Posted On: April 28, 2006, 12:44 am CDT

Posted By: Tony

Charles,
I know a little what you refer to. I have been involved in insurance for nearly 10 years. I have seen VERY good adjusters who work their tails off get little or no credit (or kindness/consideration) from emmployers or customers. The point that I was trying to make is that every C/R I have worked with tried their very best to provide the very best service to their customers. It really gripes my A$$ when I get on here and find everyone griping about those who worked their tails off, VOLUNTEERED to be away from their family, spent months in a place where you were sleeping two to a bed and were happy to have a bed or (as I did) go so friggin sick that when they went to a hospital, once the nurses took a pulse/ox sat, they immediately (and I do mean immediately) rushed that person to intensive care and drug a doctor in to see them (I am not the only one this happened to). People like Roger kill me. All they want to do is gripe, complain and screw the crap out of any person/insurance company they can. People like you who have seen both sides of the business need to provide a little more even treatment of those who do their best. Are their imcompetent boobs out there????? You bet! I worked for a casualty TM out of Nevada who didn't know her head from her a$$ when it comes to a property claim and she was reviewing my files??????? The major problem w/ this past season was that there was just plain too many claims. Independant companies were hiring anyone with a pulse to fill positions to provide Reps to the insurance companies. BUT, if they hadn't people would have called (they did anyway) griping about the lack of service. I spent several months in South Louisiana (I live in La.) and several months in Florida. I would rather spend a year in Florida than 1 month in South La. The people in Fl. were much more understanding, pleasant, accomodating and considerate. The difference was beyond words. I have heard mixed reviews from friends in south Miss.

One thing that I think everyone needs to remember is that it is the INSURED's responsibility to PROVE damage. I am sorry, but if you have a 4' water mark in your home and the surrounding area has 4' water marks from flood and you want me to cover the carpet under wind, it ain't happening. That being said, I know of one person (me) who had a house that had 7 LARGE pine trees on it. I did what a decent claim rep would do. Everything below the water mark was flood. Everything that was damaged (from holes in the roof, ceilings etc. was covered under wind. Sorry folks, but if it was below the water mark, FLOOD. If it was above it and not specifically excluded, Wind. If no wind damage (roof still there and no trees on house, all windows are there, etc and you want me to cover mold 7' up the wall..... best thing I can tell folks is to read the policy.

I guess I am not perfect either. I am also wordy. I like nearly every claim rep I know, just do the best we can. It really amazes me how many people want to whine and complain and blame someone else when they were to lazy, unintelligent or just plain stupid to read their policy.

I have two sayings, I use all the time in my work, that I think people need to remember for future reference..... (1)There was only one perfect person, and I AIN'T him (but I do try my best). (2) You get what you pay for. If you choose a crap insurance company to save $20 bucks a year (See the good hands folks) don't gripe when you get lousy service.