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Posted By foreste on 01 Apr 2009 04:56 PM

... could someone please help steer me so when the storms hit, I am ready?  

I have not done any claims as of yet. I have been in the construction field more many years though. I am getting my Texas all lines license sent in today, just figured that part out.

Posted By foreste on 02 Apr 2009 12:07 PM 
I have been in the construction field...

You read my mind, I was checking into the programs today and what I needed to know about using them.  I will order the demos, great idea, and thank you very much!

Another great place to gather information and get some great advice and direction >>> http://www.claimsmentor.com/

foreste, my sincere advice is if you have another way of making a living, get back on the porch. Cat adjusting is a long hard row to hoe, at best, and in these tough economic times, I wouldn't even think about it.

The guys and girls here have put 10 + years of advise up on this board and it is available to you, but you haven't lived until you have risked the farm, then worked your butt off 18 hours a day, doing and redoing claims only to find out that you are not getting paid.

Listen to what others are saying, you cannot expect to learn this craft on the fly and make enough money to pay the rent.

Posted By ChuckDeaton on 05 Apr 2009 02:00 AM
... only to find out that you are not getting paid. 

Yeah, that happened to me in 1992 working a hurricane where the carrier went bankrupt.  Happened again in the 1994 earthquake but only a few claims with that carrier.  Chuck is not making this stuff up!

When Hurricane Iniki hit Hawaii several friends from Arkansas went. They worked their tails off and the company went bankrupt. They were left as unsecured creditors. When one got back to Ft. Smith she took bankruptcy and literally lost her whole life.

I continually point out the down side, but I only do it to educate and attempt to prevent the newbies from believing some of the tall tales of extreme amounts of money being made by burger flippers.

The world is in a depression and the financial situation is getting progressively worse.

Read the news, FEMA is loaning money to Electric Co-operatives in Texas to assist with getting the power back on after Ike. TWIA is in financial straits. AIG has had to have massive infusions of government money. Other adjusters on this board are making note of the fact that they worked handling TWIA claims and did not get paid.

One needs to watch any of the state run insurance pools. Who will be the last in line for payment? The adjuster. Citizens in Florida is under-capitalized & unable to sell bonds due to the recent economic crisis. Citizens of Louisiana is still being mismanaged and paying judgements for bad faith. They still haven't paid their bills for Lili. TWIA is under-capitalized, paying insureds for coverage not in the policy and not paying adjusters.

When taking an assignment, examine the history of the vendor & carrier. No one wants to work for free.

I have had a number of new people contact me reguarding this business. All you new people need to pay close attention to these people that have been doing this for a while, isn't as easy as you think it is. It is one thing to have a hand full of licenses but knowing what you are doing is another. In this day and time no one can efford to make any mistakes.

Folks - I am just about to take the licensing and training classes to get an all-lines license in hopes of becoming a CAT Adjuster. From what I am reading on here, it sounds discouraging for any newcomers. But I am 39-year old Texas resident with a master's degree in business and overqualified for anything where I live. I did petroleum landwork for almost 3 years, but the bottom fell out of that last fall and I got caught in the layoffs. Before that I did probation/parole work for 10 years. I do know a man who has been in the business for over 25 years and he will be able to help me get started. I also have a friend with only a highschool education who has done this for a year and has done well when he is working. Surely there will be work for those of us who want to work. I know the economy is horrible, but that will improve in time. That will take years. Is there anyone who could offer any encouragement or advice for someone just getting into the business in Texas?

I have had a number of new people contact me reguarding this business. All you new people need to pay close attention to these people that have been doing this for a while, isn't as easy as you think it is. It is one thing to have a hand full of licenses but knowing what you are doing is another. In this day and time no one can efford to make any mistakes.

Posted By JeffreyLBell on 06 Apr 2009 12:48 PM
...Surely there will be work for those of us who want to work. 

Cat Adjusting is TEMPORARY work, and it all depends on the weather.

Posted By JeffreyLBell on 06 Apr 2009 12:48 PM
Folks - I am just about to take the licensing and training classes to get an all-lines license in hopes of becoming a CAT Adjuster. From what I am reading on here, it sounds discouraging for any newcomers. But I am 39-year old Texas resident with a master's degree in business and overqualified for anything where I live. I did petroleum landwork for almost 3 years, but the bottom fell out of that last fall and I got caught in the layoffs. Before that I did probation/parole work for 10 years. I do know a man who has been in the business for over 25 years and he will be able to help me get started. I also have a friend with only a highschool education who has done this for a year and has done well when he is working. Surely there will be work for those of us who want to work. I know the economy is horrible, but that will improve in time. That will take years. Is there anyone who could offer any encouragement or advice for someone just getting into the business in Texas?

What exactly is that supposed to mean? Did you, or do you expect for those who have no higher education to be underachievers. Not the case, there are all kinds of Adjuster's, those with and without degrees. I have met very professional and knowledgable Adjuster's without degrees, and have met (currently work with) some who do have degrees but sometimes wonder how they obtained them. Not sure if your  statement is in arrogance, or no harm intended. Oh, and i have but only two years of criminal justice.

I just got my Texas all lines license 27 years ago, I have ordered my 3 day gauranteed Rosetta Stone CD's. Can anyone tell me how to get my Italian EQ cert.?

The trouble with working in Europe is finding a metric 5th wheel and a diesel to pull it.

Read the crap that is TWIA, no body wants to actually pay for the risk taken. I would sooner be at home fishing than working my butt off in Texas getting sued and having TWIA and the likes of Art Boyle to deal with.

Set up some Google Alerts, TWIA and Citizens and read the news stories. Read Ray Hall's posts about E & O insurance. Louisiana Citizens is broke, Florida Citizens is broke, Port St Lucie has so many foreclosed houses that the county is seeking disaster relief and TWIA is broke and being sued by every policy holder that can find a lawyer.

A judge on a Katrina case just recently allowed the plaintiff to proceed with a suit because the class action class was dismissed. Louisiana Citizens has more suits to deal with.