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Post Vegas Convention 2009 issue
OKLAHOMA
VOICE
With June Agent's  Opinion Poll Results and
the results of the 25 question agent survey that
may just surprise you.
Published monthly by UFAA Chapter 15 Eastern Oklahoma.Chapter 15 meets the
first Wednesday of each month. |
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Next Chapter 15 Member Meeting: Wednesday July 1st 11:30 AM
Green Onion Restaurant 4532 E 51st Tulsa. Non-members welcome
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Mission Statement
The United Farmers Agents Association -UFAA- 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.
Breaking News
21st Century Insurance Sale Approved
By RICHARD CLOUGH Posted date 6/26/09
Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced Friday that
he has approved the sale of Woodland Hills-based 21st Century Insurance to
Farmers Group Inc. Farmers, the Los Angeles
subsidiary of Swiss insurance conglomerate Zurich Financial Services Group, had
announced plans April 16 to acquire AIG's personal auto insurance group, which
includes 21st Century.
The $1.9 billion deal, expected to become effective July
1, will make Farmers Group the nation's third-largest personal lines insurer. AIG has been seeking to sell portions
of its business, including Los
Angeles aircraft leasing
company International Lease Finance Corp., to repay $100 billion in government
aid the company has received in recent months.
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Oklahoma UFAA Contacts:
UFAA Chapter 15 serving Eastern Oklahoma
President- Mike Gately 918/481-3277 -Tulsa
UFAA Chapter 12 serving Central-Western Oklahoma:
President- Tony Reese 580/355-1335 - Lawton
To join an Oklahoma UFAA 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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June 8-11 UFAA Convention 2009
with Agent-Delegate count in excess of 115
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UFAA Convention 2009 - Huge Success
A show of over 100 hands went up on the last day of the UFAA Convention 2009, as attendees voted the convention at the Downtown Vegas Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino a huge success. Two Oklahoma Delegates stated it surpassed their expectations and was better than company functions they have attended, including Toppers.
The Oklahoma Voice pre-rated the 2009 Convention an "A" Awesome, with speakers talking about subjects that agents are truly interested in - their business success and survival. UFAA had lined up a number of individuals and in-house speakers from across the country to address the convention delegates.
- Andy Ebon was this year's Keynote Speaker. Andy's expertise reflects more
than a decade in Internet marketing.
- Mike Pexa, featured speaker this year, had one of the
most distinguished careers in Farmers history, as both an agent and DM that
spanned a period of nearly 25 years. That is, until he tried to assist management and was fired. He already has his feet on the ground for a new independent agent career.
- Wallace Doolittle is an attorney located in the San Francisco Bay Area
who has represented a number of Farmers Agents in litigation with Farmers.
- Alex Conger, UFAA's Technology guru for 7 years, spoke to the group on the topics of Email,
Spam, Wireless Internet and security.
- Laurie VanderWal has been a licensed insurance agent since 1989 and has
been a Farmers agent since 2005. Laurie spoke on the personal and business pre-paid legal
plans available to UFAA Members as a member benefit.
- Kevin Dahlke, UFAA's E&O Agent of Record, was an agent with Farmers
Insurance from 1981 to 1993 and spoke on the UFAA E&O benefits of the UFAA sponsored E&O vs. Farmers E&O plan.
- Jeff Hobson was this year's entertainment for the banquet night. Jeff
is one of the most in-demand comedy magicians working today. Hobson has won
numerous awards for his skills, among the most recent is his 'Best Comedy Magic'
from the International Magic Awards Association as well as an award of 'Best
magic Review' from the World Magic Awards for his critically acclaimed 'Carnival
of Wonders' show at the Reno Hilton Hotel and Casino. Jeff was an absolute riot at the banquet. It was hard to catch your breath, between his next funny action. He left all in stitches with his great act. Rated A++ by all with a standing ovation.
- More detailed business meeting results, actions and plans will be distributed in the National Voice mailed quarterly to agents across the operating territory. If you are not receiving your copy or have changed address go to the bottom of the page at this link to add or correct your office and or email address. You may update your email address for the Oklahoma Voice at the bottom of this page.
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UFAA Convention 2009 delegate free time by night with street concerts and the awesome Fremont Street Experience, the biggest big screen on the planet. 1,400 feet long and 90 feet above Fremont Street with sound powered at 550,000 watts you really feel. If you enjoyed the Summer of `69 of 40 years ago, you can relive it again in Downtown Las Vegas through September 6th. It's just awesome as was UFAA's Convention agenda, speakers, entertainment, food and pool cabanas available 3 days for guests and delegates. The
photo left shows Fremont Street by day where the 90 foot high Viva Vision big screen
with 12.5 million LEDs serves as a semi transparent sun cover by day over four downtown city blocks creating an
outdoor covered mall for shopping and other activities along this famous street- the original entertainment of Vegas of the 1940's. UFAA was fortunate to schedule a convention during the "Summer of 1969" festivities in downtown Vegas. A convention all will surely remember. Thanks to all making it possible to bring us back home to the fabulous Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. Here's a video of Fremont Street at night- New Year's Eve 2009 with smokeless electronic fireworks. Select full screen video for full effect. Sound up?
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THIS MAY EXPLAIN WHY CREDIT SCORES
DISAPPEARED FROM AGENCY DASHBOARD
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
FACTA - Just the Facts
A new law
reauthorizing pre-emptions in the Fair Credit Reporting Act makes changes,
including some about information sharing. Source: Best's
Review (August 2004 Issue)
Recent changes made by Congress to
the Fair Credit Reporting Act mean that insurance company executives who may
have thought they understood the act need to take a second look at their
compliance procedures. In the process of permanently reauthorizing the
pre-emptions in FCRA, Congress passed a new law -- the Fair and Accurate Credit
Transactions Act of 2003 -- that includes amendments that have both a direct and
indirect impact on insurers.
FACTA and FCRA have similar acronyms, but in
reality, FACTA's sole existence is to outline those special changes made to
FCRA.
Sharing Among Affiliates
One of the most significant
sections in FACTA requires insurers to give a policyholder an opportunity to
"opt-out" or forbid the exchange of information before the insurer can share
information contained in consumer reports with affiliate companies. To
understand the full meaning of this section and apply the change correctly,
insurers must refer to FCRA for the definition of "consumer reports." FCRA
definitions have not changed.
The FCRA definition of a consumer report is
"a communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency." FCRA
defines a consumer reporting agency as "any person which for monetary fees, dues
or on cooperative nonprofit basis regularly engages in whole or in part in the
practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information for the purpose
of furnishing consumer reports to third parties."
In other words, a
"consumer report" can come only from a person who regularly accumulates this
information for third parties for profit. This is a very narrow definition. If a
disclosure of information does not fall into this narrow definition, it is not
and cannot be a consumer report according to the definition.
To apply the
definition, consider the example of an insurance group that writes several lines
of insurance, such as auto, homeowners and life insurance, with individual
companies handling each line of insurance. Information not received from a
consumer report compiled by a consumer reporting agency, such as the loss
history of an auto policyholder from the auto company, can be shared from one
company to another without the need to send an opt-out to the policyholder. This
information can be shared because it is obtained from company records, not
purchased from a consumer reporting agency that is paid for the
information.
On June 10, the Federal Trade Commission issued a proposed
rule for comment regarding the affiliate marketing provision. In that proposed
rule they attempt to clarify the information that cannot be shared with an
affiliate for marketing purposes by defining it as "eligibility information."
Eligibility information they define as "any information the communication of
which would be a consumer report if the exclusions from the definition of
'consumer report' in section 603(d)(2)(A) of the Act did not apply." It is key
to note that even in this proposed rule they are affirming that only "consumer
report" information cannot be used by an affiliate without first sending a
notice with an opt-out option. As already discussed, consumer report information
is only that information that comes from a consumer reporting
agency
Insurers also need to keep in mind that FACTA did not change the
adversary-action notice requirements, which say that when an insurer takes
adversary action based upon credit information, it must send a notice advising
its customer of the action. Neither did FACTA change the authorization for
consumer reporting agencies to disclose consumer reports to insurance companies
for underwriting purposes.
For now, insurance companies need to heed
the affiliate sharing provisions in both FCRA and FACTA -- and be careful in
applying them to their own unique situation. Have more questions?
(Kathleen Jensen is industry
and regulatory counsel for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of
America.)
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UFAA Sponsored E&O is a Go!
YOUR AGENCY CAN NOW GET BETTER COVERAGE AND
PRICING
You cannot wait forever as the
2009 Enrollment deadline is - August 20th
Next binding date is August 1st
So, get-r-done
There is a reason more Farmers agents are
placing their coverage with the Agent's Association Group E&O plan every
month!
You have completed
your application, why wait?
It is easy to bind
coverage
(If you received a quote, you should have received this email from Kevin Dahlke)
1.
At the
very bottom of this email, Click the "Click this link to go to your
application or proposal" sentence below (no log in is required) and it will take
you to your proposal page. (this is a copy with no link to your app. Check emails for link)
2.
There choose
your coverage amount, monthly premium and provide either credit card or banking
information to bind coverage. You may choose monthly or annual
payment terms.
3.
The next
binding date is 7/1/2009 and you should have time to stop your next folio
deduction.
4.
You will
receive confirmation of your request to bind coverage and within 2-3 days you
will receive your policy and the form to send to Farmers to cancel
coverage
5.
If you have not already provided one, a
loss history is required to bind coverage. Calsurance (866 893 1023 farmers@calsurance.com) is currently providing the loss history
within 1-3 days of your request and no one is having a problem getting their
loss history.
- Many
agencies reduced their premium* and all improved their
coverage
- The Farmers group policy contains the
"class one wording" (click this link to read the
wording) that is exposing all Farmers agencies to uncovered loss on
Farmers and non Farmers polices.
- The Farmers policy is contractually
favorable to Farmers and policy benefits are affected by your contract
termination status (click here
to read coverage differences)
- Coverage includes all retail policy placements
you are licensed to write with Farmers, FFS and non Farmers carriers
- Coverage is retroactive to the date of your
Farmers appointment (if continuous coverage has been
maintained)
- Your
deductible is waived AT NO ADDITIONAL COST by compliance
with the Waiver of Deductible Endorsement (details on the sample policy on the
web site)
- FFS has
accepted this policy form from all agents submitting proof
- All employees
and agency producers are covered at no additional cost
- You cancel your Farmers coverage any month
in the year without
penalty
- You are not required to insure with
Farmers
- You may pay monthly by credit card or bank
draft
- Your premium is pro rata for the 2009
year
- 2000 agents have been approved for coverage
in the new Agent's group plan
- Defense cost
coverage is unlimited in addition to your limit of coverage
- Deductible
applies to damages only and is the
same for all carriers
- Limits of up to
5,000,000 available
- Optional
Employment Practices Liability coverage is available
- Association insurer has long experience in
and a large book of insurance agents E&O policies in force
*as compared
to the Farmers Group Inc. E&O plan
Thank you,
Kevin
Dahlke
To complete a trial application and receive a quote go to this link.
Get-r-Done- ALL E&O APPS RECEIVED AFTER AUGUST 20TH WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE JAN.01.2010
Renewal terms will be distributed to all currently insured agents beginning
9/1/2009.
The rates are not
expected to change & the renewing agents will NOT be required to pay for the
$100 loss control as this for the first year only. An additional savings over the Farmers E&O Plan.
Like construction errors, Insurance E&O is not as visible as shown here in the staircase to nowhere.
See National Recognition Article in the Insurance Journal on UFAA E&O |
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"The Pulse of the Agents"
June Opinion Poll Results -------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Oklahoma Voice reader polls take no more than a few seconds to complete. You are informed immediately how your vote compares to other responding readers. It is important to vote in the polls as we all can gain the "Pulse of the Agents."
Your poll votes remain anonymous. We only obtain the numbers of answers converted to percentages, not the source of those numbers. Readers can only vote in a poll once. The percentages shown when a reader votes, is the tally at that moment. We'll publish final poll results in a future issue. Look for this image > < designating a poll where you may vote.
Results of the June, 2009 "Pulse of the Agents Polls"
In relation to the DM using threats, intimidation, and mandatory meetings concerning agent life quotas, Oklahoma Agents were polled-
How would you rank this DMs original email to agents on district life goals?
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Promotes Positive District Leadership abilities 4% DMs?
Promotes Negative District Dictatorship abilities 96%
No opinion 0%
The majority vote speaks for the voting agents. Nuff said.
In regards to the UFAA corrections contained
in the DM email to his agents concerning life
production quotas, agents were polled-
Rank UFAA's response to DM's email
to agents on district life goals.
UFAA's response was inappropriate 0%
UFAA's response was appropriate 13%
UFAA should butt out of district operations 4% DMs?
UFAA's response was "Right On" and truly "Agents Helping Agents" 78%
No opinion 4%
Over Ninety percent of the responding agents voted UFAA was right.
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OKLAHOMA SURVEY INDICATES
"NO CONFIDENCE" IN FGI MANAGEMENT
This intro to the results of the 25 question Oklahoma Voice survey was rewritten several times after we reviewed your answers several times. We had no choice but to revamp this intro to tell it like it is. First of all, we would like to thank the many scores of agents who took a few minutes to respond to the survey. We learned to leave out the "NO Opinion" option in future surveys as it tended to skew the results of question #9 concerning DMs. There are 13 other questions directed specifically to management's actions that have hampered the agency operations and agents have verified those actions were, in fact, close to eliminating a large portion of the Oklahoma Agency Force through financial attrition. New agents are overly susceptible to these actions and you need to know about them. We have placed a "" next to those numbered survey questions.
The survey indicates 78% of the responding agents to our survey are from agents with over 15 years of service compared to the remaining number of 20% with under 15 years of service to Farmers. Over the years, we have determined it takes 5-7 years of business trials and tribulations before an agent opens his eyes to the Farmers system that is not always agent positive. Many join UFAA during this period. Yet, we are seeing many of the new breed of agents joining UFAA while still on subsidy. We welcome the newer agents to UFAA as they will become the future leaders of this organization on a local and national level.The following survey contains our comments after each set of your answers. Answer totals may not add to 100% due to agents not completing all survey questions.
June 2009 Oklahoma Agent Survey ResultsAs they say, GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OKLAHOMA!
1. How long have
you been a Farmers Agent? Less than 1 year 0%
Over 1 yr less than 3 yrs 3% Over 3 yrs less than 7 yrs 6%
Over 7 yrs less than 15 yrs 11% 15 years + 78%
2. My GROSS
commissions (before deductions) increased in 2008 over 2007.
Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 43% 3% 30% 21%
44% say 2008 income is up over 2007. We did not ask for an income breakdown as to income sources. It's likely due to 500# assignments, rate increases on remaining renewals, or just plain working harder. Yet, 51% say their income is down likely due to PIF run off by rate increases and previously paid renewals being charged back on a later folio addressed later in this survey
3. Over the
past year, I have considered...
Leaving
Farmers 5%Going
independent 46%Changing
professions 8%Retiring
from the business 17%
None of
these 24%
76% of agents responding say they have considered dumping Farmers. That relates to lack of corporate confidence and we can only say, "Shame on Farmers." Here are a few comments from our survey respondents-
Agent Comments on #3
I am tired of being forced to scam my clients on Farmers excessive rate increases.
Bad
things comes in spurts, and then followed by rate increases which is
then followed by loss of customers. Which means I need to work harder
to sell more in order to maintain my income, while inflation eats away
at my profit.
Still considering.
At least the first four answers seem plausible.
I
have more people leaving than I can write and replace. I feel farmers
is trying to destroy as much as possible the contract value of the
older agents. I have been an agent for 25 yrs. I am moving all of my [personal]
policies to State Farm. I save $600.00 a year on my house and two
autos. They [FGI] are running off all the good business and all they have
left is the bad that can't move.
It's all about the management company bonuses, no longer the clients and agents.
I am too entrenched and too old to change...guess I will go down with the ship.
Less completive daily with Farmers rates.
Uncompetitive
rates are forcing me to consider changing careers, as my agency has
been declining for the last five years. If I knew at the start what I
know now, I would have never become a Farmers agent. I'm very
disheartened.
I would love to go independent. I have 22 years in with Farmers, so it's hard to change that big of a book of business over.
4. Another Farmers
Agent's office should not be located less than a mile of my established office
without my permission.
Strongly Agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagreee
67% 17% 6% 5% 3%
This subject has come up across the country. 84% agree established agent's permission must be obtained. It's just common courtesy and violates the decades long standing 1-mile rule. Farmers must enforce such rules as all agents are contracted with FIG not other agents. Get-r-Done FGI.
5. Reflecting back to when
I became a reserve agent, I would do it all over again.Strongly
agree Agree No
opinion Disagree Strongly
Disagree
5% 24% 0% 3% 69%72% seemingly would not make the same mistake twice as we now know it. Shame on Farmers
6. The company should have
an agent profit sharing program without sales quotas or other
maze of requirements.Strongly
agree Agree No
opinion Disagree Strongly
disagree 77% 17% 0% 5% 0%
94% of responding agents say profit sharing is required as "we" create the invested GWP while management and "selected" merit system employees share the wealth. That just not right or fair.
7. Concerning UFAA
sponsored E&O-I have submitted an app AND received a quote 9%
I have done nothing AND plan to keep Farmers E&O 12%
My UFAA E&O sponsored policy is now in force 39%I plan to change to the UFAA sponsored policy soon 16%
I won't need E&O much longer as I am leaving Farmers 3%55% have the UFAA sponsored E&O or plan to change soon. DEADLINE IS AUGUST 20th! When corporate supplies a flawed policy, UFAA can correct it with our own E&O coverage shared w/you.
8. I believe the actions of Farmers Management has been detrimental
to.. Farmers
policyholders My
agency Farmers
reputation All
of these None
of these
8% 1% 1% 87% 1%WOW! 97% point their fingers directly at FGI Management for PIF run-off, rates, extremely tight undrwriting, on four of the 5 selections above. This may truly be a management "NO CONFIDENCE" vote in Oklahoma.
9. My DM is most helpful,
knowledgeable & promptly serves my agency needs with
professionalism and EZ to work with. Strongly
agree Agree No
opinion Disagree Strongly
disagree
1.Prompt response- 15% 15% 8% 26% 33%
2.Professionalism- 17% 32% 12% 17% 19%
3.EZ to work with- 17% 23% 16% 23% 19%
4.Helpful- 16% 16% 8% 26% 32%
5.Knowledgeable- 10% 24% 21% 15% 28%
The high # of no opinions rather skewed the results. DMs are seemingly failing on #1, #4 and #5 while they received a majority agreement vote on #2 and near even vote on #3.
10. There has never, ever been a better
time to be a Farmers Agent.
Strongly agree Agree No opinion
Disagree Strongly disagree 8% 1% 1% 87% 1%
88% disagree with this corporate statement. Shame on Farmers for spinning such attitude.
11. Per the Okla State Director, loss of
good, long term, loyal and profitable clients, is just the "Nature of the
business."
Strongly agree
Agree No opinion Disagree
Strongly disagree 5% 3% 0% 1% 91%
92% do not agree with the Okla State director on his recent statement. Shame on his spinning the real truth severely lowering agent confidence in local management. Clients will stick if priced right.
12. With proper set of by-laws and with
sole purpose of enhancing the positions of both Farmers and the Agents, I
believe an Agent's Professional Association would benefit me.
Strongly agree
Agree
No opinion
Disagree
Strongly disagree
59% 33% 7% 0% 0%
A surprising number of 92% want a professional association to enhance the agents and Farmers. This should compel Farmers to work with UFAA. We have always been open and willing. Are they?
We are all in this business together and should work together to build confidence, equality to the benefit of all.
13. My Farmers fire and auto PIF
have increased over the past 24 months.
Strongly agree
Agree No opinion
Disagree Strongly disagree
1% 5% 0% 21% 71%
92% of responding agents have lost PIF and the commissions on those policies. That is totally shameful for agents of a company to admit. But, hey, we don't get to drive the train, blow the whistle or ring the bell. But, when the damn thing jumps the track, look who the hell was driving!
A dictatorship has never worked in industrialized nations and will not work in U.S. Corporations. -Ronald Reagan
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14. I feel the "No Exception Rule" used in
Service Point underwriting is unfair to agents and consumers.
Strongly agree Agree No opinion disagree Strongly disagree 61% 24% 3% 7% 3%
85% believe the No Exception Rule is too strict. Farmers needs to ease up or dump it as it affects sales, renewals, income, attitude and our corporate confidence.
15. I receive the Oklahoma Voice email newsletter
regularly and find it has more balanced content than Farmers online Achiever
Publication on Dashboard.
Strongly agree
Agree
No opinion
Disagree
Strongly disagree
49% 32% 18% 1% 0%
81% believe the Okie Voice has more balanced content than the Farmers Achiever.
16. I would recommend my son, daughter or other
family member to become a Farmers
Agent.Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
3% 0% 6% 24% 67%
91% would NOT recommend a family member to become an agent? Now that's plain sad.
17. I believe the agency force should be able to easily
apply credit card payments to more than one policy at a
time.
Strongly agree
Agree
No opinion
Disagree
Strongly disagree
72% 23% 3% 0% 0%
95% want an EZ way to apply payments to more than one policy. This is 2009. It's way past time.
18. I believe the company should NOT be allowed to underwrite a favorable
current Farmers client as a
rewrite under the more strict new business
guidelines.Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
67% 22% 0% 1% 0%89% agree. They have turned down rewrites of great clients for such nonsense as two blades of grass growing in gutter. C'mon, get a grip! Go check your own gutters for dirt and granules. Recycling policies to create the management fee is about the only business we now have, creating 0% growth.19. I would prefer "NOT" to have a DM and receive his
override commission as additional commission income.
Strongly agree
Agree
No opinion
Disagree
Strongly disagree
66% 18% 10% 1% 3%
84% would rather not have a DM. You may get your wish. Rumors say they are gone at end of 2010. 20. I would sign the Farmer's new Agency Appointment
Agreement (contract) that mandates agency production
quotas.Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
1% 0% 0% 3% 94%
WOW! 97% percent would not sign the new employee based contract. Another management "NO CONFIDENCE" vote?21. Over the last three years, I have had staffing
changes.
Adding additional full time agency staffing to
handle growing agency 3.0%
Increased hours of current or hired more part time
staffing to handle business
4.5%
I have had no change in agency staffing 45.0%
I have reduced full time staffing to part time or
dismissed full time staff 19.0
I have reduced hours of or dismissed part-time
staff -lack of business 15.1%
8% have hired or increased hours of staff while 45% no change and 34% have decreased staff 22. My agency's calls or submitted service requests
to Service Point are handled completely the first time like their
advertised motto "One and Done."Strongly agree
Agree
No Opinion
Disagree
Strongly Disagree 0% 20% 18% 44% 15%59% believe SP is still not up to par. They are very nice to deal with but, decline many requests under their mandated "No Exception" rule by corporate, likely causing a low vote of confidence. It's not entirely SP's fault.
23. Normal policy attrition and clients
canceling because of our higher rates are causing folio income
problems-
1. No problems here as my folio consistently
increases monthly >> 0% 3. No change noticed as income seems normal 7.5%
4. One time per year I must rely on savings,
retirement, credit card, etc. to pay
bills 20.05. Twice or MORE a year I must do the same as in
#4 31.0%
6. I am so deep in debt I will be forced to close my
agency. 4.0%
No responding agents are increasing 2009 income while over 55% have 1 or more folios that won't pay the bills. Why would a professional insurance company place its' agents in such jeopardy in this economy? They're aware of low folios. A recent letter demands only 5 days to pay back deficiencies. 24. I believe the
acquisition of 21st Century Insurance will benefit my
agency
Strongly agree
Agree No Opinion
Disagree
Strongly disagree
1% 3% 16 25% 52%
Only 4% believe that statement. We shall wait and see if 77% are correct.
25. I believe my district manager discriminates among
the older agents to the benefit of newer
agents 16% 10% 3% 68% agree the DM discriminates lowering agent confidence in DMs. Ok. Statute T36 1435.15E is a criminal law with 6 months in jail and/or $500 fine for discriminatory actions against agents. We may have to use it with our no cost District Attorney.Actual Unedited- COMMENTS ON SURVEY STATEMENT #25
He is forcing the old ones to retire by threatening to
terminate them if they don't (retire). All the 'Farmers Way"
requirements are a burden even for those of us who can use a computer
well, but difficult for the older folks who must depend on staff,
family, or other agents to help with a lot of the computer stuff. |
| | It
is possible, however I avoid the DM as much as possible, because he
only has one thing to say, "Have you sold any Life insurance". |
| | What DM? We don't have a DM AGAIN! |
| | They
teach them how to lie, cheat and steal. That is why the no exception U/W
rules had to be instituted. Pricing tiers only function if everybody
is willing to play by the same set of rules. |
| | I have not had a move-in or policy assigned to my agency in over 10 years. |
| | I do not even have a DM. The State Office Discriminates. |
| | I
dislike Farmers' adversary attitude toward agents is decreasing its
effectiveness in marketplace. Farmers needs to reduce its auto and
homeowners rates now. Agents are losing many many long term policy
holders to competitors lower rates! |
| | This is due to Management, not the DM. |
| | For sure. |
| | My
District Manager is sorry as puke and I have a file on him that is about
8 inches thick and some tapes of him in phone conversations. I will own
him one of these days. |
| Big time discrimination. Avoids communication with seasoned agents. Concentrates on new ones. |
| He has never been fair or done anything on a standard basis you could rely on...he takes care of his favorites.
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The Oklahoma Voice sincerely thanks those agents who took the time, energy and thought process to complete the survey questions. As promised, we have published the results for your review. We will present another survey to you in September. Thanks again, for your responses. Please take the Agent's Poll below on your opinion of the survey results
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Troy Korsgaden Insurance Agency Awards High School Scholarships
06/23/09 Visalia, Calif.-based Troy Korsgaden Insurance Agency of Farmers Insurance
Group is awarding seniors from five Visalia, Calif., high schools with
scholarships to recognize students who exceed academically and dedicate their
time to community service.
Introduced for the first time this year, Korsgaden is awarding $1,000 per
campus, which will typically be split between a graduating boy and girl at each
of the five schools. The schools include Sequoia High School, Mr. Whitney High
School, El Diamante High School, Golden West High School and Redwood High
School.
"I have long been committed to community involvement, and the rewards are
immeasurable," said agency founder Troy Korsgaden. "We are excited about helping
cultivate this same commitment among young people. We want to reward students
who work hard and demonstrate an appreciation for their community." |
 I Had a Dream
Bulletin: RCT program cost factor update, 09-0390 - 06/06/09
After reading the Einstein Bulletin 09-0390 on the "Theory of Relativity," I am sorry, I had to take a nap and dreamed the following-
That bulletin constructed by Farmers in-house PR team, was just some more of the "SOS" (same old shift, to be polite) of hiking the rates even more. But, hey! They do write those bulletins in a convincing way. A way to sell you to sell your clients. Well, it's the client that are becoming the hard sell. We are just the daily repetitive robots to do what we are programmed by countless bulletins. We are truly independent agents. That is, only on the day we file our taxes with a Schedule C. The rest of the time- just robots.
 I have always wondered with the complexity of many bulletins, just how the balance of accuracy actually is between what we, the agents, are told in a given bulletin and what is actually programmed into the home office computer system. Admittedly, many do not compute or equate to what we read and understood. Like the many bulletins of recent times, on auto increases that are capped. Capped at $50 and the renewal is increased by $75? That's a 50% increase over what we were sold in the PR authored bulletin by Farmers.
The question is- Are we being misled, lied to or just confused agents? The follow up question is- Has Farmers become convinced they can misrepresent procedural changes to us, the DOI and the consumer and make us, the agents, the liars and scammers- the bad guys and gals that have learned or been forced to make up the excuses for the increase? Admit it. If you have been around long enough- you've done it.
In recent years, I've felt like a con-man, scamming my clients, friends and family to save the business. They eventually leave after they realize my own feelings are true. I am the bad guy taking the heat for the bonus based management. Over the years, I no longer insure my neighbors, family, friends and businesses where I have been a customer. I lost my bonuses, but, management gained theirs at both my expense and yours. It's not about you any longer- it's about them and -
RCT or Replacement Component Technology has been not only a subject of debate within the agency force, it has also been a subject of doubt for years. Agents have been told in years past that such replacement cost computer programs have a feature available to add a multiplier. That multiplier can be a plus + number or a negative - number of the average replacement costs of the basic program. And, some multipliers are considered reasonable as costs change daily, sometimes hourly, such as petroleum products used in manufacture of most roofing materials. Agents have faced on numerous occasions, for many years. where our quotes on replacement costs exceeds, in many, if not most cases, the replacement cost of the balance of the insurance industry we quote against. We are required to quote 175k on a competitor's home renewal of 138k renewal. Both are supposedly figured at replacement costs. But, are they? Or, is it the inflated multiplier and the created bonus bucks for them? Has Farmers become top heavy & costly?
There was a time that corporate divisions had a VP. That may no longer be true. Now, based on multiple bulletins that you have seen, It would seem we have now become overly top heavy. Each corporate division, seemingly, now has an Executive VP, with a Sr. VP and a Jr. VP and then a Director. There is a cost for this management mule train, blimps and hot air balloons- Rates! Rates that you, I and our clients can no longer afford when compared to our competition's rates. Agent writes Oklahoma Voice- I have changed my personal insurance coverage to a competitor, as the premium saved far exceeded the commission retained by staying insured with Farmers. What a sad admission. I am shamed- and so should Farmers. I am tired of high personal rates being dependent and controlled by field bulletins and limited by the system. So, I am bailing. Classify me history and going independent- a self-employed original promise made to me by my DM that has disappeared with Farmers over the years- just like him. |
The Bulletin Writers Have Never Been Agents
GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OKLAHOMA! ?
Regardless of how high you are in corporate, your not perfect!
Dear Editor,
After I woke up from my Einstein Relativity nap, I logged onto Dashboard to see what the bulletin writers had in store for my agency today. I was pleased to discover this may be a good day as there was nuttin-honey, natta, zip, zero.
Oh, happy day!
Uh-oh, what is this that just popped up?- A new bulletin 09-0491 entitled Fire Dept Subscription Agreements effective now for all states dated 05/29/09.
Humm... Oh, now this starts off good by the public relations writers- "We're expanding protection class ratings for Farmers Next Generation® Homeowners customers who have a monetary subscription agreement to a lower-rated fire department." WOW! Okay, Are doing the same for PPlus and Special Policies? Hallelujah! It's about time! The bulletin continues- "In the past, we rated a risk based on the ISO protection class relative to a property location address. The subscribed fire department's ISO protection class was not recognized." Yes, you did and wrongly, we might add. Thank you for admitting sorta, that you goofed up and we missed hundreds of NB writings and lost even more renewals. Where do we send the bill? Seriously!So far, so good. It continues- "The following requirements are necessary to obtain the contracted fire department's ISO protection class: 1. A letter from the fire department holding the subscription agreement (with their letterhead and contact information). The letter must include the fee paid by the customer.This letter must be scanned into the Image Center. In the Image Center, select type "submit for approval." Then it continues with other options of the GUS rebuttal crap that you spent days doing, waited weeks for approval, while the renewal or NB closing date comes and goes just like the client, to competition. They did it wrong! The ISO website is an absolute nightmare and makes you the non-compensated field employee or volunteer to update their database that can take hours to complete. This is a commercial website and ISO sells the information as you provide an update for free. We must wonder what benefit Farmers is receiving for your mandated volunteer efforts? This appears to be a forced duty for the benefit of others- and, it's not right that Farmers does not have their own in-house RTC program. Does "too cheap" come to mind? Farmers and ISO need to pay us! It becomes readily apparent the bulletin writers convince you in the beginning of most all bulletins with this semi-sorta-good news and then lower the boom as you read on. Or, worse you find that SP has modified the meaning of a bulletin and axes your policy. The writers have never been agents, we assume, as they seem to make the agent walk through mazes and run in circles. And, I am tired of it. It's just more mico-management. So, this bulletin creates micro-management outside the Farmers confusion by dictating to you what the Fire Department Chief, secretary, Assistant Chief or city clerk must write in the letter and it must have a letterhead and contact info of the renewal. With a paid receipt, is that FD letterhead really necessary to prove your client actually paid the annual FD renewal? - Okie Agent
Article continued below.
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 Receipt, canceled check or other proof of payment valid under state law
Article continued from above.
Dear Okie agent. Your points are well taken concerning the ISO and 360 and your last question is excellent. Here's what we discovered.-edThis
editor called an acquaintance with a volunteer FD and asked, "My client
had an original receipt when the property was insured, so why does
the company want a letter from the FD currently dated to show payment
of a subscription agreement to a volunteer FD? They're paying it annually
(I assume) to conserve premium of a lower protection class."His
response was, "If homeowners know the insurance company does not ask
for an annual renewal, up to 75% will not renew with the rural FD." Yet
the insurance company keeps the protection class the same year after
year. The insurance
company must pay the FD response fees (up to the basic limit & no
deductible) and the homeowner saves $100 or more by not renewing with the Volunteer FD
and saves on the renewal and response costs. Thus, the company should
certify annually the FD charge was paid." The contributing agent & firefighter are correct & their statements are based on Oklahoma Law.
Issue a bulletin- Make the agents do it
You are an independent
agent and you can charge to recover costs, just like any other
business. It's years pass time to start doing just that. UFAA
needs to establish an agency cost recovery price sheet for their
members updated annually for inflation so, Farmers can reimburse us for
such trivial but, time consuming duties they pass on to the agency
force via those public relations bulletins. -ed==========================
Here's a case in point- as over-heard at the recent UFAA Convention
A
DM walks in unannounced to an agent's office a few years ago, demanding to
know why the agent has not returned the Property Re-inspection Report
to the district office. The agent replies, "There is a cost of my time
and office labor involved to complete such assignment. Plus, I am not
required to do reports. However, a cost factor has been established by
Equifax (who use to do our inspections) of $27.50. The company is too cheap
to pay for re-inspections and assigned the district project to
you. You expect your agents to drop everything and to do it for you free."
"Here's the deal. I will be
as uncompetitive as Farmers rates and charge more for the same value.
My price is $55.00 per inspection. As soon as I receive your DM check for
$550.00, I will complete the first 10 inspections. Your choice is to use Equifax, me or do it yourself."
There was no check or follow up on this issue. Case closed. The agent further stated that "Home Inspections is a totally separate paid profession requiring certification in most states. Farmers tries to get us to do it to save costs which is transferred to us, if we agree. We are not home inspectors." -ed
|
 
If you wish to be excluded from future mailings please let us
know by emailing us at ufaa15@.gmail.com or by using the Unsubscribe feature at
the located within this document. Disclaimer - The Oklahoma Voice is published
twelve times per year for the United Farmers Agents Association, Chapter 15
Northeastern Oklahoma. The United Farmers Agents Association and the editor
neither assumes any responsibility for the accuracy of the articles or
advertisers, nor any liability arising from reliance upon them. The Oklahoma
Voice expresses it's appreciation to the many members who assist in and support
it's publication,. Opinions in the Oklahoma Voice do not necessarily express the
views of any single member or Chapter officer or UFAA organization. Products and
services advertised are not endorsed by this Chapter or United Farmers Agents
Association, Inc. Complaints or inquiries should be forwarded directly to the
advertiser. All purchases and services are at the complete discretion of the
consumer. Trademarks are the respective products or logos of their respective
owners. |
Farmers prints Security Verifications
with HelpPoint number to a-
 Phone Sex
Hot Line
Check your current Security Verification for sex line #
In
the June 2009 issue of the Oklahoma Voice, we pulled an article
referring to a serious issue received from an agent member. The member called
advising that a client had complained after calling the HelpPoint Claims Service number as printed on the reverse side of his Oklahoma
vehicle proof of insurance Form.Wrong Area Code used above when converting 1-800-HelpPoint to all numbers 1-877-435-7764.
The client stated she called 877-435-7764. A
recording answered the call and gave a referral number, she thought
was to Farmers HelpPoint. When the referral number was dialed, the
client was connected to a phone sex hot line. The
complaining agent had notified the Oklahoma State Office of the complaint and had not received a response in several days.
The Oklahoma Voice editor called the number to verify the accusations
and discovered the number and sex line were valid.
The editor, then called the HelpPoint
director in OKC and advised him. It was news to him, as the director responded, "We had that problem
several years ago and got it corrected, but, nothing recent." Trusting that statement, we had to assumed the client must
have used a much older proof of insurance form to obtain the HP phone
number. So, we pulled this article believing it was an isolated incident and distributed the June Oklahoma Voice without the article.
Later, this
editor goes to his vehicle and pulls his current proof of insurance form valid 03/09 - 10/09
issued by Farmers and discovers the complaint is CURRENT and valid as
it also shows the HelpPoint claims phone number on the current form which leads callers to the sex line. (above) As management has failed to advise the agents, we hope this updates you on complaints you may
receive on the current and incorrect HP phone number. Agents in all states should
verify if this problem exists in your state. Simply check your auto proof of insurance. that is, if your still insured with Farmers. -editor Update: Other states have reported this problem. |
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THE SPECIFIC SECURITY
OBJECTIVES OF UFAA ARE:
1. A two-way negotiated contract.
2. For rendered services contractual compensation schedules encompassing full commission of all premiums.
3. Agent ownership of policies and expirations.
4. Termination for just stated-cause only.
5. Ending discrimination of agent or agent authority.
6. To foster cooperation for mutual benefit, between other agent associations. |
P/C insurer growth to slow
American Agent & Broker
staff writer
Published 5/1/2009
Standard & Poor's reports that property/casualty insurer
growth likely will slow in the next few years as companies deal with long-term
trends in addition to global economic conditions.
S&P points out several factors as contributing to slow growth:
- · Policyholder coverage reductions
- · Retentions increase
- Negative premium growth rates in industrialized countries.
Other challenges for insurers include global population shifts, natural
catastrophes and government regulation.
According to 2007 U.S. market data, the growth rate of the p/c industry
was less than 1 percent. In 2008, S&P said the U.S. p/c insurance market
declined by nearly 1 percent.
S&P said it expects p/c insurers to have a significant exposure to
terrorism risks over the next decade. Analysts noted that despite government
programs in several countries that will cap losses, insurers still will have to
mitigate losses through reinsurance, better risk management, terms and
conditions, and strong capital and earnings. |
Is the OAA Recruiting You?
Several agents have commented they have received recruiting information from the Oklahoma Agents Alliance (OAA), a MGA/Broker agency making available many companies for independent agents to write through along with other benefits.
The OAA letter starts off- Dear [agent name] "I'll cut to the chase. We all know the changes in the Farmers contracts are not designed to benefit agents."
The letter gives an overview of their benefits including no minimum production volume and ends by stating- "Many of our members started their careers with Farmers. They were able to use their experience and OAA's strength and influence to build successful, independent agencies. They did it, and so can you."
Pulse of the Agents Poll on OAA
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Greensboro woman accused of
embezzling thousands
By: News 14 Carolina Web
Staff 06/10/09
GREENSBORO
- An insurance claims adjuster has been charged with stealing nearly $90,000
from a client.
Investigators with the N.C. Department of Insurance say Ashley Waddell
embezzled the money from Farmers Insurance through her company, International
Loss Services. The money was supposed to go to a Wake County homeowner whose
home was destroyed by fire.
Waddell is officially charged with felony embezzlement. She is now in the
Guilford County jail. Little Stinkers Grand Forks Herald 06/09/09
Already wearing the black and white stripes of prisoners, a trio of month-old
skunks was taken into custody Tuesday outside of a Farmers Insurance office in
Grand Forks. |
FORTY MORE Oklahoma Agents Bite the Dust in May Based on the Oklahoma Voice email returns, 40 more Oklahoma agent's corporate email addresses were returned invalid following the distribution of the June Issue of the Oklahoma Voice Newsletter. Here's a monthly count-01/06/09
202/02/09
8 02/11/09
13
03/02/09
7
03/30/09
3
05/04009 10
05/31/09 40
Total
83
The June issue reported nearly as many agents leaving Farmers just in the month of May compared to the first 4 months of 2009.
That
brings to 83 agents that are history since the first of the year increasing the number of agents from 11 to 17 average number of agents leaving the company monthly. Should that trend
continue through 2009, it would total 204 ex-agents or 40% turnover of the
Oklahoma Agency Force based on our newest email address count of Oklahoma
agents.
For those agents not receiving the Oklahoma Voice, it may be because your mail box is full. Important emails may be returned to the company, customers, HP, SP, etc. Ten agents fell into the "mailbox full" category on our May issue, increasing to 16 agents on our most recent June issue. -ed
Pulse of the Agent's Poll
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Farmers Pulls
Next Gen again
The Oklahoma Voice reported last month that Farmers had pulled the Next Gen H/O policy from the State of Michigan.
At the UFAA Convention in June, we learned the Next Gen Homeowners is also being pulled from the State of Arkansas for the same reason of being unprofitable.
This was managements pride and joy policy and is failing after two short years. What state will be next?
Management plans to issue a Next Gen Auto Policy. Is this just another ploy to spin the agents into recycling policies to generate management policy fees while making the agent believe they are saving clients premiums- only for the short term. There becomes a point of mistrust. Farmers management may be close to saturating that point of sale.
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I would rather go to the dentist than deal with SP
Dear Editor, It's getting worse than pulling teeth.
You talk about the Hard Rock Cafe, SP is so micro-managed that no one can do anything.
Client calls about a rate class error on his rarely driven vehicle. We discover the computer generated assignment error goes back to 2007.
Service point is called and ON HOLD (I take the trash to the curb) until Kia answers and told the problem of computer driver reassignment error in 2007. I requested to simply correct it. Can't do, she replies. OK, let's go up the chain. ON HOLD ( I get the entire garage swept) until Supv. Jennifer answers and advises, we can only correct within the current policy period, not back to 2007.
Second request- correct policy and billing back to the computer generated error date. Cannot do, comes the reply. OK, let's escalate it ON HOLD (I get about 1/4 of the West garage wall painted) until Jennifer comes back on the line and advised no one is available, an SP statement or excuse that is becoming very common. Can I have them call you back?. After 45 minutes, I hit the ServicePoint-DEAD END!
Agent: What is the SR #?
Jennifer: 1-#########. So, what number can we call your back?
Agent: (Repeating the SR# that begins with a 1-#########.
Jennifer: Okay she says, I will have them call.
Agent: OH, that's not my phone number it's the SR# you just gave me. I can't wait around all day and burn more time on this issue. We have others complaining about their rates too. Simply, answer within the Service request. Then, I can call the customer and advise a check is being mailed for the correction or advise him the links to the Insurance Dept Complaint form and, perhaps, link to the Anti-Fraud Investigation Request. Good day.
Service request results? Request denied. That could be Fraud. We will find out and report it here.
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Do you have a story you would like to Share with Oklahoma Agents?
It can be educational on crawling through dashboard and its rating systems, etc.
Or, a story to advise others on office equipment to use, office operations, saving expenses or most any other subject. You can even send the editor a question on Constant Contact used to create this newsletter or rate this newsletter.
You may add your name to the article or be anonymous. Editor
|
Is your computer set at the
correct time and date?
Farmers advised problems can occur in accessing your corporate email account and the Farmers University if your computer is not set at the correct time, time zone and date. You may go to this website for the official U.S. correct time.
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Edmond 405-330-0025 Tulsa 918-270-2888
Residential and Commercial
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Ads are now hot links to websites
Support Our
Advertisers
 The Oklahoma Voice Welcomes Paul Davis Restoration as a supporting advertiser. Please support and recommend our supporters.
Learn more about our advertisers as you or your clients may need their services in the future. Educate yourself so you can give your clients more detail about the services they offer.
 You may click on any of our valued ads in this issue for direct access to their informative and educational website.
|
Farmers Hikes Elderly
Couple's Auto Rate 38%
Dear Editor,
You've likely seen it in your agency where disappearing discounts continue to hike the renewals forcing clients to compare rates with competition.
This scenario of a renewal on a couple age 72 and 79. Prior to the July 5th renewal the liability only auto policy had these discounts: Advance purchase, Auto/home, Defensive Driver and Paid in Full with rate class 9 with single vehicle being driven about 10 miles per week or 520 miles annually. The original premium was $156.00.
The July renewal showed only the Auto/Home and Defensive Driver Discount and a change to a rate class 7 with a 38% increased premium to $214.00. The only client advantage is to pay the premium in full to lower the cost to $192.00, still a 23% increase.
Now, if the client goes to competition with the auto the home premium will be hiked by $143 or more for loss of the auto discount, plus replacement cost increase and fire rate hike to be applied on renewal. And, there goes the home to competition. Just how does an agent combat this injustice? Write a 250k life policy on them? Yeah, like that will fly in their 70's age group.
Just say good-bye to another 20+ year loyal customer who thinks the agent is ripping them off- and we are but, have no controls to prevent them from leaving with no claims and a great credit score- just what the competition wants and the company apparently is dumping. Then, management writes in bulletins, "Following a review of our loss results we are increasing our rates on....." Thus, the cycle continues creating a severe adverse Oklahoma book of business.
================================ When you have no controls over the business you operate, you are an employee.
Send me a W-2 form not a 1099  |
Announcing:
NEW Continuing Education Requirements
Effective
November 1, 2009 For Oklahoma
Biennial
CE Requirements:
Licensed Producers
Total
of 24 hours to include: 19 hrs General Topic 3 hrs Ethics 2 hrs Legislative Update
Licensed CSRs Total of 13 hours
to include: 8 hrs General Topic 3 hrs Ethics 2 hrs Legislative Update
Licensed Adjusters: Total of 24 hours
to include: 21 hrs General Topic 3 hrs Ethics Reminder: You may not repeat the
same
Course Number within 24 months.
|
 - "Best Agent Contract in the Industry."
- The Next Gen Home Policy will make us more competitive.
- Our Discounts can save up to 40%.
- Auto rate increases are capped at $50.
- Big (disappearing) discounts for teachers, cops, firemen.....
- The state office is here to help you.
- The Flex-auto will lock the rate. (Will renewals stick? - is the question)
- Farmers- A company easy to work with
- Free Pet coverage with comp and collision coverage. (That should line 'em up at your door!)
- ServicePoint is here to assist you. But, exceptions to retain clients is a no go.
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By
OPEN E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS IN
THE RIGHT PROGRAM-
(Vista info)
Don in
Southfield, MI, catches the show on CKLW 800 AM. He's using Microsoft Office on
a Vista machine. And he has encountered a huge annoyance. E-mail attachments
open in WordPad. He wants to know how to get them to open in Microsoft Word.
I'll bet Word documents on your hard drive also open in WordPad. Of course,
you may not be aware of this. You may open the files from within Microsoft Word.
You wouldn't normally do that with e-mail attachments.
Here's your answer, Don: Your file associations are out of whack. File
associations tell Windows which program to use to open a specific file type.
Right now, the Microsoft Word extension is associated with WordPad.
To change the file association, click Start>>Control Panel.
Double-click Default Programs. Click "Associate a file type or protocol with a
program." There are several file types you will want to reassociate: .DOC,
.DOCM, .DOCX, .DOT, .DOTM and .DOTX. I'd associate .RTF with Word, too.
Select one of the file types and click Change program. In the dialog box that
opens, you should see Microsoft Word. Select it and click OK. If you don't see
Word, click Browse. Navigate to WINWORD.EXE and click open. By default, it
should be located in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12. Repeat for each
file type.
Incorrect file associations can be a huge annoyance. But, it's hardly the
only annoyance you'll encounter in Vista. Fortunately, I can help you fix these
annoyances. For example, check these great tips:
IS
MY E-MAIL MARKETING
LIST SAFE?
Nancy in Phoenix listens on KFYI 550 AM every Saturday. She wants to try one of
our advertisers, Constant Contact.com She owns a small shop
and wants to send coupons via e-mail to her customers. But she's worried that
Constant Contact will share her client list. Constant Contact will never rent, share or sell your list.
By the way, it's easy to get your list over to Constant Contact. It can be
done in three file formats: .txt (text file), .csv (comma separated values) and
.xls (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Simply browse to where the file lives on
your computer and let the Constant Contact wizard guide you through the import.
You can also use your Microsoft Outlook address book.
Oklahoma
Voice has reprint rights. Copyright 2008 WestStar TalkRadio Network. Reprinted
with permission. No further republication or redistribution is permitted without
the written consent of WestStar TalkRadio Network. Visit Kim Komando and sign up
for her free e-mail newsletters www.komando.com
Oklahoma Voice created with CC
The Oklahoma Voice uses Constant Contact to create this newsletter. You can use it too to make regular newsletter contact with your clients. They provide an 800 help line and plenty of online tutorials and help directory. You can try Constant Contact free for 2 months compliments of UFAA Chapter15. Constant Contact
|
The History of Farmers Ins.
This was one of the most popular links in
June Issue of Okla. Voice.
We repeat it here for your review of this excellent
video of Farmers history. It has a year calendar
that shows in the background of when things happened in the corporate world of Farmrs. Just mouse the logo.
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Ron Leding Passes
 UFAA extends our prayers and condolences to the Leding Family. Ron was a 25 year Farmers Agent and 17 year member of UFAA. He passed away on June 10th.
We all will miss him and his commitment and support of UFAA.
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Do you have a client or business that needs to direct market to insurance agents?
Cheaper & Faster than U.S. Snail mail
We have the answer at UFAA Chapter 15. For as little as $300 a year, your client can advertise in the Oklahoma Voice that is sent to over 500 Oklahoma Farmers agent monthly for an entire year.
Figure that cost with them doing it with printing, folding, sealing, and postage monthly. Just the postage is over $2,600 a year. Paul Davis figured that out real quick and we welcome them to our dedicated advertisers making this puplication to you possible. And, Paul Davis chose the Oklahoma Voice to bring you their business ad. Just like many of our advertisers that have discovered the Oklahoma Voice is a great savings to a targeted market.
Independent agents that can give our members an outside placement contact are welcome. For ad info contact our Ad Dept.
PLEASE, support our advertisers! -ed |
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Investments Down?
 $1,000
Finders fee for each new franchisee we sign that you have referred to us in the States of:
OK, AR, KS, MO, TX Contact us at webersrootbeer.net
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Class-action lawsuit for breach of policy settled with
Farmers By Kim Smith ARIZONA DAILY
STAR Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.18.2009ARIZONA AGENTS- HEADS UP!
Arizona agents need to watch their Med Pay Losses that include lawsuit costs, attorney fees and interest related to a bad faith suit. How are you responsible in the breach of Farmers auto contract? There is a similar bad faith med pay class-action against Farmers on-going in Oklahoma
A class-action lawsuit against Farmers Insurance Company of Arizona was
settled for $3 million Wednesday in Pima County, Arizona Superior Court.In January 2004, attorneys for Tucson resident Paul Schwam filed a
class-action lawsuit against Farmers Insurance claiming a business practice
enacted in 2001 was a breach of Schwam's policy and policies owned by certain
other customers who made claims for medical expense coverage.
After he was the victim of a rear-end collision, Schwam learned Farmers
Insurance only paid his doctors and other health-care providers at PPO levels
even though he wasn't a PPO member, said Todd Jackson, one of Schwam's
attorneys.
The plaintiffs' attorneys argued the company acted in "bad faith" between
2001, when the practice began, and August 2004, when the practice ended, Jackson
said.After years of battling in court, attorneys on both sides of the case
decided to settle in March, and Judge Stephen Villarreal signed off on the
settlement Wednesday. According to court documents, Farmers has agreed to pay the plaintiffs a
lump sum of $3 million. The plaintiffs' attorneys will receive $1.3 million of
that amount in attorneys fees, plus an additional $394,000 for the cost of the
litigation.
In addition, Schwam will receive $100,000 as an "incentive award." One of Schwam's attorneys, Bruce MacDonald, told the judge Schwam was
entitled to the incentive award because he spent thousands of hours with the
attorneys on the case, sat through depositions and had to disclose all of his
medical records. Schwam was also told at one point that he was going to have to
pay $1 million for defense attorney fees should Farmers Insurance end up
victorious and yet Schwam continued to pursue the case, MacDonald said. (This is a common Farmers ploy) Farmers Insurance was not required to admit to any wrongdoing as part of
the settlement.
Jackson estimated 2,500 people throughout Arizona will receive a portion of the
settlement within the next six months. The payments will be based on the amount
that should have been applied to each person's claims and the secured interest
on that amount. (And, likely seasoned with some legal fees.)-ed
|
Free hour of Computer Support- Monthly
UFAA Tech offers phone support for most products. As a UFAA Member you
get 1 hour of FREE support a month on technical issues. Call us at 866-441-8018.
Please have the product information, problem and your UFAA member number available
when calling or emailing for support- help@ufaa.com
|
Farmers Insurance Group plans $84.4 million, 1,600-job expansion at Foremost
complex in Caledonia, Michiganby Chris Knape | The Grand Rapids Press Tuesday June 16, 2009, 10:15 AM Headquarters: Los Angeles
What it does: Sells
insurance
Plan: Invest $84.4 million, add 1,600 new jobs in Caledonia Township, Michigan at its Foremost Insurance Group complex
Average new job wage:
$680/week
Current area employment: 2,029
Ownership: Zurich
Financial Services AG, Switzerland
CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP -- Farmers Insurance Group was expected to announce plans to
bring 1,600 jobs to West Michigan this morning -- a breath of fresh air for a
state grappling with the nation's highest unemployment rate.
The Farmers plan, which includes an $84.4 million expansion of its Foremost Insurance complex in
Caledonia Township, may be the largest job-creation announcement for the region
in recent years. (View a rendering of the expansion plans.)
Gov. Jennifer Granholm was expected to join Robert Woudstra, chief executive
of Los Angeles-based Farmers, and other officials at a morning press conference
at the Foremost complex, 5600 Beech Tree Lane SE."The Farmers Group's decision to invest, grow and create thousands of jobs in
Michigan demonstrates to the world that Michigan offers companies what they need
to be successful," Granholm said in advance. "Our economic development tools and
talented work force, combined with a comprehensive plan to diversify our
economy, make Michigan a great place to do business." The announcement coincides with expected approval this morning of huge tax
breaks for Farmers by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority. Plans call a 175,000-square-foot office building and a 100,000-square-foot
print and distribution center to be added to an existing Foremost building.
Construction is expected to get under way in the fall and be complete by spring
2011.
The company would have 12 years after completing the facilities to create
1,000 additional jobs at the campus to qualify for a 100 percent employment tax
credit. Farmers would need to create 1,400 jobs by the end of the 17th year to
qualify for the final year of tax credits. Foremost already has more than 2,000 employees at the complex.
The new jobs are expected to pay an average of $680 a week -- $17 per hour
based on a 40-hour week. The expansion is not related to the $2 billion April deal Farmers struck to
buy 21st Century Insurance Group, of Woodland Hills, Calif., from embattled
American International Group. Farmers came to West Michigan in 2000 when it purchased Foremost. The company
is a subsidiary of Swiss giant Zurich Financial Services AG.
Woudstra has close ties to the West Michigan operation. He was an executive
with Foremost until the acquisition and became CEO of Farmers on Jan. 1. The state said the company chose to expand in Michigan after considering
sites in Kansas and Oklahoma. Wolverine Building Group of Grand Rapids has been named construction manager.
Rees Masilionis Turley Architecture, of Kansas City, Mo., is the architect.
Wonder why the sentence we bolded above was placed in the press release? Could that be the reason for the Michigan expansion that follows 2 very recent large expansions in Olathe, Ks. Farmers seems to be moving toward something big. Perhaps, inside direct sales via the Internet and phone with remaining agents being inspection stations for those online sales? Anyone have another guess? -ed
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 you can review this article on STRESS- why it's making you sick.
Several more articles on stress at this link.
Check out the UFAA Chapter 15 Home Page with lots of member benefit information. Do not call the Okla. Ins. Dept. They now provide information on line:
Farmers Rate revision filings with OID - 06/08 to 05/09
including $600 in pet coverage with comp & collision
OID Info you need to know -
Code changes,
2009 Changes in CE Statutes
Anti-fraud Complaint Form- for you & your clients
Consumer Request for Assistance Form- for your clients
Producers and Adjusters 2009 statute changes
Have you joined UFAA yet? We can't
make is much easier. Just mouse the
logo above to obtain the membership
application. Fill it out attached a check
or use the bank card option and it to 1-314-631-7963.
United we stand. Divided we fail.What are you waiting on?
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