A Lakewood body shop is facing a lawsuit after numerous complaints from customers who experienced lengthy delays in getting their hail-damaged vehicles repaired. One customer, Shirley Dale, filed the lawsuit against StormWise Automotive Hail Repair after waiting three months for her car to be fixed.
The issue came to light when Denver7 Investigates reported on several customers who had been waiting for months to have their vehicles repaired and returned. The day after the initial story aired, Dale finally received her car back, although she noted that it was not perfect.
Dale initially brought her Honda CRV to StormWise on July 11 for hail dent repairs, which were supposed to take four weeks. However, the shop ended up having her car for 12 weeks. Similar complaints about the body shop have been reported this year, with negative reviews increasing on Google and Yelp.
Owner David Hobbs attributed the delays to slow finalization of insurance claims and difficulties in sourcing parts due to backorders and the United Auto Workers strike. He admitted that there had been a lack of communication with clients and an inability to handle the high volume of calls.
In September, Dale hired a consumer protection attorney who sent StormWise a letter warning about protections under Colorado’s Motor Vehicle Repair Act. However, she did not receive a response until Denver7 Investigates got involved and pressured the shop into returning her car.
Although Dale is now relieved to have her car back, she has decided to proceed with the lawsuit as a message to StormWise. She is seeking compensation of at least $10,000 for the loss of use of her car and damages, as well as legal costs and fees.
While StormWise has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, the increase in complaints against body shops in Colorado may be linked to the higher demand for repairs following this year’s storms.
In conclusion, customers of StormWise Automotive Hail Repair in Lakewood have faced significant delays in getting their hail-damaged vehicles repaired. The shop has attributed the delays to issues with insurance claims and parts sourcing, leading to dissatisfaction and negative reviews from customers. Shirley Dale, one of the affected customers, has filed a lawsuit against the body shop to seek compensation for the extended wait and damages to her car. The shop has acknowledged the communication issues and is working to improve the situation.
