True Direct Billing

[0hunter]

For those of you who direct bill the insurance companies. Do you get a dispatch or claim number from them first or do you just verify coverage and then just fax your invoice.?

[mafsu]

verify coverage, then mail invoice to the local agent. usually paid within 7-10 days.

[0hunter]

Can this still be done if you are a member of the networks?

[mafsu]

No, at least not with Safelite. If the insurance company uses Safelite their is a clause in your agreement which states you must go through Safelite. I'm not sure about the others, I still bill through Lynx and Harmon and haven't gone back to read my agreements with them.

[0hunter]

So do you mostly just direct bill the smaller insurance companies?

[mafsu]

no, I direct bill any that are with Safelite.

[0hunter]

Why don't you direst bill Harmon or Lynx? Have you had too much hassle?

[mafsu]

No, the hassle was with Safelite(they have incompetent csrs as far as I'm concerned). I still use bill Harmon and Lynx customers through the network.

[Jeremiahswindshieldrepair]

We tried this approach on a larger scale basis and it didn't work. We would have 40-90 invoices a day and things got held up so bad we almost went broke ..... it is a great idea but they make it almost impossible to do long term and large scale.... Farmers specifically.

[mafsu]

I should have prefaced only about 10% of my work is insurance work and only half of that is with companies affiliated with Safelite. I just got fed up with Safelite a couple of years ago(after they pirated 2 jobs in two weeks time). They then sent me a letter telling me I had 10 days to supply them with proof of insurance, as I was delinquent in doing so. I of course had insurance, but had never in the 4 or so years I had been a part of their network been asked to supply it(only when I signed up). I called them and told them I would send them the proof, but was curious as to the delinquency notice. They got snippy and so I cancelled my arrangement with them on the phone. Didn't hurt me as I never got refferals from them anyhow. I however can see the benefit if you do a lot of insurance work. I do get referalls from them still from time to time, and when customers call in they still show my shop on the approved vendors list.