I can't stand working theft claims but i don't get too many of them.  I guess a close 2nd would be lightning claims.  Give me a good hail or wind claim so I can inspect it and close it.

I think all regular daily claim adjusters will agree with your two least desirable. I would like to have about 5 theft losses per week this last 18 months though. I can do a full blown build up and get about 8 hours out of one theft loss.

Although I agree that some theft claims can be a big pain, I cringe when I get a house fire in the middle of winter. You actually have to exit the home to warm up. Chills you down to the bone.

No kidding Ray, I don't like theft claims but I will take all I can get right now. 

You wisely confined this to types of property claims. Otherwise, I would have said Bodily Injury Liability Claims (which are clearly the dark side).

Here's my list of property claims at the bottom of my list of favorites:

1. Any type of claim where anyone gets hurt or killed -- fires and hurricanes being the most common. But, in general, the handling of fire and hurricane claims is sort of fun if no one gets hurt or suffers irreparable loss.

2. Any losses involving Business Interruption. Most people are reluctant to hand over ALL the information you need, and it's like pulling teeth.  In this category of particularly icky claims I would also link Valuable Papers and Accounts Receivable claims.

3. Theft Claims are rarely fun, especially if the carrier is demanding things that are not easily obtainable -- such as police reports for anything involving criminal activity. When will the examiners understand that the police in many, if not most, jurisdiction don't supply reports involving criminal activities to people who don't have a subpoena?

4. Claims involving collectibles. Nuff said. The value of a Barbie in an undamaged box versus a Barbie in a damaged box, or the EBAY asking price of yet another Beanie baby, is enough to drive one crazy. This is made worse if the policy is a collectibles policy.

5. Anytime the insured is trying to defraud the carrier. I get no joy out of insureds trying to pull one over on me. I get no joy from having to take the claim through all the extra paces to prove a fraud or from referring claims to the Special Investigations Unit.

I understand what you're saying, Steve.  And actually, when I was a staff adjuster with State Farm assigned as an auto theft and fire specialist, I got a great deal of satisfaction out of doing a full investigation and even occasionally catching "the bad guys".  But when I am on a cat assignment trying to crank out closed claims in large numbers, it is only a nuisance and a distraction to have to deal with the sort of crap presented by unscrupulous policyholders.

It distracts us from using our time productively to help as many deserving insureds as possible.

I have to agree with this one. I have worked claims for some  teachers. I have never heard such far fetched stories as I was told by a past high school principle, and a grade school teacher. It was very hard to stomach the dishonesty of these folks that were teaching our kids.

Good old slip & fall cases can be very rewarding when you get one or two a week and can milk it like a holstein cow when no weather-fires losses are to be had. The best ones are the plaintiff attorney represented ones that are two months to a year old when you get the full assignment.

Peter how would you like to work for Horace Mann Ins. Co.  I remember many years ago when I worked as an IA in Houston when our main account was Members Mutual (gone) who got their insureds from the credit unions banks who represented teachers, police, fireman and several other unions lots of good tales.

This is a great thread.

How about any claim that is being micro-managed by an inexperienced inside claim rep?  You know, the one who calls the insured and makes incorrect statements about coverage, makes promises that can't be kept or even schedules an appointment for you to 'go back out' and 'take another look'.