One Havana business owner says auto body shops in small towns are getting a bum deal from some insurance companies.
And he says his business suffers as a result.
Rusty Barr says about 8 years ago he noticed insurance companies were sending many customers to repair shops they had agreements with...
And according to him, many were near larger metropolitan areas.
He says that's hurting his business.
"My complaint is not having the opportunity; none of us in this town have the opportunity for this work. We're losing a lot of work out of this town just because they don't have select shops in this area," Barr said.
There are two more auto body shops in Havana Rick's Collision Repair Center and Armitage, which opened less than a year ago.
Armitage, has an agreement with an insurance company to fix its vehicles.
Both shop owners declined on camera interviews...but one staff member says business dropped off quite a bit last fall.
Car sales have been down sometime. Just how much of this is related to the economy is unclear.
State Farm spokesman Dick Luedke said in a statement, "We tell our customers where the nearest State Farm Select Service Shop is located. We also make sure the customer understands that he or she is free to choose any shop whether or not it is a select service shop."
Barr says e–mails to State Farm and other insurance companies were not answered.
He is semi retired but wants to see his 29–year–old business revived.
"When you retire and get ready to sell your business you'd like to have a business to sell," Barr said.
In the meantime Barr says he hopes to keep his small staff working.
"This shop use t stay busy all the time. The lot was full and our books were full. And now it’s down to me," said Steve Baggett.
State Farm spokesman Dick Luedke says State Farm partners with vehicle repair shops that are efficient and competitively priced.
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