need to make payment?
If it is an insurance claim, we need to collect your deductible, if it applies, and any insurance check you received by the time you are picking up your vehicle. If this is an out of pocket expense for you, we do collect the remaining balance at the time of pick up. We do not offer any payment plan options.
What type of payments are accepted?
We accept insurance checks, business checks, cashiers checks, debit and credit cards, and cash. We do have a touch-less payment option if you have Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, or the wireless credit card.
Do you offer car rental service?
We do not own any rental vehicles, but both Enterprise (269-372-1234) and Hertz (269-372-0495) on Stadium Drive service our location.
Do you offer towing service?
You can call McDonalds Towing at 269-342-0973, 24 hours a day. Just let them know where your vehicle is and that you want it towed to Dunshee Body And Frame, Inc.
Are you open on Saturday?
No, we are open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment.
How Long Will It Take to Repair My Car After a Collision?
As all of us are aware, the last few years have been especially challenging. Due to the pandemic, industries of all kinds have been experiencing countless shortages. From labor shortages to production delays, we are all learning to expect the unexpected.
The collision repair industry and the automotive industry have not been spared from these challenges. For collision repair shops, parts shortages, material shortages, (paint and even sandpaper, for example), parts manufacturing delays, and delivery delays have impacted us as well.
With all this in mind you might be wondering how this affects the time it takes to repair your vehicle after a collision. In order to provide you with a realistic estimate for the time required, we have to consider many different factors.
How we estimate time requirements
Car damage today easily deceives the eye. Unlike the vehicles of the past, cars today are equipped with much more sophisticated technology. Without a detailed inspection of everything beneath an area of impact, along with a pre repair scan, we're not able to determine the full extent of the damage.
We also take into account the following
- The time it takes to complete an estimate of damage after disassembly
- The time it takes to get insurance approvals for repairs
- The length of time to get parts
- How long it should take technicians to complete repairs
- The time required for triage of the vehicle, which involves gathering all necessary tools, repair procedures, procuring the supplies and scheduling sublet vendors
- Necessary time for vehicle calibrations, detail, and quality control
- Some calibrations must be done at dealerships and can take several days to a week or longer to complete
- How much time is required to process billing with bill payer
Unexpected causes of delays
While we always do the best we can to provide the most accurate timeframes to our customers, there are some factors that can cause unexpected delays. These include backordered parts, delays in authorizations from insurance companies, and the revelation of hidden damage that can only be revealed by a post repair diagnostic scan and test drive.
Additional charges that may be your responsibility above your deductible
Similar to co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses you see with your health insurance, the collision repair industry also may have some costs incurred to get your vehicle back to pre-loss condition that some insurance companies will choose not to cover. These items can include but are not limited to:
- Pre and post repair diagnostic scans using the OEM approved diagnostic equipment to properly navigate your vehicles complex computer and ADAS systems, vehicle calibrations, wheel alignments
- Special paint and materials for today's vehicles special paint colors (I.E. 3 and 4 stage paint) special adhesives and panel bonding materials, etc.
- We will always be able to provide you with an itemized list of these items and their charges necessary to properly put your vehicle back to pre-loss condition
