Many adjusters really do try to get the amount as low as possible. I had some fairly minor damage to my cars bumper, fender etc.
The adjuster found the lowest price in his town for each of the jobs done separately. He then added them up. I went by a local auto body shop and asked what he thought. He said the adjuster was way off. He said no shop would have done it for that. I called the guy who hit me’s insurance company and to my surprise they let me get a local shop to get an estimate. They then paid for it.
I've been an auto damage appraiser for over 20 years, I've never heard of that kind of slease. That guy was a real dirt bag. It costs what it costs to properly repair a car, anyone who pulls that kind of nonsense should be run out of the industry, they give those of us who do it right a bad rap.