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JR, I can say I was just like you, except I was an Integraphyle. I wanted to train on Xm8 because of all the companies saying they required it. After taking 3 classes I felt like a total idiot. Of course I could go and take the Advanced classes but I decided I would wait till I had the chance to practice with it a little. At a cert class put on by Renfro, the trainer put on an unscheduled impromtu class. I learned more from him in 30 minutes than all the classes I took put together. My point is, the program is not the problem, Its the available training. I now use Xm8 and can do a claim with photos sketch and narrative in 15-20 minutes. Of course the more complicated claims may take longer, buts I'm comperable to what I could do with Integra. I suggest getting the training DVD, or finding someone who is proficient with the shortcuts. 

I still feel sort of stupid periodically, But not a total idiot anymore.

JWG

First I would like to thank Gary for his comments and guidance. John, I feel Simsol borders on genius and I appreciate the way the program works and performs for me.

Trust me on this one, Jim. Simsol is much easier to use than either Xactimate or IntegraClaim, and the final product meets or exceeds that of Xactimate. I am proficient at all three, so I know whereof I speak. Xactimate is a time hog even when you know the shortcuts. Among the principal differences, generally speaking, is that Xactimate sketch and other Xactimate features often try to tell you what to do. In order to make it do what you need it to do, you have to figure out how to overide the defaults. Simsol does what you want it to do. For an experienced adjuster, this is a major bonus. I have been a Simsol cheerleader and will continue to be one.

As many know, I have recently taken a staff position as property claims analyst with a carrier. We have no outside property adjusters, so we exclusively use independents for field work. Among my responsibilities is to set the standards for my company's assignments to independent adjusters. Those standards will not include dictating which estimating program an IA must use. Those who we hire can use Xactimate, Integraclaim, Simsol, or Powerclaim. We do, however, demand that they both know what they are doing and do it with all diligence.  We are more interested in the quality of the adjuster's knowledge and experience than their data inputting skill with a particular program. When I review a file I can tell whether something does not belong in an estimate (or whether something is missing) without having the estimating system place a little asterix after any item changed from the database. This ability came with a lot of years of training and actual work in the field. I don't believe an estimating program can compensate for that training and experience.

In other words, in the hopes of hanging out some sort of slim hope, not all of us have yet drunk the Kool Aid.

I wonder how long it will be before some smart attorney figures out that having an insurance related company (ISO) with a virtual monopoly on the services they provide in control of an contractor's estimating software company (Xactware) with a virtual monopoly can be construed as an attempt at price fixing by the insurance industry. Whether the charge is true or not, the potential fallout to those insurance carriers who are demanding that Xactimate must be used to determine pricing on insurance claims could cost billions. I wonder if those costs have been figured in to the bean counters' calculations (He asked rhetorically)?

This thread is the first I have heard that NFS won the NFIP contract. There is so much I could say to that, but won't. Think I'll go buy myself a black suit, though, so I can properly mourn.

Please let me clairy; I was saying that NFS (which is a servicing company) won the bid to handle Nationwide Flood Claims. This happens every year, a Carrier will go with the lowest bid to service their Flood claims nationwide.

Well you all thought I would have an opine on NFS and xactimate. NFS first, well we all know the federal govt is in charge of all flood policys and what would expect. I resisted xactimate all my career. I never worked for a vendor that required it as the ONLY program. In 2006  my commitment to family , vendors, carriers not to travel on storms was made. In 18 months with all the qualifications I had on all property and liability claims regular work was very slow; WITHOUT using xactimate. In December 2007 I caved and have picked up some simple losses in my area BECAUSE I a have xactimate.

It is more difficult to learn on the fly than any program and I do not recommend it. I can see that the program is loved by the public adjusters and the water suckers as you can write a 50 page estimate on a kitchen grease fire and it sails right through.

On the next monster flood event try to guess how many pages of named defendants will be listed in the  lawsuits. Since we are discussing company practice and software programs it may come out to be 80% of all the carriers and some of the decision makers if they can find them.

Perhaps I am even more confused than you think. I read the original post as saying that Nationwide Financial Services (NFS) won the flood contract and they were requiring the use of Xactimate for all flood claims.

Did you mean that NFS or another NFS?

If Nationwide Financial Services won a contract to handle Nationwide Insurance flood claims, that is hardly surprising since they are the same company.

So, just how confused am I?  Somebody set me straight.

Folks you are taking about decisions that adjusters or even claims departments are not even involved in making it seems. We have to sell at the board room level when it comes to estimating solutions in large carriers it seems to me.

If  NFS did not get the flood contract some of my faith is restored in Washington. If its NFS and Nationwide seems like a match.

We are National Flood Services, Inc.

We are dedicated to providing the best insurance policy administration services to our insurance companies with a core-competency of serving your agents. We provide a full-suite of policy processing solutions. We are a publicly held company, a subsidiary of Fiserv, Inc., and have vendor agreements with many of the top insurance companies participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

At National Flood Services, Inc., we specialize in flood insurance policy servicing and processing. We are not a computer service company that also offers insurance processing services - we are an insurance organization staffed by knowledgeable insurance professionals with diverse company and agency backgrounds. We offer a wide range of products and State-of-the-Industry service solutions that are available to insurance companies and their agents.

Why should you use National Flood Services?

· We offer the most advanced technology among flood providers
· Our flood processing and claims management services are the most timely and accurate in the industry
· We provide advanced Internet services, including flood zone determinations, claims reporting, policy database download and maintenance, electronic application submission, electronic movement of premium and commission funds, rating software download, production reports, elevation certificate assistance and repetitive loss review
· We process and mail your commission and cancellation refund checks in a consistent and timely manner
· We have a specialized department to handle book of business transfers.

Enrolled Agencies Can:

· Order Flood Zone Determinations
· View Policy Database and Renewal Lists
· Transmit Applications and Policy Endorsements Electronically
· Access Repetitive Loss Information for Specific Properties
· Receive Assistance with Obtaining Elevation Certificates
· Submit Notices of Loss Online
· View Agency Production Reports

National Flood Services is all you need to guarantee effective solutions for your policy processing needs...

I had the pleasure of having my flood files (in 05) disappear into Kalispell not to resurface for many months, Nationwide will get what  they pay for, their clients have my sympathy 

Wait a minute!

Nationwide has been on Xactimate every since leaving their last estimating software vendor so what is new here? The last I heard NFIP let the WYO people handle their claims at they see fit. Is this not what Nationwide is doing?

I am sure there will be those firms that work directly for NFS or other WYO carriers using all of the estimating software options just like in the years past based on my understanding as of today.

If someone has other facts to present my eyes are open. I understand this is an emtional issue for some but we need some facts and not rumors before anyone start taking their lives.

I have been out of the CADO loop for a while with everything going on so I may have missed something that will change my tune soon.

I sure jumped the gun on my comments about xmate for ALL flood claims. This does not appear to be the case.My first incounter was in 2004 on the outter banks of NC. Some of the carriers were strangers to me, but not to the old flood adjusters who have been around from day one. When I got the single adjuster loss from the NC windpool I found all the good flood losses had been inspected and the claims were being processed. I grumbled and groused, but had to admit the insureds were being well serviced and said never again on the SAP unless its with the same carrier.

This was also my first time with FSC and I am sure they have improved, they had too to survive.TWIA will have this problem this year on the SAP if a monster hits Texas. I do remember the floor carriers I had never heard off were in business to make guaranteed profit as it seems the ink and recyled paper policy was printed in a storage warehouse.

John makes you think that if an insurance claim department  executive did not think of a change, it has no merit. A long time ago when I was full of ideas I proposed to a carrier that my sevice bill would not be found on the bottom line as I would save the carrier this much on ever loss I worked for them, or the payout would be lower. Well you know that the carriers talk, but really like increase in  premium dollars as they try for a 5 % underwriting profit. Its like a guaranteed profit on flood insurance, the WYO carriers can not loose money.

In the next monster storm, no ALE on flood policiy. No ALE on most evacuation reimbursment for "civil authority orders"  on MOST Homeowners .The TV weathermen and the DICTATED estimating prices will make Katrina a smaller event in the history of Natural disasters.; resulting in litigation.

How could you convince a jury that the "accepted programs that most insurance companys" use as the fair market price for the operation involved.... Like clean CAPCNOP +clean can opener-electric-Heavy clean  ea. $4.89 and RFG220E  3 tab 20 yr comp shingle-w/out felt $127.11 per 100 sq feet installed (on the roof including getting to the site and takes m ore skill and risk than cleaning a can opener on the ground in an air condition building sitting down. I would not buy it.... would any reasonable person ???   NO.