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Panelwagon62
Anybody in here work for an insurance company?? We're you a body man for some time and switched to adjusting?
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moparmusclecars
The way things have been going lately, it is going the opposite direction in a sense. I know a few guys who were body man back close to 20 years ago, then got into adjusting. Now they are finding themselves getting back into bodywork, as many insurance companies are making cuts. One works for State Farm Insurance and has 20 years in with them. The other guy was with AllState and had close to that time in. It's a good move for guys that are tired of the trade, but it's also hard to get into adjusting in most cases (at least where I live).
I know a number of body men on here that have went to adjust and some that have went back to body work.
I was shocked this did not get more play BUT then got to thinking, it would be a big risk for an insurance guy to say anything negative about his job on here.
Kinda like posting a picture of yourself with your girlfriend on your Facebook page, won't be long and your wife may see it?? LOL
One guy on here that I have the highest regard for, is an adjuster and would give the honest scoop but totally understand why he would not post.
I was shocked this did not get more play BUT then got to thinking, it would be a big risk for an insurance guy to say anything negative about his job on here.
Kinda like posting a picture of yourself with your girlfriend on your Facebook page, won't be long and your wife may see it?? LOL
One guy on here that I have the highest regard for, is an adjuster and would give the honest scoop but totally understand why he would not post.
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Panelwagon62
Yeah I know what you mean lol, I recently got promoted to production manager at our shop and will be writing estimates so the license is a must. I have spoken with a few adjusters that come into our shop asked questions about how they got into it, how long they worked in the industry etc. lots of positive feedback. I'm not looking to go the insurance company route but its nice to have that option, one thing my dad told me was never stop looking for your next job, he was right.
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Prplpny68
I worked at a bodyshop for about six years. The adjusters always loved our shop because we repaired more than we replaced so they came by often. I was looking for something different and after talking to one of the adjusters at length, I decided to go for it. Company car with free gas, free computer, free cell phone and benifits!!!
It lasted about a year! I hated every minute of it. I was always the bad guy. My company didn't like me because I "spent too much money." My average per claim was X amout of dollars higher than the office average. What they didn't understand was most of the adjusters worked in urban areas. I covered five counties in the mountains. So while the rest of the guys at my home office were writing for fender benders in the parking lots, I was looking at mostly cars that hit deer (and one time a horse) and people who slid off a 20 foot bank in the snow.
A lot of shops didn't like me because they often wanted to replace what I thought could be repaired. And I never even got a shot with the claimants. I was the bad guy before I even showed up at their house. They ALWAYS had an estimate before I wrote mine and of course it was much higher. We had to write for used parts, LKQ parts, then new, in that order. Company policy and they reviewed our estimates often! Shops could write what they wanted, and I was only allowed to write for what I could see, not what I suspected. Therefore, there were multiple visits to shops as the teardowns took place.
I got calls from people in the middle of the night wanting to know where their money was, I was threatened numerous times, and had to work more than my alloted time just to keep up with things. When it got to the point to where I was throwing up every morning before work, I had enough. Now I'm in law enforcement, and the only one yelling at me and telling me what to do is my boss
Sorry to ramble on so much, but I hope this helps a little. My suggestion is do your homework before you move on from something you are comfortable with. Really get to know some of the claim reps and find out how they really like their job. And make sure they don't get an incentive for recruiting like mine did!
It lasted about a year! I hated every minute of it. I was always the bad guy. My company didn't like me because I "spent too much money." My average per claim was X amout of dollars higher than the office average. What they didn't understand was most of the adjusters worked in urban areas. I covered five counties in the mountains. So while the rest of the guys at my home office were writing for fender benders in the parking lots, I was looking at mostly cars that hit deer (and one time a horse) and people who slid off a 20 foot bank in the snow.
A lot of shops didn't like me because they often wanted to replace what I thought could be repaired. And I never even got a shot with the claimants. I was the bad guy before I even showed up at their house. They ALWAYS had an estimate before I wrote mine and of course it was much higher. We had to write for used parts, LKQ parts, then new, in that order. Company policy and they reviewed our estimates often! Shops could write what they wanted, and I was only allowed to write for what I could see, not what I suspected. Therefore, there were multiple visits to shops as the teardowns took place.
I got calls from people in the middle of the night wanting to know where their money was, I was threatened numerous times, and had to work more than my alloted time just to keep up with things. When it got to the point to where I was throwing up every morning before work, I had enough. Now I'm in law enforcement, and the only one yelling at me and telling me what to do is my boss
Sorry to ramble on so much, but I hope this helps a little. My suggestion is do your homework before you move on from something you are comfortable with. Really get to know some of the claim reps and find out how they really like their job. And make sure they don't get an incentive for recruiting like mine did!
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Panelwagon62
Well because of my promotion a work mostly everyone has turned their backs on me since I have become "one of them" haha I've gotten used to that already. Every job does have its pros and cons some worse then others.
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ADTKART
I was an adjuster for a few years. The company I worked for had me covering an area that had me driving 300-350 miles a day. I worked 16-18 hours a day to try to keep up. I had to do office work on weekends and holidays too. There was no such thing as overtime, as we were on salary. There were people for the same company that only covered 1/2 of a city, but had more claims to handle a day than I did, so the office faxed me estimates to review and make changes to. Sometimes I would fill up my fax machine before I left in the morning and it was out of paper when I got back, and still had more to print.
Here, the companies are doing different things. Nationwide has cut their adjusting force drastically. They depend more on the DRP program to do their jobs. Statefarm has their DRP program running, but I understand that they have actually removed a few shops to make more use of their adjusters. Their personel that supervise the DRP are more interested in trying to find something wrong with the repair than with the estimates. One guy in our area will take out a mirror and look at radiator supports to make sure that there isn't an area than has not gotten body color on it. Even in cases where they are not originally all body color, he will write you up if it is not all painted. He tries to tell shops how to do the repairs.
Working as a shop estimator was less stressful to some extent. The major pressure is from management that expects an estimate every 1/2 hour. The company DRP estimates are looked over so close that they want to cut everything.Then they scream about the rental cars.
I went back into the shop as a body tech almost 10 years ago. The stress is usually less than the adjuster route. The benefits are not as much, since we seldom get much vacation or sick days. The pay depends on the amount of work the shop gets in, but CAN be better than the other side.
They say that the grass is always greener on the other side. Just remember that in a drought, it all turns brown.
Aaron
Here, the companies are doing different things. Nationwide has cut their adjusting force drastically. They depend more on the DRP program to do their jobs. Statefarm has their DRP program running, but I understand that they have actually removed a few shops to make more use of their adjusters. Their personel that supervise the DRP are more interested in trying to find something wrong with the repair than with the estimates. One guy in our area will take out a mirror and look at radiator supports to make sure that there isn't an area than has not gotten body color on it. Even in cases where they are not originally all body color, he will write you up if it is not all painted. He tries to tell shops how to do the repairs.
Working as a shop estimator was less stressful to some extent. The major pressure is from management that expects an estimate every 1/2 hour. The company DRP estimates are looked over so close that they want to cut everything.Then they scream about the rental cars.
I went back into the shop as a body tech almost 10 years ago. The stress is usually less than the adjuster route. The benefits are not as much, since we seldom get much vacation or sick days. The pay depends on the amount of work the shop gets in, but CAN be better than the other side.
They say that the grass is always greener on the other side. Just remember that in a drought, it all turns brown.
Aaron
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Panelwagon62
Thanks everyone for their reply. our shop is the only one in our area who is DRP with state farm and let me tell you, sometimes i wish we were not. the adjuster who does our area used to be a real prick, if the job was perfect he would find something wrong, if he didn't he wouldn't be doing his job. we got written up one time a while back because the underhood color we sprayed on the fender edges and underside of hood was a shade too glossy, we had to do it over and dull it out a bit and at this point the job was late and now you have to deal with a cranky customer. Every few jobs he would just show up out of the blue and inspect one of the jobs we had, change this, change that, deduct this, etc etc etc. he has actually chilled out a bit, will call when he is going to reinspect but only after it is painted. his attitude changed a lot, he comes in takes a few pictures and leaves. Our other DRP's really don't bother us with anything other then making sure the car leaves on its target date.
I have been writing estimates for a few months at the shop i'm in now and the toughest part is remembering all the regulations the different insurance companies have and just about everyone of them is different in their own way. It does get stressful at times, every job is going to have its quirks.
I have been writing estimates for a few months at the shop i'm in now and the toughest part is remembering all the regulations the different insurance companies have and just about everyone of them is different in their own way. It does get stressful at times, every job is going to have its quirks.
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ADTKART
If I owned a body shop, I would refuse to be a DRP for any insurance company. As far as I am concerned, it is a conflict of interest to represent the vehicle owner and the insurance company. When a customer brings in their vehicle, you contract with them to do the repairs properly to their satisfaction. If you are a DRP for their insurance company, or the company covering the repairs. then you have a contract that allows them to dictate the repair process. I have had times when I was told " that is not a repair that is approved by State Farm", even though it is approved by the manufacturer. I have had companies tell me that they require a supplement be done for all blend related work, after the vehicle is in the paint line and photos are taken. They require that in case the vehicle owner decided to take the money and not have the work done.
It used to be when an adjuster showed up in a shop to reinspect, it was to find out if the estimate was overwritten or to make sure that everything on the estimate was done. Now they are trying to tell everyone how to do their jobs. Half of the time here, they barely know how to write an estimate.
Aaron
It used to be when an adjuster showed up in a shop to reinspect, it was to find out if the estimate was overwritten or to make sure that everything on the estimate was done. Now they are trying to tell everyone how to do their jobs. Half of the time here, they barely know how to write an estimate.
Aaron
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moparmusclecars
Just keeps heading to where the DRP shops are being ran by the insurance companies to a certain point. They are watching how fast your turning cars, the complaints, or bad reviews. I have heard some of the shops say they are getting tired of all the drama, but yet they like the referrals. If you want their referrals, you gotta play their game!
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
I so love to say, "I work for you, not them!" Can't honestly do that if you are a DRP. That probably makes me a dinosaur, but I don't care. Even if I never get rich, I'll always have my honor and integrity.
All that said, I would consider a job as an auto claims adjuster when and if my knees get worse. There are some insurance companies that don't mistreat their employees, and there is always the independent route.
All that said, I would consider a job as an auto claims adjuster when and if my knees get worse. There are some insurance companies that don't mistreat their employees, and there is always the independent route.
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Panelwagon62
yeah i agree with the fact if you are a DRP you slave for them, but thats out of my control i'm not the owner. Although our DRP's are the reason we make our money, the "self pay" customers in my area just dont want to pay and expect everything done for nothing. A lot to consider.
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ADTKART
It used to be that it was illegal for the insurance companies to steer people to certain shops. All shops had the same opportunity to get the business. I think it is funny that shops cannot talk about their rates, but the insurance companies can control the rates thru DRP's.
Aaron
Aaron