Sketch My Roof

Tags - Popular | FAQ  

PrevPrev Go to previous topic
NextNext Go to next topic
Last Post 09/06/2009 11:08 PM by  Ray Hall
For New adjusters only-sample reading files
 10 Replies
Sort:
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages
Ray Hall
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:2443


--
08/27/2009 10:08 PM

    Some time I forget how I was trained. I was trained one on one for several months by a senior adjuster who I was assigned to by our employer to give me a segment of my training. But I read about 200-300 files that were closed before I was hired and about 20 new files that came in about 20 per day from staff and IA adjusters in the SW USA.

    Thinking back I learned more from reading actual files and ask questions and it stayed with me more.

    I have several hundred files in my computer and in file cabinets in my garge. I will set up a pay pal account a nd email these files to you for $25.00 each if I can help some new people and make some $$. I will also sell this list to vendors who will take a person that has gone through Traders Training System.

     

    0
    weadjust
    Guest
    Guest
    Posts:35


    --
    08/28/2009 12:10 AM

    There is no way I would offer up my old files or any old files for sale on the internet. I also have every digital file I worked since 1999 and the reports contain a lot of personal information. One insurance co. I do business with includes date of birth and social security #s on the loss notice. If there is a PILR report in the file it also contains this information. Identity theft is rampant and your putting yourself in a bad position. If you worked for my adjusting co. and I found out you were selling old files for personal gain or any other reason I would fire you on the spot.

     

    0
    rcarriere
    Guest
    Guest
    Posts:6


    --
    08/28/2009 9:10 AM

    You are putting yourself in a position to be prosecuted and to be sued. I would highly suggest you do not sell, or even give away these reports as they are actually owned by the insurance company. Even if you block out the personal information, you would need written approval to use these documents for personal gain or otherwise.

    0
    Ray Hall
    Senior Member
    Senior Member
    Posts:2443


    --
    08/28/2009 3:01 PM

    This may be good advise, but I have blocked out all names of the 3 parties involved, all addresses and phone numbers, any names used in diary notes. The accord or assignment sheet is never a part of these files. They are simply scopes, line by line estimates of damage, a statement of loss, diagrams and good captioned photos. Captioned reports or short form reports. They can be hypo or real files and are for training purposes only and so labled.With digital files I can show my self as the insured on ever file(after the fact) and so forth in reguards to XYZ as the carrier and ABC as the vendor Goodness how will MD's learn medicine without books and bodies to examine. All comments welcome.

     

    0
    Medulus
    Moderator
    Veteran Member
    Veteran Member
    Posts:786


    --
    08/28/2009 4:37 PM
    This sounds like you're pulling our collective leg, Ray. By the way, I won't have to work soon at all. According to an email I got today, a relative I don't seem to remember who was a citizen of Nigeria just died and left me 6 million dollars. All I need to do is send the attorney some filing fees.
    Steve Ebner CPCU AIC AMIM

    "With great power comes great responsibility." (Stanley Martin Lieber, Amazing Fantasy # 15 August 1962)
    0
    Ray Hall
    Senior Member
    Senior Member
    Posts:2443


    --
    08/28/2009 5:10 PM

    Darn Steve we are related as I think that lawyer also represents my late uncle

    . I have offered to help new people for years on turning in good files, but did not get any response. I made this post and I have had two very positive people who think old files are a good way to learn. I signed them up. I can change any file in my computer and I have not broken any laws. All the info is xyz, ABC, I V M etc and I can make up the damage or use real damage. I just think it is better to look at real photos of damage. I think all the carriers in the USA would like to have better files, but it just seems when it comes to cat. files sloppy, poorly written, just trash files is whats expected from "storm troopers". Since that was my label for about 15 years I have always tried to help clean up my old vocation's image, just like you have.

     

    One of the duys who called today said he purchased the books I recommended at Lowe,s on framing and feels much better now. He also did someother book or paper I recommended  that was very helpful to him. But, the real reason he is my number 1 customer is he is still working on your lots of water and my fire loss.

    0
    margar1
    Member
    Member
    Posts:98


    --
    08/28/2009 5:32 PM
    I have on occasion sent sample files to a new firm that I am looking to do work for. I will usually send them a large commercial loss, fire,soot,hail,wind,and sewer backup. It is rather simple to stack them in a pdf and let the vendor know what my files look like. I always black out all of the personnal information for confidentiality purposes. In this day and time talk is cheap and there have been many of an adjuster who present themselves to the vendor as the greatest thing since sliced bread but in truth are incapable of submitting even the most simple files for closure.

    The proof is in the pudding!
    Mark S Garland
    0
    rcarriere
    Guest
    Guest
    Posts:6


    --
    08/28/2009 8:01 PM
    Ray,

    Please do not get me wrong, I think that these would be very helpful in learning how to create a claim properly especially with pictures. I would just worry that there would be some legal protection against using any of this information.

    Believe me, as a person just starting out I am open to just about anything to help me learn how to do this job correctly.
    0
    Ray Hall
    Senior Member
    Senior Member
    Posts:2443


    --
    08/29/2009 1:38 AM

    I was in a seminar yesterday that was very enlightning dor me. I thought the individual adjusters and the vendors were being named in the suits by the plaintiff;s because of the changes in joint and several liability laws. A very good attorney quashed this theory. His expert opine was two or three of the named defendants home reidence would keep  the suit in state district court of the Texas county the property is located  and prevent it from being moved to Federal Court. This is the real reason. I feel better now.

    0
    WILLIS
    Member
    Member
    Posts:97


    --
    08/29/2009 2:03 AM
    A growing concern is the advent of being sued for a claim thinking you will be protected by the vendor you work for &/or the carrier bad thought. Bottom line, if a Plt sues for damages on a poor estimate you will most likely be covered by the vendoror carrier, but if it was an involved HO or Comm claim any comment you made in that file might be construed as inflammatory and the vendor will likely say you acted " outside the scope of our contract" you might find yourself on your own. I have several friends you got popped seriously for large commercial Flood adjustments where their adjustment, eventhoug approved by their vendors, were alleged or building evaluations were wrong and NFIP came after the adjuster not the vendor for their money, many had to pay For that reason I refuse to handle any RCBAP flood claims and very few large commercial losses it is just not worth being sued and finding yourself alone with maybe the vendor also suing you. Insureds or PA's will now do anything to get you to open yourself up I try to say as little as possible, make no commitments, make it clear I have zero authority and the carrier has to approve everything and I plaster that on my estimate cover page as well as each estimate page. I refuse to write a reservation of rights or coverage denial letter for a Carrier no thanks With carriers armed with Xactanalysis, pushing me to make contact, inspection, and completion within 72 hours or less regardless of the number of claims you have coupled with vendors telling you if reports on those 50+ files are not in on time they will penalize you in the billing is real scary I have always felt the only way to stop this mayhem is to have a 10.0 quake in California + the northern half of California burn to the ground, at the same time you have a Cat 5 up the channell in Houston and a Cat 5 across Miami out through Tampa that visits Mobile with a good flooding around the Mississippi river all at the same time. At that point those rules would be gone and we could get back to adjusting like we did back in the 70's & 80's before cell phones, computers, I just do not remember having all the problems then I see now. Scary for carriers I doubt there are more than 500 real adjusters left that could actually handle any one of these claims without an issue.
    0
    Ray Hall
    Senior Member
    Senior Member
    Posts:2443


    --
    09/06/2009 11:08 PM

    I have not had a great response to purchase sample files. I think all the $$$ have been spent on license, learning an estimation program going to schools, travel, lodging etc. The industry does not need one more good catastrophe adjuster today.... It it may this way until next hail season, if we have a hail season next year.The industry does not need one more person who wants to be a catastrophe adjuster for years to come.

    Now how are the losses handled in a prompt, fair way. Its letting the insured prove their loss with a sworn proof of loss. Its letting contractors who do the work be given an incentive not to rip the carriers off, by guaranteeing the workmanship. It,s by having more confidence/ trust in the field/inside adjuster.

    Insurance companies do not need to change how they handle claims. JUST handle catastrophe claims the same way as your regular claims and clean this mess up. Run and gun and cleanup crews is not the way to do it.

    0
    You are not authorized to post a reply.


    These Forums are dedicated to discussion of Claims Adjusting.

    For the benefit of the community and to protect the integrity of the ecosystem, please observe the following posting guidelines: 
    • No Advertising. 
    • No vendor trolling / poaching. If someone posts about a vendor issue, allow the vendor or others to respond. Any post that looks like trolling / poaching will be removed.
    • No Flaming or Trolling.
    • No Profanity, Racism, or Prejudice.
    • Terms of Use Apply

      Site Moderators have the final word on approving / removing a thread or post or comment.