Starting Your New Windshield Repair Business
Posted: October 6th, 2003, 7:35 pm
I wonder if it isn't time to simplify the question of networks?
Networks DO provide a service to insurance companies by standardizing thousands of varied invoices--some virtually incomprehensible--into an EDI form easier to run through their system.
Ergo: it saves the insurance companies mucho dinero.
That makes sense. None of us would want to employ 15 technicians each using their own invoice forms and then shoveling them onto the bookkeeper's desk.
And, I'm willing to give another intermediary $2 per job to convert my invoices rather than spend money for a software program.
But, what concerns me is using two major networks that have vested interests in the REPLACEMENT of windshields rather than the REPAIR of windshields.
If the shoe were on the other foot, both of those networks would be screaming bloody murder and lawsuits would be as prevalent as fleas on a mongrel dog.
Considering fair business practices injected with a modicum of logic, neither of the two major networks should be in the insurance network business in the first place.
I've said it before. Any insurance company executive who wants to skip his three martini lunch would be advised to take that time to consider a national clearing house for insurance leads run by one of their competitors. How would he like that idea?
The problem is steering. It's as simple as that.
In a perfect world, networks would be comprised of entities who would assign jobs on a truly objective rotational basis and their fingers were not somewhere in the pie. Additionally, in cases of a borderline question as to whether a repair or replacement is necessary, the job should be initially assigned to a repair ONLY shop for qualification.
We know how to ask the insured the correct questions over the phone before either dispatching or turning the job over to a replacement shop.
We need to forget about eradicating the network concept because that is a fait accompli.
Coitster has the right idea. We should begin a grass-roots campaign toward an organization designed to deal with the insurance companies and the present incestuous network system rather than individually shouting into the wind.
Networks DO provide a service to insurance companies by standardizing thousands of varied invoices--some virtually incomprehensible--into an EDI form easier to run through their system.
Ergo: it saves the insurance companies mucho dinero.
That makes sense. None of us would want to employ 15 technicians each using their own invoice forms and then shoveling them onto the bookkeeper's desk.
And, I'm willing to give another intermediary $2 per job to convert my invoices rather than spend money for a software program.
But, what concerns me is using two major networks that have vested interests in the REPLACEMENT of windshields rather than the REPAIR of windshields.
If the shoe were on the other foot, both of those networks would be screaming bloody murder and lawsuits would be as prevalent as fleas on a mongrel dog.
Considering fair business practices injected with a modicum of logic, neither of the two major networks should be in the insurance network business in the first place.
I've said it before. Any insurance company executive who wants to skip his three martini lunch would be advised to take that time to consider a national clearing house for insurance leads run by one of their competitors. How would he like that idea?
The problem is steering. It's as simple as that.
In a perfect world, networks would be comprised of entities who would assign jobs on a truly objective rotational basis and their fingers were not somewhere in the pie. Additionally, in cases of a borderline question as to whether a repair or replacement is necessary, the job should be initially assigned to a repair ONLY shop for qualification.
We know how to ask the insured the correct questions over the phone before either dispatching or turning the job over to a replacement shop.
We need to forget about eradicating the network concept because that is a fait accompli.
Coitster has the right idea. We should begin a grass-roots campaign toward an organization designed to deal with the insurance companies and the present incestuous network system rather than individually shouting into the wind.