How QBE can help repair your car – rain, hail or shine
Hail storms are usually over in a flash, but they can leave a trail of devastation in their wake.
Car damage can range from minor dents to smashed windows or windscreens and in some cases vehicles can be so badly damaged they are assessed as a write-off.
But in most cases, hail damage repair experts can bring cars and other vehicles back to their pre hail-damaged state.
“The QBE approach is all about getting customers back on the road as quickly as possible while keeping it simple for the customer,” says Craig Scott, QBE’s National Hail, Towing and Heavy Haulage Category Manager. “We know customers want repair work carried out quickly, to a high standard, which is what we aim to deliver with our hail damage response approach."
A dedicated repair partner you can count on
QBE is partnered with Action Smart Group, a leading hail repair specialist that provides an end-to-end solution for customers in their time of need. In the 2019-2020 storm season, they managed over 3000 of our direct and fleet customers’ vehicles, damaged in eight separate hail storms across Queensland, Victoria, NSW and ACT.
“Once a hail storm passes, Action Smart Group will set up an assessment centre in the vicinity of the storm to inspect customers’ vehicles. Repairs generally commence within two weeks from the incident date,” says Scott.
Customer ease is central to what we offer, he says. For example, Action Smart Group will provide taxi vouchers to get customers to and from the assessment centre, then keep them updated on the repair every step of the way.
Read more about QBE’s Commercial Motor Insurance
Our partnership benefits at a glance:
- Action Smart Group is a one-stop-shop for hail repairs to motor vehicles
- They’re the market leader in end-to-end hail repairs
- A true partnership with transparent communication and SLAs
- A consistent assessment and repair process for every state
- A consistent claims experience, right throughout the process
- Skilled technicians trained in innovative solutions
- A flexible and mobile workforce, prepared for action
- Fast turnaround times, for an optimum customer experience
- QBE lifetime guarantee on repairs
Paintless dent repair is a smart solution for hail damage
Action Smart Group uses a technique called paintless dent repair on most damaged cars.
“Paintless dent repair is a less invasive repair process, which can get customers back on the road in just 2-4 days,” said Scott.
Paintless repair technicians locate the damage under a light tunnel, then massage out the dents using special tools.
“This kind of repair is completed by skilled technicians who undergo years of training to hone their craft. Essentially they use a series of levers to push the dents out and return the car to its pre-hail damaged condition,” says Scott.
Paintless dent repair is effective for light to medium hail damage. Anything more severe needs to go through a conventional repair process, which Action Smart Group also manage for QBE customers.
Related article: What to do if your car is damaged in a hailstorm
We’re prepared to weather the storms
Action Smart Group has stringent processes in place to ramp up their operations in the event of a hail storm. Right now, that’s more important than ever, given there’s a 70% chance of a La Nina weather event on the horizon, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
“Through Action Smart Group, QBE has a national presence, with hail technicians on standby in every state,” Scott says.
Action Smart Group also follows strict COVID-19 protocols. They limit customer contact and perform a deep clean on every vehicle pre and post repair.
Action Smart Group’s dedicated fleet manager oversees the inspection and repair process for QBE fleet customers, inspecting and assessing up to 200 vehicles per day in one location, within days of the storm incident date.
Read more about QBE’s Commercial Motor insurance
