Tim,

Totally agree with you.  Even a lay person knows that any time you want something done construction wise around the house contractors will differ.  I don't care if it is a roof repair or a paint job.  Why is it then adjusters seem to be held to a higher standard?  It is not the adjusters job to write initial estimates and then try to bully contractors to work for that amount.  It is the adjuster's duty to write a good sheet, compare it to the contractor the insured wants to use and work out the details (with all parties being reasonable). The adjuster's initial estimate is for comparison purposes to show the company is paying the right amount for the work - not a penny more or a penny less.  If the adjuster's estimate is no where near the contractor's (and assuming the contractor is on the level), it is usually a  difference in scope, not price (if the adjuster is using one of the mainline estimating systems).

Having viewed my AE statement, I see now we are paying $1,600.00 for this piece of junk. I griped years ago about having to pay $800.00 per year. Am I getting screwed or is everyone having to pay this much. This is supposed to have a discount due to Cunningham Lindsey affiltiation. This is becoming the joke of the year. I am not aware of how much other programs are but I am seriously about to abondon MSB. After having lost a lot of money in the Katrina event because claim central would not work properly, you would think those in charge of MSB would be concerned about their product. Apparently not. This estimating arena is becoming a joke.

What does it cost for other estimating software?  Simsol runs between $65 and $100 a month depending upon several criteria.  Without a signed license agreement (1year minimum) the 3-month-at-a-time storm lease is $125 a month.  Many adjusters have a gun pointed at their heads and told what software to use and they get no discount even when they mention who they are using it for.  What a crock!  I feel for the adjusters that have to pay premium prices for software they don't like to use.

Simsol has several carriers that mandate the use of Simsol if adjusters want to work their claims.  When this occurs we offer the adjusters the same price as the carrier pays because in 100% of the cases the carrier has alot of adjusters and signs a multi-year agreement which means they pay alot less than a single adjuster would pay.  It upsets me that the two largest estimating software vendors do not do the same.

I don't understand why carriers don't see this and tell #1 and #2 to reduce the fees for the IA's and cat adjusters who work for them.  I don't understand why they would want to upset the very people they depend upon for the handling of their claims.  They may not even know this is going on.  I hope some of them visit Roy's great site and begin to see the writing on the wall.

John while I agree with your last sentence I do not think all carriers are as concerned about service and customer support as they are getting the management reports they want and when they want them. Yes the small to middle size carriers are often sensitive to providing their staff adjusters with an estimating software solution that is backed up by good training and customer support because in many cases the VP of claims has adjusted claims at some point on their way to the top. National carriers seem to be run more from top down and if they get the digested claims reports they want then the other factors can be sucked up by those down line.

The selling price of estimating software I have been told face to face is a NON issue to the VP of claims departments and that was not coming from the top tier of carriers either. The functional 10 year head start Xactware has with its web based Xactnet makes it hard for solutions like Simsol ClaimWire or PowerClaim Net Services to gain market share in the national carriers but as we all can show scalability then the larger carriers can revisit their options.

The nice part today there are so many smaller to mid size carriers with nothing in place that the market is wide open if we all just get with these carriers and tell our story. They can show sticker shock because moving to current technology has not even been a budget item in the past. Most carriers in the US do not use Xactimate and we estimate there are at least 9,000 staff adjusters with no computerized estimating solution for property claims.

I heard from a reliable source that the new Integra program will not be out until December of 2008. I hope it is a vast improvement over the existing mess they have created. The database is not what it should be and termonolgy continues to change. They seem to think we like change, but they are wrong. DDS was a good system and they have mutiltated it. They want more money for less product. I doubt that will change.

John the years may be just moving faster than we are.

The end of this year will be at least three years MSB has been working on this new software package. I was 45 when we got into this industry and tomorrow I will be 57 so I know time is moving faster than I am. The kids had not been born then and Clinton was in the White House.