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LISA.ADAIR
USA
25 Posts |
 Posted - 03/10/2003 : 21:27:58
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| Would you be willing to use a Personal Assistant (Licensed Professional) for cat work to do scheduling, book lodging, initial contacts, check voicemails, research contents lists, etc., If the fees were affordable and it meant you'd have more time to scope and enter claims? |
Edited by - LISA.ADAIR on 03/11/2003 16:06:13 |
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CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2003 : 21:33:28
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| Your classified ad is now in three threads tonight. Will you have it in all threads by tomorrow? |
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2003 : 21:35:50
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Lisa, I have generally found that I can hire a 'college girl' or one of the women who work the front desk at the hotel where I am staying to make phone calls, handle scheduling, etc. and generally for anywhere from $5.00 to $8.00 per hour.
I am assuming that from your ads, that you would be remaining at home in Texas, so for you to make phone calls for an adjuster working in another state, there would be the added expense of long distance telephone, which would obviously have to be added on to the cost to the cat adjuster. For you to receive copies of the loss notices, would also require the cat adjuster working in another state to fax or email copies to you, which would mean not only addtional costs but extra time required by the cat adjuster to send to you.
I have used and would continue to utilize a 'personal assistant' on specific storms as needed, but I would have a difficult time using or understanding how to make it work when the personal assistant was at some great distance away from the storm site.
Just my two cents worth. |
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LISA.ADAIR
USA
25 Posts |
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CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2003 : 22:19:46
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Lisa, don't waste your time apologizing to me, you didn't offend me; I was just pointing out the frequency and spread tonight of your classified ad.
I answered your poll with a "No".
The services you are offering are worthwhile at times, however, for all the reasons Jim gave; it is unrealistic to seek that service other than in the immediate storm locale and ideally - again as Jim pointed out - for that service to be found at the place the adjuster is staying.
I have no creative insights to offer regarding your proposed venture. |
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2003 : 22:44:50
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Whether here or under another thread, perhaps the whole subject of the use of personal assistants while on storm events might be timely and worthwhile, especially for newer adjusters.
I am aware that many cat adjusters have from time to time either had a full time or part time assistant, and perhaps they would be willing to share the pleasures and pitfalls of such arrangements.
As I mentioned earlier, in some specific storms and situations, a personal assistant can be invaluable, while in others they may be of limited use.
As I also mentioned, I have not seen nor heard of utilizing an assistant while the assistant was located away from a storm site, so if anyone has done that before, what were the lessons learned? Would you do it again? Why or why not? |
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CatDaddy
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2003 : 23:11:02
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Lisa,
Welcome to CADO. I see you have met the Welcome Wagoneers.(smile Clayton, I'm being funny again)
I do know of some adjusters that use assistants. I also know some I wish would get one.
I agree with CCarr and JimF in that I think it would be difficult to work with an adjuster from an offsite location. Like Jim, I would like to know what success/experience you have had doing this and how effective it was. I'd also like to hear from any adjusters who have used an offsite assistant. (Lisa, your husband doesnt count, sorry.)
CatDaddy |
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LISA.ADAIR
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2003 : 23:37:50
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| They were a mighty friendly bunch too while they were circlin' them wagons (lol) re: the one's you wish would get an assistant...can I get their phone numbers from you? (lol). Even though this was all his idea, my husband is my biggest critic so I'd not ask him to join in on this wagon train. Like you I'd be interested in knowing what others think of this and what they do if anything to handle all of life's little details. Any input would be appreciated. THANKS, Lisa Marie. |
LISA MARIE ADAIR
http://home.att.net/~adjusterservices/LISA.html
Character is doing what's right, even when no one is looking! |
Edited by - LISA.ADAIR on 03/11/2003 10:52:48 |
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CatDaddy
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2003 : 09:10:38
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I do not doubt your qualifications, even if you did work for Allstate. (smile)
The problem I might see is an adjuster sending all of this, what is really "confidential" information to an offsite location.
Independent adjusters have to jump through a lot of hoops to work for some vendors and those vendors are jumping through bigger ones to contract with carriers. After blood samples, urines tests, IQ tests, DNA samples, and fingerprinting, they finally get to go to work. When carriers contract with vendors, they expect that all of the adjusters provided by the vendor have gotten an "A" on all of their organ-grinding exercises and are the professionals we all know them to be. That gets them THEIR ticket to the show and their "ID number" with that carrier. There's a graduation ceremony and everything.
With this Golden Ticket, they are held accountable and continue to have to jump through hoops their entire career, all while trying to make a living, until one day, when they die of natural causes and are released from bondage. A day some are looking forward to I'm sure.
I am not exactly sure what a carrier's opinion would be about an adjuster emailing/faxing a 100 of its policyholder's names, home addresses, home and work phone numbers, mortgage companies name with account number, and claim history to an offsite location to a non-hoop jumper without a Golden Ticket. I can see some problems waiting to happen.
I know that the use of assistants is out there. Alot of adjusters have "helpers" they bring with them. They too are checked out and get ID badges and carriers know who they are. I also know IA's that have hired people once they got to cat sites to help them with contacts and letters. My experience with that.... I was paying for gas at a station a few miles from the cat office. I had on my ID and a cat shirt. The teenager working behind the counter saw my shirt and asked me if I knew a certain adjuster. I said "sure, he's a super guy." She said "yeah he is. He hired me to do some of his paperwork for him when he first got here." Yikes!! I doubt she could have spelled lawsuit.
Just my opinion. Good luck! |
Edited by - CatDaddy on 03/11/2003 09:24:14 |
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CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2003 : 09:11:14
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Lisa, you have put a lot of effort into broadcasting your 'message' on CADO; other than I don't know why you choose to 'shout' it out. However, aside from your 2 classified ads, plus 1 bulletin; you have had well over 200 hits to your 3 threads you started on the same subject. There will be some who are envious, if not jealous, of the penetration of your 'for hire' ads/posts; having in the past seen their classified ad material removed from forum threads and bulletins.
Your bulletin says that you sell Personal Lines insurance, your 2 clasified ads say that you gave up your Allstate career but also say that you sell Personal Lines; whereas your thread in "Almost Anything" says you gave up your Allstate career but makes no mention of you selling Personal Lines. So, just for a start, I'm left wondering where this new venture might fit into your priorities relative to 'Mary Kay' and selling Personal Lines.
I'm not a real creative kind of guy, but in hindsight to your question to me last night in that regard; some things come to mind. I would have debuted this service of yours with - one classified ad, and one post in the "Getting Started" forum, and a Poll in this forum; all of those in a more 'business' type manner. Each of your entries last night, were basically one paragraph combining your background, home life and services offered. In addition, I would have posted my resume in the appropriate section of CADO; and probably have left off the reference and link to 'Mary Kay' from my user profile.
Lets say you would have listed your services something like this;
(A) Communication
(1) initial contacts (as required to establish person/person)
(2) scheduling appointments (as per your instructions)
(3) checking voice mail (twice/day, at times instructed)
(B) Organization
(1) booking lodging (as per your guidelines)
(2) mapping routes (as per your software)
(C) Claims Assistance
(1) research contents pricing (as per your list, LKQ, RC)
Now, lets say that caught an adjuster's eye, who felt the 'long distance' was not an issue.
You got a request for your services, from an adjuster deployed to the Roanoke Virginia area, he got 50 new claims and wants the following - A1,2,3, B2. What do you charge for that service? Later, if (C1) was an appealing option to any adjuster, what would you charge per item?
There is no time, and little interest, following deployment for much discussion or negotiation on price for your services. Whether it is the price at the gas pump, the fee schedule the vendor made available, or the cost of your services; 'know before you go' is operative and important.
One thing that would concern me, regarding the 'long distance' use of an outsourced assistant, as opposed to a local one hired to work only for me; is that my 50 files are 'mingling' with 150 or 200 others from 3 or 4 other adjusters. Whether it is you or anyone else - in this 'long distance' type arrangement - my livelihood is mixed in with the same for other adjusters; plus whatever other pursuits the 'at large' assistant may have on the go at that time.
Given the premium prices of HO policies in Texas, and their average commissions to selling agents, plus the purported revenues of aggressive 'Mary Kay' agents; I sense that your good efforts chanelled into those pursuits would bring you a better return that what might be available for the assistance you offer to CADO members. |
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2003 : 09:26:39
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I agree with Cat Daddy and Clayton, and I too would be concerned about sharing privileged information regarding insureds across long distances.
I have another concern which is that as a 'licensed' professional, you might be tempted to discuss policy coverages or insurance issues with my insureds in making contact phone calls. When I do use a personal assistant during catastrophe events, that assistant is making those phone calls in the same room while I am handling other tasks, where I at least have the opportunity to monitor half of the conversation and can actually be handed the phone for a discussion with the insured when there is some urgency or emergency in getting an answer to an insured. That would not be feasible were an adjuster working with an assistant hundreds if not thousands of miles away.
I do agree with Clayton, that given what I think cat adjusters could and would be willing to pay for such personal assistant services, you would more likely find other work much closer to home which would be more economically rewarding.
I too share Clayton's concerns that my files might become co-mingled with the files of other adjusters, or that the tasks you were handling for other adjusters would be given higher priority than my files. I can guarantee that will not happen when I have hired an assistant on site who I am also directly training, supervising, and monitoring. |
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LISA.ADAIR
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2003 : 11:09:24
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OK, I see where I was a little zealous in my approach (Maybe... a blonde thing). I didn't shout intentionally...Sorry. I've removed posts and will try to remove bulletin and Headline? don't know where that came from but I will contact Admin. What do you do when you're not on the road?, you do what you gotta do. Also, I can handle the files w/o comingling. It's all about organization, and I wouldn't take on more than I could handle. I'd be on the road too if I could but, can you imagine 3 teens home alone? I will take your advice on the approach and try again later...properly. I've already gotten the response I was looking for though. I really appreciate the feedback and advice. Enjoy the Topic! Thanks.
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LISA MARIE ADAIR
http://home.att.net/~adjusterservices/LISA.html
Character is doing what's right, even when no one is looking! |
Edited by - LISA.ADAIR on 03/11/2003 11:27:49 |
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CCarr
Canada
1200 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2003 : 11:29:07
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Lisa, I wouldn't spend time removing what has already been established since last night. If moderators or admin didn't want for it to stay - it would have been gone.
Everything pretty well rests in this thread now. I'd still be interested in the answers posed in my previous post.
Consider taking the 'foundation' you have established, and if you see any merit in any of the critique offered; consider 're-tooling' your venture.
I do see a void or a need, for a "Contents Claims Specialist" in the field when adjusters are confronted with large lists.
You could receive these lists, with no names of insured's or carriers, just adjuster and file number with the location of loss. Then, LKQ, and regional pricing is required.
There might be a niche there. It is important enough, that some carriers have established "CCSs" in their units to oversee this particular aspect of claims.
Look forward to 'how much', or other 're-tooling' of your offerings. |
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CatDaddy
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2003 : 18:22:33
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Clayton, I know that more and more large cat operations are setting up units of contents expediters that assist with the very "void" you are speaking of. The use of their services is for staff and IA alike. I think they should be a part of any operation where contents losses are heavy.
It is important to ask questions when you arrive at a cat site and see if your local management and support staff have organized any special handling units. I know that cat call centers are doing most of the initial contacts for cats now. Not all cat operations are the same and you may find that some service your are paying a person to do is available free of charge at the office! |
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LISA.ADAIR
USA
25 Posts |
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jtadjuster
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2003 : 19:38:59
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| I always use a helper on storm. They are already trained and know what the company expects so I dont't have to take away from my goal. Get the files closed with all of the requirements that the company requires in a timely manner. Keep your vision there is always room for future claims handling. |
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Do you use a Personal Assistant?
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