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VOICE
November 2008
Published by UFAA Chapter 15 of Eastern Oklahoma. Chapter 15 meets the first Wed. of each month. Next meeting Wed. November 5th 11:30 AM Green Onion Restaurant
4532 E 51st Tulsa. |
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Mission Statement
The United Farmers Agents Association is a professional association committed to helping our members through education, communication, support and information and to establish a true partnership with Farmers Group, Inc. |
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Oklahoma Contacts:
Chapter 15 serving
Eastern Oklahoma
President- Mike Gately 918/481-3277 -Tulsa
Chapter 12 serving
Central-Western Oklahoma:
President- Tony Reese 580/355-1335 - Lawton
To join an Oklahoma Chapter
choose one closest to you
and contact the chapter. Or,
Sign up at UFAA Web site.
United Farmers Agents Association Web Site
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Greetings!
Does this email look strange with outline boxes where graphics should be with a red "x" in the corner? Do text columns seem in misalignment? This newsletter is created in Hyper Text Markup Language. An HTML file is a text file containing small markup tags that tell your Web browser how to display the page created using a simple text editor.
Most Internet Service Providers (ISP) have upgraded email software to prevent you from accepting objectionable pics or graphics. If you use AOL and have upgraded to their 9.0 version software, simply add our email address above to your AOL "People I Know" address book. If you are using Outlook 2003 version, "Please click the download pictures link to view the images and links in this newsletter. To view all future communications from us with images and links intact, please approve our email address above as a "Safe Sender" in your email software.
Other Tips & Tricks with HTML Newsletters and Free email account
YOUR INCOMING HTML EMAIL- The Oklahoma Voice is created in HTML format. There may be variations in how email display from one email program to another. We have designed templates to make these variations as small as possible. Make sure your email program has HTML activated. Some free email sites are limited and do not handle HTML graphics and text well. If you discover you cannot see all text and graphics in our newsletters, you may want to advise us of your alternate email address by using the email/profile update at the bottom of this page.
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ATTENTION ADVERTISERS-
Your ads are now "HOT LINKS" to your website! | |
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Welcome to the new
Oklahoma Voice
from Chapter 15
We have outgrown the old newsletter format and are now using an outsourcing company to bring to you this newer more readable and functional format.
You will see the basic logos & heading are similar and we will be able to bring you content in a better arrangement that has larger print & color coordination and some motion "wow" graphics like the Oklahoma flag above.
We can now use web links to direct you to articles, press releases, websites and other areas of interest including graphics to improve appearance. And, we can transfer such content right into your newsletter copy from other numerous sites.
You will no longer have to download a large file and open the Oklahoma Voice with Adobe Reader. The Voice will now load just like a web page when you click on your email. The new Voice will reduce our
returned email due to "mail box full" error as the size of the new file format will be about one-tenth the size of the old .PDF files.
We hope you like the new format. Please let chapter 15 know your comments on this, but admittedly, not yet perfected first edition.
"Agents Helping Agents"(tm)
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See our website for client services
Call us for emergency board up |
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The UFAA
Sponsored E&O
Trial App is here-
Deadline to Submit your trial app is Nov 15, to have this
much better coverage by January, 2009
You should have received an email on procedures to complete and electronically submit your trial app to obtain a quote on the new UFAA sponsored E&O policy.
If you did not receive the information, you can click here for the UFAA Group E&O Website The online application site will save your data if you have to log out and continue later by using the save and continue option on each page.
For ease of completing the
E&O application You should have all information gathered before you start the application as it is unknown how long your partial application w ill be stored before it may be deleted.
You will not discover until the end of the app that the electronic app will need you to enter a filename to upload
your previous E&O losses and transmit with the application.
If you received your loss info from farmers@calsurance.com, the loss form will be a .PDF attachment to the email. Open the form and save it to your desktop with an EZ filename such as E&OLossHistory. At the conclusion of the app process you will need to attached this file to the app before submitting. Fax instructions are also available.
Here's what you will need:
All agency owners' full name, DOB, residence address and years of insurance experience.
FIG Commission volume by line for the last year. (2007).
Find this on Dashboard on the Dec 07 folio/1099
License number(s) and date first licensed.
You will see your National Producer # under your name. But, use the NEW state issued number in the
box labeled "Licenses." Make note of the number to submit to any CE provider you may use in the future and for electronic license renewal with the state. You will also see the date you were first licensed.
Agency producer information (production volume and if you have outside appointments, the information relating to these appointments.) Will vary by agent.
General agency or non Farmers carrier
appointments with estimated line volume and binding authority, if applicable. Year end statement from outside companies.
Farmers binding authority limits. Fire 500k, Next Gen Home $1mil (Okla. Manual pg. 31 & 35)
Auto Liability- 250/500k(Okla.Manual pg 101) Physical Damage-ACV less 100-5,000 ded. with max value upto 80k
Claims authority limits.
Drive In areas- PD,Coll $0 Comp $200
No Drive In- PD, Comp, Coll $500 Property Fire, Wind, Hail $750 Theft $500 Note:?? info from FB 0-6603 1/8/88 (??)
If you have E&O with a carrier other than the Farmers Group Inc. plan, the carrier name, policy number, limits, retroactive date and the loss history covering the last 5 years or period of operation if less. You will likely need to contact them for losses
and retroactive date . Losses from the Farmers E&O policy can be obtained at Calsurance by email. Request losses and retro date providing your name, agent number, address, phone.
Your membership number if
a current United Farmers Agents Association member (not required to obtain a proposal.) Members were issued a billfold size membership card this Summer with a UFAA membership number.
All the information is pretty simple to compile, unless you have numerous outside companies. It will take a little creative math to determine the percent of income from each compared to the total. And, like the Dashboard Driver assignment screen, you will have two columns, both must add to 100%.
Near the end, "The App System" will suddenly take your app and thank you for your submission. Wait! I wanted to print it for my records! You can still do that using the options on the left side of the screen.
Also, you will be advised how to check back online to obtain your quote or change application entries. Getting back online is a trick to recall your app. A screen will request email address and password (which you do not yet have.) Do not enter info on this screen. Just click the link and a new screen will appear asking only for your email address. A new PW will be emailed within minutes. Write your PW on the front of your printed copy of the application and your done.
"Agents Helping Agents(TM)"
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Ad from Yahoo News:
Want to [own your own business?*]
Farmers Insurance Group is willing to invest $65,000 into your developing agency & your future. A college degree or management experience could qualify you, no insurance experience necessary! To find out more please call 580-924-3653 or e-mail us- Okla DM
$65,000? Many agents have lost that since the inception of the state offices and management bonuses down the chain of command. We hear new agents get a $100 rebate each month on their Farmers Medical benefit plan. That's $1,200 discount a year. What about the rest of us on the same plan?
Okla. State Law Prohibits-
Oklahoma Statutes T36
Sec. 1435.15E
It shall be unlawful for any insurer to discriminate among or between the insurance producers it has appointed. Any person or company convicted of violating the provisions
of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by the imposition of a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment in the county jail for not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year, or be punished by both said fine and imprisonment.
[*spam wording removed from ad]
back to top
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R U ready to leave
Farmers or retire?
The wait deadline to obtain the UFAA Tax Kit is fast approaching. Through October 31st, you only have to be a UFAA member for 1 year to receive the free kit.
However, as of November 1st, 2008, you will have to be to a member for 3 years before the tax kit will made be available to you. This valuable kit will save you 15.3% on the taxes you will owe on your contract value.
Farmers will send you a normal 1099 form on your contract value income and contract value bonus that will be subject to all taxes. The UFAA Tax Kit has special instructions and forms for you and or your tax person where you can delete the amounts subject to Social Security & Medicare taxes saving you 15.3%.
That's a savings of $153.00 for each $1,000 of contract value and bonus. If you're planning your future exit as an agent, you need to join UFAA now to reduce your qualification period to receive this valuable tax kit and that must be done by Oct 31.
In this 11th hour, you will need to use the Join Ufaa Now logo above to obtain an application to be completed with credit card information and faxed to the UFAA National Office, today!
Not all tax people or DYI tax software know how to properly reduce your tax bite. The UFAA Tax Kit won't set you free but, will leave more in your retirement account that we all need during this financial fiasco.
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Bomb threat causes evacuation of Farmers ServicePoint Buildings
Jack Weinstein Olathe News
staff writer 09/10/08
A bomb threat forced the evacuation of three Farmers Insurance [ServicePoint]buildings in Olathe, Ks. Tuesday morning, [9/9/08] the Olathe Police Department said.
Sgt. Johnny Roland, an Olathe Police spokesman, said the bomb threat was called in about 9:30 a.m.
He said because there wasn't a specific threat made to a specific building, both facilities at the I-35/119th Street Technology Park near 119th and Renner Road and the facility at the Corporate Ridge Office Park near Kansas highway 10 and Ridgeview Road were all evacuated.
A search was conducted and nothing was found. About 11:30, Roland said the employees would soon be able to get back to work. Farmers Insurance, with about 3,000 workers, is the largest private employer in Olathe, Ks.
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VIP Alert
Re: District VIP Alert
We still have several agents who are not in compliance with FARMERS WAY using the retention to save your business. This office will be sending out a report on the entire district's VIP results.
There is no excuse for these results. I will be meeting with agents in the coming weeks about FARMERS WAY of doing business. The alerts show that it will improve agency commissions and service to our clients.
There are a few agents who are using VIP. These agencies are also growing their policy in force.
Every agent in the district will need to be in compliance with FARMERS WAY by the end of the year.
The district office is here to help you to achieve these goals. Please let us know what we can do to improve interest and action on VIP.
Signed, DM
So, what happens at the end of the year? Anyone know?
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Trashboard!
We all know Dashboard has a growing number of problems.
Problems that are serious enough to create an E&O claim against the agents. Some error prone problems would likelybe below the
E&O deductible and cause out of pocket costs for you.
Seemingly, complaints to SP and the Dashboard feedback link, do very little to improve the ongoing problems on a timely basis.
Farmers places such items on a priority basis and are so busy coming out with new stuff, they don't seem to have time to fix past problems. Perhaps, agents need liability waivers from Farmers.
So, let's call it what it is- Trashboard, at least for the moment, and we want
you and your staff to submit other suggestions to improve the system into a real easy to use and understandable Dashboard. One that we can be proud of, trust and dump the embarrassment we all go through when a client is at our desk or on the phone. Worse yet, is the repeated call backs required to get-r-done.
This has been going on for years. With Farmers, you must demand the level of service you and your clients require.
It just may take the power of the Oklahoma press to bring this issue out in the open just like the Oklahoma Voice articles that recently created change to the Dashboard global search routines (FB 08-0678) in the 5 states of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and, of course, Oklahoma.
Reported Problems to
the Oklahoma Voice
ServicePoint and the Agency cannot look at the same policy on the screen at the same time, making it most difficult to discuss and handle.
Put all of the OOF polices in their own set for viewing and do not mix with active policies you may be working on or rating.
Dropping additional coverage of K-3/4/5 and towing while the irritating address verification screens pop up between coverage selection and the rating screens.(E&O potential)
You can't recall any other website that holds all viewed screens open so, why does trashboard continue to choke until it croaks?
Go green with smaller text
on Trashboard print outs of
change summaries with only the changed information printed only on the vehicle changed, not the entire household. We don't need all the endorsement listings and scores of underwriting rating info while wasting paper and ink. Just a simple summary of what changed, just like the good old days of the manual 728 form.
If another vehicle is effected by the change, it should print on separate page to go into our separate auto file. We must instruct Farmers to just "KISS" it. (Keep It Simple, Sam)
Farmers knows and the Helpdesk has instructed all agents to use Internet tools to delete cookies and temporary files to improve speed and functions. But, deleting cookies, dumps the cookie required to access the image center. Why not have a small program that stays resident on the agent's computers? Duh? Is that just too simple?
The Okla. Voice was just alerted to problems on auto and fire pull down print menu that will lock up your system and you have to exit out trashing your data. The
priority fix date on this issue is by the end of the year. In the meantime, we're advised to use the print button at the top of the screen. That fix delay is just NOT ACCEPTABLE!
"Agents Helping Agents"(tm) can make a difference and suggest improvements to be processed faster, like avoiding repetive input on CC payments on 2+ policies.
Submit your Dashboard comments to the editor. Using an email subject of Improve Dashboard. Your name will be withheld, unless requested to use it. Tell us like it is and how you feel about the Trashboard snafus. The Oklahoma Voice will print 250 words max, and pass it around locally, other states and key Farmers Personnel.
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Check out our great website
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Chapter 15 Activates Emergency Broadcast Email System
W a r n i n g
Chapter 15 Members with suspended FIG email accounts will be deleted if
not renewed by Oct 7th.
Listen to warning recording
at
1-800 NET USER.
This could create a potential E&O problem as agents may lose valuable stored email from clients concerning policy changes that are being held for apparent ransom until you pay to increase your email storage capacity to 50 megs no later than October 7th.
Remember, UFAA Members can get a FREE UFAA email account with 50 megs of storage by completing the form at the
UFAA Website.
In a follow up with Net User it was discovered agents non renewing their accounts will be deleted 10/07 from the USA1 email vendor including all vital stored email documentation in folders. Agents must request a new email account.
UFAA can offer free 50 meg email accounts; why can't Farmers?
If a lawsuit develops,both
agent and company would not be held liable if important email documents, now deleted,
would have shown clear agent/company innocence. This seems to be yet another typical bad corporate practice. -ed
Translation is
in the eyes of
the beholder
October 8th- An agent responds to the warning-
Keith, Thanks for the warning email. I just got back in town and saw your email warning "where agents will be deleted with non-renewed email accounts." I failed to renew mine. Does that mean I will be deleted? Are they really saying terminated?
Okie member
Terminated? Absolutely!
Farmers is debating the usage of shootings, hangings or lethal injections.
But, they have instead decided to simply terminate your FIG email account for non-renewal.
But, I would still be cautious of anyone packing, carrying a rope or syringes. Especially vendors, as you know how they like to out-source.
-ed
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Boating Law with
Instant Death Penalty
An Oklahoma Highway Patrol Captain being interviewed in a "live broadcast" by a TV reporter concerning the lake patrol enforcement following a new
law requiring kids age 13-15 to complete a personal watercraft safety course before driving a PWC on Oklahoma lakes.
In answer to the reporter's question of how they would enforce the new law the OHP Captain stated,
"If we stop kids on a PWC and they fail to have the required course certificate in their possession, they will be terminated and hauled to shore."
We later heard, the Captain is on the run from the press by order of the OHP Director.
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Our Website explains our vast services available to your clients from extreme filth to crime scene clean up.
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Windows 2000 moves into Extended Support
June 30
We have to thank Marty Feinstein for supplying the Dell 240SX computers to the agency force at no cost loaded with Windows 2000 (Win2k) operating software. The trade off netted him an extremely nice sail boat, as you may recall.
There are two important events that will happen to the support policy for Windows 2000 after June 30, 2005. That's not a typo. It's really 2005.
First, support for both Internet Explorer (IE) 5.01 SP3 and IE 6 SP1 on Windows 2000 SP3 will expire. Users running IE 5.01 or IE 6 SP1 on Windows 2000 should upgrade to Windows 2000 SP4 in order to receive security updates.
Second, Windows 2000 SP4 moves from mainstream to extended support. The key difference between mainstream and extended support is this quote from the lifecycle site:
"Microsoft will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the Extended support phase." We will of course continue to keep our Windows 2000 SP4 customers secure with security updates through the life of Windows 2000 through 2010.
[this means not all newer software will work with win2k. An agent recently tried to load a program from a CD received with a new Kodak digital camera. An error box popped up stating "Does not support Windows 2000"]
More news on the street is NOT to upgrade a Win2k system to Internet Explorer (IE) 7 as advertised on the Dashboard sign on screen.
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Corporate
Email to Agents:
Talk to us. SHUT UP!
A recent email received by agents from Farmers Corporate Communications stated the following:
10/14/08 In the latest "Our Company" video message posted on the Dashboard this morning, President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Woudstra talks about the current financial turmoil and how Farmers is well-positioned to weather the storm. Please take a few minutes to watch this important update today."
Please email us/Do not reply??
Like many corporate field bulletins, agents get two messages that are confusing similar to that above. Wouldn't it be clearer to state:
"Do not use your email reply button to respond to this email. Please, use the email link provided above for your comments or questions."
NOTE: the email address in blue above is actually an address for CEO Paul Hopkins used to check the pulse of the agency force. It is viewed & graded by others and stored or forwarded to Paul depending on the content and attitude. Of course, he may only see the best comments as most CEO's are semmingly kept in the dark on the real issues.
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HELPPOINT APPROVED VENDOR
918-698-7445
Check out our website! |
Thanks for Clicking in on this Issue
The Oklahoma Voice is for you, the agents and staff, and we want to keep the content interesting, informative and educational. We need your help in submitting articles of interest to all Farmers Agents and their staff.
If you have an idea, office procedure, Dashboard tip, agent mistreatment or other subjects of interest, please submit it in 250 words or less to the Oklahoma Voice Editor Also, let us know your opinion on this new newsletter format and any modifications that you feel may be necessary.
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Long & Short Term Disability
The above policies will not be available for through UFAA in 2008. These policies will be reviewed for availability later in 2009.
But, the E&O will be available. See article lower left.
You will NOT be required to be a UFAA member to receive an E&O quote proposal. But, UFAA memberhsip is required to acquire the policy through UFAA with group discounts. |
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Farmers Insurance Appeals Burgess Judgement
HOT SCOOP
$200 Million Judgement for Burgess may be LARGEST in Oklahoma State History!
Lawton, Okla. 09/17/08-
A Comanche County jury handed down a multi-million dollar judgement against Farmers Insurance company Wednesday as part of a class-action lawsuit. They ordered $50 million in actual damages and $30 million in punitive damages*, plus interest, which could push the total judgement to $200 million.
The suit was originally filed in 2001 on behalf of 76,000 policyholders in Oklahoma by Bill Burgess, Sr.
The case finally reached the jury this month and after two weeks of testimony and five hours of deliberation, they returned the judgement.
It's the largest ever in Comanche County, and may turn out to be the biggest judgement in Oklahoma history.
"Homeowners have sued Farmers Insurance Company, Inc. and Farmers Insurance Exchange (the "Defendants") saying that they improperly withheld payments for general contractor's overhead and profit ("O&P") from amounts paid on claims under homeowner's insurance policies to citizens of Oklahoma.
The lawsuit contends that an industry standard requires payment for general contractor services whenever three or more trades are anticipated in a home repair." "A Court has approved the lawsuit as a class action on behalf of those Oklahoma citizens who are or were insured by Farmers under a homeowners policy, who suffered a covered loss to their home from June 14, 1994 to the present, whose loss was adjusted on an actual cash value ("ACV") basis, whose claim files indicate the anticipated involvement of three trades or more in the repair of the property at the time of the ACV adjustment, and whose ACV adjustment did not include a 20% payment for O&P." Source: www.burgess-class.com
Farmers responded on this verdict on the Dashboard-
"We strongly disagree with the jury's verdict and will be filing an appeal. Farmers Insurance Exchange has strong grounds for the appeal, including the fact that the verdict is in conflict with an earlier Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling in this case."
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Definition: *Punitive damages: n. (synonymous with exemplary damages), damages awarded in a lawsuit as a punishment and example to others for malicious, evil or particularly fraudulent acts.
Isn't that a similar definition to DARG?
Defrauding Agents via Racketeering & Grand theft? -Ed
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Farmers Group Retard Offered as Free
Service to Homeowners
This month, Farmers Insurance Group began notifying policyholders in designated areas of San Diego County and nearby regions that their property may be sprayed with a chemical fire retardant before or during a wildfire. At least two other major insurance companies have offered a similar service for years, but only at an added cost to property owners.
"Right now it tends to be kind of a premium service because it costs a lot of money," said Tully Lehman, spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Network of California. "Any time you see trends like this, insurers will take notice."
It is unknown how many policyholders are included in the offer or where it applies within Southern California. Company officials did not respond to questions about the program.
An Internet search revealed flame retardant systems cost from $1,000 for DYI product & manual equipment to $10,000 plus for permanent automated systems that are sensor activated. Service company pricing was not listed. -ed |
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Check out our website for residential & commercial roofing
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Update on
Blackhole Apps
According to Linda, at the Helpdesk 1-800-NET-USER, (compared to HelpPoint) they can normally retrieve "blackhole apps," you know, the ones that just disappear forever into cyberspace?
So, armed with the H/H number, call helpdesk, select option 2 and they will assist in the recovery of your data.
But, of course, it's Farmers, so, there has to be a catch. Once your data is recovered, you have two options:
1. The Helpdesk personnel can submit it to underwriting, that is, if you have completed the input and ready to submit or..
2.They can save it for you on the.. what did they say? The GREEN SCREEN SYSTEM?
Hello? Farmers is still using these archaic boat anchors? More on that later...
Anyway, few agents still have the green screens in their office so, you can not call up the app to work on it. You call ServicePoint who has green screens and have them finish it and submit. Easy huh?
Input it six times, call the Helpdesk to recover the data then, call Service Point to insure it's correct before submitting and scream with joy when it's over, if it's not lost in the process.
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In x-CEO Marty Feinstein's 1994 video, he talked about the old green screens and told us how difficult it was to even find people fluent in the programming language to keep it current. But, the newly planned system, now called Dashboard would be an Artificial Intelligent system with Windows overlay of the green screen system for a few years.
Few years? That was 14 years ago and Farmers is still using it? At least they pegged the 'artificial' word correctly and intelligence may be debatable.
Feinstein stated the old computer language was labor intensive and explained it like a bowl of spaghetti, as it was difficult to find the proper place to start a change or correction and such change likely created another unwanted problem elsewhere in the programming.
Well, that explains it.
Farmers seems to be on top of today's technology with their 45' mobile claims units with satellite Internet and WiFi capabilities with a 10 mile radius for adjusters to work CAT claims on wireless laptops.
Mobile Claims unit with satellite dish
However, on the money making side of the equation, involving agents, we're saddled with a newer windows based system that overlays (as in, gathers information) from a system that may be like the old IBM 360 mainframe (introduced Apr, 1964 and withdrawn Dec, 1977). Just where does one get the replacement parts today, from the computer bone yard?.
It appears little has really changed over the years other than new windows based color computers in our office while archaic technology resides in the background processing (sic) our business as we continue with an abundance of similar problems of the green screens of yester-year.
And, just where do you find those programmers for it today some 14 years later? Some third world, archaic, bass-akwards, country? Amazing, how birds of a feather flock together.
-okie agent
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Blackhole APPS
Update #2
An Oklahoma Agent staff member writes the Okla. Voice.
Editor,
I look forward to receiving the Oklahoma Voice every month. The agent I work for forwards me every copy which I print and put in my resource file.
The recent article on blackhole apps was "right on target" with the pain and frustration I have experienced with Dashboard. Since our office activity and those of other agents has been rather dead, I used the method suggested by the Okie Agent to call SP prior to submitting any app.
That worked pretty well in having SP call up the app, print a change summary for their input use in the event the app blackholes after they submit it. That saved me a ton of re-entries.
But, I recently discovered something that may be a fluke or of interest to others. After a day of apps blackholing in the middle of the input, I got so frustrated, I walked out about 3PM.
I had lost several apps that day just trying to print a sec/ver or change summary and it reoccurred at every print routine. So, I went home and got drunk to wash away my severe ill of frustrations.
The next morning, I was doing my Dashboard routine of alerts and such and finally clicked incomplete apps and was amazed to find my blackhole apps lost the day before. Now, they weren't there yesterday.
I suspicion that overnight the company does some updating and waiting overnight might just bring some of the blackholes back.
Unfortunately, not all of them. But, better than no solutions at all, until I began to read the Oklahoma Voice.
Thank your chapter for all you guys and gals do for us out here is Nowheresville.
You'all are great while the district complains about production and state office does whatever they do- jack the rates. It's digressed to only the agents helping other agents.
Okie agent secretary
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And, Here's more Late Breaking News on Rating Problems...
Watch Farmers Auto Renewals & Interim Changes
1. Watch all auto policies in H/H including one your working on for dropped K/3/4/5 and tow and other? before submitting.
1. Ultra Preferred Discount is being dropped off drivers with citation, collision or comp. claim.
2. Those with collision claim AND receiving a ticket are getting surcharged for the both ticket and accident.
3. It is unknown if such actions are occurring in MCA. Advise us if discovered.
In a past UFAA complaint to the State OID concerning a collision, the underwriter was removing the 30/60 discount in addition to the loss of accident free discount if a ticket was issued. The OID termed it a violation calling it progressive and repetitive underwriting penalties ordering Farmers to cease and desist.
It is wrong to assess a multitude of surcharges to a policy for a singe infraction. A ticket in connection with an accident is a single infraction. It does not meet the filing and would be doubtful if such filing request would be approved by this office.
In an OID side comment she stated, if a person assaults another with a knife, rapes them and then kills them, the assailant is charged only with murder. We cannot assess our insuring public with more penalties than we do our criminals all occurring in the same infraction.
Cc: Inquiry- Oklahoma Insurance Dept.
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See our website for services offered.
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Kim Komando "America's Digital Goddess"
Oklahoma Voice
brings you the help you need
The Helpdesk won't help you with 3rd party software, computer security or Microsoft production rograms, just to name a few.
The Oklahoma voice has received copyright permission from America's "Digital Goddess," Kim Komando to bring to you articles of interest on a range of subjects from computer security, digital cameras, Ipods, cell phones, software, digital TVs, and more issues of confusion along with troubleshooting techniques.
Kim's weekly call-in talk radio show is heard on over 465 stations. In addition, she does a Digital Minute radio feature five days a week; has written nine books about life in the digital age; sends out 5 million weekly e-mail newsletters including one to the Oklahoma Voice. Plus, the editor finds her pretty easy on the eyes.
The Oklahoma Voice can now reprint articles of interest to the agency force and provide you important links to help you in a pinch or when you need computer help or other guidance on many other electronic gadgets, like 3 EZ ways to backup your cell phone data.
Watch for her articles and links starting next month in the Oklahoma Voice dedicated to-
"Agents Helping Agents"tm
UFAA members with computer issues also receive 1 hour of computer assistance monthly from our expert UFAAtech as a member benefit.
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License #879
Twice the Service Half the Cost See our web site for services and pricing. |
Never Lose Confidence as an Insurance Agent
It is easy to lose your confidence if you work as an insurance agent. After all, there are some days when you are going to be turned down time after time. But guess what? You need to get back on the horse after each disappointment.
Remember, there are going to be good days and bad days. For every day that you don't sell a policy there will be one that you sell a couple. This is what you need to keep in mind, and what will drive you to forge ahead.
If you lose your confidence there is a good chance that you will begin to question your skills as an agent. And as you can imagine, this is never a good thing. Just because you are on a bad streak does not mean that you are doing something wrong.
Instead, you should do whatever you can to get past this and back on track. Sometimes it will take a day to feel back on track and others times it will take a bit longer. But no matter what, you need to realize that you are going to be faced with tough circumstances every so often.
Confidence is something that you need if you are going to excel as an insurance agent. If you always feel good about yourself and how you are treating consumers, you will find it easy to achieve success and reach all of your goals. The bottom line is simple: never lose your confidence for any reason. If you do, do whatever it takes to get it back.
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See our web site for services offered to your clients
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Insurance Agents
Share These Traits
If you want to become a top selling insurance agent you can do one thing to better your chances: mimic those who are already in this position. There are many traits shared by top level agents, and if you can add these to your personality you will have a much better chance of success. Believe it or not, you can become a successful insurance agent if you put your mind to it.
One of the most common traits of top insurance agents is persistence. Simply put, you need to stay with things day in and day out. This holds true when you are trying to sell to clients, as well as when it comes to basic hard work. Top agents will sell and sell and sell until a consumer tells them that they purchased elsewhere.
Those who are not as successful usually give up earlier. What type of agent are you?
Top agents are also friendly and respectful. How do you treat leads? Will you do whatever you can to help them? Or do you try to sell them a policy no matter what? You need to draw the line between helping others and doing what is best for your career. You will feel much better about yourself when you sell a policy while also helping to make sure that the buyer is getting what is best for them.
Every insurance agent has the ability to achieve high levels of success. But those who have reached the pinnacle are persistent, friendly, and respectful. If you can add these traits to your career life, you should find yourself making progress soon enough.
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OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL
Top 25 Rankings 10/26/08
#1 Ranked Oklahoma U is
7-1 following a loss to Texas U. Oklahoma still ranked #4
OKlahoma State falls from #7 to #9 now with 7 wins and 1 loss again, to Texas U.
Down with Texas!
 Tulsa University Hurricanes are undefeated this year and ranked #19
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New ServicePoint Mailing Address
17000 W. 119th St.
Olathe, Kansas 66061
To make sure that your important correspondence reaches the proper department, please make note of the above change.
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Check out our website for more information on printing supplies.
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Chapter 15 will hold its annual chapter staff elections during the December 3, 2008 monthly meeting.
Positions up for election are: President, V. President, Secretary, and Treasurer. If you would like to run for an office contact- chapter15@ufaa.com
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Agent Email on Dashboard Unsecured? Unsafe? Are you updating your Anti-virus?
Just before we went to press with this issue of the Oklahoma Voice, an agent called us in a panic.
Seems he had received spam email through his corporate farmersagent.com email account that was auto-forwarded to his yahoo email account advertising office telephone systems.
He noticed the advertiser's address and phone number was local so he calls the guy to inquire how he obtained the agent's corporate email address.
The business operator was not in the office and the agent leaves a message to call. The spammer actually returns the call within about 5 minutes and is a little cautious as he begins the conversation.
Agent: "How did you get my corporate email address and how many other Farmers Agents addresses do you have?"
Spammer: "I got your address from farmers.com and I guess I have access to all of them."
Agent: All of them? Did you buy a listing on a CD or douwnload them from the Internet?
Spammer: "Not at all, as I just look up agents on farmers.com by zip code and I can paste my ad as a link into your email address and send."
Agent: Changing his tone in hopes of learning more on this trick. "Well, it is a well created ad and looks great. I noticed it was a .jpeg graphic ad that came from your website."
Spammer: Yeah, that ad is provided by my supplier and I keep it on my website. Then, go to corporate accounts like Farmers who have email contacts in my area and simply paste the ad link from my site to your email. It's rather simple and free for me."
Agent: "Well, your action was with good intent. I am worried that others could paste a link to a porno site, or worse, a site that contains spyware, malware and viruses that could take my office system down."
Spammer: That is a big possibility, if your email vendor and you fail to keep anti-virus software updated."
Agent: "Thanks for the information. I will check with others if they have had spam problems in this manner.
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Halloween & Standard Time Change
Halloween is Friday October 31, while Sunday November 2, everyone will be busy setting their clocks back one hour. A new federal law went into effect in 2007 that revised the dates of both Spring and Fall time changes.
You shoud watch older electronics with auto-change options that may not auto-correct the time on the right date such as computers, telephones, thermostats, faxes, 3-n-1 printers, faxes and scanners, TVs, and video equipment. However, there should be no problem with cell phones as your carrier will send a signal on the correct date. Remember to vote on November 4th! |
Articles coming in the December Oklahoma Voice
The question remains in the minds of most all agents-
Will Farmers really be great
in 2010 or just late?
The latest available rankings and ratings for U. S. Insurance Carriers covering the following subjects.
Auto Insurance Provider Ratings
Collision Repair Ratings
Insurance Buyer Ratings
Homeowners Insurance Company Ratings
Top 25 U. S. Insurance companies for auto and homeowners.
Also, included will be the "Ten worst insurance companies in America" including 5 P&C and 5 life and health companies on How They Raise Premiums, Deny Claims, and Refuse Insurance to Those Who Need It Most.
You may recall Farmers was ranked #3 in 2005 falling out of the top 10 U.S. P&C Insurance companies to #11 in 2006. The latest 2008 ratings and rankings cover the gross written premium for 2007.
These articles and more may help you answer the headline question above in December issue of the Oklahoma Voice that will arrive on your computer the last week of November just before the Thanksgiving holidays.
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