AS A Long Gully business notches up 50 years helping people get back on the road its operators say changes in the insurance industry are making it harder for some in accident repair.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The BTB Accident Repair Centre will mark half a century of service on Tuesday, celebrating the day three workers from Stanbill Motors struck out on their own.
The industry had become more “cut-throat” over the years, BTB’s Dean Rundle said, after many insurers had been bought out by big investment companies.
“All these big companies do is buy companies to make them more profitable and make money for share holders, it’s not about customer service any more,” he said.
“They offer a service because their customer gets a good deal, but they are robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
BTB’s 50 years of work meant it could withstand those kinds of pressures, Mr Rundle said, and had been able to modify operations.
Nikki Rundle’s father Bob McInnes helped found the company 50 years ago and said people needed to ensure they “ticked the right box” when purchasing insurance policies, with many people unaware of the power companies can have over who fixes cars.
“A car is the second biggest investment, behind a house, so if it is being sent to any old Tom, Dick or Harry and they don’t repair it properly that can affect your resale value,” Mr Rundle said.
The busy BTB premises could deal with 40 cars a week, ranging from the slightest scratch to the biggest crash, Mrs Rundle said.
“Kangaroos are what we deal with the most,” she said.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
