Columbia Collision Center - Auto Body - Willimantic, CT in
North Windham (CT)

So, I was in an accident was on 03/29/25 and everything was all set with insurance shortly after so they were able to give me an estimate on 04/01/25. I was informed I would need a new door (I was side swiped in the accident) and that it would be ideal if I took my car back so I didn’t use up the time I had with the rental. Fast forward 3 months, they finally finished with fixing the door. I was told by Greg it was on backorder which could be true but Eric had also told me that it was ordered incorrectly which is why it was taking a while. After getting my car back, whenever I’d drive over 30-35 mph, I’d hear a breeze coming from the window on the side they “fixed” like the seal was damaged from the repair. There was no noise before they worked on it. I was away on vacation in early July but even still, they didn’t order a new weather strip for my car until early September. After waiting 6 weeks because it was “on backorder” (even though I found the weather strip on multiple websites including Amazon), I dropped my car off today when they opened, was told it’d take half a day to replace the weather strip, waited all day for the call they promised and ended up needing to reach out AGAIN to see if it was finished. I picked it up as they were closing, drove it home, and still heard the wind coming from the passenger side window. I feel as though I was patient and polite through the whole situation but my patience ran out when the whole process took 7 months and the issue they caused when replacing the door is still not resolved. Its laughable and outrageous. So if you have all the time in the world to waste then this is the place for you!

Should’ve learned my lesson after the first time doing business with them and Mike the manager how to return three different times for him to complete the work on my vehicle just thinking that was a fluke when a deer hit my vehicle I decided to give them another chance worst mistake I ever made Mike doesn’t inspect his work before it leaves the shop very arrogant individual not saying that the guys that worked on a vehicle did a bad job just experience upfront and check your work before it leaves the shop that way it doesn’t have to come back.

Fixed my bumper on my 2020 wrx limited. Super happy! I'm very happy with the color match! Thank you guts so much! Great customer Service. My second experience there, my first wad the rocker panel on my 1990 vw corrado years ago. I was happy with that job too!

They take too much time to do the job. However, they’re so effiecnet

My car was hit in a hit in run by an uninsured driver, so I had to put the claim in through my insurance. This shop was on the short list of guaranteed shops, and I can see why. Not only was the customer service excellent, but they finished in the time promised and when the job was complete, they tidied up the inside. I had an accident with some hot fudge on the passenger side floor. It was a battle, that no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't win. Upon receiving my car it was gone.

I very very rarely do this. I always try to find a way to give the benefit of the doubt or have patience and I don't like leaving negative reviews. It takes a lot to make me this upset. But my god...two times I have had a car fixed here and it took months, which would be understandable if they didn't keep extending the time frames they gave for the car to be fixed each time I call to check on it. This second time is the worst. I let them have about a month or so before I started calling. But all 3 times I called they said "oh it'll only be another week we are welding this part, give it about a week" They said that same excuse 3 separate times, and each call was about a week apart. That's just insane to me to blatantly tell me that what you said was going to "take about a week" somehow took 3 or 4 weeks? And to keep using that same excuse on each weekly call over that 3 or 4 weeks? Eventually I gave up and the insurance called them and they told us it was delayed and would be done last week, then it got delayed again and would be done this week apparently. (April 5th) I called today just to make sure it'd be done by April 4th/5th. They say it'll be done on Monday or Tuesday, April 8th and 9th and that they'd call me. No offensive but if you did your job in a timely manner I wouldn't be calling so much. So another delay. So that means it has been delayed a total of 6 times. The last time they fixed the car this same call/delay cycle happened. What business doesn't give over estimated time frames for work or a service being done? How are you so incompetent that you had to delay the pick up date of a car 6 times using basically the same excuse each time? I genuinely do not understand. With the cost of the rentals I've had to get during this fix I could have put a down payment on a new car. If it isn't done this Monday or Tuesday I'm going to consult a lawyer about it as they clearly lied the first three times I called and have been taking their sweet time fixing the car without any good explanation. I have never had such bad service from some place in my life. It's unbelievable, everyone I've told this to says I've been way too patient. So as much as I hate putting negativity into the world this feels deserved. It should be that hard to be transparent and honest with time frames. Just say it'll take 2 to 3 months, that would have prevented all of this in the first place, instead of playing some weird game of delaying it a week every phone call that's made to check on the status of the car.

It's never a fun experience to have to deal with a collision and repairs. However, the employees at the front desk were amazing with keeping me updated on the status of the repairs, and were straightforward and honest with me. The mechanics did an amazing job on my car. I encourage everyone to go to this location to get their work done.

My experience with this shop was unfortunately very unpleasant. Wayne the previous owner (ownership recently changed) lost all the photos he took of my car and wanted me to come down a second time to retake them. How inconvenient for me. Secondly, I dropped my car off on a Sunday night for it to be there for my Monday 8am appointment for them to bring it in to begin work. I received no courtesy call that they have my car and brought it in so I called them 4 days later to confirm and they told me they hadn’t brought it in the shop yet. I asked why they would schedule me for a time they weren’t ready for me? They told me that’s how they do things and this was normal. I told them that was ridiculous that I’ve been without a car 4 days for no reason. I was told by Eric that my car would be done in 12 days and they had my vehicle for 19 days. I was very disappointed to say the least. No one kept in communication about anything or the progress. It took so long because it sat there for days. I called them to check on my car on the third week and the lady Donna at the desk always had attitude over the phone. Based on the reviews she’s like that to a lot of people, what a shame. Lastly I was confused about the process and having to pay the deductible because I was in an accident I was not at fault for, admittedly by the other party who was cited for a lane violation and driving without a license. I was on the phone with Eric and I explained to him it doesn’t feel right to pay this as it was never told to me by anyone at any point I would be accountable for any expenses and he said rudely “why don’t you just pay it” as if it’s no big deal to him, so carelessly. I went down there extremely upset and gave him my two cents and then some and told the office how badly they do business, what my experience has been (and Eric kept interrupting me so rudely) and how their phone etiquette is less than satisfactory and Eric laughed in my face. I wouldn’t ever recommend this place. The entire office (especially Eric) is immature, lazy, rude, miserable people with zero customer service skills. They don’t service people in any way they just take your money. Bring your business elsewhere and save yourself a headache

My parked car had a hit and run. My insurance was already set up to use our new car dealership Collison center so we gave it a shot. We had top notch customer service. They made sure we got our rental, helped extend as necessary and made sure the insurance was kept in loop. They gave me back my car smelling brand new and sparkling in and out. The best caveat was I left my expensive purse in it with all my personal things and money and it WAS STILL THERE. THANKS FOR BEING AN HONEST PLACE with great employees.

Eric has been awesome with the repairs on my truck. Dealing with someone else's insurance, he took the stress off me and assured me that he'll take care of everything. So far it's been a great experience. I will update when truck is done.

Excellent service. Great people to deal with. Keep you informed about your vehicle. Go above and beyond in service. I highly recommend them for repairing your car.

Very helpful and pleasant. Purchased a Subaru 5dr Impreza. Look forward to having a local garage to maintain my car!

Needed to get some warranty work done Mike Is great to work with knows what he’s doing and takes care of his customers

Unfortunately, I was involved in my second rear end collision with my Nissan Rogue. The Rogue itself took quite an impact. The car that struck me was totaled. The Rogue sustained significant damage however, Mike and his team did an amazing job restoring my car! My insurance company was a nightmare to deal with from the onset! Without my permission, my insurance company towed the car to a junk yard, where further damages occurred. Mike advocated to have these additional damages covered. I was unsuccessful with the insurance adjuster as she was EXTREMELY difficult to deal with. Mike strongly yet professionally handled the situation, a few e mails later an apology was issued and the additional damages were covered. Thank you again Mike for doing such an amazing job. True professionals. My car looks amazing! I wish I could give 10 stars!

Very professional and outstanding work, car was rear ended and can't even tell once they fixed it, blended paint 100% perfect, highly recommend columbia collision center

Well worth the wait Very happy with our experience. Huge thankyou to all the crew.

Terrible service, bad customer service. Terrible communication with the customer. The shop fails to be honest and transparent with the customer about when the order the parts, they keep the car for a long time and blame the dealers and manufacturers for their mistakes and delays. I had to file a BB complaint and more against this shop for lying and lack of transparency. They don’t understand the consumers rights protection laws. I am frustrated, I cannot communicate with them any more because they unresponsive, unprofessional, unreliable, liars, rude, and very frustrating people to deal with. Let the law and the state department deal with them. I can’t anymore.

Mike Sorel and Donna stayed in contact with me the whole time my car was being repaired. They answered every question I had. Mike went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied. He spoke with the rental company and the adjusters for me so I didn’t have to make too many phone calls. 100% will always bring my vehicles to Columbia collision for repair. Great job!

The folks at Columbia Collision do very good work. I was very happy with the work they performed on my vehicle, including waxing it before giving it back to me. The technicians were very friendly and accommodating.

They did a fantastic job on my father's 2001 Oldsmobile intrigue fantastic workmanship . Dave and Donna at the front desk were excellent in customer service.

These guys are the best. I might not have the car they fixed years ago, but it looked amazing after someone wrecked the front of my car. I'm Still recommending them to people even now.

Visited Husband Who"s worked there for so many Yrs. I enjoy visiting the shop every now and then. I feel strongly about my Husband deserving Good raise. He's a great, Valuable Worker!!!!

I'm the son of a body man. This place had to custom match my car color and I can not see a difference, a line, a blemish, nada. Fantastic job guys. You are my body shop now.

I just wanted to say how pleased I was with the repairs to my 2017 Subaru Forester performed by the Columbia Collision Center. The damage -- right rear corner clipped by a construction vehicle in a parking lot, while unattended -- occurred on Tuesday; the repaired car was ready for me to take home on the following Thursday. This is very rapid service by any standard -- and in this case, the standard achieved by the body shop was very high. Thanks very much for a really good experience. Charlie

I would NOT recommend Columbia Ford Body Shop to ANYONE... This is my SECOND BAD EXPERIENCE with them! In January, I had a bad car accident and my vehicle was towed to them... I cleaned out my car the day after the accident and forgot my plates... I called the body shop and asked them to remove the plates and a CD I left in the vehicle... I spoke with Donna and she assured me that it would br taken care of... A week later, I went to retrieve the plates, and another employee apologized and told me the plates had not been removed because they did not see the note left by Donna... He apologized and told me that they "would do everything they could to make it right and get the plates returned to me..." Donna promised me a return phone call on Monday... Well, that phone call never happened and on Wednesday I called and left a message to call me back...again...no return phone call... The end of the week I called my insurance company to see if they could help me... They located the vehicle and told me the plates would be mailed to me... The same day...Donna I spoke with Donna from the Body Shop and she was VERY RUDE and threw the phone down on counter... She called me back and left a message stating that the plates were in Norwich and that I would have retrieve them! REALLY?????? THIS is how you take care if me and make it right??? I contacted Eric Gates to complain about the Body Shop and told him that I needed someone to retrieve the plates for me, as I was not able to drive 35 minutes to Norwich because I work and was the process of purchasing another car and did not have time... He told me that he would have one his employees pick them up on their way into work...which he did...and I am thankful for that... My insurance company spoken with Wayne from the Body Shop and all he did apologize or accept responilsibilty for how his employees handled the situation...all he did was blame the entire incident on me...stating that I should have taken the plates (which I should have and that is my fault)... During a previous encounter with Wayne about another accident years ago, he told me "you just had a major accident and all you are worried about is materialistic THINGS...unbelievable!" Regardless of the situation and who PAID for the Body Shop, I am a PAYING CUSTOMER and deserve the same level of customer service as anyone else...and I did not receive that... I did not receive the PROMISED return phone calls and attention to my situation that I deserve! If you promise that you are going to take care of something...then you should follow through and do it...period! In addition, you should NEVER be rude or disrespectful to your customers! Throwing a phone down on a desk is not only rude...but unprofessional as well!! In closing, I think that Donna and Wayne should be "coached" in customer service and after my experiences with these 2 employees...I would NOT recommend the Columbia Ford Collision Center to anyone!

I was there two weeks ago to have an estimate done and it was supposed to forward the pictures to my insurance company and they have not done so. So I have to go back tomorrow and have them take pictures once again. I have these Gates many of times and they were great I don't know what happened this time.

Great service and great job done on my vehicle! Thank you to Wayne and his crew!