Is Safelite Auto Glass in Tucson Getting a Bad Rap?

More and more auto glass companies around the country are being held accountable for their actions and some consumers aren’t walking away quietly anymore.  These days it’s too easy for consumers to hop online and speak their mind and alter the decisions of their fellow friends.

On Friday, December 07, of 2007 at exactly 7:31pm CST, one person did exactly that.

Here is the original complaint from http://www.complaints.com/2007/december/7/Safelite_Auto_Glass_Scam_156020.htm

Warning! If you have a glass claim on your car, don’t let your insurance company suggest a company for you. Most, if not all insurance companies contract with another company that takes care of their glass claims. You might think that you will be treated better by going through the contracted company, but in my case that was not the case. I have Farmer’s insurance which uses Farmer’s Glass to handle claims. Farmer’s glass is managed by Safelite Auto Glass.

I had a claim for comprehensive damage to the front fender, hood and windshield of my car. I had the car in the body shop for the body damage, but could not get the windshield done that day. I paid the $500.00 to the body shop. I was told by the insurance company that I could have it done at a later time and was assured that this would not cause a problem and that I would not be asked to pay another deductable. I set aside a day that I could be home from work and waited for Safelite Auto Glass to arrive. When the technician came, he said that I owed 374.00 before they would begin work.

I explained that I had already paid the 500.00 deductable and showed him my receipts. He called his superviser and I heard the supervisor say that I would have to straighten it out with my insurance company. I spent the next 3 hours on the phone talking to various people at my Farmer’s insurance agency, Farmer’s Auto Glass, Safelite Complaints department (which didn’t even appologize for my inconvience).

Finally my agent told me to pay for it out of my pocket and give her the bill. I got 3 quotes on-line for 275.00, 285.00 and 295.00. I called two other places in my area and got quotes of 285.00 and 289.00. I chose Speedy Auto Glass at 285.00, but I’m going to have to take another 3 hours away from my job to get the work done. This is a total of about 6 hours of missed work that I could have avoided if I had just taken my car to a shop instead of having Farmer’s glass (AKA Safelite Auto Glass) send their mobile truck over.

Also, Safelite was 90 to 100.00 more out of pocket than any other place that I called. So here is the scam. Your insurance company is getting a big break from the company that it contracts with to put in your windshield. If the amount is below your deductable, you may be charged a much higher rate out of pocket. The insurance company wins. The glass company wins. You lose.

If your windshield is broken and you insurance company asks if you would like them to suggest a company for you DON’T DO IT! They cannot make you go to their contracted company nor can they penalize you in any way. Call around for estimates and chose the best shop with the best customer service and the best times for you to get the work done.

This nasty complaint about Safelite Auto Glass was left by an unknown person with unknown whereabouts, but even with an unknown identity… it’s obvious that this kind of publicity isn’t good for any kind business.

As we move further into the digital era, it becomes easier and faster to communicate our messages across the country at speeds which can rapidly grow beyond our grasp. With the growth of social networks and their viral effects on society, complaints like these will not go unnoticed.

Here is yet another complaint against Safelite Auto Glass dated October 11, 2006.

I am a Geico insurance customer. They only refer Safelite Glass Corp for their glass claims repairs. I used them last year to replace a windshield. They showed up with incorrect parts and needed to reschedule. I lost a day of work and needed to take an additional day when they finally had the correct parts. This month I needed to have the windshield replaced on another car.

I scheduled the appointment and took the day off from work only to have them cancel a few hours before my scheduled because the part had not yet come in. I have now lost another day of pay. Safelite Glass Corp knew my part had not yet arrived the evening before and decided not to contact me.

Safelite Glass Corp has shown to be unreliable.

Date: Thursday, 12-Oct-06 00:00:00 CDT

The relationship between GEICO and SAFELITE is essentially a criminal connection. Too long a story to detail here, except understand that the 2 companies do hundreds of millions between them – think you they have the consumer in mind? Don’t kid yourself.

When you dial Geico for a glass claim, and the recording says if you have a glass claim with no other damage press 3, the call gets routed to Safelite, they won’t tell you that – that is where your problems only begin. Safelite, is probably the worst of the major chains. You have a CHOICE to use your own glass company – DO NOT USE SAFELITE! I ended up suing Safelite for rendering my car a near total loss thru their neglect and poorly trained people.

Even though I was a 20 yr Geico customer, and their own adjuster said I was being F***ed, he apologized, but said he couldn’t do a thing. Geico did not stand by their chosen glass vendor – they will NOT be there for you. I cancelled GEICO and won $ 1300 in damage to my car from Safelite which was VERY difficult. Run from Geico and race from Safelite.

Source: http://www.complaints.com/directory/2006/october/11/49.htm

Yet another Safelite Auto Glass Complaint…

Safelite Auto Glass
Posted: 2009-05-01 by  rippedoffinmaine
Insurance Scam
Complaint Rating: 100 % with 3 votes
Augusta, Maine
United States
Phone: 800-888-2727

Unfortunately, I allowed my insurance company (Allstate) to refer me through to Safelite glass to repair two small dings in my windshield. The technician showed up hours late to do the work in my driveway. When he was done, he informed me that he could only “freeze” the dings and in doing so, it resulted in three cracks emanating from what were intially two small (repairable) dings. I had taken my car to another glass company earlier in the week who indicated that these small dings were easily repairable. The result was that I then had to replace the windshield and pay a $250 insurance deductible (which I did not have to pay for a repair), thanks to Safelite Glass.

Source: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/insurance-scam-c196785.html

Yet another Safelite Auto Glass Complaint…

Safelite Auto Glass
Posted: 2009-12-02 by           JacD51

False advertising
Complaint Rating: 0 % with 0 votes
Company information:
Safelite Auto Glass
United States

We had 2 cars with a very tiny crack on windshield for so many months and nothing changed on crack, until we decided in Oct. 2009, to get it reinforced with their miracle glue according to their ads, will not make the cracks any bigger, , . Over this past Thanksgiving, we drove one car about 100 miles away to go to a party, and driving on our way home, we saw the windshield just crack across the way on glass starting from where the crack was. On Monday, we called Safelite to see if they can replace the glass, but now, they say to call our insurance co. Buttomline, do not believe the ads Safelite is putting out there on tv because it is false. We found out that it made things worse. If we had left it alone perhaps we would still have that same tiny crack which we can live with…

Source: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/false-advertising-c284560.html

Safelite Auto Glass – Bad Repair Service

Posted: 2009-09-29 by RubN72
Bad repair service
Complaint Rating: 100 % with 1 votes
Company information:
Safelite Auto Glass
United States

I don’t have a warranty claim, due to the fact that I was not the owner when the repair was completed. However, I have just had the windshield seal repaired by a local bodyshop for $125 and was informed that the SafeLite technician who installed the windshield did not prime or seal the area where he cut out the old urethane. As a result there is a solid wall of rust that has developed right on the cut line, extending up into the roof.

I called SafeLite, but they were completely unconcerned. Only if I had a new glass claim would they talk to me. The bodyshop told me that this is all too common with SafeLite. They do a quick and dirty job, bill the insurance company and move on.

I am really angry at this shoddy workmanship. I have used SafeLite in the past for several cars (all sold shortly thereafter), but I will not use SafeLite in the future.

Source: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/bad-repair-service-c260722.html

Safelite Auto Glass – Causes Damages

Posted: 2009-11-03 by WalB78

Causes damages
Complaint Rating: 0 % with 0 votes
Company information:
Safelite Auto Glass
United States

It all started with a call to my insurance company..who was nice enough to send Safelite out without any charge. My 99 ford had a 2 tiny lil spots, concerned the star crack (which was the size of a green pea) would spread and the small crater above it would crack, I made the call. After a short day and a half wait, the Safelite guy came, put some glue stuff in it and assured me it wouldnt be visable.. (yea right).

After he was done I noticed the star crack grew to about the size of a quater, and the glue where the stone crater had lifted up ripping my wiper everytime i went to use them. So, after a few phone calls to safelite, 7 months later they agreed to replace the windshield at no charge. The new windshield was installed, and about 2 weeks later began leaking.

After speaking to their customer service people they send someone out to “reseal” it, which was just a quick job of smearing the sealant all over the glass along with it getting all over my trims. After noticing my wiper cover was cracked and my interior A-pillar moldings where cut up and messed up with the windshield glue, I called safelite once again, they had agreed since the leak to install yet another windshield.

I was told by the new service manager who did the 2nd windshield.. my car is old, its not the windshield that leaked and they he could cut the dried on black glue/seal off the damaged interior moldings. Needless to say after countless calls and complaints, they offered a one-time settlement providing a sign a release form regarding my vehicles damages… I would NEVER recomend safelite to anyone. Do the homework and research (most areas have more reliable and respectful auto glass companies in the yellowpages)

Damages to my vehicle cost more than the settlement, $290 for the replacement interior A-pillar moldings, $85 to detail and remove the water/mold and mildew, $350 to have the exterior a-frame pillar to be repainted and $59 for a new sirius satellite radio unit which the tech. damaged. I can’t stress enough.. DON’T use Safelite!!!

Source: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/causes-damages-c274396.html

Safelite Auto Glass – Poor Service

Posted: 2009-08-01 by ldpare

poor service
Complaint Rating: 0 % with 0 votes
Company information:
safelite auto glass
Cincinnati, Ohio
United States

I called and made an appointment for a front windshield replacement. I was initially given a service time of noon until 5pm. I called at 5pm and was told the serviceman arrived at 11:30am and left. No phone call was placed except for one that reminded me to be available from 1pm to 4pm. I spent all Saturday waiting for them, they are closed on Sunday, I’m driving 7 hrs tomorrow with an ever growing 1 foot crack on my windshield. they offered to reschedule . . . .REALLY?Safelite Auto Glass Complaints – Unprofessional
Review all Safelite Auto Glass complaints
Safelite Auto Glass
Posted: 2009-11-19 by RichT54

Source: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/poor-service-c235514.html
Unprofessional
Complaint Rating: 0 % with 0 votes
Company information:
Safelite Auto Glass
United States

This company is not honorable, professional, or reliable. I made an appointment through the 800 number to have the technician come to my home and repair my windshield. The technician did not show up nor did he call to advise me he was not coming. I call the 800 number for safelite and registered my complaint with them. They notified me that it is my responsibility to call the local office and complain. I said that was not my job and I would find someone else to do my repair. I have since read multiple complaints where they do not HONOR their work and do not show up.

My advice is to FIND SOMEONE ELSE!

Source: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/unprofessional-c280244.html

Safelite Auto Glass Complaints – They’re giving me the runaround

Safelite Auto Glass
Posted: 2008-06-03 by Michael Bartok

They’re giving me the runaround
Complaint Rating: 100 % with 1 votes
Company information:
Safelite Auto Glass
United States
www.safelite.com

A couple of months ago my windshield was broken by rock on the highway. I had the windshield replaced through my insurance company – who uses Safelite (the Largo, FL office). I’ve had one other windshield replaced by them and another repaired, they did ok work. But this last time they replaced the windshield, they damaged the apilars, replacing them insecurely and now both have been blown off!

I replaced the first one myself, thinking, hey, maybe it’s a coincidence. But this morning the other apilar flew off while I was on the highway. Not the one I replaced myself, that one is installed properly and snug as it can be.

I called to have Safelite reimburse me for the cost of the apilars and from very first minute on the phone, I started getting the run around. Someone is supposed to call me back, but that was hours ago. And I’m still in the process of gathering all the data from the windshield install to the apilar that I replaced, etc.

Needless to say, none of their technicians will ever touch my car again regardless of how this turns out.

Source: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/they039re-giving-me-the-runaround-c71106.html

After searching around for just 30 seconds we were able to pluck a few of these complaints right from the Internet. Safelite Auto Glass can go on and on about their radio ads and scammy car wash guys, but who’s getting the bad rap here?

Tags: car - glass - insurance