If I go the Direct Bill Route

I have little need in purchasing the Main Street Software.

With that in mind......What billing software are you guys using?


Is Quick Books a good option?

</p>

Auto Glass Repair,

I don't use any software to do my direct billing. I am still in the dinosaur ages. I just use my custom invoice and billing letter and mail it to their local insurance agent when possible to try to get a check cut from them which is by far the quickest method. Usually within one week. This does not happen all the time though and then I send it to their Insurance Company home office via snail mail. Usually you can find this information with there insurance paperwork. On occasion I have faxed it but I prefer to just mail it. I don't think there is much of a difference time wise in getting paid unless they can direct deposit your money in your account. Sorry I don't have the answer to that one maybe someone else does.

There is a program that I am starting to learn and use that might be beneficial for this and its called Omni Form 5.0. It allows you to use or make forms that have live fields for data entry which would be good for emailing and just being more legible.

If you are not going to make the the call for a claim#, make sure you ask the customer if they have comprehensive insurance first or else you won't get paid. I had to learn that the hard way.

Hope this helps.

Pay it foward,

Brian
www.safeglasstechnologies.com

info@safeglasstechnologies.com</p>

So when you direct bill, you first try the agent? Also, are you saying that you don't set up a claim # when you direct bill? I am doing a lot of work through safelite and they sent me a letter saying that they would not pay me what my bill was made out for. I have no contract with them. Are they aloud to do this???

This all gets so confusing sometimes... <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":\">

Chris~
WiseCrack Windshield Repairs

</p>

Yes, you will find some that take the liberty of paying what they think they ought to pay. I know of one company that will pay $60 on some claims but only $50 on others if they think the vehicle is not new or nice enough for $60. That is their policy, no kidding. Farmers Ins, I believe.

I had a bill written up recently for $60.00 plus tax, and when I call the ins. network for the customer, the ins. rep. said "we only pay $59.95". I told her I had the bill written for $60.00... surely the $.05 was no big deal, right? Well, she just kept repeating 59.95... they are morons. I ended up getting paid by the customer, and gave them instructions to send in the bill to get reimbursed. I will be checking in with them to find out what they got paid. (there was also a second repair that I billed for more than the ins. would agree to... that is what I want to find out... if they shortchanged their policyholder the difference or not.)

Ins. companies do suck... but the networks REALLY suck.

</p>

WiseCrackWR,

What I have been doing and will continue to do is inform the customer on the process for handling their claim and their options. If they want to make the call then I inform them they will need to insist on SGT and why. If they don't want to make the call then I do the job without the call and send in the invoice to the local agent when possible and to the home glass claims office all other times. Either way I always direct bill to bypass the network. I usually will get a phone call to verify the nature of work done but that is it. So far I have had good results. I find most people do not want to file the claim and pay cash though. I truly believe that people are skeptical of something for FREE, especially when dealing with the insurance companies. At least here on the East Coast. They also fear that the their premiums will go up for any type of claim even after I have explained it. Either way is fine with me. With cash though, I get my money on the spot. I still let them know if they change there mind they can submit the invoice themselves.

There is some more information on this on Page 3 in the "Direct Billing Insurance List". I hope this helps somewhat.

I can also tell you there has been a few occasions where my invoice and direct billing letter has been forwarded to the insurance network. I am not pleased about that but I have always been paid in full.

Pay it foward,

Brian
www.safeglasstechnologies.com

info@safeglasstechnologies.com</p>