THE Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association is warning its members against slashing labour rates to win insurance company business.

The increasing use of computerised repair estimating systems could provide the bodyshop industry with an ideal opportunity to return to sensible pricing for a professional service according to director of operations Ron Nicholson. Nicholson said working for unrealistically low rates could prove counterproductive and actually lead to lost business.

The VBRA is also urging members to be consistent in their dealings with different insurance companies and warns of the risks of doing special cut-price deals.