| Author |
Message |
Josie Mayes (Josie)
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2000 - 9:25 pm: | |
Can't sit by the wayside on the SF-bashing. Just checked out yesterday (SF/Ft.Worth/Renfroe) and was pleased with the compensation for work expended. In addition to receiving laptops & printers (plus ink, plus paper & other supplies) with Xactimate loaded on our laptops (no software expense) and cellphone (no LD calls expense) and 65% of an excellent fee schedule, I find nothing to complain about. Just finished four months in south Florida (SF/Broward/Renfroe).....that experience was interesting & profitable also. I too have heard the "tough on independents" stories and have been prepared to be abused, but after three SF deployments, have found SF staff to be friendly, helpful & interested in closing files, just as we are! I will take any SF WindCAT that comes my way! Josie Mayes |
MKDCO
| | Posted on Friday, April 07, 2000 - 6:44 pm: | |
Ha thanks Chuck and Storm Pro. Glad to see others keeping a sense of humor with all the waiting. When I go thru or o Arkansas, I'll try some of that Yarnell's to compare. I think Omar has a case of shuffed shirt syndrome. Can't have a little fun and self-improve at the same time. LOL
Keep the faith for a good one. Keep trying to brew one up here in West Texas and send it East but no luck so far. By the way Storm Pro, you should stay away from those French Dip's up in that country, get to be a habit. |
storm pro
| | Posted on Friday, April 07, 2000 - 10:16 am: | |
Personally, I would prefer my next assignment be to someplace that does not have anything particularly special to offer in the food category. Having finished up my assigment in NY I need to drop a few pounds. Too many delis up there to count! A few months of roof climbing in a warm climate will suit me fine. |
Chuck Deaton
| | Posted on Friday, April 07, 2000 - 9:16 am: | |
Being an Arkansan I would have to cast my vote for Yarnell's ice cream. |
Ducky
| | Posted on Friday, April 07, 2000 - 12:45 am: | |
After much thought and a commitment, Older Than Dirt may be well ahead of his time. Where he goes, all should go.
More in coming posts.
Ducky |
Omar
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2000 - 1:19 pm: | |
Why don't you guys get a checkers or chess game going here while you eat your ice cream? You could trade moves online and see who wins. It is a sure fire way to kill time while waiting for a storm to hit and sure beats reading a good book or taking a self improvement class. |
MKDCO
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2000 - 12:54 pm: | |
Dog gone it Bill, there you go and change up on me. I knew you were talking about Ice Tea but older than dirt wanted ice cream so, lets go to Lipton for that. LOL - Sun Brewed by mother nature -what else could you ask for!! |
MKDCO
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2000 - 12:50 pm: | |
Ghostbuster - Please reference to older than dirt's posting about buying his new friend Bill ice cream. That's why we are talking about ice cream. Blue Bell is, since I have had both brands - in my opinion which don't mean nothing to nobody be me - next best to Schwan's. Just find a Schwan's del. truck driving around and pull him over, they always will stop for a sell -lol. GOOD STUFF MANNARD. Just don't look at the calories in it though. Also they have lots of different food items that are great. And buy your wife her own carton so she will not jump on you for eating out of the carton. |
Bill
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2000 - 12:49 pm: | |
Ghost, I inadvertently referred to icecream instead of icetea. Blue Bell on my mind and in my icebox. Not working, in recovery from an injury not worth talking about compared to others. Working on new certifications and licensing. Good luck to all, and tie off your ladders when you can. Not much forgiveness in concrete. |
older than dirt
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2000 - 11:09 am: | |
Waiting sigh. But hopefully work is around the corner. While I can still aford to buy the ice cream for a while, it would be nice to be climbing a few roofs again. |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2000 - 8:23 am: | |
MKDCO, why are we discussing ice cream? Is it true that many of us are still not working?
By the way, I have not tried Schwans ice cream. I have a preference for BlueBell made in Brenham, Texas. Lots of flavors and you'll really irritate your wife by eating directly out of the carton if she catches you.
Bill and Older Than Dirt, are you working or waiting? |
MKDCO
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2000 - 6:19 pm: | |
Older Than Dirt - To answer your question as to where the best ice cream comes from -well, It's TEXAS - of course, we import it from Minns. and get it from Schwan's Home Del.so take your pick, go north and try to eat ccoolldd ice cream or come south or west or what ever directions you need to take and come to Texas and order some Schwan's. It's getting warm down here so you want freeze up eating cold ice cream. Bring your new friend Bill also or at lease meet him here along with Ghostbuster and you'll have a good time. |
older than dirt
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2000 - 2:52 pm: | |
Bill trust you will allow me to buy you an ice cream also. Did not intend to offend anyone, but I have always regarded this forum as an place to speak out under cover and say what we think, (freedom to speak doesn't mean freedom to liable or slander), without fear of reprisal. I have been around for a couple of years and the wrong word said in innocence has cost many an IA an account and even a business. I have worked inside and in the field. You can have the inside and the politics, I am where I am because I love travel and I like to settle claims. I no longer wish to kiss butt or have my butt kissed. Now all I need to know is which part of this country has the best icecream, and then we can wait for a storm. |
Bill Burnett
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2000 - 12:41 pm: | |
Ghost, you are a sweet guy. Done! The icecream, I can't resist. Anyone older than dirt deserves some respect for just surviving so long. Good luck, stay safe to you and Older Than Dirt. He does have courage enough to say what he thinks, even anonymously. It is his and your right to speak, my right to ignore, should of done so. Got caught up in the moment. Name calling is just a litte thing in the whole scheme of things. May all the carriers, vendors, and adjusters do well. Our paychecks depend on it. Vaya con Dios. |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2000 - 9:58 am: | |
Awww-Cmon Bill, lets kiss and makeup. There is no sense in going off mad when our one real problem is that we need a really, good storm now that the SF kids are tied up in DFW. Blathering on about our professional imagery won't help to conjure up work.
Whadddya say, hows 'bout I buy your ice tea at the Blanco Cafe next time? Would that make things all better? |
LaDeeDaDa
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2000 - 12:48 am: | |
You got to love a brown noser(A kisser). Man! I will do anything to look good or say anything to look good. Wow! I'm good ,great and the best of the best. Can not get better. If you don't believe me ask me. I'm a legend in my own mind. Gee!-what can I say or do next to impress the powers that be?( just in case they are listening or reading this) Oh by the way, my name is LA DEE DA DA! |
Bill Burnett out of this one
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 11:35 pm: | |
Too trivial to waste anymore time with such posts. Not attempting to or care to have the last word. Ghost you are correct. You and Older than dirt, call yourself what you wish. Boring nonsensical metaphors, similes ... ho hum ... and forget the belt buckles and toe nails, I apologize for such a boring response. Out of this, had no dog in the fight, just dislike poor manners. I never worked for State Farm. Many adjusters have and do well for their families and for their vendors. I haven't needed too. Probably would if it worked out that way. Have taken and passed all their certifications. Found no problem with their requesting it. Actually enjoyed them. I think this is where this conversation about name calling all began. Words such as Snake farm, bottom feeders, whores (cheap or high priced) have no place on this public forum. Keep it in the bars sober or not sober, old or young, tenured or newbie. |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 9:10 pm: | |
Bill, you're right. After re-reading my old Webster dictionary, I think I was wrong about the descriptive phrase being a metephor. I now believe it is a simile. As defined a simile is a comparison, and I think that would better describe the phrase.
As to content however, I do recall one old fossilized adjuster observe while in a state of cold sobriety, "If we must be whores, then lets be high priced call girls and not street corner chippies!" While this is a crude observation, the sentiment rings true regardless of ones vocation. As does that of Older than Dirt.
But enough of this philosophizing over the trivial and ones delicate sensebilities. Let us venture forth into virginal territory so that we might despoil it with our wisdom and platitudes. |
Bill Burnett
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 7:34 pm: | |
Ghostbuster, I thought you better than admiring metaphors calling other adjusters by a names that in anyones vocabulary is highly inflamatory. Putting forth legitimate information in language suitable for a public forum is one thing. Trash is still trash, why didn't you use the metaphor.
Older than dirt, humor at what you see in the mirror ... well ..... what? I enjoy good humor, do not enjoy this kind of name calling whether it be about yourself, vendors, carriers, or other adjusters. State the facts. Give your name and be counted. Your comment cannot possibly represent the 1000+ (purportedly) good adjusters. Have only seen 2 or 3 dozen posting on this site. Now I know why. Good luck to both of you regardless, and keep safe, lady luck has no real favorites. Its a sad day when you look in the mirror and find self satisfaction with your 'metaphors' of knowing who you are. Even when on target. |
flash
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 6:07 pm: | |
GHOSTBUSTER, read the memo from State Farm carefully, it is for the entire North Texas Region, not just DFW |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 4:38 pm: | |
Wow!!! What a brilliant metaphor Older than Dirt. And, how true! A little crude perhaps,but a bulls-eye none the less. In spite of the 'sunshine boys', we are here to alert each other of the changes in the carriers procedures so we can best position ourselves for our own survival. If anything, the carriers are 'bashing' us. Either intentionally or not.
Rumor Control: The State Farm elimination of the PCA is for the DFW storm only at this point in time. It took effect on 3-28-00 for the DFW storms only. A memo gives out the corporate rationale about multitudes of storms and Insureds well being and BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
In conclusion, we still need for the Rain Goddess to nag the Hail God to get off his tokus and drop some large hail on urban ares. And the sooner the better! |
older than dirt
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 2:21 pm: | |
I can look in the mirror and have a laugh at my own expence. I also know what I am! |
Bill Burnett
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 1:15 pm: | |
Older than dirt, Trash mouth is recommended new id for youur anonymous. Does your post reflect the true id to your anonymous? It certainly has the potential to reducing CADO memberships and participations worldwide. Most definitely its respectability with vendors, carriers, and adjusters who are out here doing the best they can to do a good job and make a living for our families in an ever changing market place. No market is perfect. I uphold anonymous postings, but not trash.
You call this whoring! Shame on you. For me, I choose not to participate further with your kind of trash mouth company. Out of here CADO if this is the prevailing kind of person to this site.
Email address posted, answer belt buckle to belt buckle, toe nail to toe nail if you wish. The forum for now is filed away in the closet until improved. |
older than dirt
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 12:26 pm: | |
A good whore will supply what the customer wants, we will change as needed. History has shown that there is always a market for good whores. |
Bill Burnett
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 11:05 am: | |
Ghostbuster, protecting your turf (income) is respectable. I for one do not see myself and others as prisoners waiting for the galleys. Rather, people who are making every effort through good work product, continuing education, respect for their employers (contract accepted)to keep their feet on a turf to work on. Markets (turfs) change. Hanging around with a lot of ghosts can be the result of the inability to adapt to change. Change is not always fair, nice, or profitable ... it is inevitable. Where did the buffalo go? Come back Joe Dimagio! Come back big adjusting fees! Come back simple hand written claims! Come back to life Ghost! I like you, stick around, don't get ghostbusted! |
Forrest
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2000 - 2:35 am: | |
Hello,
What a bunch of cry babys!!
Im so sick of hereing you all cry, what a bunch, of you no what. Why don't you all get into another bizz. Even you people with ten yrs plus are crying. Cannot beleive it. Go back to pounding nails or roofing. Or take your job with pride, and quit crying. There are people that have been born and raised with a hammer in our hand, and have chosen to go into the glorified estimator bissness. If you can relate to what Im saying, more power to you. Ten years plus is not a big deal. Lets start talking about the people that have been making a living for fifteen plus or better. What counds is being able to adjust, on anything we may have to. Policys, politics, enviroment, living conditions, and what ever else we may have to deal with. I do beleive that sooner or later, we do have to put togeather a brothership, and be able to have some sort of control of or destiny. Anyhow thats all have have to say,for now. C-Ya |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Monday, April 03, 2000 - 10:17 pm: | |
Ahh-Haa! Well now Mr's Toll,,Hutt, Joyce, Burnett, and Ol Phantom, if the above SF rumor is true as to eliminating the PCA, this will eliminate the need for staff kids and independents on daily rate to stick around for cleanup. Is this carrier bashing? Or would your palavering be more akin to those condemned prisoners awaiting the gallows and saying it's not good to complain about the executioner lest he not hang you with a new rope!
Old boys, the winds of change are blowing and I for one choose to be blown with the wind and not blown away by it. But, this does not mean I will not share information with my friends so that they can be helped also, even if you are an old stuffed shirt.
While the elimination of the PCA makes less work for us in the short run, I can't help but wonder what with the up coming SF DRP, if the function of the field adjuster is in jeopardy? Consider, we can now sell insurance with a 800# or over the internet. So why have an agent? And whats to stop the carrier from eliminating the field adjuster by getting a free estimate from a DRP contractor? Have the bean counters run some numbers and reached that conclusion? Gents, these are mighty scary times. Boo! |
Bill Burnett
| | Posted on Sunday, April 02, 2000 - 3:18 pm: | |
Tom Toll, glad to see some of the experienced pros (10 years+) discussing this vendor bashing issue. A deal is a deal for both sides. Some deals are not as good as others. But if you ask for a hand to play, and decide to keep it, that is the deal. There are less than perfect calls made by individuals and companies all the time. Such is life. Most problems can be resolved on an individual basis. Those that can't, that too is life, you have to live with, survive it and move on. Words such as snake farm, bottom feeders, etc. are uncalled for. |
The Phantom
| | Posted on Sunday, April 02, 2000 - 12:45 pm: | |
To Toll & Joyce:
I agree on the SF bashing. They have made me extra burger money for years and most of those that are critical can not cut the mustard. I read the Bulletin Board and it appears Lewis was asking questions that should be ask and a few trying to answer. Lewis requested additional information from Kosterman to "KNOW BEFORE YOU GO" reasons and I don't believe anyone is seeing fault with that, but let Kosterman answer the questions for this KMS. I want the answers just like Lewis before I would go. |
Tom Joyce (Tomj)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2000 - 11:22 pm: | |
Nothing to do and something to complain about. What else is new? Has anybody been forced to take the certifications? Is SF the only one out there? Look at the bulletin board with the nonsense regarding KMS. A good company providing work and a couple of people decided to jump on them because of an open invitation to attend a seminar. If you don't want to go to a seminar, or work for someone fine, but use some degree of class or professionalism. By the way, I have no dog in the fight, just an observation. |
Jim Hutt (Hutt)
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2000 - 8:03 pm: | |
Tom I agree with you and you know what's funny i have not been able to confirm any of the reports that have been posted we are pro's act like it i personally have met a lot of nice guys at SF and yes there are peopl;e there that are a pain but as said before it is your choice who you work for |
Tom Toll
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2000 - 7:39 pm: | |
I am sorry, I do not understand this constant criticism of State Farm. Sure, they have their problems, but so do a lot of others. There are vendors that provide claim service for State Farm and some of the other companies I have seen put down on this site. I have worked for State Farm and was not completely happy with their supervisors, but I am not and will not use negative connotations about this company, nor should anyone else. Why not try to find something positive to say instead of constant negativity. Look inside yourself and try to determine if self is the problem, not State Farm or any of the others. Nothing is perfect in this universe, nor will it ever be, but we allow negativity to creep into our souls and allow it to ruin our Karma. If you don't like working for a company, don't work for them anymore. I see no reason for us to slap any vendor, or company because of our personal experiences. Why don't you try writing directly to the companies claims department and complain and make sure your suggestions are good and that your complaint is valid. |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2000 - 2:22 pm: | |
Whoa!!! I stand corrected, just read the posting by Phantom. Man-o-man, SF is really putting it to us by squeezing the five vendors with only 30 guys each. |
Cecelia
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2000 - 2:20 pm: | |
Wardlaw is doing Farmers work in the Ft Worth area |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2000 - 2:19 pm: | |
Yes, for SF, it is Eberls and Worley. SF is spreading it amongst the vendors and thus leaving many of the troops for each vendor high and dry. |
flash
| | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2000 - 12:50 pm: | |
has anyone heard who other than Renfroe has the Ft Worth and Arlington cats? |
Big Ben
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2000 - 5:27 pm: | |
I heard that USAA had an orientation scheduled the day after the storms hit and were anticipating 50-75 adjusters,,,,,only 13 showed up! Of course that doesn't count the 10-12 favorites that had already been deployed. Wonder if the recent pay cuts will effect the size of their roster when the big one hits? |
Still-at-home
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2000 - 11:17 am: | |
Does anyone have info on how USAA is handling this CAT?
Word is that they are using all staff. Does anyone know if they have any IA's working either of the Texas storms? |
daBear
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2000 - 9:07 am: | |
We took and passed all the tests for SF, and still get invitations to take them. I could bale all the SF correspondence I get and not buy fuel for the fireplace for a year. Heck, if they would pay me what they have spent trying to get me to take their tests and buy their software, I wouldn't have to work next year.
The more testing they have, the stricter the file management requirements, the cheaper the schedule. The more "file management" techniques they use, the more experience people quit working for them. So they add more supervision and require more testing. I am not taking any more tests for anyone. If they don't like my work, they can hire some newbees and accept the problems that causes.
There are plenty of adjuster friendly companies out there. Who needs the headache. Company "CAPE" tests, coupled with the continuing ed requirements leaves precious little time to work.
Know before you go..... |
older than dirt
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2000 - 6:35 pm: | |
If I piled all the notices and invites to SF training I could fill an medium sized room. You cannot pass what you don't write. Get so many invites they must always be needy. i know i'm not that needed yet! |
FROGHAIR
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2000 - 6:06 pm: | |
MOST OF US OLD GUY'S THAT WON'T WORK FOR STATE FARM CAN'T PASS THERE TEST. I'AM SURE. |
daBear
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2000 - 1:31 pm: | |
Not a sign of things to come. State Farm is always rude and snippy and hates independents. The old staff vs indepenedents thing. That is why most of us older guys won't work for them.
Mutual dis-admiration between us. Don't worry though, they have a bad attitude with the insureds too. Better to flip burgers.
Know before you go. |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2000 - 10:46 am: | |
State Farm changed their minds and now have told me they will use Crawford on this one. |
Ron McGuire
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2000 - 7:05 pm: | |
I called my State Farm Agent at 4:30 P.M., and was told they had over 7,000 claims by noon today.Cat office set up. Don't know which vendor is "up". |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2000 - 12:35 pm: | |
Sooo, just for fun,
I called up the San Antonio State Farm office and politely asked if a NATCAT office was being set up for the Seguin and New Braunfels and San Antonio hail.
The response of the NATCAT secretary was in a snippy and rude manner that they were"NOT using you independents!"
So what we'uns gots here is a rude rebuff. Is this an omen of bad times ahead and a return to the 'we hate independents days' of a few years ago? |
bob barton
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2000 - 11:19 pm: | |
tulsa area declared cat today by farmers,at least 15 adjusters (property) rolling for wardlaw,also several of us are going to work in tx for farmers including me!!!!!!! great news here as the pantry getting bare .... good luck everyone my claims are in the hillsboro tx area.... by for now |
John Fitzgerald
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2000 - 6:19 am: | |
Any info on the hail storm in Tenn. I have
heard various reports on size of the hail ranging
from golf ball to softball, Was the area at or near a major city? |
Ghostbuster
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2000 - 10:08 pm: | |
Also, add New Braunfels to the party list with its 1.75" hail and attendent wind damage. New Braunfels, Texas is about 25 miles north of San Antonio on IH-35.
New Braunfels is about 20,000 as is Seguin, more or less. Lots of easy to climb roofs, too. A few old Victorian monsters in the older parts of each town, but nothing like Plano and other north Dallas suburbs.
Wait a minute. Come to think of it, maybe I will handle these two towns and y'all can go work the steep mean wood roofs on the south side of Tulsa! HA!HA!HA! |
Tom Joyce (Tomj)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2000 - 9:31 pm: | |
I was speaking with an individual located in Seguin area of Texas this evening. This area is located northeast of San Antonio about 30 miles and she stated that a hail storm had just finished and was golf ball size. Also indicated that the entire area (approx 10 counties) had been under severe weather advisory all day. |
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