 Join Our Mailing List!
Due to the changes in the Farmers Agent Email Program by home office such as-"Discontinue any personal use of farmersagent.com and farmersagency.com e-mail accounts and Discontinue external bulk forwarding of farmersagent.com and farmersagency.com e-mail." If you have received this email at your Farmers Agent email address above, please unsubscribe at the top of this Email.Then, click the "Join Our Mailing List" at the top of this article and resubscribe with your alternate email address. i.e. yahoo, msn, gmail, aol, etc. Thanks -ed
Based on Farmers new agent email procedures, UFAA may have to dump all farmersagent addresses in the very near future and send only to non-farmers addresses. This is mainly due to tightening of their spam filters to reduce hordes of incoming spam. Help us to prepare now to keep your Oklahoma Voice and UFAA DIRECT emails coming to you.
Confused on how to do it? Our Kim Komando featured article this month will give you some great business and personal email tips and pointers.-ed
Farmers Insurance March of Dimes 'One-Day' Fundraiser July 22, 2010 Raises $2,650,000 Monday, 26 July 2010,
LOS ANGELES, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- It was a
day to remember, and one that will go down in the history books as the
biggest one-day fundraising drive for the March of Dimes.
Be a Hero for Babies® Day began at 5:00 a.m. on July 22
at Farmers Home Office at 4700 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles,
California. Thousands of Farmers Insurance agents, district managers and
employees in cities and towns across America conducted fundraising
events for the March of Dimes and called in their totals during the
morning.
At 11:00 a.m., Farmers Insurance CEO Robert Woudstra announced
the one-day total. "It is a great day for babies," stated Mr. Woudstra,
a member of the March of Dimes Board of Trustees. "In one day, Farmers
Insurance, through thousands of dedicated agents, district managers,
employees and caring citizens has raised $2,650,000 to help improve the
health of all babies, especially those born too soon. It's because of
the March of Dimes that these babies get a chance to begin a healthy
life."
 P L A N - T O - A T T E N D As a member, if you have not attended a UFAA Chapter Meeting in a while, August is the time to do it. John Doak, past Farmers Agent & Candidate for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner to click for Doak website  | Speak at the UFAA Chapter 15 Meeting Aug 4th.
"He could be the assistance or salvation on the horizon for
Oklahoma Captive Agents!" -ed
See time & NEW LOCATION below. OKC area agent members get your car pool organized now!
Serious prospective non-member Farmers Agents are welcome.
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1. Having trouble viewing this email or active links? Mouse "click here" at the top of this newsletter to view all graphics, images and text as a web page.
"HOT" Articles:
Oklahoma 2010 Agent/DM loss projected @ 35%
R U an employee or Independent Contractor?
P&C industry in Review & Ranking over 10 years.
2010 J D POWER P&C Customer Satisfaction Ranking
OKLAHOMA
VOICE
August 2010
Published monthly by United Farmers Agents Association, aka UFAA, Chapter 15 Eastern Oklahoma. The chapter meets the
first Wednesday of each month.
Next Chapter 15 Member Meeting: Wednesday, August 4th 11:30 AM
Guest Speaker: John Doak
Republican candidate for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner
John Doak has spent most of his adult life providing insurance options to Oklahomans, particularly in the Tulsa area.
John Doak pictured on right
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After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor of
arts degree in political science in 1989, John started his own Farmer's
Insurance Agency in Tulsa. For the next six years, John ran a successful agency receiving numerous awards for sales and production from
Farmer's Insurance.After
leaving Farmer's in 1995, John served as the Tulsa Vice
President of Marsh, Oklahoma, Resident Managing Director of Aon Risk
Services, Regional
Managing Director of HNI Risk Services, and Senior Vice President of
Acquisitions
for Ascension Insurance before joining State Farm Insurance as an agent
in Sand Springs. John resigned from State Farm May 31 to campaign full time. He has lead
the way against HB 2437, the 1% tax on health insurance claims. John Doak contact information, contributions Link and website. |
| UFAA Chapter 15 is returning to the Green Onion for August & September meetings
 11:30 AM August 4th
Tulsa, OK. 74135Restaurant ReviewsAttending from out of town? Google Green Onion address for driving directions as the map shown on Restaurant Reviews is incorrect.
Serious prospective non-member Farmers Agents 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.Check out our website |
|
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
United Farmers Agents Assn. National Office 800-275-2662
UFAA Oklahoma Voice Editor
UFAA Oklahoma Voice Ads
To join an
Oklahoma UFAA Chapter
choose one closest to you and
contact the chapter.
Or, sign
up at the UFAA
Website.
United Farmers Agents Association Web Site
UFAA
Chapter 15 Newsletter Archive & Homepage
Letters to the Editor
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Greetings!  This agent contributor just makes Independent Contractor sense. -ed
Dear Oklahoma Voice and Readers,
Farmers has screwed with our business for the last 10 years and we have lost market share, policies in force, commission reductions, contract value and now we have to pay for some underwriting MVR costs of auto policies that Farmers owns. "Owns, you ask? Yes, Farmers owns each and every policy in your book, written through Farmers or their affiliates. You agreed to that "pre-sale" of your agency, giving Farmers the first right of purchase the day you signed your Agent Appointment Agreement. But, that is a subject for another day. Here's the latest Farmers kicker-
Did you actually read The Corporate Email Acknowledgment Agreement before you clicked your agreement?. Did you notice you had no option to disagree or to "Opt-out? Here's what you agreed to as copied from the UFAA Website. The last paragraph is totally open-ended and the entire agreement can be revised to you demise, without notice, I might add.
The Corporate Email Acknowledgment Agreement
"The computer systems, networks and other technical resources, including the Agency Dashboard and farmersagent.com and farmersagency.com email services, owned, leased or contracted by or for the entities that comprise the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies ("Farmers") and/or their affiliates (collectively, t he "Farmers Systems") and any materials, content, information, communications, data or software you create, view or access on, or that are available on or from, the Farmers Systems, including but not limited to emails, tasks, appointments, files and logs, (collectively, the "Materials") are proprietary, confidential and trade secret information of Farmers. The Farmers Systems and Materials are intended for use in connection with legitimate business purposes related to Farmers or your Farmers agency, and are not intended to be used for other purposes (including personal purposes). You should have no expectation of privacy in your use of the Farmers Systems or in any Materials, regardless of the purposes of your use of the Farmers Systems or the content of the Materials, including any communications, or any access permissions you set on the accounts you maintain on the Farmers Systems. Farmers reserves the right to authorize its agency force to inspect, review, monitor, analyze, copy or record any use of the Systems or any Materials generated or obtained by an agent's personnel, as Farmers deems appropriate. Likewise, Farmers and/or other authorized users will inspect, review, monitor, analyze, copy, and/or record the Materials and/or report on your use of the Farmers Systems or Materials without prior notice as Farmers deems appropriate. To the extent the Farmers Systems are operated by third party service providers, you authorize such service providers to disclose to Farmers any Materials or any information about your access to or use of the Farmers Systems."
"Use of the Farmers Systems is subject to the "Farmers Agency Force Electronic Communications Policy" and the "AIMS Policy Statement: Confidentiality of Farmers Network Information Systems," which can be viewed in their entirety within the "Legal" section located on the Agency Dashboard."
"Farmers reserves the right to modify this Notice, as well as the policies referenced above, without prior notice. Violations of this Notice or other policies of Farmers may result in termination of your appointment agreement or other business relationships with Farmers and/or its appointed agents or district managers, and/or criminal or civil penalties."
Creation Date: 06/21/2010
[ ] I acknowledge and agree to this Notice Not only have you made your first mistake of pre-selling your career to Farmers, as referenced above, you have likely clicked your agreement on your corporate email account. Would you give Farmers signatory rights to your business and personal checking accounts, title to your home, autos, savings, contract value and other assets? Perhaps, you already have with just a simple click of your acknowledgment and approval of above, whether it was (yet) stated in the agreement or not. I severely question if Farmers Agents are truly independent contractors, as this looks more like an employee contract and UFAA should educate the agency force on this subject. In the meantime, I opted out of the email acknowledgment agreement. They could own you and even force adopt your current and future grand kids because you may have already unknowingly approved it. Okie Agent Well, the grand kids is quite a stretch Okie Agent but, the scenario you present is heart stopping. I, like thousands of other agents, just clicked AGREE and went on with the days business chores. But, your explanation reveals that I agreed to what was stated and what was not [yet] stated, and that is truly an open-ended agreement that could encompass all that you stated. WOW. I am opting out today at this email address: As for your challenge on Independent contractors (IC), you got my attention. The following articles concern that subject in both Federal detail and simply referenced. But, I can't decide who is and who is not an employee or IC. We report it - you jsut file an SS-8 and the Feds will determine your status. -ed
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 Greetings! 
The source of the following article is a copy of IRS Publication #1796 2008 IRS Tax Products (Final Release).
Many agents are questioning if they are true Independent Contractors (IC) or employees (EE). Perhaps, this article will answer some of your questions but, likely won't settle the issue. -ed
If
you are not sure whether you are/were an employee or an independent
contractor, get Form SS-8, Determination of Worker Status for Purposes
of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding. Publication
15-A, Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide, provides additional information
on independent contractor status.
IRS ElectronIc Services
You can download and print IRS publications, forms, and other tax information materials on the Internet at www.irs.gov. You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-3676 (1-800-TAX-FORM) to order free tax publications and forms. Publication 1796, 2007 IRS Tax Products CD (Final Release), containing current and prior year tax publications and forms, can be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). You can order Publication 1796 toll-free by calling 1-877-233-6767 or via the Internet at www.irs.gov/cdorders Call 1-800-829-4933, the Business and Specialty Tax Line, if you have questions related to employment tax issues.
Misclassified ICs could get more benefits during employment and following termination
There is also additional information at EmployeeIssues.com as you may be misclassified as an IC but controlled as an employee. Here are the benefits of employees and some benefits that may be available to terminated or unemployed contractors Filing an SS-8 after termination where a IC was controlled as an employee may also reap employee benefits as explained in these links.
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Independent Contractor or Employee?
Which are you?For federal tax purposes, this is an important distinction. Worker classification affects how you pay your federal income tax, social security and Medicare taxes, and how you file your tax return. Classification affects your eligibility for employer and social security and Medicare benefits and your tax responsibilities. If you aren't sure of your work status, you should find out now. This brochure can help you.
The courts have considered many facts in deciding whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. These relevant facts fall into three main categories: behavioral control; financial control; and relationship of the parties. In each case, it is very important to consider all the facts - no single fact provides the answer. Carefully review the following definitions.
Behavioral ControlThese facts show whether there is a right to direct or control how the worker does the work. A worker is an employee when the business has the right to direct and control the worker. The business does not have to actually direct or control the way the work is done - as long as the employer has the right to direct and control the work. For example:
Instructions - if you receive extensive
instructions on how work is to be done, this suggests that you are an
employee. Instructions can cover a wide range of topics, for example:
how, when, or where to do the work
what tools or equipment to use
what assistants to hire to help with the work
where to purchase supplies and services
If you receive less extensive instructions about what should be done, but not how it should be done, you may be an independent contractor. For instance, instructions about time and place may be less important than directions on how the work is performed.
Training - if the business provides you with training about required procedures and methods, this indicates that the business wants the work done in a certain way, and this suggests that you may be an employee.
Financial Control -These facts show whether there is a right to direct or control the business part of the work. For example:
Significant Investment - if you have a significant investment in your work, you may be an independent contractor. While there is no precise dollar test, the investment must have substance. However, a significant investment is not necessary to be an independent contractor.
Expenses - if you are not reimbursed for some or all business expenses, then you may be an independent contractor, especially if your unreimbursed business expenses are high.
Opportunity for Profit or Loss - if you can realize a profit or incur a loss, this suggests that you are in business for yourself and that you may be an independent contractor.
Relationship of the parties -These are facts that illustrate how the business and the worker perceive their relationship. For example:
Employee Benefits - if you receive benefits, such as insurance, pension, or paid leave, this is an indication that you may be an employee. If you do not receive benefits, however, you could be either an employee or an independent contractor.
Written Contracts - a written contract may show what both you and the business intend. This may be very significant if it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine status based on other facts.
When Are You an Employee
Your employer must withhold income tax and your portion of social security and Medicare taxes. Also, your employer is responsible for paying social security, Medicare, and unemploy-ment (FUTA) taxes on your wages. Your em-ployer must give you a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, showing the amount of taxes withheld from your pay. You may deduct unreimbursed employee business expenses on Schedule A of your income tax return, but only if you itemize deductions and they total more than two percent of your adjusted gross income.
When Are You An Independent Contractor
The business may be required to give you Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, to report what it has paid to you. You are responsible for paying your own income tax and self-employment tax (Self-Employment Contributions Act - SECA). The business does not withhold taxes from your pay. You may need to make estimated tax payments during the year to cover your tax liabilities. You may deduct business expenses on Schedule C of your income tax return.
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At Red River Roofing, our goal is to provide
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Should you have any additional concerns, questions, or comments, please
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Are you really Independent?
Are you an employee of Farmers, the DM, Both or Neither?
EEs vs. ICs
July 7, 5:32 PM · Diane Faulkner -
Jacksonville Workplace Issues Examiner
In the past two days, I've spent nearly eight hours
talking to three different people about what makes them employees (EEs)
rather than the independent contractors (ICs) they thought they were.
Each person recently "lost contracts" through non-renewal.
Mind
you I was at a golf tournament...which got me thinking. How many other
people are in these folks' situation? More than I realized, obviously,
since I was being tapped during a tournament.
In listening to
these folks I learned that each person was required to work on-site
during the company's business hours, use the 'client' company's tools,
receive performance reviews, work exclusively for the 'client,' and each
had some sort of severance package after their 'contracts' were not
renewed.
I was stunned. How could these employers (ER) not know they had employees and not Independent
Contractors?
How
to determine IC status
To be fair,
determining the true status of an IC is tricky. In the current labor and
economic markets, trending toward contractors rather than EEs seems -
and many times is - a smart move for companies. No employment tax on an
IC. No ding against retention/turnover rate post-contract. No increase
in insurance, pension, or other EE benefit costs.
Problems arise
when ERs start treating ICs like EEs...and many, if not most, ICs do not
know when that behavioral line is crossed. Unfortunately, most ERs I
have interviewed over the years - and I've been writing on labor issues
for 11 years - are equally unfamiliar.
The behavioral line is a critical
indicator of status
Just as the amount of
control exercised by an ER over an exempt employee determines
whether that employee stays exempt from the overtime rules, the right
to control work processes determines whether or not an IC retains
independent status.
The wrong behavior on the part of the contracting company can
create an EE out of an IC.
To figure out if you have an IC
relationship, I recommend a wonderful IRS form called an SS-8.
It's easy to use and can be downloaded from the IRS.gov site.
This form should be filled out by ERs and ICs alike to determine if a
true IC relationship has been established. I also recommend both parties
download or request IRS Form 1779, which is a brochure updated in 2008 that
clearly explains how the ER can get into trouble and what the IC is
responsible for - to clients and, of course, to the IRS.
Rather
than outlining all the common law factors that determine IC status, IRS Form
1779 three basic sections: clarified
and categorized them into
- Behavioral Control
- Financial Control
- Relationship Type
Be thankful, because following are the 20 Common Law Factors:
- Instructions
- Training
- Integration
- Service rendered personally
- Hiring, supervising, and paying assistants
- Continuing relationship
- Set hours of work
- Full-time work required
- Doing work on business owner's premises
- Accomplishing work in certain order or sequence
- Submission of oral or written reports
- Method of payment
- Payment of business or traveling expenses
- Furnishing tools and equipment
- Significant investment
- Realization of profit or loss
- Work for one entity at a time
- Offer their services to the general public
- Right to discharge
- Right to terminate
Simple Example
I need to have my lawn cut once a week. I find a person who
cuts lawns, negotiate a price for the season, and negotiate the start
date with the end date set as the end of the season or first day of
Fall.
- Since there is an
end date, there is no implied or expected contract continuation. If
there were, then I would have just created an employment contract for a
contingent employee and would then be responsible for all employment
taxes. The employee would also be responsible for all my employee
benefits, too.
That's my contract. I need X
service for Y amount of time at Z price and at W frequency. I define the
work that needs to be done, the time frame in which it needs to be
completed, and I negotiate the price I will pay. In this respect, I
control the 'what' of work. (It's
the 'what' that I don't want to do, which is why I've contracted
someone else).
If the lawn person
has quite a few contracts and needs to assign a different crew to do my
lawn, I have no control over the people to send or the decision to
assign. I do not
control the 'who' of work.
- No one on the crew, by the way, is critical to my
project's completion. If any were, I would need to have control over that
person, which would make that person an EE.
The lawn person uses h/her
own equipment to take care of my lawn. I do not control access to my
equipment, even though I may have the same or similar equipment on my
site. I do not supply electricity, gas, oil, electrical cords, lawn
bags, rakes, wheelbarrows, fertilizer, seed, weed killer or other
supplies and equipment, nor do I pay mileage or other expenses. I do not
control the 'tools' of work.
The lawn person decides if it's beneficial to do the back lawn
first, then front, or maybe to do all the trim first and then start
from front to back. I do not supervise or control the process of work. I do not control the
'where' of work.
The lawn person
schedules my lawn cutting to work with h/her schedule
and route. I do
not control the 'when' of the work.
The lawn person uses
h/her own techniques to complete the job and removes debris (or dumps it
in my compost, whichever is negotiated). Either way, the essentials of
work are taken care of by the lawn person, not me. I do not control the 'how' of work.
The lawn person sends me
a bill for service. I do not pay any type of insurance - health,
business, workers compensation or otherwise - for the lawn person.
There are no bonuses to be earned, nor is there a severance paid after
the contract terminates. The lawn person bears a significant financial
risk in entering each contract and is responsible for paying crew,
repairing tools, training, and covering crew under Workers'
Compensation.
The lawn service is available to more than just me. If I
contract this person to do only my lawn, then I have myself an EE.
Who is an employee?
The Internal Revenue Service uses these criteria to determine whether an individual is an employee
or an independent contractor. The worker is an employee if...
- You or your representative tells the worker where,
when, and how to work.
- You train the worker.
- The business performance depends on the worker.
- The worker has a continuing relationship with
the company.
- The worker's services must be personally
rendered by the him/her.
- You set the worker's work hours.
- The worker works on the employer's premises.
- The worker is paid by the hour, weeks, or month.
- You furnish tools and materials.
- You can fire the worker without violating a
contract.
- The worker has a right to quit without incurring
a liability.
- The worker does not offer the worker's services
to the public at large.
- The worker has no opportunity for profit or loss
as a result of the worker's service.
- The worker has no significant investment in the
business.
- You require the worker to submit oral or written
reports.
- The worker is a key employee or corporate
officer.
I hope I've helped you understand the difference
between an EE and an IC. If you have any comments or questions, feel
free to send them on.
If you'd like me to research another topic,
let me know.
Disclaimer I am not a licensed attorney or certified
accountant. My blogs are based on my own experiences and loads of
research.  Diane Faulkner
is a freelance writer and speaker whose work is seen in such
publications as Credit Union Management, The Federal Credit Union,
The Conference Board Magazine, Human Resource Executive, Women's Digest and
The Business Journal. A former human resource
vice-president and certified substance abuse counselor, Faulkner's
expertise in human behavior and labor issues helps people work and play
well together in the office without later landing in court.
Ed's Note- Diane seems to simplify the understanding the most difficult laws, requirements and regulations as they relate to workplace issues in her articles. You may view her other articles here
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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 and/or logos are the respective products or trademarks of their respective
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Oklahoma Agents and DMs
Send Message to Home Office
July - 2010 Poll Results
Oklahoma Agents have been polled for the last 5 months on which song they would send to Home Office that best describes the current condition of their business, The poll history is below for your information.
Previous Poll Satisfaction Results
No Satisfaction Take This Job We Are Family It's a Celebration
March: 50% 43% 4% 3% (Prior to FA2)
April: 79% 21% 0% 0% (Intro of FA2)
May: 65% 27% 5% 3% (1 mo. into FA2)
June: 88% 12% 0% 0% (2 mo. into FA2)
Here are your poll results for July (3 mos. into FA2)
You can hear the songs again by mousing the song title below.
Rolling Stones- 1965
"No Satisfaction" 81%
Johnny Paycheck- 1977
"Take this job and shove it" 13%
Sister Sledge- 1975
"We are Family" 0%
Kool and Gang- 1978
"It's a Celebration" 6%
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| Have the results above improved since last months Agent's Poll? You tell us.
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| Pulse of the Agents: August Agent Satisfaction POLL |
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| Okla. Voice polls are confidential as we cannot tract your vote. |
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Do you have a poll question we can ask the agents? Let us know by email
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Pulse of the Agents Polls- July Results
If the company or DM presented you with a MVR deduction form,
would you
sign it?
YES- 4%
NO- 96%
Have you had to request refunds on MVRs from Farmers on business sold?
YES- 64%
NO- 36%
64% of the responding agents agree, this automated refund does not work either.
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Annualized 2010 Oklahoma
Agent/DM loss
Jumps to 35%
As reported in last months issue of the Oklahoma Voice, more agents have evaporated based on the Oklahoma
Voice returned email stats for the period of Jan to June, 2010. We
recently updated our email address listing for the June Issue and 30
addresses came back NON-EXISTENT from the May & June issues. That created an annualized agent/DM loss of 25%.
However, those numbers were based as of May 31st when we emailed the June issue. When the July issue was emailed, 29 issues were returned with non-existent farmersagent.com addresses. That's a loss of about one agent per day during June. If our annualized figures run true, Oklahoma will lose 35% of the Oklahoma Agency Force by 2011. That's based on the 503 Oklahoma Agents reported by the state office in a newspaper article. With our prediction of 176 agent loss during 2010 by doubling the first 6 month loss, here are the returned mail address from the July issue of the Oklahoma Voice.*
jprussellins@msn.com lagee@farmersagent.com rgoodwin@farmersagent.com sinman@farmersagent.com hweber@farmersagent.com rrhoades@farmersagent.com kpendleton@farmersagent.com smoua1@farmersagent.com djulian@farmersagent.com shelling@farmersagent.com wlewis1@farmersagent.com hlara1@farmersagent.com dsasseen@farmersagent.com mwhite2@farmersagent.com gsmith12@farmersagent.com mnicholson@farmersagent.com tpound@farmersagent.com srich1@farmersagent.com vwilliams1@farmersagent.com sdavis7@farmersagent.com kcoker@farmersagent.com walford@farmersagent.com jlefler@farmersagent.com rcansler@farmersagent.com nhuggins@farmersagent.com mknall@farmersagent.com ddavis4@farmersagent.com jhubbard2@farmersagent.com tsondgeroth@farmersagent.com
Add this list to those farmersagent.com address returned as non-existent from January through Aptil, and Oklahoma has lost 88 agents as of the end of June. But, we know of a 1/2 dozen more voluntarily terminating. like the others as far as we know, over the next 30 days just in Tulsa and about the same number whose Farmers email address is reporting to the Okla. Voice "Mail Box Full." That generally means the agent is not active but, the company has yet to cancel the address.
There should be an ever growing truck load of orphan policies in most every Oklahoma District.Are you getting your share? Would you even want them? If DMs are not offering or sharing the wealth or welfare of these 5/700# policies with with all their agents, depending on your view, they may be in violation of the state insurance statutes with fines of $500 and/or 6 months in jail, or both. All it takes is the filing of discriminatory practices complaint with the Oklahoma Insurance Dept. If the violation is severe enough, ie, wide spread discrimination among many agents, the DMs insurance license may come under review.
* agent/dm numbers may vary from actual as it is solely based on returned emails reports excluding spam clicks & opt outs.
Pulse of the Agents Poll |
 918-663-5848
Fire,
Water, Storm Damage & Other Perils
Full
Service Mitigation and
Reconstruction 10344 E 58th St Tulsa, OK 74146
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Farmers Delaying Contract Value Payments
Dear Oklahoma Voice,
Several Oregon agents have recently decided to
retire, or move on to IA
status. It appears that Farmers wants to drag out the contract value payments,
stating several different reasons, one of which is: the contract value
will be figured on your last day and can not be paid in less than 30 days
after that date.
The fact
is the 1984 "buff" AAA states clearly on page three "The Agent may elect
to receive Contract Value in three or more equal installments, the first
to be paid upon termination." Termination
is the last day of your contract not 30 days later. Paragraph
H clearly states "The Agent agrees to transfer and assign all of
the Agent's interest under this Agreement and Agency (including,
at the request of the Companies, any interest in the telephone numbers
and leased or rented office location) to the Companies at the time of
payment or tender of payment...."
DO NOT
give up any files, manuals, lists or records of any kind, including phone
numbers or office location, until your first Contract Value payment is in
your hand.
We have
received first hand knowledge that if you d o, you will not see a contract
payment for months. Further
more, please read the attached from a former agent regarding telling
agents the first payment will be made 30 days after termination.========================
"What
Farmers is saying is BS and its only for their convenience. If an
agent is resigning or being terminated, their contract value is known by the
first of the month they are leaving. For
example if an agent's last day is
August 31, Farmers can easily calculate the contract value at the beginning
of that month, because the August folio includes the service commissions
for the entire month. Many agents have
demanded payment
on their last day and have gotten it. In
addition, when the company
hands an agent an immediate notice of termination, they normally
give them their first contract value payment and immediate terminations
occur at all times during the month.
Also, the way the contract
is worded, the non-compete doesn't start until contract value is tendered,
meaning someone hands the agent the check or he receives it by
registered mail. Also, the agent is
under no obligation to turn over phone
numbers until the payment is tendered.
While the AAA says the files,
etc., are to be returned upon termination, it also indicates contract value
will be paid upon termination." ============================
Dear Oregon Agent, We sent your email
heads up to one of our known members
going IA. FIG did relent to 14 days after stating 30 days. The agent
just did not want to take the time to fight their way out of Farmers or
likely could have received payment sooner. But, setting up an IA is
taking all their time. Thanks for the information. We have some
corporate financial info in this issue. It's just a suspicion but, based
on the company's cash on hand report vs. the large number of agents in
the check out line waiting for CV payments, it's my wild guess the delay
is deemed necessary to
avoid "cashing out" some of their investment income. -ed
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 Greetings! Do you need a place to get away? Check this out. Contact Glenn at glenn@gjohnsonagency.com for additional information.
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Bethel Collision Center in Broken Arrow
BBB Rated A+
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Ads are now hot links to websites
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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.
 
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ads rotated for 08/10 issue.
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Ok Lic #879 Click ad to access our website
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School supply drive ramps up in Muskogee, Ok
Juanita Blair Farmers Insurance Agency's third annual school supply
drive for students and teachers is in full swing this month.
Both monetary and supply donations are accepted, and monetary donations
are tax deductible for businesses. Donations accepted at 108 E. Peak
Blvd. In 2008, the agency collected enough supplies to assist 1,100 people;
in 2009 they assisted 1,900 people. The 2010 goal is to serve 3,000 students and teachers with school
supplies.
The agency will bag the items by grade and school and give them out on
Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 108 E. Peak Blvd.
Information: Juanita Blair- 918-687-7052.
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New
539 Area Code to Serve 918 Region
Dear Editor, Agents will need this info. Please pass it on -
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has ordered
the addition of a new 539 area code to serve the same geographic region
currently served by the 918 area code due to growing demand for
telephone numbers throughout eastern Oklahoma. Because of the addition
of the 539 area code, telephone customers will
eventually be required to dial 10 digits when making local phone calls.
The dialing changes are being phased in starting August 7, 2010. On Aug.
7th, customers should begin dialing local 918 calls with 10 digits -
area code + 7-digit phone number.
"We're initiating this customer outreach effort to
make everyone aware of the upcoming changes," said Debbie Ailey, SST
co-comptroller. "It will take some getting used to. On August 7th,
everyone can begin 10-digit dialing. We'll be encouraging folks to begin
to make the change. As of March 5th, 2011, your local calls will not
complete unless you've dialed 10 digits."
If you
currently have a 918 telephone number, it will not change. Customers
seeking new telephone numbers in the affected region may be assigned the
new 539 area code as early as April 1, 2011. Calling prices have not
changed. Local calls are still local calls regardless of the number of
digits dialed. Three-digit dialing remains in place for emergency
services (911), call before you dig (811), telecommunications relay
services for the hearing- or speech-impaired (711), and, human services
referral information (211). Okie Agent.
Okie Agent, Thanks for the heads up -ed
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WELCOME BACK COP CHOPPER PLUS 51 TPD OFFICERS !
The Tulsa Police chopper was mothballed and 69 officers previously laid off under 2009-10 city budget. The new budget brings back all of them by Aug. 6th and POLICE 1 flies again.
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Call for Board up Service 24/7
 Click to check out our website
Tulsa Broken Arrow
918/664-7904 918/258-7578 |
By Kim Komando  |
SWITCHING TO BUSINESS E-MAIL
Mary from Decatur, IL, listens to my national radio show on
WSOY 1340 AM. She uses the same e-mail account for personal and business
e-mail. But not she would like to separate the two. She could get
another Mindspring account. She's also considering a Gmail account. And
her boss mentioned something about domain e-mail. She wants to know
the best option.
I would definitely try for an e-mail account on the company
domain, Mary. This means that your e-mail will be hosted on your
company's mail server. For example, your e-mail address would be
something like Mary@yourcompany.com. That looks a lot more professional
than a generic e-mail service.
Barring that, I would go with Gmail or another free, independent e-mail
provider. Mindspring e-mail is a service of your Internet service
provider. You might lose access in the future if you switch ISPs.
That's not good for a business account.
For domain e-mail, setup instructions should be provided by
your company. You will probably be able to access the account online. It
should behave just like your current Webmail. Setting up a new account
isn't too difficult. However, moving all your information can be
tricky. Learn the best way
to transfer e-mail and contact information.
After the new account is set up, notify your business
contacts. Be sure to send the notice from your current account.
Unfamiliar e-mail addresses can be blocked by spam filters. Your
business contacts might not get a message from the new account.
When you send out the notice, remember to use
blind carbon copy (BCC). This will hide your recipients' addresses
from each other. It's both courteous and a good habit to develop.
Most of your contacts will update their address books right
away. But be sure to keep an eye on your personal e-mail. You may still
get business e-mail there you don't want to miss.
The downside to a new account is that you now have two
accounts. If you work from home, this means one more account to monitor.
Fortunately, there
are ways to consolidate multiple accounts for easy viewing.
E-mail is a useful communication tool. But it can always be
made better. Here are some easy ways to improve e-mail:
Oklahoma
Voice has reprint rights. Copyright 1995-2010 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
Wiping the data from an
old cell phone tvkim.video 2:53
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Doak, Crawford move into runoff for GOP
nomination for Okla. Insurance Commissioner
A Must Read Article
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Republican nominee for insurance commissioner will be decided in an Aug. 24 runoff election. Former Insurance Commissioner John Crawford of Oklahoma City will face John Doak of Tulsa for the GOP nomination because neither candidate won a majority of the votes cast in Tuesday's primary election.
With 84 percent of the precincts reporting, Crawford
received 42 percent of the vote and Doak received almost 38 percent. A
third candidate for the nomination, Mark Croucher of Jenks, received
almost 20 percent of the vote. Associated press 07/27/10
John Doak, 47 was a Tulsa Farmers Agent about 15
years ago and now has 20 years in the insurance business. Crawford, 78 was Oklahoma Ins. Commissioner from 1994 -1998,
followed by Carroll Fisher from 2002 until Fisher was named in
Multi-county
Grand Jury indictments in February, July and October 2004. He faced
charges of bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion, perjury, charity fraud
and failure to pay over money to the state. Insurance companies purchased elaborate furniture for his office that Fisher was forced to return. Some to the Farmers Okla. State Office, was rumored. Gov. Brad Henry appointed
Kim Holland as Ins. Commissioner in 2005 and she won the seat in a state-wide election
from 2006-2010.-ed
-The eventual GOP nominee will face Democratic incumbent Kim Holland of Tulsa.
-Croucher said he likely will issue an official endorsement of Crawford's candidacy.
-Doak said he will remind voters that Crawford was the target of an FBI investigation before losing his bid in 1998 to be re-elected as insurance commissioner. [Crawford was under FBI investigation involving computer software contract]
-Crawford, who was never charged with a crime, said he's "squeaky clean" and won't run a negative campaign. Tulsa World 7/28/10
Deteriorating Agents Rehabilitation Guidelines (aka DARG)
Oklahoma UFAA members are still waiting on Commissioner Holland's decision from 2006
request on the company's DARG program following 5 Okla. Farmers Agents complaints to the DOI Fraud Unit when UFAA explained to Holland, her legal staff and deputy commissioners in a Sept 6, 2006 meeting that DARG is
further defined as "Defrauding Agents via Racketeering and Grand theft" of future renewals and careers, a criminal activity and not a civil contract dispute issue.
The policy proceeds from terminated agents are seemingly used to the advantage of the criminal activity with a 60% profit gain by reducing the normal commission payout to 40% to newer and some seasoned agents while the reduced commission incomes appear as an offset, to further reduce the subsidy payment guarantees to newer agents to the apparent advantage of and to propel the continuing criminal activity as the cycle continues. Such activity appears to violate the fraud and conspiracy laws of Oklahoma and may border on, if not crossing the line, of the Federal Racketeering Influence of Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Two Insurance Dept. staff attorneys who were present in the meeting seemingly understood the allegations. Holland stated she would make a DARG decision after the 2006 November elections and holidays.
Farmers FEA-PAC* gave $4,000 to Holland's 2006 campaign - $1,000 1/24/06, then, $1,500 09/29/06 and $1,500 10/11/06, following the UFAA meeting with Holland. UFAA's email follow ups to Holland on the DARG issue were never answered while the 5 agent's complaints to the Dept's Fraud Unit just seemingly evaporated within the DOI. However, With a few exceptions, DARG has since been nearly a mute subject in Okla.
One of the agent complainants to the Dept's Fraud Unit was Mickey Bilby of Tulsa who was present at the Holland meeting and had been DARGed and simply wanted to use his contractual "Family Rights" provision to transfer his agency to his dad, Harold Bilby, a 45 year Farmers Agent. Younger Bilby was to become a producer in the agency. Farmers refused the request that resulted in the Bilby's litigation, partially backed by UFAA, that successfully overturned Farmers refusal creating new corporate procedures on handling Family Rights, known in UFAA circles, as the "Bilby Bulletin." The Bilbys remain in business today.-ed
*FEA-PAC contributions from the Okla. Ethics Comm public access database which contains the names of each Farmers employee and Agent contributing $50+.
Just more UFAA examples of "Agents Helping Agents" (TM) behind the scenes.
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Time is running out as newer agents run to daylight, while seasoned agents run for the exit. | Greetings!
We saved these educational articles until last showing current company ratings and a history over both 5 and 10 years.
Are you curious how Farmers Management's expertise & success compares to their other peer P&C insurance groups over the last 5 and 10 years? Review the rating and ranking articles below.
Ward Group Names Top 50
Performing P/C Insurers over last 5 yrs.
The Ward Group has named the
top 50 property/casualty insurers, based
on its evaluation of more than 3,000 companies domiciled in the United
States.Your challenge is to find Farmers.
============================
JD POWER 2010 Customer Satisfaction Ratings and Rankings
In 2008, Farmers ranked #14 with a score of 849 out of 1,000 points
In 2009, Farmers ranked #18 with a score of 843
In 2010, here's the results. PS: 21st Century received a JD Power Call Center Award.
====================================
Property/Casualty Insurer Long-Term
Financial Performance Decade In Review: 2000−2009- Fitch Solutions, Inc.
 Except
as permitted herein, [United Farmers Agent Association - Oklahoma Voice Publication] none of the fitch, inc. information may be copied or
otherwise reproduced, repackaged, further transmitted, transferred,
disseminated, redistributed, sold or resold, or stored for subsequent use for
any such purpose, in whole or in part, in any form or manner or by any means
whatsoever, by any person without Fitch, Inc.'s prior written consent. {Fitch Solutions]
This copyrighted multi-page Fitch Solutions 5 & 10 year review Special Report will open in Adobe
.PDF format. An easy way to cherry pick specific information is to type Farmers in the Adobe search/find box at the top of the
report page and hit the enter key to jump forward. You can repeat
using Zurich in the search/find box. Otherwise, it's a
nearly easy must read report, detailed and revealing. Note
where Farmers and Zurich ranks compared to the gold bar noting the industry average on most all graphs. And, they are firing agents for low numbers? Here's a rare peek at FGI's long term numbers over a 5 & 10 year period.
[Fitch Solutions & Ratings]: Property/Casualty Insurers U.S. Special Report
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Check out the UFAA  Chapter 15 Home Page
with more Farmers, industry news, lots of member benefit information, newsletter archives and breaking news too late to publish above.
Chapter 15 HOME PAGE Link << click for more info on headlines below.
FIG ramps up Independent Agent support-
Grand
Rapids Community College to help coordinate training of 1,300
new (Foremost) Farmers Insurance Group workers
When Farmers refers to "We are Family"- Here are the words-
Airship Ventures and Farmers Insurance
Extend
Marketing Relationship
Are your kids or gkids making these new fad Drano bombs? Extremely dangerous. Juvenile home-made bomb goes bad. Video on home page.
Have you heard of Qui-Bids Auction site based in OKC?
Save up to 95% on brand new popular products. Check it out on our home page link above.
Who is the Oklahoma Farmers Employees & Agents
Political Action Committee (FEA-PAC) Supporting? Our home page will reveal the candidates and contribution amounts for 2010
State Insurance Dept. Demands Farmers to Issue $32 Million in Rebates on renewals while Lowering Auto Rates by $72 Million.
Will Agents be hit for $3.2 million in charge backs on rebates?
Reminder: From the Oklahoma Ins. Dept: The
administrative fee for submission of a change of address or name more
than thirty (30) days after the change occurred shall be Fifty Dollars
($50.00). Have you missed past issues of the Okla. Voice? If you missed past issues, you can access them and article headlines above on our home page link above.
The Oklahoma Voice is seeking some "good news" to print. Does anyone have an article of interest for the agency force? Contact the editor
We just can't make it much easier. Just mouse the logo above to obtain the membership application. Fill it out; attached a check and mail or use the bank card option and fax it to 1-314-631-7963. United we stand. Divided we fall. |
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