| Author |
Message |
Jimlakes (Jimlakes)
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2000 - 9:03 pm: | |
PLEASE READ THIS. Jim Lakes did not write the article listed below with the name BILLYBOB. I don't know who the idiot was that used my name but I sure hope that there is a way of CADO finding out. Its not bad enough that I don't agree with what he said but he didn't even have the nerve to use his own name. If I have something to say I will write it and sign my name to it. Its people like this that makes our business have a bad name. I try very hard to be professional in everything that I do by treating adjusters as professionals. If your name is truly Jim Lakes then I apologize to you because that is my also.
James F.Lakes
National Catastrophe Director
RAC Adjustments, Inc.
630.375.9640 |
Bill (Bill)
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2000 - 7:36 pm: | |
Lew, well said. We are in a marketplace,like it or not. The players are all subject to human frailties. |
Lewlew (Lewlew)
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2000 - 12:00 am: | |
Union...too involved, Assoc...perhaps; less involved, Co-op...maybe the answer; even less involved, Independent...stay on the same road that has been traveled for many, many years, with the same results...lost fee's and complaints, complaints, complaints, and an occasional "at a boy" concerning a vendor or insurance company.
CADO seems to have the venue for a good tight organization...but direction is the key and someone with the "grit" and vision to see this thing through is needed. "Roy, Roy's our man if anyone can do it Roy can." He at least has taken the initial initiative by starting this page.
Let's not fight amongst ourselves or just pass off the idea of an organization of any kind to "we've already beaten this dead horse to death" and forget about what we all really want out of our carreers...moderate wealth to carry us into retirement, health insurance for ourselves and our loved ones, respect in the workplace, not only from our peers but by the companies and vendors we have either made very wealthy or have saved enormous amounts of monies.
I for one would like to see an organization (Co-op) formed that all can join and all can prosper from our collective input, not only of monies, but from expertise as well. One of the last posts by "wj" was I think on the right track. It is late as I post this, but in the AM I will be contacting my accountant and get his input into what their org. has done for him...pro/con. I will post again if given the opportunity. |
Tom Brownning (Accountant)
| | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2000 - 9:30 am: | |
Forget the Union but build a strong organization or associations that will connect you and give you
guidlines to work by. I recently attended the IADA(Insurance Adjusters and Damage Appraiser ) convention in Dearborn Michigan this week I strongly suggest if your want to unite as independents you should check them out for help in establishing a Cado society and convention .
The IADA is for auto , boat and trucking adjusters and appraiser . They have a strong voice and guidelines with a code of ethics for there members.
IADA offers assigments thru there web site for there members as well educational seminars .
IADA brings vendors and carriers together to establish fair working condition for there members.
How can CADO become your voice and help you grow and prosper in the future?
This question can only be answered by you the independent.
The information and resouces are here in this virtual organization.
1. establish dues
2. create a board of directors
3. set guidelines and rules to live by
4. hold regional meetings and yearly convention
5. educate and teach
6. hire administation staff to handle marketing and accounting and legal issues for the organization
7. Don"t fear your independence but be thankful you got it
Thanks |
wj
| | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2000 - 2:55 am: | |
Agree that a union is not realistic but I wonder if a bona fide "certified association" would pass muster? Something similar in ways to accountants with CPA status. Would an association of certified adjusters be more desirable to a vendor or carrier? And of course, a requirement to maintain membership with a "genuine" association would have to require a voluntary willingness to abide by some specific restriction; i.e. not working for a vendor or carrier during a storm where the fee schedule is determined by the association to be inadequate. It may be far fetched... but what if (by some standard) most of the nations "top" 250 cat adjusters...
(1) were members of said association and abided
by a uniform set of standards
(2) then refused to work for a vendor or carrier
if said standards were not followed
(including but not limited to adequate fee
schedules)
Then... would there be any repercussions that would cause vendors/carriers to act more responsibly? Would vendors/carriers who refused to use certified association members encounter negative publicity influencing the public or state departments of insurance?
The association might even negotiate the fee schedules for which their members would be willing to accept. It might assist in providing uniformity as to how adjustments/estimates are calculated and reported while leaving the member adjuster the independance to conduct his/her methods and work schedule as he/she seems fit. Of course, as a matter of integrity, the association may have to discipline or deny/revoke membership to some individual(s).
I'm not sure if it is a proper analogy, but CPA's seem to require and receive adequate fees and conditions. This is true even though many CPA's are independent (like CAT adjusters) and of course anyone or any company (like vendors or carriers) could hire staff accountants. Yet, most large and successful corporations will engage the services of independent CPA firms for (at the least) certain work.
Anyway, just thinking out loud. |
Tom Strickland (Tomotexas)
| | Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2000 - 10:16 am: | |
Howdy, at least everyone read the post. My union has gone bust, LOL. I was posting in jest, as we have hammered this Union into the ground and probably it needs to be buried. However, with my dues of 250.00 per month, per person, If I could get 20 people to join my union I would not have to do cat work, unitl they found out that no I.A. firm, nor Carrier will listen to me,etc,etc,
Again, as I thought all would understand, the posting was in jest!! |
Chuck Deaton
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2000 - 11:40 am: | |
I you need a advise on investing may I suggest Fool.com. Following the 13 steps listed there will make you rich. It takes time and will power, but the program works. |
daBear
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2000 - 8:50 am: | |
OK sports fans, I have been keeping my mouth shut for the last few weeks, but this I have to comment on. Here are the realities of starting a union in our profession.
1) A large number of us are 1099 independent contractors. The labor laws would protect those who work for companies that consider us “employees” but independent contractors are out there all by themselves. So the blacklist will start the moment names of union member become public, and probably before because there are those of us that would pass that information on to a vendor for a promise of 100 hail files.
2) The only way we could possibly do this would be with the backing of an organization like the AFLCIO. The last time I inquired with them, they were not willing to fork over the several million dollars it would take to feed the blacklisted employees until the union gets going. Remember, unlike most organizational efforts, we can expect no help from the National Labor Relations Board. We are independent contractors, remember.
3) Picket lines. Anyone want to see adjusters carrying picket signs in front of storm offices in a major hurricane? Of course the vendor will loose all his files on the second day, or as soon as the TV cameras show up. But of course the carrier will just move them somewhere else. So who is going to carry these picket signs? What kind of adverse publicity will it generate?
4) How many cat adjusters are ex contractors and union haters in general? Do you really think it would be difficult to find scabs to cross a picket line? Or how about this, no storm office at all. How many of us work in hotel rooms separated by many miles from the storm office? With electronic claims handling already here, a vendor could just make the storm office disappear, and all the files could be handled by the adjuster in his or her hotel room without the need for a storm office in the area.
5) The carriers are sensitive to public opinion, and they want to control the files. We could kill the vendor system, but then what? The carriers would staff up, probably with former independent cat adjusters, and put another system in place where they can have the control they seek.
NEVER forget. It is their money.
And of course, Know before you go…….. |
RJ
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2000 - 11:22 pm: | |
I could write a 100 page response as to why a union will not work in our profession. but I am not.
Just take a minute study and look at these Two words.
"Union"
"Independent"
Join a union and loose your independence. The very reason that we became independent in the first place.
Besides I have had first hand experience with union/management situations. Believe me when I tell you it will not work in our profession.
Enough said on this subject. Let us bury this dead horse & move on to something else. |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2000 - 10:30 pm: | |
Tom, we hammered this into the ground six months ago. But, OK, one more time.
Question 1. So here you are with this fire breathing union. Who are you gonna strike against?
Question 2. How you gonna maintain discipline amongst the ranks?
Question 3. How are you gonna make the carriers and/or vendors want to use the union and not the usual motley crew of bagboys, wrecker drivers and your cousins 22yr old ex-wife? |
Tom Strickland (Tomotexas)
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2000 - 9:55 pm: | |
OK, I am starting the Union, who wants to join?
Email me and lets get the list started!! We need representation and of course lets figure out what the dues are and who wants to join and contribute in order to have the proper representation. |
Jim lakes (Billybob)
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2000 - 8:33 pm: | |
A Union sounds like a lot more work , you got your meetings and dues and election of presidents and don't forget the guys with the no necks that come with the union . Yeah it might work if we could find the right leaderships who would look out for our rights and take care of us in our eldlery years with a retierment packages hell the insurance companies don"t give us independants kick backs and those adjustment companies are blood thirsty with there pennies. May I sugesst Cado investment fund or seminar for us to teach how to manage our money resouces. Where are the hotel vendors on this site offering temp housing at a preferred rate , how about Sears giving us a discount on tools or home depot or bulders square donating to a relief fund for hurt adjusters we push there sales use there catalogs for costs hey if there anyone from them companies reading this I love to hear your views. Hey enough said and peace love and a golden suntan |
Todd Milton (Cyclonestorm9)
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2000 - 8:56 pm: | |
Dave your thoughts and views are on the money . I believe you will lead us into the future love the articles you write and where would we be without your great flood cd . Keep up the good work and I"ll catch up with you soon. |
RJ
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2000 - 2:51 pm: | |
Ata boy Dave |
R.D. Hood (Dave)
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2000 - 2:32 pm: | |
Mr.Right Now,
To answer your question, it is apparent that this is a seldom visited URL for you, or you do not peruse the forums.
Gale Hawkins (Dr.) is the founder/owner of Hawkins research, the producer of many software systems, including POWER CLAIM.
HE is a frequent and vociferous contributor to CADO, and is one of the three more prominent estimating software vendors.
Please be sure you are correct in your chastisement of others.
Thanks |
Texasadj
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2000 - 1:53 pm: | |
An association needs to be formed with an attorney on retainer --- first /// a union would be too much too soon right now ///NACA is a useless organization - not for the adjusters but a few broker companies that contribute money/// an association for adjusters only - not cronies of a few brokers |
mrrightnow
| | Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2000 - 1:49 pm: | |
who is gale hawkins - i've never heard of her??? she must be new in the business if she's never been rooked out of money by a broker or got files kicked back for not doing illegal acts insurance carriers want you to do |
Gale Hawkins (Gale)
| | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 12:18 pm: | |
Doughboy if you want an Union please stop waiting for someone else to do if for you and go for it. How good are you at herding cats (as in the animal)? What is the day rate you plan to pay striking adjusters that have families to feed? As busy as the season may become this could cost you millions of dollars just in 2000 alone. How many years and millions are you willing to invest in developing a Cat Union? |
BUBBAADJUSTER
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 9:52 am: | |
If there was ever a time to talk UNION, it might be now. Hurricane season is here. Could be the big one. Who knows?
I am not saying we should or should not Unionize.
Just a point to ponder considering a lot of people got a raw deal in Chicago. |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 9:19 am: | |
Boys and Girls, we hammered this one into the ground last fall. Lets not do it again, please. |
cinderella
| | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 9:45 pm: | |
yeah doughboy you are right i think a big union with a lot of pull could at least get everyone health insurance & away from a bunch of abuse |
doughboy
| | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 9:43 pm: | |
tired of being wealthy for awhile & then getting messed around on the next 4 storms & not having very much to show for working 16 hours a day |
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