Bray’s Report

If you’re a claims manager looking to streamline your Material Damage department then AutoClaims Direct is your answer!

The award winning National firm has grown over 315% this past year and was honored by Inc. Magazine, The Stevie Awards, and The San Diego Business Journal.  AutoClaims Direct delivers the fastest cycle times, leading quality and the most advanced claims management solution in the industry. No other technology is as simple and effective as the DirectLink claims processing solution.

Make 2010 Your Year of Results!

Here’s a snapshot of current rates in Van Nuys,CA

According to this link, December sees and increase of 40% in auto claims in the UK.

In this article we found, 24 people from NY, NJ, and PA were charged  for insurance fraud by engaging in rate evasion. Those charged were living in one state but claiming they lived in another in order to receive reduced insurance rates. Click here for the full story.

Sand and Buffing a panel is an operation that many insurers try to avoid unless there is proof it’s needed. This often requires the field damage appraiser to go back out and re-photo the vehicle to document. I thought it would be great to see what the actual suppliers of the paint say.

Here’s part of one quote “While refinishing automotive panels with zero dirt inclusions is possible in theory, it rarely happens in actual practice.”

Click here for the link to information we found on an auto repair website.

In the auto damage appraisal world there are two schools of thought when it comes to outsourcing field work. Some insurers work with larger or national type firms to obtain bigger regions of coverage while others enjoy using a multitude of small individual appraisers. The general assertion one hears from Claims Managers who use small “mom and pop” operations is that they can exert more  ”control” over them. In all actuality, this is naive in thinking as no insurer can provide the variety of volume to an individual appraiser that a National IA firm can as most insurers only provide overflow work in many regions. The reality is that a Claims Manager who uses multiple small firms ends up with an inconsistent work product, no way to drill down on metrics and ultimately slower overall cycle times. By using a national firm who has proven track record of exemplary service and leading technology, an insurer gets the personal attention of an assigned account manager, quality control auditing, report analytics and a consistent product. The benefits of using a professional team that can deliver consistent metrics and results outweighs the “warm fuzzy” home grown feeling of using a small mom and pop type firm.

Also in a tough economy there have been stories of unethical Claims Managers who exert “control” through squeezing the “mom and pop” operations in the form of kickbacks and payoffs. A Claims Manager will assemble a large vendor panel of various small appraisal firms and the one’s who are willing to pay-to-play get the work. Desperate smaller appraisal firms are either forced to give in or lose the business. This under the table money flows right into the Claims Manager’s pocket. There have been cases in which claims managers received kick backs and have been fired in various parts of the country

Good advice to any Claims Executives who have Regional Claims Managers bent on using only small firms,  you might want to dig a little deeper to see what lies beneath.

In this interesting nugget, it appears a shop in Rhode Island overwrote and charged Allstate for repairs it never completed. This was discovered on a re-inspection. Click here for the story we found.

In Houston, TX , Allstate is suing a tow company for overcharging and disassembling vehicles of accident victims. Click here to see the full story.

The first reviews are in and the introductory book on auto & home field inspecting is getting rave reviews. “A Field Day In Claims” which gives a foundational starting point on how to properly photograph, inspect and document damage to auto and homeowner losses is having a great reception. There is currently no other book like this in the industry and is an easy read with a great source of basic skill building information. The book is a starting point for those looking to become field damage appraisers.

Reviews such as:

A comprehensive manual for Insurance Claims Professionals/ Don Parker

This is one of those books that after you read/reference it, you’ll wonder how you ever operated in the past without the knowledge it contains. I actually feel empowered after reading this book.
The text is informative while remaining engaging , and actually entertaining-even though the subject is insurance claims.

The photos and diagrams are spot on and really were helpful

A must have for anyone in the insurance industry/ John Gibson

“Very informative lots of information for auto appraisers or insurance adjusters, lots of pictures and diagrams, read this book after working several catastrophe’s and learned some helpful info in scoping an auto loss!”

In this interesting article, Farmers has implemented a digital signature total loss solution. This will save  time and speed settlements. It sounds like a great use of technology. Click here for the story.