Page 15 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine September-October 2022

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to support diagnostics and program- ming functions under the new Scheme.”
EVS AND SECURITY
INFORMATION
Charity also said, “Under the Scheme rules there is a requirement to establish that a technician accessing any repair and service information is working in the industry and can be linked to a repair business. If a technician is ac- cessing information on high voltage (electric/hybrid) vehicles there is an additional requirement to have under- taken basic training to understand the process around safely de-powering and re-initialising battery electric vehicles (AURTH101). And finally, if you are ac- cessing security codes linked to vehicle entry and immobiliser systems, you must have completed a national police record check with no automotive or fraud related incidents on your record.”
WHO SHOULD PAY?
We asked a number of insurers to give us positioning statements around who should pay, only Suncorp and IAG re- plied and they believe repairers should pay. Having said that there appears to be an inconsistent approach in the market-
place with different outcomes from the same insurer which must mean that there is some discretion with assessors.
Here are some comments from our survey along with the insurer responses. “None have paid for repair methods. They have all regarded it as a cost of doing business to be borne by the repairer. They've likened it to pens and stationery.”
These costs have always
been considered part of a repairer’s normal
business overheads.”
“All pay” and “None pay” were both said more than once.
“The hourly rate you apply should include the cost of data, also if you have the correct procedure the correct repair value follows.”
“I have not had one refuse after ex- planation and proof of cost.”
“Majority decline it, we push and
supp it.”
“They pay when we fight them, most of the time it’s not worth the fight due to the low amount they are willing to authorise. We have also been told that because other shops in the area don't charge they won’t pay us.”
IAG’s positioning statement is as fol- lows: “For the collision repair industry,
body and structural repair procedures have been available in Australia for many years via a subscription with the vehicle manufacturer and these costs have always been considered part of a repairer’s normal business overheads.
The Motor Vehicle Information Scheme will enhance access to more advanced systems for diagnostics, programming and calibrations which is great news for all consumers.”
A spokesperson for Suncorp said: “The access fees for the use of repair methods in the estimate and repair of damaged ve- hicles is an obligation for the repairer. The use of methods for Suncorp repairs is aligned to 4.1(a) of the Motor Vehicle In- surance and Repair Industry Code of Conduct. Suncorp also supports industry alternatives to the OEM methods includ- ing subscription platforms such as That- cham Escribe”.
Roy Briggs, Director Claims & Assess- ing at Auto & General said: “We wel- come the change and the access to criti- cal repair data it promises to provide. The intent of the change is positive, but like any major change, teething prob- lems, misinformation and lack of famili- arity can create challenges.
“We are confident that the industry, as it always does, will work through these challenges in a constructive way to not only honour the weight of the change but deliver the outcomes that are needed.”
COST OF OEM REPAIR METHODS
In this chart we list the charges for access to repair methods for some of the most popular brands on Australian roads. If you were to get a yearly subscription for each of these you would be poorer in the pocket by a smidge over
$21,000. Ezi-Methods Plus has 85%-90% vehicle parc (sic) coverage and costs $1995 per year and is regularly updated, while Thatcham E-scribe is currently $1,650 and is also constantly updated with distributors Suncorp paying Thatcham to prepare methods for some Australian models that don’t reach UK roads.
DAILY
WEEKLY
MONTHLY
YEARLY
Ford
Hyundai Mazda Nissan
$29.95 USD
$18.50 $19.95 $49.95
$75 $69.00
$324.95 USD
$200 $199 $495
$2699.95 USD (A$3995)
$2000 $1999 $2995
GM
$28
$206
$1642
Kia
$25
$110
$275
$2500
Mitsubishi
$35
$490
$5106
Subaru
$25
$250
$2500