File for insurance fraud? *** Please advise ASAP!!!

Hi all,

My insurance approved more than 15K to repair my sedan.
However, I believe that this amount is excessive and is an insurance fraud. The body shop, where my car was left at was there with the insurance adjustor when they did the estimate.
I believe that the body shop is committing an insurance fraud. My car is only valued at 23K and what was damaged were my front lights, bumper and the hood. When I told them that I want to bring my car to another body shop to do the job they told me at once that they have already started repairing my job without my consent. They told me that two men spent a total of 25hrs removing my bumper and lights. That to me is totally ridiculous and is obviously a scam. I was unable to tow my car to another body shop because they demand that I pay the 2500 in cash for the repairs they have done and storage charges. I disagree with the labor charges they are charging me when I never authorized them to do any work at all on my car.

What should I do in this case? Should I pay the amt in cash and then file a case against them that they are committing insurance fraud and report them to the NY Dept of Motor Vehicles for performing unauthorized work? Because everyday that I have to wait for the insurance to investigate this, I would accrue additional storage charges.
I really question my insurance adjuster and the body shop's relationship because to me the amt they came out with is a pretty "fishy" amount. there was no damage to my engine and the only thing that needs repair are my headlights, hood and bumper. I understand that at the end of the day my insurance co is paying for this but just because I do not need to take money out of my pockets to repair my car give ANYONE rights to COMMIT fraud and scam consumers. It's body shops like these that tries to "rip" insurance co off that makes Americans and especially new yorkers have to pay high premiums on their cars.
Yes, body shop have to make money but you can not make money by practicing unethical business strategies.

So right now how should I proceed? should I have the insurance adjustor call me and explain how they arrive at that outrageous figure and also have the body shop call the number my insurance provided me so they would have to explain how they arrived at the 25hrs of labor? should I pay the amt they are claiming against me first and then file against the body shop for insurance fraud and report them to NYDMV? And also should I file claim against them in small claims court in NY?

I would really appreciate if anyone can help me with this asap. Thanks a million in advance!

[olive]

You may want to call higher up in the company and tell them of your suspicions...they will investigate.