Claims Magazine October 2007
Cover Story
Sweet and Sour
Every September, the editors at Claims pore over a ream of survey responses in an attempt to better understand the working conditions and salaries of the claim professionals for whom we write.
Features
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Collision Course
Sometimes adjusters and appraisers are forced to deal with the frustrations that can stem from working through the collision claim process.
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A Tale of Two Adjusters
An internationally-recognized commercial loss adjusting firm spent significant amounts of management time, not to mention dollars, in an effort to recruit highly experienced, and highly compensated, senior adjusters.
Columns
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Personnel Issues
When asked, "What do you like least about your job?" many claim managers reply, "Personnel issues!"
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The Problem of Rodents and Vermin
From skunks, to opossums, to raccoons, to squirrels, the animals like to come inside.
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The Future of Customer Service
Carriers often make the mistake of pressuring claim and customer service departments to reduce internal expenses at the cost of quality.
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Adjusting and Journalism
It was unusual for me to purchase a "rare book" through a used book store, a first edition at that, but in this case, it was one that I had been seeking for years and could never find.
Departments
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Hurricane Season Gathers Steam
Last month, the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Humberto made landfall near the Louisiana and Texas border on Sept. 13, 2007.
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Stress Management 101
It's inevitable that catastrophe adjusters will experience psychological and emotional stress from their jobs.
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How Much Are You Losing to Fraud?
Claims Magazine and The National Underwriter Company are sponsoring this fraud symposium on October 25-26, 2007, at the Torrance Marriott in Torrance, Calif., for a reason.
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CPCU Annual Meeting Draws Crowd
The CPCU Society's Annual Meeting and Seminars was held in Hawaii last month. The meeting boasted more than 7,000 attendees.
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Speaking Of: Customer Service
We all know that the general population interacts with two people when dealing with insurance: the agent and the adjuster.
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Not-So-Good Vibrations
A Brooklyn, N.Y. couple was awarded $1 million dollars after a Manhattan Supreme Court jury ruled in favor of their claim made to Allstate Insurance for damages to their home.
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Land of the Rising Sun's Best
The study, now in its fourth year, evaluates customer satisfaction with auto insurance -- including among other things a company's response to auto insurance claims.
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In the Public's Eye
According to the California Department of Insurance (CDI), Norman Hugh Baker posed as a licensed public adjuster and conned eight homeowners out of almost $100,000.
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Program Verifies Coverage
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the goal is to reduce the number of uninsured motorists in Texas, which is estimated to be between 15-20 percent of all vehicles on the road.
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Jersey Girl Fudges Documents
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw have announced the indictment of a Monmouth County woman.
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Push for Stronger Codes
The American Insurance Association (AIA) recently gave testimony before the North Carolina Building Code Council to request stricter construction standards for coastal areas exposed to hurricane-force winds.
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CCC Releases Estimation Tool
According to CCC, the program is designed to reduce the number of missed items on estimates and help confirm that repair items and operations have been included and insurer guidelines have been met.
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Dri-Eaz Goes Wireless
The HygroTrac system monitors and documents moisture levels on all sizes of jobs while ensuring accurate data.
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FLIR Introduces New Cameras
The new T-series features a simultaneous 1.3 mega-pixel visual camera, high thermal sensitivity, and an eight-hour battery life.
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Is It Love or Money?
It very well could be the money, according to this hit song from the 1972 movie, Cabaret.
