Yes, there are firms out there that are addressing the issue by adding fuel surcharges to their fee agreements. Over the last couple of years I have seen an increase in fee schedules that include the fuel surcharge agreement.

Also, there other ways firms address the issue, for example mileage charges,  price per mile increase and reducing the number free miles.  In Clayton Carr's 123 page Fee Comparsion document that he published in 2004 here on CADO,  he listed the mileage charges of over 30 firms.

Just last month, a group of us, all owners of flood adjusting/cat firms began the process of petitioning the powers-to-be at NFIP/FEMA/DHS to raise the NFIP flood fee schedule to better accomodate higher fuel, hotel, airfare and car rental fees - costs which must be paid for by all independent flood adjusters.  It is the same group of IA firms that got adjusters the raise in the fee schedule (with the help of the flood victims' advocates after Hurricane Isabel in Maryland) in 2004.  It may take some time but NFIP is open to starting the process.  They understand that to keep a good supply of trained flood adjusters they have to be compensated properly.

Like many on this board I have been doing this a long time. I was driving 200 + miles daily often during Katrina with gas around $2.75/gal

Those days are over.  If a another big one hits the gulf it will knock out most of the refineries and gas will easily push $6/gal assuming you can even find any   I try to cost out every storm. I am making less and less every year. I remained thrilled all carriers now want paperless files that saves me on paper, ink and postage.  Katrina was good and like you said I too had my share of large files and that fee can offset that fuel fear. But if we have to travel long distances on these files the cost of fuel alone will deter many. Just wait til you get that first BP gas bill in excess of $1,000 for the first month and see how that sets and then you do not draw the first payment for 60 days  So unless the carrier agrees to a fuel charge per file handling those would be difficult.  When you factor all your up front costs  ie...lodging, meals, fuel,  equipment, depreciation and Taxes it will be tough  to show much profit   I hope for a hurricane that is in the Cat 1-2-3  level so I can get in and out quickly  the longer you hold on to it the more it will cost you.

Rocke, you sound like your about as much of a tightwad as me. And there is no way I would take on new payments to save a few gallons, but consider this, if you drive 30000 mile a year and get 32 mpg thats 937.5 gals @ 3.75=3515.62, that same mileage @ 20 mpg is 1500 gals @3.75 =5625. a difference of  $2110. May be worth considering when you do buy something new.

Right now working claims from home, I'm doing 3200 miles a month. I'm handling 15 -25 claims a week, decided not to go to storms this year (took to long to find this volume don't want to loose it). I'm getting 35-37 mpg, and carrying a 13' ladder in the trunk. And have found that a Lexus rx350 luggage rack will fit my Corolla, and look OK, if I need a longer ladder, so far I have not. No it won't pull a trailer, but if the wife kicks me out, the seats recline.

Just food for thought

JWG

PS. I never thought I would ever drive a compact car, I'm a truck kind of guy, But I can live with it, and the money in the bank. I may upgrade to a Camry when I trade, maybe not.

The days of windshield time will be over soon. I remember days of driving 200 to 300 miles per day on 3 to 4 claims when fuel was reasonable with no mileage compensation. I did not like it, but did it. I will not do it any longer. Our Dodge Hemi makes 18 to 21 MPG on the road, with an average of 17.8 road and city. It costs somewhere in the rich neighborhood of $90.00 to fill it. If the vendors and carriers don't realize that we are no longer commodities, but actual, competent adjusters, and pay us so we can survive, they will not have anyone to work their claims if a large event occurs. Not only is fuel out of sight, room rates are going up, food, equiplment, and the ever loving estimating systems. Oh man, don't get me started on estimating systems

One thing Janice and I agreed on when we married many years ago was not to buy anything unless we could pay for it. We have kept that philosophy and will continue with it. That is one reason the 99 Ram truck we still have has 207,000 miles on it. It took a while saving money to buy another. The 05 Hemi that replaced it already has 70,000 on it. We will not be getting a new one until we have the funds to do so.

The economic picture is changing on a daily basis. Our President does not feel we have a problem, but I can intelligently tell you we do have. Save your money, think twice about working for a vendor who has bent over just to get volume business, and stock up on non perishable food stuffs. It is better to be safe than sorry. I don't paint this as a negative thought , but one of reality. Just like becoming a good adjuster, many preparations are necessary and knowledge is one of them. Learn to develop all the knowledge about this industry that you can and only work for those vendors that care about what happens to you. This is one reason we have stuck with Cunningham Lindsey for these many years. We know we will be paid, we know we will get work if it is available, and then they know it will be done right and expeditiously.

Good post and very timely Tom, I predict this will be a very busy hurricane season and adjusters must be very wary about which vendor they work for as several  dozen more are now in business who were not in business in 2003. I always worked for vendors with a track record of paying the adjuster all the due compensation. Many of the 04 and 05 stories had two sides and a lot of sloppy work was not paid for and should not have been paid.I know some of the people who were cheated were set up to fail and their {incomlete} work was used to close the file without a second inspection. But new and old alike should ask the basic questions before spending thousands on credit cards and man hours and then getting cheated.

This has been one of the most violet spring seasons in 10 years. How many adjusters have worked this year ? Were you one of them? If you did not work in 2008 you will be a most likely be pulled into a costly financial loss  with an unknown vender.  Be very careful of vendors who are subs of well known venders and well known carriers, the intentions may be good, but inexperience and under capitalization is very risky.

Very good news about TWIA. I think they have about 200 to 300 thousand risk on the Texas Coast. They are a first class outfit and I think the vendors who work for TWIA should be contacted by experienced adjusters.I think its time ever carrier in Texas to be pressured to do the same.

Why dont we all email our vender this week that we expect $10.00 for each file to compete with TWIA or we will not show up?

Some of the vendors I do daily work for, have already gone to the fuel surcharge.  Also, some of my daily claims I receive directly from the insurance carriers.  I have based the mileage fee and (included miles) on $2.499/gal.  I purchased a used 05 Chevy 2500HD a year and a half ago when diesel was less than gasoline.  I average 17.8mpg.  Based upon this, my fuel surcharge is computed on the average mpg and the amount of gallons over the "included" mileage.  So far, I have not had any problems from the carriers using this method.

Jim, I've worked for vendors that give me 100% of mileage, I have 1 that take a small percentage for admin expenses ( which is fine, They pay upfront) , I have had 1 that paid the same percentage as the fee. Then there is PDA that payed .25 a mile and charges .85-1.25. I think I was paying them to work their files. Ahhh, my first experience as an independant..

JWG

Went from 2004 F-250 diesel, 17 mpg  to 2005 Toyota Camry, 30 mpg. It was tough to make the switch, but I could not take that gut wrenching feeling I got everytime I drove to claims as I watched the fuel guage. The last 2 weeks I drove the F-250 for work I put $525 in fuel in it. That pushed me over the edge and I bought the Camry.

In days gone by, with good fee schedules & lower gas prices....nobody noticed, or cared, or they decided to just accept it.  But now...???  Stupid is as stupid does.......maybe that's what some hope.

As long as thousands of people are looking for jobs as catastrophe adjusters, why should the vendors stand up for a $10.00 per file fee for the fuel charge, unless they can get 40 % of it. A more descriptive title is commodity broker, and we are the commodity that needs the work.

Several vendors are marketing regular daily claims up to $2500. for 60% of a $250.00 fee or $150.00, first 2 photos free and then $1.00 each over 2 and the first 50 mils free and then .65 cents per mile in excess of 50. Drive time over 50 miles is $39.00 per hour.

works out like this    fee $150.00

photos                                      6.00

drive time                              39.00

milage 150x .65=                97.50                                  $292.50         200 miles x 10 mph= 20 gal @ 4.25=$85.00, Insurance and depreciation on vehicle 200x .31=62.00

                                     -147.00 less fuel, insurance and depreciation. less cost of software lease $145.00 per month= 1.45 per fle or sub $148.45

from gross of 292.50 less  expense cost to adjuster to drive to Huntsville, TX and return is 200 miles and will take 4.0 and 1.5 hours to upload, download, make apt. etc is 5.5 total hours comes to $26.99 per hour. Now answer all the adds looking for mullets to work regular daily files. Oh but you did not mention the $10,000 losses thats correct. The expense is still $148.45 per file, but you do get  60% of $450.00 or $270.00. So when you get home in the early afternoon the Mrs. ask how was your day honey and you smile and say it turned out fine honey it was a $10,000 loss instead of a $2500. loss and I made $120.00 more than I normally do on the small losses.

Unfortunatley you answered your question. If a vendor pays up front, I have no problem wit them taking a small admin percentage. But I will never again work for a vendor that takes 40%. Or like PDA that just pays .25 flat.

I am working direct for 1 company that worked out a flat rate per file with me, no mileage. That has worked well for me. I just averaged my previous billing with them and used that as a flat rate, they have also doubled my volume as a result.

Mileage in the past (at least for me) was always the gravy, Now I believe it will be as important as the basic fee, as will be the percentage.

JWG

Their you go folks, One of the top 5 vendors in the USA paying 70% for top adjusters and a great estimating program to use.My travel days are over, but please call me if a monster flood comes into Houston.

Ok JP, you got room for 7500 adjusters and about 2500 warm bodies?

JWG

John, thank you for your profesional and honest reply.  Seldom will you see a vendor exposing the bottom line in this business, very refreshing. Do the carriers know of this practice?

I agree, get ready for a bunch of resume's including mine.  Enough is enough of working for vendors who sell themselves out to carriers with the lowest fee schedule and expect profesional adjusters to turn and burn files to make up for the louzy fee schedule they have agreed to. As a professional adjuster with over 25 years in the business I refuse to turn and burn files it is not fair to the insured or the carrier.

The last several months we have worked over 200 claims, hail, tornado, fire, etc. I changed oil in April at 62,000 miles. The Hemi has 72,000 on it now as a result of all the driving up to northern, northwest, and south Arkansas. The fuel expense has been over $2,000.00, of which we have collected less than half of that on files that allowed mileage. I understand that a vehicle is necessary to work claims, just like a vehicle is necessary to do a lot of service work. I am noticing that service vehicles now are charging a surcharge for fuel to keep themselves in business. Why are the vendors not taking into consideration our addittional expenses for fuel. Is it stupidity, uncaring, greed, or a total disregard for our well being.

There is no question that the vendors had best wake up and smell the roses, as adjusters are just not going to be willing to pay the vendors to work for them. I am a large man, 6'4" and 250, so I cannot get into one of those econo cars and be comfortable and comfort is necessary to do a full days work. Our Hemi makes decent fuel mileage for a truck and that is what I will stick with. There is but only one person who can change the attitude of the vendors, and that person is you, and me. Send e-mails to the vendors and ask them why they cannot tack on a fuel expense/mileage surcharge. If we set on our dairyaires, nothing will be accomplished. Only we can change this situation, as it becomes obvioius the vendors are not going to voluntarily do it until some hell is raised and right now, before a hurricane hits it the time to raise some cane.

Thanks, JP, for our sincerity, your wonderful estimating program, and your attitude.

This is a good time to use your hold card, (if you have one) its called making your move. Two of the most respected adjusters in the industry have given you a wild card. Simsol and TWIA.

Just email these vendors who think they have you tied up that you need $10,00 per file for fuel(Twia) and 70% of the fee bill as you do not need a file checker(Simsol).

I am going to send out about 1/2 dozen of a monster hits the Texas Coast.

Now, this has to be a record for you, Larry.....an excellent post once again, but with no shortage on the word count.  Are you really feeling OK?  Hope so. 

6/12 email received:

To:           All customers subscribing to Pricing email notifications

From:       Xactware Pricing Division

Subject:   Rising fuel costs potentially impacting construction and mitigation pricing

This email is being sent to all customers who have opted in to our Pricing email notification list on www.xactware.com.

Understanding that Xactware’s pricing information is published quarterly, and that market costs may increase at a quicker pace for certain items, it is important that all customers understand the need to provide updated cost information to Xactware.  This can be done by either updating costs within the estimates written, or by notifying Xactware of updated costs incurred by your individual company.

In either case, the updated cost information will be used by Xactware in the market research for the next published database.

Gasoline cost increases:
As of June 9, the National Dept. of Energy reports the national “all grades” aggregated price of gasoline to be $4.02 per gallon.  This is up from $3.30 per gallon on Mar 31.  While local prices in each area can vary from this aggregated national average, the amount and / or percentage of increase experienced are generally similar.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_history.html

Gasoline as an overhead cost:
As gasoline is an overhead cost, Xactware does not build a specific fuel cost component into the published building cost information, nor are prices automatically adjusted as gasoline costs increase or decrease.  The reason is that like other overhead costs, the extent to which these costs are passed on to the consumer is driven by competitive forces in each market.

Hard to ignore the overhead issue when it's mapped out and acknowledged by an estimating firm. It's now time to ask the same question to vendors as to how we are to handle OUR Gasoline overhead costs? 

No doubt the contractors will have to charge more for the increase in fuel charges to make a fair margin. Lots of doubts that adjusters will ever get $10,00 per file unless several thousand demand it in writing before deployment.

Well now,

It would seem that we adjusters should stand fast in the "fuel surcharge" fray. Most of the trucking industry, the local utilities, trash collectors and other vendors have taken to utilizing this acronym to offset the ludicrous pricing of fuel.

We may have to hang together, or surely we all will hang separately.  The carriers have an out, the vendors will not argue, and we are complacent.

Why is it that we woefully independent, hard working, comrades in arms, cannot speak up? Why cannot we create terms and conditions, which we ALL agree to, and refuse to compromise our position?

Real quick answer, no one is in a position, after several years of the lack of work to argue. We just sit and take what is offered.  Seems that is what started the American Revolution, the fostering of unionism and the eventual demise of our Independence.

Things like this are what created unionism, but not amongst we hard cored individuals. We will probably never see a true coming together of our brotherhood, but that should not preclude our common assent to have our pay and supplementary incomes to be paid in full.

WE should be compensated based on our abilities, experience, knowledge, talents and not settle for less. We should be paid for 100% of the ancillary billing, such as photographs, mileage, and other expenses, without giving up a % to the IA vendor, who has no expense for these items.

If we do nothing as a group, then we deserve what we give up. Nuff said................................................

Many of the top adjusters on this site keep their options open for a few days after a large hurricane, for several reasons. They will get a fuel surcharge per file and 70% as no file checker will be needed.

Now if all people who read this post send a email to all the vendors whose list they are on and state they will not roll unless they get the fuel surcharge of $10.00 per file this would be in place when the big one hits this year. Do not work wind files for less than the NFIP fee schedule and if its a 4 or 5 you may get more, plus photos.

Both Ray and Dave make a very valid point. As independent contractors we need to stand up for ourselves and tell those that employ us we will not accept anything less than our equitable share of charged expenses. If we don't we are cutting the grass under our feet. As an independent as well as an employer it seems to me that treating your business partners well ensures beneficial results. I do not field warm bodies but rather business associates. It's always worked well for me and the results furnished by my" team"   have made us a great asset to those we have worked for.

Crawford and Company decided back in the 90's that they would begin paying only 60% of bottom line and not pay 100% for photos and mileage. Needless to say, all others followed suit. I have worked with Crawford and Company when they paid 100% of mileage and photos, why they changed it is unknown. I guess they needed their bottom line to increase.

It is time for the vendors to wake up. At $4.00+ per gallon of fuel, there cannot be some of the extended windshield time with no mileage. I will not drive 200 to 300 miles all over the country to inspect 2 to 4 losses without some mileage involved. Right now it is costing all of us about 62 cents a mile to operate our vehicles. All the vendors see is fuel expense and that is not all that is involved. Maintenance, insurance, depreciation, and fuel are actual costs that we bear. I have not seen one vendor who is paying a part of my insurance, payments, or fuel, so why do they think they just owe us 60 to 70% of bottom line. They owe us for the use of our vehicle because they have no montary interest in our vehicles. We provide a service and part of that is a vehicle to transport all the equipment needed to work their losses correctly.

Dave is absolutely right, if we don't stand united, we will fail or fall united. I don't intend to be in that group.

Gonna have to throw in the "honor system" too.  What's home-base for measuring the milage?  During Katrina as you well know, most field adjusters were making long treks everyday, but there were some that got lucky & found sites closer.  Who's gonna monitor that.....the vendor, the IA?  Certainly not the carrier.  Guess who wins or loses.  Boils down to integrity.     

Talked with a rep from Xactimate yesterday, according to him, if you use XactAnalysis there's an "upload' fee, based on the amount of the loss.  So when adding surcharges, IMHO this is one that definitely should be included. 

A charge to upload a file on a program that the carrier insists you use??????? 

• 0-499.99  = 4.95
• 500. - 1,999.00 = 9.95
• 2,000-9,999.00 = 16.95
• 10,000 + = 29.99

Now please tell me how this is justified.  You can't use the program of your choice to write your estimates, you have to use the web based version (XactAnalysis) to convenience the carrier, and then you are charged an Upload fee in order to get the files to them?????? 

I asked him how they charged this fee and he said, "Oh, we bill you later".  So in addition to the monthly fee for the program, sometime later you're hit with a fee for uploading your files?  Who should pay this?  The Adjuster?  WHY?????? 

Oh yeah, this should also go under the header "So you want to be a rich Cat adjuster". 

Meg,  Let me see if I have this correct.  Say I work a hail storm and work 200 files that all have damages between $2,000 and $10,000, and have to use this program through the internet for the vendor involved.  Are you saying that for that storm and that amount of work, I'll not only have to pay the monthly or quarterly fee for the program, but get hit with a bill of $3,390 on top of that for sending these through the internet?  That is a pretty big hit for work that may take 1-1.5 months to do.

Thanks Meg,

Wow. Those fees could ruin your profitability. I am not familair with XactAnaylsis. Is this Xact's newtork (network but newtork seems appropriate) that ties in to the carriers?

Yes, Steve, according to the person I spoke with at Xactimate yesterday, that's correct. 

He told me that if one used XactAnalysis that although there was no additional charge for XactAnalysis, there is the upload fee.  So, you pay your subscription fees for the program, and if using the XactAnalysis, there are the additional upload fees.  Pretty scary actually IMHO, that you're incurring additional charges to upload your files.  Wondering exactly what the end result charge could be, given a large storm, IF mandated by the carrier that you must use XactAnalysis.....

Let's say a large hurricane hits and no one will work for that carrier what happens then? I would say know before you go will start hitting home with more adjusters. No milage, no photos, pay xact an upload fee, pay monthly subsciption for software,input insured info yourself, load onto cd when finished,contact insured when you finish your estimate and go over scope and coverage,decreased fees so vendor can get the account(but)they keep their admin fee of $10-$15 a file-you can't touch that-100%vendor's),how many files can you count on?,send a hard copy to the insured and carrier(time,ink and paper), This is what I ran into with my current assignment with a highly reputable vendor. Except for the upload fee. Hurricane season could get interesting if adjusters hold out or jump ship for the best offer. Some vendors may find they have written checks to carriers they can't cash. You get what you pay for.

What a rip off and Citizens will probably require Xactanalysis. That could run into the thousands of dollars. Dead sure I will not be working Citizens claims with all their rules, regs, and schedule and now this, no way.

It seems that every day we have a new cost inflicted upon the already diminishing fee schedule.  It also seems that people have a distorted view of the Independent Catastrophe Adjuster; they think we make boat loads of money, do very little work to earn that inflated pay check and it takes no training or education to earn the millions we're all supposed to make. 

The fee schedules remain the same even though the price of gasoline, groceries, housing, and all else has gone up.  Almost everyone in business now is adding surcharges, or delivery charges, or just raising their prices due to the extreme cost increases we're all seeing, yet the fee bills remain the same as they have for years, new costs are passed along to us, and it seems it will take an act of congress to even get a minimal fee for increased gasoline costs to the adjuster. 

I want to remind everyone out there how invaluable you are in the claims process!!!! 

If Independent Adjusters didn't exist the carriers would have to hire more staff in order to handle the claim volume, therefore increasing their bottom line to include vacation pay and health insurance, as well as sick leave and other various paid time off for employees.  We are treated as the "red headed stepchild" when in fact, IAs save the carriers untold thousands in salaries and other employment costs, including tax benefits.  We're afraid to raise too much noise because we know there are always others who are more than glad to step up and take the claims, but....BUT.....IF WE STOOD TOGETHER WE WOULD NOT FAIL!!!!!   We are an unorganized group of PROFESSIONALS who need to band together and be ONE VOICE!  We are essential to an effective, cost efficient claims process, and its time we all started thinking that way. 

THEY NEED US!!!

Yeah, Larry, I know....maybe I did get a little carried away, but everything I said was true, nonetheless. 

First of all I don't buy gas, I buy fuel, diesel fuel.  While I buy it from a local pump when I am around home, I use a futures market mentality when buying for storms.  Where do storms hit, basically along the coast, so stock pile diesel fuel at points along the coast. Also, I am a miles per dollar guy and I can tell you that buying something new and paying a high price to get 10 miles per gallon better fuel mileage is not productive.

A good used diesel pickup with a fuel tank in the bed will increase your productivy and increase the number of fuel sources when the power and phones are out and gasoline sources are down. In times past I have bought diesel from truckers and farmers. With the set up I use I can drive to stored fuel in LA or in TX and work for months on fuel I bought at a cheaper price and have stored.

In New Orleans we were set up, in the motorhome, on the West Bank and did not drive from Houma or Hammond, across the lake every day.

I'm not certain if this upload fee is anything new.  Back when I worked branch for a certain vendor, I recall being told that there was a "per claim" upload fee.  But I never saw that cost.  From what I understood, it was paid by the company and covered every upload you did throughout the course of the loss (1st report, photos, estimate & all subsequent reports).  Maybe Mr. Cupps can shed a little extra light on this.  Crawford is, afterall, one of those that requires the use of Xactimate as far as I know.  In their case, that uploading cost for claims they handle may fall upon the carrier and not the IA doing the field work.  Don't everyone get their panties in a bunch just yet, because this would have come up long  ago unless things have changed.  Meg...you may have been misinformed by a fledgling who did not understand from what position you were speaking.

I'm glad you posted that as I hadn't had time to get back to some prior notes I had on Citizens and their use of Xctimate and Xactanalysis. Here is the link I did just locate. I also think that possibly the person on the other end of Meg's call may have thought she was with a carrier or adjusting firm as they also have an Xactanalysis program for them (there are several options on the Xactware site). The link to the Xactanalysis info on their site says that it is free with your subscription but not sure whose subscription they are referring to:

http://www.xactcontents.com/product.../xasp.html

There are links to 3 different Xactanalysis products if you click on the last tab to the Products list you'll see three links to 3 Xactanalysis programs.

These can all be found on Past Board Meeting notes of June 14, 2007 on the Citizens website. Not only do these notes show their selection process where they evaluated the 4 major software estimate vendors but also their board approval for using Xactanalysis at a cost of 367K per year which it says expires in Oct 2008 at the same time the current award expires with Xactware. From the way I'm reading this, I am only assuming that the charge is on the carrier side not the adjuster side. Atleast it is hard to believe that they could charge a carrier this much and also charge those fees to an adjuster as well. Also when your reading the links on this webpage to the committee notes that you look at how much they paid for Xactware contract. It is truly an eye opener:

https://www.citizensfla.com/about/m...;when=Past

Also in the 6/14/07 meeting notes are great explanations about how they work with AYO (similar to WYO on flood) processes work between Citizens and carriers who have the HO policy when Citizens just has the wind coverage.

Here's some other link notes I had saved:

Here is where they rated the 4 major software vendors before choosing Xactware:

http://www.citizensfla.com/about/mD...;when=Past

(although this says May 2006- it's posted on the 6/14/07 board meeting as a document from the meeting. This next document says that is because the 06 board approval ran thru 08 and the new one is now through May 2009. Look at the huge dollar expenditure on this- 2.8 MILLION with an expected reassignment on cat files of 50% on a 300,000 cat claim storm)

http://www.citizensfla.com/about/mD...;when=Past

Add to it the cost of Xactanalysis at 300K plus:

http://www.citizensfla.com/about/mD...;when=Past

If anyone figures out this mystery as to any charges to adjusters definitely, it would be great to understand this.

This link should work to all documents presented at the June 2007 meeting:

https://www.citizensfla.com/about/m...;when=Past

You will see the agenda items on the left side of the link to the June 07 Board Meeting notes

Here's a copy of the email I received from a rep at XM8.  

Per our conversation, here is the different pricing options for Xactimate (Note: Xactimate is on a subscription basis only): 

ALSO prices will change on Jul 1^st 2008 

For contracting capabilities:

One-time sign up fee $250

12-month commitment = $1300/yr or 12 monthly payments $115/mo

Allowed 2 installs

Each additional install = $58/mo per install 

For adjusting capabilities (contactor can be added to this at no charge):

30-days = $230

90-days = $600

12-month commitment = $1300/yr or 4 quarterly payments $345/mo

Allowed 1 install

Each additional install = $115/mo per install 

Also I’ve included our different Training options and pricing below:

Xactimate 25 Basic or Intermediate Training CDs = $39.99 each

Online Training Course (with one of our Trainers) = $150 for 2 hours (various classes available)

Xactimate 25 3-day Regional Training Class (8 hours per day) = $750/person (or $550/person if taken in Utah)

Xactimate 25 Advanced 2-day Regional Training Class (8 hours per day) = $599/person (or $440/person if taken in Utah)

3-day On-sight Training (up to 20 students) = $5500

XactContents = $58.00 a month.

XactNet Assignment upload charges:

$0-$499  $4.95

$500-$1,999  $9.95

$2,000-$9,999  $16.95

$10,000<  $29.95

(paid by the adjuster)

For more details on training please visit www.xactware.com under the menu “Training” or feel free to contact me directly.

Please contact me directly if you have any additional questions or when you would like to place an order.

Thank you. 

TeleNet Sales
800.424.9228 x514

www.xactware.com

Well, here's the second response I just received to my question regarding the upload fees, a bit of a discrepancy regarding the pricing....

Your Question (non-technical support related) submitted to Xactware on 06-17-2008 regarding the following area has received a response:

You submitted a Question (non-technical support related) on June 17, 2008 at 1:03 PM:

Can you please supply me with the cost involved for using XactAnalysis as an adjuster.  What are the upload fees and any other costs involved.
Thank you
Meg

Meg, I don't know, Ive never asked the question specifically, but the upload charge may be for storage of estimates. It seems that was brought up with other software. There was no charge for recieving or sending claims, but if you wanted your claims archived on their system for future reference, there was a charge. Currently my Xm8 is supplied by a vendor, I asked him and he said he hasn't seen any extra charges.

JWG

Jim,

You're free to decide what you will, I've not only provided the information they gave me, but also included TWO responses from them documenting what I've been saying.  You or anyone else can decipher the written responses they gave me in whatever manner you choose, I've simply provided the information.  If you read the emails posted below you will clearly see that although both communications show different fees, they both clearly say there is an upload fee when using XactAnalysis, one also including the statement that the adjuster pays.  Believe it or not, I really don't care, I'm just providing information given to me by Xactimate and really don't want to have to continue to defend this.  Check it out for yourself and know rather than just guess.  All I have been trying to do is provide information that I thought would be helpful to my colleagues.  And at least I checked it out with the company, not guessing what might or might not be...

As Forest Gump would say "That's all I have to say about that".

Seems like many years ago the rule was the fee schedule included about 50 miles. However the fees havent gone up so based on the cost of fuel now the schedule should include about 12 miles.

good thinking and math, esquire Hines. Using you reasoning some of the regular fee bill schedules in have seen in the last two years, the carrier should owe the adjuster about 30 miles when the file is assigned.

I will not stake my 1st-born on it, but think those uploading charges are paid by the holders of the key to Xactnalysis (the carrier, or the major vendor, such as Crawford, who is first downloading the assignment to the field adjuster & then requires all responses via same venue). 

In the case of the major IA's, it is those folks who decide who to send the claim to, and enter all the data for the claim, and then review it before accepting it as written and/or then forwarding it to the carrier. 

There have to be many many out here who are using Xact, and yet no one has stepped forward to say anything.  Is that because you are not being charged, and don't want to bring attention to it?   Most likely, you are using it but not uploading directly to a carrier that does not use Xactanalysis......just printing/mailing, or pdf'g/emailing.  Thus no fuss and no charges.     

When we used Xactanalysis to upload claims the vendor had us add an uploading fee to the carrier's invoice.  I assume the vendor is the one who pays the fee but apparently can charge it back to the carrier.  I have never heard of an adjuster having to pay it.

Ray, you are correct ! sometimes it almost feels like we are in the hole when the file is assigned. Funny story. Years ago I was working commerial claims for travelers on a fee schedule. After a couple of months they wanted me to switch over to T&E. They sent me a memo with the hourly rate and other details . One of the details was the  first 4 photos and 50 miles were free. Had to scratch my head on that one. They told me it was built into the price. It took a while to get them to understand this made since on a fee schedule when you start with a base fee but on hourly rate it makes no sense. They finally saw the light!

Why do you have to go through xactimate to send the file ? Just email the esx file .

The answer to your last question, Bryan, is that some carriers have been convinced to drink the Xactimate Kool Aid.  There is a product called Xactanalysis through which you can assign claims and through which claims can be sent back to the carrier.  In the process certain reports are generated that show where the adjuster might have varied from Xactimate pricing and/or added something that might not be typical.  It is designed to electronically ferret out adjuster mistakes so that those reviewing the files need to know even less about actually appraising damage than they did before.  The theory, whether stated or not, is that their program can replace truly knowledgeable claim examiners. 

Whenever one uses Xactanalysis they are charged (in addition to the initial charges of buying the program) a per file fee.    Some carriers require this and will not send a claim to anyone who does not have Xactanalysis. 

Sometimes I just feel like John the Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness, when it comes to Xactimate.  As long as I have a say in what my company does (and I do) I will not be forcing people to use a particular program if they know how to appraise a loss and write an estimate.  And if I don't understand what's right or wrong with an estimate without using some crutch like Xactanalysis, what am I doing examining claims in the first place?

Yep. and another thing for those who have not worked with Xactanalysis - large carriers that have "direct vendor" emergency service programs use this same web-based method to assign out to the Emergency vendor (like Serv-Pro, etc.) The emergency contractor has a relationship with the carrier prior to the loss, gets the assignment via Xactanalysis, sends their invoice (estimate) for work completed using the same method. In other words, they don't just use it for assigning out to adjusters.

It is also a system to hold an activity log, set diary, upload documents such as your prelim report, photos, and estimates to. If you upload the .esx file (not just a PDF of the estimate) then the carrier could make revisions if needed, but the big picture is a scenario where the entire claim file also lives in that bucket. 

The carrier I work with on Xactanalysis no longer wants Email sent to them - they prefer that the adjuster log onto the Xactanalysis network and send them a note that way.  From their perspective, it makes sure that the claim file is not fragmented.  Anyone can open the claim and see what is there, not hidden in separate Emails or documents in a separate hard drive folder.

Personally I am just a worker bee and am not charged for the uploads, but someone higher up the food chain from me could be paying for them. 

  Sure Larry, make it an upsize, like lets reduce the milage free to zero, zed, nada.  And then we give NO photos free and all are at 3.00 each. Hows that for an increase in fries.

Seriouly folks, we do need to make some rules and regs for ourselves that can be acceptable to the carriers. Stand together or cry alone.

For all youse Lone Star adjusters, "REMEMBER THE ALAMO"

Actually, what I meant with my "fries" comment was that if the posture becomes too militant,  if the tone become too strident, if the demands become too firm,  we may all be asking that question. 

I firmly believe that we should receive all of the photo and mileage allowances.  I firmly believe that the fees should be adjusted to reflect the environment that we all work in.  I firmly believe that an experienced productive adjuster should be paid more than one that is less experienced that cannot produce quality files, day in, day out.

Trying to force the IA companies or the carriers to accept these viewpoints is kinda like trying to push a rope up a hill. 

The ol' pendulum swings on a very long arc and to change it's direction of travel takes a while.  When the managers really get fed up with half-done claims, half-hearted attempts to reconcile the claim to address the damages and start looking around for really good adjusters, they are going to have to accept the fact that really good adjusters just cost more.

Only when the managers and those in the corner offices realize these facts, will the pendulum stop and start in a new direction.  Only through concerted and constant respectful demands will those in charge finally start to understand what we have been and are still trying to tell them.

Stay the course................                                                                                                                              

Some form of FICUS TREE and triage adjusting is working now. This has been of of the most active springs and now summer that I can recall in years. I only know one adjuster who is working and they have already worked four storms this year. They are very sharp and  worked first in 2005. They learned the system and will continue to work. I know others I know and many that I do not know have worked in 2008, but they have been very quite.

I heard one North Texas Hail storm near the Red River was being worked 100% by preferred contractors, and have no reason to doubt the source.The good adjusters who post on this site will always work....just about the same time all the 3 days wonders are working. How many of all the training schools and all the vendors who advertize with web sites have people deployed to day ? How many new vendors have you seen since 2000, I think it more than 100. Seems ever profession has about 10%  of the engaged doing 90% of this business.