H&V Collision Center

Came to get an estimate, the receptionist was very friendly and the manager was nice. Quoted me double the other estimates I received and when we’re talking extra thousand dollars that’s not useful. Reason for 3 stars was good phone and in person customer service but I decided to take my business elsewhere. H&V will charge way more than other body shops and collision centers on central Ave. I wouldn’t recommend this place for my Schenectady residents.

I have used three branches of H & V Collision over the last several years. Troy, Albany/​Colonie, and Schenectady, most recently. They had originally come highly recommended by my *very particular* boss-​at-​the-​time and were one of the only local places that offered a loaner vehicle. That was important to me because I didn’t have rental coverage on my vehicle and was under 25 so couldn’t rent! Since the first visit, any time I’ve needed collision work done to my vehicles I have gone back because I’ve enjoyed my experiences. They worked directly with the different insurance companies I’ve had throughout the years, so it’s very easy to just drop the vehicle off and the claim is handled from there.
Always hope to never have to go to a body shop again, but if it happens, I’ll go back!

I have been to both locations, Schenectady and Clifton Park, several times. I have had great customer service every time. They make it easy to work with insurance companies and make renting a car a breeze. I drop my car off and the rental company picks me up. I referred a friend, and they sent me a letter thanking me for the referral. That’s how you do business!

I stopped into Collision Experts a couple weeks ago after having the same front end issue pop up again that had been a repeat issue since an accident my wife was in. I spoke with GEICO Concerning the issue to see if it might be covered under their lifetime guarantee on repairs done by their recommended auto shops.
I was told by GEICO to go see Collision Experts and they will check out the issue to see what the cause is. I then call CE and they say to bring it right in. Great!
I bring it over and when I get there, and I speak with one of the CE/​GEICO Liaison’s (does not work for GEICO) and fill him in with what’s going on. He then tells me they are full and cannot get me in that day nor for several more days.
So I kind of think in my head that I wish they would have told me that on the phone before I drove all the way over but whatever, I’m cool… and I let it roll right off my shoulder. We then agree on another day the following week for a 9:30am appointment. He writes it down on my documentation of work done on the vehicle that I brought with me. I thank him for his time and I say that I will see him at such and such a time on such and such a day.
The following week, my appointment time arrives and I head over. I arrive at CE and I ask to speak with the same person I dealt with before. I speak with him and re-​explain the situation with my vehicle. He says that he is pressed for time and that he has another appointment coming in shortly so he needs to make this fast. I am not impressed by this comment.
He then says that he cannot get my vehicle in because the shop is really busy and that is only one lift. I am a little shocked by this comment. I thought the whole point of me coming here was to have them look my vehicle over. I ask to speak with my local GEICO representative. The liaison segues by asking to take the vehicle for a quick ride. I oblige.
We get in the vehicle and he continues talking going on about how there isn’t much they can do and so forth, meanwhile, I’m like «shut up» and listen to my vehicle, and try and discern the noise it is making. After I point out the noises in the front end of my vehicle and explain how I have had these issues and same problems before, he finally stops and hears the noises. He then says that CE are not mechanics and they just fix cars that have been in accidents. I go «uh-​huh.» in utter disbelief. I tell him that my car was in an accident and since then these issues keep creeping up.
I then ask him to take a look at it– again. He reiterates that they are not mechanics. I ask, «Did you not rebuild my car after the accident?» He said yes but that the issue is probably not related to their work. He then said «Won’t you agree that this issue isn’t related to any work done by CE?» I said I cannot really say that since you haven’t properly looked at the vehicle. At this point I am floored. I really was not getting anywhere with him and by that time, there was no GEICO representative onsite when we returned from our «joy-​ride».
When we returned he said that a vehicle they were working on was up on the lift and had been there for a week and wasn’t coming down anytime soon. He suggested I take it to a local mechanic to have it checked out. So that’s what I ended up doing.
That day, after I had left, I stopped at Tire Warehouse, because I needed new tires as well. I just happened to ask if they did mechanical work on cars. The guy said we do everything but transmissions. I said, «Sold». I asked if he could look at my vehicle and see what’s wrong with the front end and get me an estimate. He said sure, and I had it looked at right then.
Long story short (right?), They told me the problem, it was the same issue I had had in the past. I took the estimate and called GEICO. GEICO said OK, sorry you are having and issue with the your vehicle, let’s get your local rep out to the shop and take a look at it and then get this taken care of for you.
I then call my local rep, told him what happened at CE and he almost fell off his chair. He said, they told you WHAT?! He apologized for the way I was treated and said he would make it right. I told him, «Look, I’m a reasonable guy, I don’t know if this is going to be covered under GEICO’s warranty or if it’s just something I have to deal with on my own, but I just thought it was worth investigating since these same issues kept coming back and only started happening after the accident.» I told him to tell me to go take a hike if it truly isn’t their responsibility. This is basically the same thing I told CE.
My GEICO Rep did some digging. He spoke to his manager and he said it looked like it was a Manufacturer issue not a GEICO warranty issue. He said, However, that he was really sorry for what I had gone through that week and was able to get GEICO to pay for the repair. I was so grateful for that. My vehicle was fixed within 3 days.
Score another point for GEICO!
I am giving them 3 stars for some past great body work.