What else? Networks

[desertstars]

We received a letter from a "network" yesterday "terminating" Desert Stars' contract with that "network".

What a relief to find out that they are "terminating" a contract that we had already terminated some time back.

They appear to read their incoming mail as often as we receive repair or replacement leads from them or wait to be paid while they use our money.

What we're anticipating now is the first time they give us a problem by telling the prospect that we aren't approved because they have "teminated" our contract.

That opens up an interesting list of possibilities relating to remedial legal actions on our part.

It may seem at times that Desert Stars is rabid when it comes to the question of this present system of "networks".

Indeed we are. You bet.

This is a good forum to teach both new and established techs in this business how to increase their business and how to improve the quality of their repairs.

No doubtaboutit.

But, wouldn't it be nice to dig for a prospect, just dial an 800 number and hear the person at the other end say: "Yeah, they're covered. Here's the dispatch number. Go ahead and send us the bill. We'll pass it on in EDI form to their insurer" right away"?

In the past sixteen years, I've watched the replacement business transcend itself from sneering at us, then denigrating us, then (with exceptions) "training" their own "techs", then attempting to control us through "networks".

Believe me. I have seen us evolve from a dirt-devil into a tornado and a force to be considered should we ever get our independent act together.

I don't know for sure, but, it doesn't make any sense for me to rattle the bushes, uncover a customer, and then turn that customer over to my competition for approval and processing.

And then, wait to get paid while that competition plays games with my money.

That entire scenario flies in the face of practical business sense.

Perhaps I am spitting into the wind and perhaps this is not the correct forum to do so.

But, dealing with this present system of "networks" would be a big start toward resolving many of the questions we deal with in this forum.