Some Common Windshield Repair Scams in San Antonio

See Through the Scam

Unfortunately, the world is loaded with people trying to get ahead by taking advantage of other people’s ignorance. One of the keys to protecting yourself is to keep informed. Scams and fraud are incredibly common practices when it comes to the automotive repair industry. Even the simplest fixes can put customers in a position where they may be taken advantage of if they do not enter the situation prepared. San Antonio has recently seen the outbreak of multiple windshield repair scams. Familiarizing yourself with the following situations enables you to walk into the next San Antonio windshield repair shop with the confidence that you're armed with knowledge.

Price gouging is the most common way people are scammed. Customers in San Antonio are being charged as much as $80 to $100 to repair small cracks or chips made by rocks. Many people are willing to spend the money with few complaints. However, the reality is that this price is the average insurance deductible for most drivers. The driver could have a completely new windshield installed for the same amount of money they are putting out for the repair.

Conversely, some customers are falsely informed that a small chip or crack cannot be repaired, making it necessary to replace the entire windshield. Professional expert windshield repair shops can in fact fix between 85% and 90% of the minor damage that they see. Claiming that they must replace the entire windshield is only an attempt to squeeze more money out of the customer. When replacing the entire windshield is completely necessary, there are several instances where technicians will put in a used window while charging the customers for brand new equipment. This practice is dangerous and also unethical. Older windshields or hardware with a potentially compromised integrity can present a hazard in the event of an accident.

When repair shops are being upfront about the cost of repairing minor windshield damages, the rates should be considerably lower than the insurance deductible you would pay to get the entire window replaced. Repair shops recognize that insurance companies will pay them a lot more to replace the windshield. As a result they frequently try to “up-sale” the customer by quoting inflated prices with the hope that they will opt out of the minor repair and simply pay their deductible to replace the entire windshield. Customers also can protect themselves by being conscientious about what type of repair shops they visit. Using a “repair-only” company eliminates many of the variables that the technician may attempt to use as leverage over the customer. Getting multiple quotes and checking on word of mouth advertising from family and friends is also a great way to protect yourself.

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