Auto body repair shop signed my name to the insurance check?

Question

I took a vehicle in for auto body damage, auto vs deer, The body shop did a poor job of meeting items they said they would meet. When it was time to pick up my car, one week past stated delivery date, I dropped off the check but did not sign it because of my concern for poor workmanship and the fact that they did not treat me as a customer should be treated. I called up my insurance company and found out that they had signed(forged?) my name on the check without my approval permission or acknowledgement. I live in Michigan, what is the law for this type of action ?

Answer 1

Let me see if I get this straight - you gave them a check so they would give you your car?  By not signing the check were you not just as guilty of fraud?  You got your vehicle by giving them a bogus instrument.  Just because it cleared the bank, does not mean that it really had your forged signature on it - could just have been assumed by the bank - might have said "deposit only" - banks do not check commercial deposits a closely as private one - they are usually bigger and contain more checks.

Answer 2

You should turn them in for forgery now. What else have they been doing to checks they recieve. They broke the law by signing your name to that check. Call the authorities right now.

Answer 3

You need to see if you signed a P.O.A.(power of attorney) for the body shop. Many body shops will get a P.O.A. on the front end so they don't have to go through the hassle of getting you to come back down there personally and sign the check once everything is said and done. There's a possibility you signed one of these when you agreed to let them repair your vehicle and you didn't realize it. If you DID sign one, you're without a paddle. If you didn't sign one, call your state insurance commisioner's office to see how you should proceed.