3.) Secrets For Finding The Right Contractor
4.) Special Report on Auto Insurance
1.) Bringing Back A Lost Art
Claims customer service has become a lost art to most insurance agents.
Thirteen years ago, when I started in the business the agent was always the
first contact. The agent took the report, educated the customer on how claims
process worked and advised them on how to proceed. The agent also facilitated
communication by working with the claims adjuster and the insured to find a
solution when problems occurred.
Today most companies want the customer to report claims directly to the
company. Reporting the claim directly has advantages over the old system. The
claim details are recorded more accurately when the story is not retold through
the agent. The claims are also settled more quickly because the process is more
efficient when you speak directly with the claims representative and the
adjuster. Speed is very important when you have a claim. We all want our lives
back to normal as soon as possible.
I want you to know that at the Scarpulla agency you can still get all the help
you need when you have a claim and you get paid quickly. Last month we had a
series of meetings to find out additional services we could provide to improve
your claims experience even when the initial claim report is given directly to
the company.
Here is what we came up with.
If you call the agency to report the claim we'll explain that the initial
report of the claim needs to be called in directly to the company. We will
review with you the information that you will need to exchange with the company,
make sure you have all the important contact numbers, and give you some tips
that will help your claim run smoothly. We will send you our new claims
information packet. The packet contains the answers to
the most commonly asked questions and provides useful information that will help
you successfully navigate the claims process. We will also ask you to please
call us with any questions or concerns you may have.
If the company notifies us that a claim has been reported directly we will now
send the useful tips and our claims
information packet to you. We will ask you to call us so that we can answer any
questions or concerns you may have.
The last step to the new process requires your help. We have developed a
claims customer survey that asks you to share your experience and give us some
feedback. We promise that the information will be shared with our staff and our
companies' claims representative and adjusters. I would also ask you to keep the
packet and share it with friends and family when you hear that they have had a
claim.
What's begun is half done is an old saying that means that things will go a
lot quicker once you start them. This is 100% true when it comes to getting
your auto insurance claim settled. How can you start a claim when you haven't
had one yet? By being prepared.
Chuck's Steps To Being Prepared
Make sure that you have two pencils and a flashlight in your vehicle. Please
don't use pens, they wont write in the rain, snow, or cold and they melt in the
glove box when it's hot.
Make sure you have a set of accident information forms in your glove box. If
you do not have these forms, please go to our web page or stop by the office.
Claims Information Form Accident
Info Card
Pre-fill your own information before you put them in the car. What is an easy
task today may not be so easy when your shaken up or injured in an accident.
Fill in other driver's information at the accident scene completely to make
sure that you have all the information you need. Do not fall for the officers
" it's all on the police report" speech. The police report does not have all
the information you need and it can take several days to get a copy. If you
leave an accident scene without the other parties' information you will have to
either pay your deductible or pay for the damages if you do not have collision
coverage. Please note that what seems to be minor many times isn't. Serious
damage is often concealed by the dark, rain, salt, ice and snow. A small dent
or a bumper could cost you over $500.00.
If there is a witness to the accident have them fill out a witness card.
Witness Card
In a world where not everyone is not as truthful as we would like them to be,
having a witness to confirm your story will help make that your claim is
resolved accurately and fairly.
Write down your companies claim number on the information forms.
Company
Claims Numbers
Many of our companies have 24 hours claims reporting service. If you are able
to call from a cell phone they can help advise you and make sure your claim gets
started as soon as possible. The more time that goes by the less you will be
able to remember. If you can't call in the claim please make sure you write
down the details while they are still fresh in your memory. If you're injured,
please have someone report the claim for you. All our company claim numbers are
listed on our claims information webpage.
3.)
Secrets For Finding The Right Contractor
1) Check out the length of time a contractor has been doing business in your
local area under his present company name.
2) To find out more about a particular company checkout their website for their
company history, trade association affiliations, completed project listings and
photos and their
product guide.
3) Does the company have a showroom and offices with regular working hours
where you can view products and meet the people and staff you will be relying on
to make your project a pleasant experience? Does the company own or rent their
building which may reflect their commitment to their business and clients?
4) Who is the principal owner of the business and is he or she accessible and
readily available to assist you and
oversee your project?
5) Employ a contractor with an established business in your local area. Local
firms can be checked throughout the National Association of the Remodeling
Industry at (585) 396-9370 www.nari.org, The
Better Contractors Bureau (BCB) at (585) 338-3600
www.the-bcb.net, Better Business Bureau at
(585) 546-6776 www.bbb.org and the New York
State Attorney Generals Office at (716)546-7430.
6) Ask the contractor for a current list of past clients from your area, which
has a brief description of the type of
work performed. Be sure to talk with the contractor's past clients and inspect
the work. Inquire as to the craftsmanship, neatness, promptness and politeness
of the workers on the job. Also, ask the Contractor for a 1st of addresses where
they are presently working.
7) How accessible by phone is the company during regular business hours?
8) Check with the contractor as to the service and warranty policy of their
company, and is it stated in writing in the contract.
9) Has the contractor stated on the contract a starting and a completion date,
which is required by New York State Law?
10) Does the contractor currently carry liability insurance, which covers
damage and bodily injury to your property, and workman's compensation insurance,
which covers the employees of the contractor working on the job? Always ask the
contractor for a current certificate of insurance.
11) Has the contractor furnished you with a complete, detailed and thorough
specifications sheet, which clearly
states the scone of the job? If a project is clearly and precisely spelled our
in writing ahead of time, the chance of a miscommunication between the homeowner
and contractor is greatly reduced!
12) Has the contractor provided to you in writing the escrow account number and
bank which any fund received by them from you before the project is completed is
to he deposited into? New York State Law also requires this.
13) Ask the contractor to furnish you with a list of the supply companies they
do business with and call to verify their credit and account status. A supplier
has the right to place a lien of a homeowner's property if the contractor does
not pay the supplier for the materials, even if the homeowner has paid the
contractor in full for all work performed.
14) Ask the contractor to furnish you with the name of the bank and bank
officer that handles their business accounts. A bank officer familiar with a
contractor should have a good idea of how the business is managed and run.
In conclusion, many times homeowners select their contractor based on how well
they liked the salesperson and the lowest price for the project. The turnover of
companies is very high in the remodeling industry so be sure the contractor you
select runs a professional company. Try to select the contractor, which offers
you the best value for your hard earned dollars. Make your decision based not
only on cost, but also on the knowledge of the salesperson, quality of
workmanship, the management team, the ability of the company to service your job
in the future, and most importantly the dependability, honesty and reputation of
the contractor.
Article contributed by Charlie Graves
Website www.gravesbros.com
E-mail: Info@gravesbros.com
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