Forums

Ditto

Excellent

I agree. I'll add (a previously unspoken feeling) is that most CAT adjusters aren't (adjusters); but the larger issue is that our industry, as a whole, does not value true adjusters, let alone newbies whose only qualification is having attended some CAT school. So, if you are a newbie or contemplating CAT 'adjusting' as a career, you'd do well to take Ray's advice and the advices of all those of us who have posted similarly.

Golly gee-whiz! Such delightful negativity raining down on the aspiring roofers, contractors, casino dealers, real estate inspectors, and all the rest of pot-of-gold-at the-rainbows-end chasers. What this world coming to when these dreams coming crashing down on the rocks of reality? Could it be the assembled curmudgeons are sounding a collective sirens song of doom?

I sure hope so!

It's kind of like when an old friend of mine would threaten his only son with being tied up with barbed wire when junior would mouth off about wanting to be an insurance adjuster, just like dear old Dad.

Ol' Ghost

Well, after 19 years I am reaching into the ring and pulling out my hat. The I/A industry has been very good to me for many many years, but it is not what it ust to be. I have been a long time poster here but had to change my user name because my new employer does not allow their people to post on public web sites.

The terms and conditions of my employment are very favorable including but not limited to;

A salary I can live with
Company car and all equipment
Very very good benefits package
What seems to be a great boss that understands the biz
Work from home
a 75 mile working radius

When called upon to go on storm duty it is no longer than a 21 day stretch which includes all of your expenses paid plus about $4,400 in per diem and storm pay.

Wise ole Ray Hall is correct, on the day claims this carrier expects 2 table top settlements a day, 3 would be nice if you can work in a third. (Table top = when you leave from the risk the insured has a copy of the estimate that you have explained to them and a check). They absolutely will not substitute quantity over quality. Any claims over $75,000 go to their large loss unit. Any UPP claims over $1,000 go to their UPP unit. All water sucker bills go to their water sucker department, you never see them, that unit deals with the water suckers.

So, I guess for me, no more WOW

BTDT

Very good post, you are the adjuster that will never be replaced, they all have to be settled by good adjusters, like you.

Xactimate is just a tool. It will never replace experience. I have been in this business for 38 years. I can use Xactimate and Simsol proficiently. Unfortunately, carriers just want fast results.The more you close the more your get attitude My belief "Speed Kills" think not, look how many Rita, Wilma, Katrina, Dolly and Ike claims still reopen. Why, incompetent field adjusters who took claims way above their skill level, got frustrated and just walked away. Well some Old Dog Real Adjuster had to go out and fix that "fast handled claim". It was rampant in Katrina and will be worse in the next big one. More DOI compalints than an army can answer.

I do not know about you but I am tired of traveling to loss sites.Carriers wanting you "on stie" the day after a Cat 5 just leveled Miami so you will be ready to service their customeres. Paying $3.50+ for gas. Let one hit the Gulf and $3.50 will look like a bargain. Pay out $100+ for a hotel, burn up my 2500 minute phone with no offer to pay that back. Work the claims I get on a schedule that is lower today than 1980 with no allowance for photos, digital are free aren't they and of course, no mileage allowance or fuel cost offset, but the worst part, not getting paid for one, two, three or more months and always facing more "slick staff kids" who were weaned on "Deny, Deny, Deny" Cut the IA bill. During that delay all my credit cards came due so I had to pay that whopper.

I have the skills to adapt to handling every claim from an office or better my home. With the technology available there is no reason to be out in the field. If the insured can show me his house via web cam, I can use Xactimate or any other program to write as good an estimate as that field IA could guess at. Eagle View or similar can measure any roof better than any field adjuster. I can use that experience to gain the confidence of your insured, get them involved in their claim. then produce some results that they can see developing. If the insured can see results, even minor, he will work with you. You just need a carrier willing to think outside the box. Some will close fast but some will not, someone will be last. We just have to overcome the bias " you just cannot adjust a claim unless you climb every roof, meet that insured face to face, albeit 30 days after the impact, no problem he will wait.

Thanks Willis, the carriers know this also and thats why fee bills are being cut. I agree I can settle more large losses in Florida from home  within 2 days after the event, than I can driving all night and no power insane, just thats whats expected. But we only have a combined 82 years severe wind damage experience and thousands of SETTLEMENTS behind us that never reopened or got into law suit.

The problem with the old claims curmudgeons is that the whole world is viewed from your perspective -- the claims side.

The insurance business isn't just about claims. Notice the commercials? Practically every other one is an insurance company.

Someone has to recruit and retain those customers.

And guess what? It's your job to retain them.

But you can't do it alone in a cat situation -- as much as you old farts hate to admit it, the industry does need some new blood in those situations. Even it's just a small check to keep the insured from losing their patience until the supplement can be worked.

I'm not young -- and I'm certainly not inexperienced, but the constant naysaying from some of the regulars on here just sounds like a bunch of old hens cackling.

I think you have missed the point. Serious questions by people who have done there research get serious answers. Quesions reflecting a desire to make fast dollars with out having to learn or pay any dues, help people who are hurting, or even just do a proper job of handling claims, get the answers thy deserve.

It seems to me many old adjusters keep working on losses that happened back in 2004 and 2005. I thought this was a biz that you wizzed into an area and left in 90 days with a large pot of gold. This really sounds like difficult work when its not roof involved, stressful is a better description. Law, law suits, litigation, mediation, arbitration, sounds like a law degree would help, what the heck is the appraisal clause, the return premium duties and when/where did the non concurrent causation factor, become a factor and where is factor in the policy?

I really think if the Sr. adjusters who work these long tail storms would handle 50 % on T & E and 50% on a fee bill this would be a good way to train new people who want to get on the fast track. It would also keep the older people working longer as the T & E files would take so much more time as you would train people on the carriers dollar like when you and I were trainees.  As an IA  you would be compensated for your time.