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Measuring a Roof

Subject: Measuring a Roof
Description

 Discussions related to measuring a roof.


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/discus/messages/4079/4385.html
Source: Forum Archive

Bad Faith Claims Handling-What Constitutes?

Subject: Bad Faith Claims Handling-What Constitutes?
Description

 im has responded to Jerry's question with some great information useful to us all on bad faith claims.

I'm a quasi "court watcher". It is a habit I picked up some 30 years ago while brown bagging my lunch as a new adjuster inside the warm confines of a carrier. As every insurer has in their claims library, we had a court reporting subscription that cross referenced evey conceivable type of action and reported cases. In later years it became an everyday tool in claims handling or management.

I'd like to supplement Jim's dealings with the topic by discussing with case law some of the issues of bad faith. The jurisdictions may be different, but the actions or inactions of the parties giving rise to bad faith claims are universal to North America.

The landmark case now in Canada was heard by the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) this year, it is "Whiten vs Pilot Insurance Company" (W vs PIC).

A homeowners policy issued by PIC provided coverage for the W home. In 1994 a fire totally destroyed the dwelling and contents. PIC denied the claim in its entirety, alleging arson. PIC maintained the arson defense through trial at the lower court and at the first appeal level.

A Justice of the court addressed the two requirements that must be met to permit an award for punitive damages.

1. The defendant must have committed an independant or separate actionable wrong.

It is well settled in our case law that a contract of insurance is one of the utmost good faith, imposing on the insurer an implied obligation of good faith and fair dealing with its insureds. This is a contractual obligation.

2. The defendant's conduct must be sufficiently harsh, vindictive, reprehensible and malicious as to offend the Court's sense of decency.

The court went on to analyze the conduct of the insurer to justify the bad faith award as punitive damages. Here are less than half of the reported reasons;
(a) the insurer deliberately ignored the opinion and recommendations of an experienced adjuster to concluded the fire was accidental
(b) the insurer never provided the adjusters reports to the experts it later retained
(c) the insurer ignored the opinions of its engineering expert who provided three reports that the fire was accidental
(d) At every step the insurer considered that it could safely deny the claim because the insured would not refuse a reduced offer in the future

The Court therefore concluded that the above two requirements had been met.

The majority opinion of the Court looked to the USSC for enumeration of the factors to be considered in determining whether an award is reasonably related to the punitive goals of deterrence and retribution. It looked at "Pacific Life vs Haslip (1990) 499 US1". for the criteria for appealate review of punitive damages awards.

"Whiten vs Pilot Insurance" has generated a lot of discussion and commentary. The trial verdict of $1,000,000 punitive damages for bad faith, plus every cent of the Whiten's financial loss set a new and unprecedented Canadian threshold for punitive damages in first party insurance claims.

California is truly the bad faith litigation power house, especially related to third party bad faith claims. It began in the 1970's with "Royal Globe vs Superior Court" and led to the rampant rise of bad faith cases that insurers were settling short of trial due to fear and costs. In 1988, the California SC in "Shall vs Firemans Fund", reversed th


Ideal Cat Vehicle

Subject: Ideal Cat Vehicle
Description

 I am thinking of purchasing a used vehicle for storm duty, I would like to hear what others have to say and what they would recommend. I am looking at Tahoe's, Yukon's and Explorers 4 wheel drive. I would like to hear from any owners about what they think of thier vehicle. For example comfort, gas mileage reliability Ect. 


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/discus/messages/364/334.html
Source: Forum Archive Post by Harold - 29 Replies

Ladders - What Do You Use and Why?

Subject: Ladders - What Do You Use and Why?
Description

 I had an interesting discussion with an adjuster the other day on ladders. He said he used a telescoping ladder and loved it. I thought I would ask a few other adjusters and when I did, I received just as many different responses. I thought I would throw a little survey on this thread to see what responses I would get from the folks that surf CADO. If you want to participate please answer the following:
1. What type and manufacturer name of ladder to you use?
2. How long have you been using it?
3. What do you like about the ladder?
4. What do you NOT like about the ladder?
5. If you were to purchase another ladder, would you buy the same type and brand name or would you purchase a different one?
Thanks in advance for participating. I am interested to see the results. 


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/discus/messages/4079/4189.html
Source: Forum Archive Post by Scott - 6 Replies

Proper Claim File Techniques

Subject: Proper Claim File Techniques
Description

This thread is being initiated to allow adjusters to share helpful techniques which may assist newer less experienced adjusters in properly handling and closing claim files.

It is also being set up to assist new and newer adjusters with a thread for asking questions relating to how to proper report file closings.

Please share your positive ideas here as well as sharing your horror stories of 'messed up files' which you have had to rework on reassignments and clean-up.


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/discus/messages/1/3446.html
Source: Forum Archive Post By Jim - 55 Replies

Resumes: The Harsh Truth

Subject: Resumes: The Harsh Truth
Description

I generally lurk in the shadows on this site. I am posting without my name or company name as I am a principal with a nationwide cat company and prefer the security of anonymity for this particular posting. Not one of the biggest vendors but, in my opinion, one of the best. I am writing to hopefully shed some light on this subject of resumes and how to break into the "bidness".

We receive a lot (A LOT) of unsolicited resumes. I am the one who sifts through them and files them accordingly. To streamline the process I have three doors for these resumes.

Door Number One: Former contractors, former auto sales/body repair people, former real estate appraisers, former insurance agents, and former anything that is not related to insurance adjusting. This door is for the folks who have no experience in adjusting a claim and who prefer to explain to me how their unrelated skills can quickly be converted to the claims field. This door is for them folks that couldn't make it in their chosen field. Sorry, but that's reality.

Door Number Two: High school and college graduates with a limited understanding of the King's English or basic grammar structure. "I looking for a position with you company." Also, the ones who hide their lack of communication skills with $67 words that I have to go look up in the dictionary. I'm not wasting my time doing that. Believe me, I know why you're sending me a resume. If you prefer to waste your time with unsolicited resumes, at least keep it simple, to the point, and with Standard English construction.

Door Number Three: These are the folks who enjoy listing all the other vendors they've worked with since 1957. Of course, they fail to realize that all these vendors are also my competitors. Let's say that ABC Adjusting is my biggest competition in the Texas market and I know in my heart that the adjusters they use put out an inferior product. How do I know this? Because I know we put out a superior product. When I get a resume from an adjuster who has plenty of experience in the claim industry but 80% of that experience is with ABC Adjusting then, in my mind, this is an ABC adjuster and will always be an ABC adjuster. I'm also suspicious. Why is he coming to me now? Did he have a falling out with ABC? Did they run him off or did this adjuster become dissatisfied with them? These are questions you do not want raised in my mind if you are serious about getting on our list.

Here are the lessons you need to learn from my experiences.

First, if you are serious about getting out on a storm then get out to the storm. If you have claims experience, then find where the vendor has his storm office and go talk to someone face to face. Bring a copy of some estimates you have written in the past (oh, and that resume, if you insist). When all of our regular adjusters are working and I'm casting about for extra help, if you are standing there, ready to go to work, then chances are good that are I'll give you a shot rather than looking up someone in the resume file. Don't count on unsolicited resumes, unless you just enjoy typing up your accomplishments. They are not productive in this industry and, in my personal opinion, are a waste of time. In other industries (sales, marketing, manufacturing, etc.) they are the way to go, but not for this business that we have chosen. I cannot remember the last time I called someone to work a storm just from a resume. It doesn't happen.

Second, if you have no claims experience then the best way to get out on a storm is to get out to the storm. Find an adjuster who will be working and make some type of arrangement for assistance services.


Is granule loss considered hail damage?

Subject: Is granule loss considered hail damage?
Description

A very popluar discussion with 228 replies and over 19,500 views.

First Post:
"There are lots of opinions on this question and they come up at every hail storm. What is your opinion? Please elaborate for those who might be on the fence."


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/forum2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=366

Protocol for Assessment of Hail-Damaged Roofing

Subject: Protocol for Assessment of Hail-Damaged Roofing
Description
Excerpt: 
"A protocol has been developed for assessing hail-impact damage to steep-slope roof systems. The protocol includes a definition of hail-caused damage to roofing, a detailed field inspection procedure, and a calculation method for determining repair or replacement of hail-damaged roofing materials based on economics. This paper limits its discussion to asphalt shingles and wood shingles and shakes, although the general principles can be applied to other steep-slope roof systems. Hail damage is quantified by examining test areas on directional roof slopes to determine the number of damaged shingles/shakes per roofing square. The difficulty in making roof repairs is incorporated via a repair difficulty factor. Finally, the decision to repair or replace hail-damaged roofing is made on an economical basis by comparing expected costs to remove damaged shingles/shakes versus costs to replace roofing on entire slopes."
 
By: TIMOTHY P. MARSHALL and RICHARD F. HERZOG
    Haag Engineering
    Carrollton, Texas, U.S.A. 

URL: http://docserver.nrca.net/pdfs/technical/6854.pdf
Source: NRCA
Related FileProtocol for Assessment of Hail Damage

Revised Fee Schedule Survey & Comparison

Subject: Revised Fee Schedule Survey & Comparison
Description

 Original Post by the author. (Note: This is from a 2004 forum post so the information is dated and many of the vendors have revised or updated their information.  It is only provided for general information.)

 Well I do believe that this project has come to an end, and at the right place. It is my understanding that Roy will enter the survey into this thread as an attachment to a post, at his convenience after I manage to get a post made to open the thread. 

Hopefully, this survey will be a useful resource tool for you. It is not meant to be a stand alone tool, but meant as one tool to be used in conjunction with numerous other points of information that you should have and should use; to determine if you do "know before you go".

Please review the Table of Contents, and pages 3 to 7; so that your walk or hike through the data will be easier to absorb.

While we wait for someone far more skilled at the technology needed to attach files, I'll attempt to offer some comment and hopefully give some further understanding to the survey and comparison.

I used the same presentation format as the original survey. However, going from 47 to 104 surveyed schedules, I split each gross loss (GL) price point into a three page set; as opposed to a continuous column. That way, each GL price point (other than a few at the high end) has 3 pages grouping the fees by page within parameters of "Top third & ties", "Middle third & ties" (which also contains the median fee for each GL price point), and "Bottom third & ties".

Although at the time of gathering the data I was surprised to end up with 104 different fee schedules, I now believe that this is probably only about 50% of the current fee schedules in circulation; if you review the list and consider the minor amount of schedules represented by some vendors and the absence of schedules for other vendors.

As for the body of the survey, the comparative summary, at each of the 27 gross loss price points; I am at a loss to interpret or offer any logic on most (if not all) of the findings. When you look at the charts that follow the body of the work, on page 93 & 94, and consider the weak progression of the median fee across the various GL price points; perhaps the lack of relationship between the fee and the escalating gross loss level is more evident.

Another fairly common twist or turn, to most of the groups of schedules - "groups" being the same vendor/carrier schedule, but with two or more different specific fee schedules, i.e. (wind/hail) & (o/t wind/hail), or (residential) & (commercial) - is that most (but not all) converge to the same rate about mid way through the gross loss price points. The logic and value is sound that a commercial fee schedule (for "adjusting" claims) should be greater than the same for residential claims. But, if they converge to the same rate at $30,000 of GL and greater; the logic and value has been lost. The same concept exists when considering some vendor/carrier fee schedules for hurricane losses and hail losses, converging to the same fee rate after the low and mid point gross loss levels.

The "Top 25" fee score sheets, that group gross loss ranges, is where you can more closely assess a schedule. An effort was made to provide a greater number of ranges and to have them overlap. These "Top 25" sheets should be considered - or the schedule tha


My Typical Daily Schedule

Subject: My Typical Daily Schedule
Description

 A goof discussion related to work schedules to give an example of what can be required. 


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/forum2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=299
Source: Forum Archive Post by fivedaily

Cat Adjuster Equipment

Subject: Cat Adjuster Equipment
Description

 - ladder extension and/or 2-story ladder
- bunji cord for tying ladder off at gutters
- Cougar paws
- rope and harness
- chalk and grease pencil
- pitch gauge
- shingle guage
- 100 ' measuring tape w/ tennis ball attached to end
- 25' FATBOY steel measuring tape
- handheld sonar or laser measuring device for interior rooms
- digital camera / preferably small and lightweight
- clipboard w/ calculator and Acculine drawing grid
- erasable Paper-Mate pens
- micro-cassette recorder and tapes for recorded statements
- photo processing software
- GPS / mapping software
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- carpet knife
- putty knife
- silicone sealant
- magnet
- 2nd printer for vehicle
- 2-way voice activated radios (for team use)
- Power supply should be able to run laptop, printer and multiple battery chargers (two way's, cell phone, rechargeable batteries for camera)
- filing systems (one for car and one for office)
- comfortable complete tool belt (ez off, ez on)
- sunscreen
- bug spray
- mace or pepper spray for dogs (and some roofers)
- first aid kit (for when the pepper spray doesn't work)
And last but not least ... copies of POLICY's!


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/forum2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=936
Source: Forum Archive Post by Todd

Roof Climbing Boots

Subject: Roof Climbing Boots
Description

 Anyone have any information about roof boots or shoes i have lost the address and do they work?


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/forum2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=102
Source: Forum Archive Post by rr - 21 Replies

Vehicle: What do you use and why?

Subject: Vehicle: What do you use and why?
Description:  

For cat work: What motor vehicle do you think is better?

A full size or small PU or SUV?

Should the PU have a secure topper w/ ladder rack?  

Any other ideas?


URL: http://catadjuster.org/Forums/tabid/60/aff/10/aft/10634/afv/topic/Default.aspx
Source: 2009 Forum Discussion Started by David

Allstate Career Page

Subject: Allstate Career Page
Description: Information on a career with Allstate the page also provides a job search.
URL: http://www.allstate.com/careers.aspx
Site Section: Career

Laser Measuring Devices

Subject: Laser Measuring Devices
Description

 Current opinions?

I've looked thru the old posts, seeing many recommendations for
Disto, and some for the El Cheapo Stanley.

There are about 5 models of Disto, any opinions as to which would be the
best to cover all situations?

The 100' Stanley seems like a great choice for a backup no matter how you
'slice' it.

I'd appreciate any current opinions, both pro & con on the various Disto models.

I'd also love a few how-to questions answered about them:
-Visibility aside, how is a fence measured?  If you have to use a plate, doesn't that take up
about as much time as measuring with a tape?
- There are instances when the ability to deduce a measurement by triangulation would be useful.  But do those times justify the added expense of the pricier models?


Thanks, and best to all,
Betrock


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/forum/m_21295/mpage_2/key_/tm.htm
Source: 2006 Forum Archive Post by Betrock

Good Tape Measure?

Subject: Good Tape Measure?
Description

 Can someone please recommend a good tape measure? I am going broke buying a new one every few months. I had one today that the tape broke in half and it was less than two months old. Thanks for any help.


URL: http://www.catadjuster.org/discus/messages/364/427.html
Source: Forum Archive Post by Lucy - 31 Replies

Careers With Integrity

The career page for Integrity Adjusters, LLC and Integrity Catastrophe Services, LLC .

Quote from page;

Integrity Adjusters, LLC and Integrity Catastrophe Services, LLC are comprised of adjusters, staff members, and managers who all possess specialized skills, creating an organized unit of experienced professionals.


Opportunities with Eberl

"Claims Associates who work with us don’t just make a living, they build a career. We’re always seeking qualified Catastrophe Adjusters, Daily Claims Adjusters and Claims Associates. We have opportunities for field and in-office personnel to handle a variety of losses.

Employment opportunities are driven by a number of factors, including weather, client needs and industry trends. New opportunities are added often — be sure to check this page regularly for open positions."


Staff Adjuster Looking to go Independent

Hello Everyone,

I have viewed these forums for years and am finally writing my first post. I have read through questions about staff adjusters vs. I/A's, and have found both to be informative. I realize that many of you have questions about becoming a staff adjuster - so please don't be afraid to ask me any questions you may have. I have 10 years of experience with 3 different major insurance companies. I have worked auto and property, but for the majority of my career I have focused on property. I've handled everything from fires to wind and hail to hurricanes and collapse claims. I definitely have received my fair share of experience as a staff adjuster and I get paid fairly well. I am not complaining - I started at $26k a year and am now making $65k before a non-guaranteed bonus of up to 10%. This of course is all gross and before health care and retirement benefits come out.

As far as pay goes, I am content. I am doing well, I feel, but understand that I/A's have the possibility of making quite a bit more, just not guaranteed. Also, I understand the expenses related to being independent, so I realize the I/A's potential for earnings is diminished after subtracting vehicle, lodging, license, Xactimate, etc. expenses from what they bring home. Ultimately, I am looking for the freedom that I hear about all the time. I literally have worked 80+ hours a week several times this year - I'm burnt out a bit, and it has been slow! It's just all the admin stuff, supplements, PA's, holding the insured's hand - which I am okay with, but it wears you down after so long. I'm looking at having an incentive to put in as many hours as I do. 

What I really want to know is this: Is it plausible to make a bit more take home pay (net) than I make now? Does it make sense to focus on State Farm or USAA certification? Anything else I should be considering?

I've read through these posts several times and have found there is a perceived animosity from staff guys for independents, but I have never seen that. I think that might be a sentiment from 20-30 years ago, because there are some old timers, especially higher ups in management, who tend to have those ideas. Most staff I know wish they could be independent, it is just such a risk to step out and take the leap.

Thanks you all - be safe out there!


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NFIP Claims Adjuster Presentation Webinar – April 2, 2024

NFIP Claims Adjuster Presentation Webinar – April 2, 2024

  Webinar Opens:  8:30 AM Central Time Start Time:  9:00 AM Central Time Lunch Break:  30 Minutes End Time:  3:30...
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NFIP Claims Adjuster Presentation Webinar – April 4, 2024

NFIP Claims Adjuster Presentation Webinar – April 4, 2024

  Webinar Opens:  8:30 AM Central Time Start Time:  9:00 AM Central Time Lunch Break:  30 Minutes End Time:  3:30...
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FAQ

Listed below are some links to other blog post and articles on other sites.

Dimechimes ClaimSmentor Adjuster Information Blog 
 Organization Chart for the Claims Handling Blame Game- A Humorous Graph -A Serious Look at Claim Bad Faith Issues
 On the page the above link takes you to you will find links to some of her other articles at the end of the above article.
  

WHAT MAKES A GREAT CAT ADJUSTER?
Article written by John Postava
On the Ryze Claim Solutions webite

You can find additional post from John and Dimechimes in the CADO forums, they have made many post over the years contributing to the community by sharing their knowledge and experiance.

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