Windshield Repair Forum

RLI has great rates for repair-only businesses. Typically @ $200 per year for $500,000 coverage depending on the area. A million is only $20 more per year.

However, RLI will NOT add either network as "additional insured" nor do they cover windshield replacement companies or so I've been told by Randy through the broker. Check with your's or call Randy at RLI to find out who brokers are in your area. (Randy is a she and not a he.)

The question as to whether or not either network will accept that provision (and it is a requirement of both) remains unanswered. We have cancelled our agreement with Safelite, resorted to the old-fashioned method of direct-billing and therefore the question is moot as far as we are concerned.

I've searched through back-posts in order to ascertain whether or nor Safelite/Lynx will accept that provision. If someone knows for sure, it would help the new people who need to know in order to join the ranks of the network system.

Hmmm. That's hard to say considering my recent posts concerning those two un-named networks.

Rather than muddy the waters, I'll keep my canoe banked.

And for the new people who don't manage to find a definite answer resulting from this post, call Dave McPhaden directly at Safelite. If you need the number or his e-mail address, just ask.

I suggest from past experience that calling him is much more effective than an e-mail.

Good luck and good repairs.

Desertstar,

You always have great post as usual I have to give my two cents worth

Brian,
I knew about Lynx and Safelite, but do I need to call Globe, Harmon, and Alliance to sign up before I can bill them?

Repair1,who is your insurance co. and what kind rates do you pay?

Thanks for your kind remarks, Repair1. Your "two cents worth" is always worth a lot more than that.

I'm almost old enough that Cervantes could have used me as the model for Don Quixote. I've tilted at enough windmills for sure both in this business and others.

Depending on how many network jobs (unwanted by them) one gets through the networks, it is as you say worth the additional premiums to meet the odd requirements of both S and L. (Or, the u-no-who's).

Only a review of that worth after a year or two can tell each individual company whether the additional premium outlay is justified simply on the basis of "additional insured" provisions required by networks that cannot be fulfilled by RLI at this time.

Quite simply: We pay a LOT less to someone like RLI for $1,000,000 liability than any other company I've found. I'm not a tout for RLI; there could be others.

Neither S or L accepts RLI because of the "additional insured" provision. (Please correct me if I am in error.)

Ergo: Pay the additional liability premiums to some other company as Repair1 suggested; take a look at the books after a year or two; then determine yourself whether or not the additional costs are offset by the "free" jobs passed to you by the networks.

That cost ratio between "free" jobs and increased premiums will vary depending on which area your business is located. If you are located in the hinterlands, you will receive more network referals. If you are located within ten or fifteen miles of certain vested-interest companies, you will receive considerably less. CONSIDERABLY less.

Almost without fail, the "free" business we received from one of the networks was either located outside of the GPS map in uncharted Lewis and Clark territory or offered to us because the customer needed a Sunday repair or replacement between the sermon and a trip to McDonald's.

But, this post isn't intended for the knowledgeable such as Repair1, Coitster and others.

My suggestion is to read the information supplied by them and others; do some additional research; and take the plunge.

Even at this stage of the wsr business, there is still plenty of room for errors in judgement and it won't cost an arm and a leg to make a mistake or two.