Your Source for Up-To-Date News and Research on the Collision Repair Industry 

 

click here to subscribe to the FREE INSIGHT Editor's Desk News Alert Email

SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY
Today's News
INSIGHT This Month
INSIGHT Archives
Survey Center
Letter to the Editor

Business Tools
Subscription Information
CSI Reporting
Financial Analysis
IRS Audit Guide

Management/
Technical Info
Market Watch Rates
INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...

Feedback
Letter to the Editor

California Autobody Association Discusses Insurance Issues With Farmers Insurance Group

SACRAMENTO, Ca. --

The California Autobody Association (CAA) recently met with representatives of Farmers Insurance Group of Companies in Ontario, California. The meeting was held to discuss a number of issues relating to their policies and procedures for Circle of Dependability (COD) shops as well as non-COD shops and their recent relationship with ProcessClaims. Farmers asked to meet with the CAA to discuss the overall claims processing in California and to explain some of the revisions to their Circle of Dependability program.

There were a number of things that came out of this meeting that many of the CAA member shops were not aware of concerning the COD program and their overall claims processing. One of these is the Farmers COD qualifications and required education. Shops must have 70 percent of the Body/Structural Technicians trained in Structural/Nonstructural Damage Analysis and Repair. Training may be accomplished through I-CAR (CR2000 or CR3000) or ASE Certification (Tests B3 & B4). This is a requirement that some shops may not be aware of that Farmers will accept either I-CAR or ASE. In addition, their painter's requirements are that 70 percent of the Paint Technicians have passed qualifying courses, which include I-CAR, ASE, Factory or Vendor (Paint Mfg.) training. All Body Technicians must pass the I-CAR WQT welding test and Front Office management/Estimators, 70 percent trained in computerized estimating plus Structural/Nonstructural Damage Analysis and Repair. Training may be accomplished through I-CAR (CR2000 or CR3000) or ASE Certification (Tests B3 & B4); exception for Front Office management/Estimators is the welding test requirement. Farmer's recent announcement to use ProcessClaims to electronically manage the claims process for their COD shops via the Internet was also heavily discussed. This alliance enables the shop to utilize their existing estimating system to process their claims. This not only assists their COD shops but any shop processing a Farmers claim that is electronically capable of managing the process.

This meeting also allowed the CAA to discuss other issues that members have recently been made aware of concerning Farmers' claims processing. One of those issues was the freedom to choose where shops purchase parts for the repair. This allows members to evaluate the repair and purchase the parts from the most reliable source.

The CAA looks forward to on-going meetings with Farmers to discuss mutual issues that will benefit its members.

The California Autobody Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization comprised of approximately 800 collision repair businesses and associated professionals in the collision repair industry.

©2001 Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT
All Rights Reserved

FEATURED
LINKS:

INSIGHT Supports the NABC!
Do You?