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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 |
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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
United Farmers Agents Assn. National Office 800-275-8668
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.Write Chapter 15 on app.
United Farmers Agents Association Web Site
UFAA Chapter 15 Newsletter Archive & Homepage
Letters to the Editor
 Learn more about our advertisers in this issue. Ads are hot links to their websites.
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 Attention UFAA Chapter 15 Members
Holiday Party- Final day to R.S.V.P is Nov 30th
The Chapter 15 2010 Holiday Party is scheduled for Dec 4th. Member invitations were emailed on Nov. 8th with reminders sent on Nov. 17th. If you, as a Chapter 15 member, did not receive an invitation, or have yet to register, you may view it here. Use our EZ on line registration link included in the invitation to reserve your seating for this R.S.V.P. event.
Register today! as our automated online registration cut-off occurs at the midnight Nov. 30th deadline or if seating capacity is full whichever occurs first. Those members who have already registered online and received an email confirmation for the party, "Thank You" and we look forward to seeing you on Dec 4th. As of this writing, all on line R.S.V.P. reserved seating is nearing 70% capacity.
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N O T I C E: UFAA Chapter 15 2011 Officer Elections:
Chapter 15 Elections to be held at December 1, 2010 Meeting for President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer. The Chapter voted in November to add an additional chapter officer in 2011 bringing the total to five. The new position will be called Immediate Past-President. An odd number is needed when officers vote and a tie vote occurs. And, if a majority of the board is replaced in an election, the Immediate Past President provides continuity and experience to those newly elected. The Immediate Past President is a non-elected position. Tulsa Stats on Number of UM'ers Cited
Tulsa Police report in 2009, there were 8,900 citations issued for no auto insurance while 11 more were cited for using false proof of insurance document. Through Oct, 2010, 7,100 cites have been issued for the same offenses. This averages 25 drivers a day that cops have contact with that are likely uninsured. Eff: Nov 1st, officers can tow vehicles on public roads of those who can not prove insurance.
Can you hear me now?
TEXTING/TALK Law Effective Nov 1st
Those drivers ages 16 & 17 on a graduated license are banned from text/talk unless it is an emergency. Those 18 years+ can be stopped if their driving draws the officer's attention and if determined phone use, the driver can be cited for Inattentive Driving- for failing to promote full attention to driving. Source: Off. Craig Murry, TPD
Eff: Nov. 1st Cops can now tow vehicles
The lesson here is not to text-talk and to carry auto insurance as cops can now tow vehicles without Insurance. You could be driving your Nikes to your destination, step by step. With the $300 inattentive citation, you will receive the traffic infractions cite that grabbed the officer's attention. You will face wrecker costs for towing from scene and $24/day storage fees until you can prove ownership, insurance and pay wrecker/storage fees to release the impounded vehicle. Plus, if convicted of no insurance, you will have your drivers license revoked. "Can you hear me now?" -ed
What action would you take if client wants to reinstate an auto policy, admitting a no insurance citation was issued about two hours ago and vehicle impounded?
Pulse of the Agents POLL
FEEDBACK: The Oklahoma Voice would like to know why you chose the answer on the above poll or, if you would take a different action other than shown in the poll. Tell us what your actions would be. You will be signed as Okie Agent unless otherwise requested. -ed
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 Greetings!
 Hey Farmers! Experience Counts!
Okie Agent: "John Doak has spent most of his adult life providing insurance options to Oklahomans, particularly in the Tulsa area."
08/02/10 Kim Decker: "Thanks! I am aware of that." "Nonetheless, we believe that Commissioner Holland has done an outstanding job as Insurance Commissioner, and, therefore, we support her re-election. By the way, Holland began working in the insurance industry (in her grandmother's agency) when she was in her teens."
Kim Decker, [Farmer's Okla. Lobbyist] Oklahoma Government Affairs Senior Representative
Okla Vote Tally Nov 2, 2010 FOR INSURANCE COMMISSIONER 2229 OF 2229 PCTS REPORTING JOHN DOAK REP 555,740 54.48%
KIM HOLLAND DEM 464,310 45.52%
A Month After Votes are Counted, FEA-PAC Now Jumps in with Support
Please join us at a fund raising reception for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner-ElectJohn Doak Monday, December 6, 2010 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Leon's 3301 S. PeoriaTulsa, OK 74105 RSVP to Kim Decker at (405) 603-4134 or at e-mail kim@deckersok.com.RSVP's by 12-3-10 would be appreciated. Business Attire If you cannot attend, but would like to contribute, please make checks payable to 2010 Friends of John Doak.
Several UFAA Chapter 15 members and non member agents have worked with the Doak Campaign as volunteers and/or contributors during both Doak's successful 71% margin August 24 Run Off election against 1998 Commissioner John Crawford and again in the November General Elections against current Commissioner Holland. -ed
Holland Posts Humble Thanks to her Supporters on Internet
November 3, 2010 Dear friends:
First let me thank you for your support, encouragement, and engagement over these many campaign months and the almost six years I've held office as your insurance commissioner. It has been a privilege to serve you and the citizens of our state. I took office with a commitment to restore integrity to the Insurance Department and create an agency that truly serves the people. With the help of an extraordinary team of professionals, we accomplished both and much, much more.
You have my commitment that Mr. Doak will be extended every opportunity to know the good work and fine people of the Oklahoma Insurance Department in order to achieve a successful transition in January.
In the interim, know that we will remain vigilant in our efforts to protect Oklahoma citizens. I am grateful for your dedication to our purpose.
Humbly,
Kim Holland
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 Greetings! 50% Off Thru Dec 13th $300/week NEXT SUMMER, THIS WILL RENT FOR AS MUCH AS $1600/WEEK, REFERRALS PAID 10% Contact Glenn at glenn@gjohnsonagency.com for additional information. Click pic for panoramic view 07/11
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Published in 2010: APR, AUG, OCT, NOV & DEC ISSUES
B e t t e r B u s i n e s s B u r e a u
UPDATE: Partial Success- HelpPoint locations in OKC now rated A+
Several agents clicked on the OKC address "F" rated BBB links listed in our last issue to view the HelpPoint failing ratings. Unfortunately, the two OKC links were a no hit..When this article was originally created and links rechecked monthly, there were both Help
Point claim offices and several individual agent offices shown on the Oklahoma City BBB listing under Farmers Insurance. A new link has been established for this search criteria to a page listing one entry: Farmers Insurance Headquarters now showing both OKC HelpPoint locations and Farmers Corporate with A+ BBB rating and BBB Accredited Business membership. There are 229 complaint statistics.
Unfortunately, Farmers Tulsa Property Office still shows "F" rating.
 BBB Reliability Report forFarmers Insurance HelpPoint
Tulsa Property Office "F"
Farmers Insurance - Property Phone: (918) 660-8866 Address: PO Box 470244 Tulsa, OK 74147 Click Tulsa blue address above for BBB report and grade. The Oklahoma Voice has published these Farmers Claims ratings from the BBB five times over the last 9 months. This article will run until it improves as this is openly Internet available to you and all your current and prospective clients. -ed
 UPDATE #2- Go Figure. Just prior to releasing this issue, we checked the OKC HelpPoint ratings again. Sure enough, it changed again, first from "F" to "A+" and as of 11.26.10 both Farmers OKC HelpPoints including Farmers Corporate are now rated NR "no rating" out of the L.A. BBB link. It now shows 262 complaints with a BBB Trust Link satisfaction rating of 3 of 5 stars, with customer on-line mixed reviews that can be shared with many social media sites.-ed "Agents Helping Agents"tm
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 Confirmit & Farmers Insurance Recognized for Business Intelligence ExcellenceCustomer Experience Program receives 2010 Vision Award for Business Impact by BeyeNETWORK New York, NY and Oslo, Norway (PRWEB) November 9, 2010 Confirmit, the largest global software vendor for Customer Feedback, Employee Feedback and Market Research has announced that it has been named a 2010 Vision Award for Business Impact winner by BeyeNETWORK. The award, in the Operational BI category, recognizes Farmers' use of the Confirmit platform to provide exceptional customer service and gain a strategic advantage in a highly competitive industry.
Gary Schwartz, SVP Marketing at Confirmit comments "It's great to see Confirmit being recognized as a key contributor in the Business Intelligence sector. The industry-leading program that Farmers has created is a fantastic example of what companies can achieve by implementing the platform and building a culture of continuous improvement." Laurie Freres, Senior Consumer Insights Manager at Farmers Insurance adds "I'm delighted that our Voice of the Customer program has been recognized in this way. The program's impact on our organization has been extraordinary, with no area of the company unaffected. We're meeting the needs of our agents more effectively and more quickly than ever before, and this award will ensure we maintain our drive for continuous improvement." Panel judge William McKnight of McKnight Consulting comments "This implementation hit an impressive number of business areas - agent satisfaction, customer satisfaction and turnaround time. I was impressed by the operational aspects of tying feedback requests to a specific call center interaction." PULSE OF THE AGENTS POLL ================
Farmers Insurance appoints new senior vice president of Field Operations, Southwest Zone that includes states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma & Arkansas. Farmers Insurance, a US subsidiary of Zurich Financial Service, has appointed Rick Shriver as senior vice president of Field Operations, Southwest Zone, who is currently vice president of Commercial Marketing. More...
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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 and/or logos are the respective products or trademarks of their respective owners. |
Companies Yank cord on residential phone books
By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM, AP Business Writer Michael Felberbaum, Ap Business Writer - Thu Nov 11, 2:06 pm ET RICHMOND, Va. - What's black and white and read all over? Not the white pages, which is why regulators have begun granting telecommunications companies the go-ahead to stop mass-printing residential phone books, a musty fixture of Americans' kitchen counters, refrigerator tops and junk drawers. In the past month alone, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania approved Verizon Communications Inc.'s request to quit distributing residential white pages. Residents in Virginia have until Nov. 19 to provide comments on a similar request pending with state regulators.
Telephone companies argue that most consumers now check the Internet rather than flip through pages when they want to reach out and touch someone."Anybody who doesn't have access to some kind of online way to look things up now is probably too old to be able to read the print in the white pages anyway," joked Robert Thompson, a pop culture professor at Syracuse University.
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 Greetings!
It's Your Turn to Survey the Okla. Agents
through the UFAA Chapter 15 Oklahoma Voice
It's time for the Chapter 15 Annual Agent Survey and we need your help and input on the topics to survey the Oklahoma Agency Force. This is your survey, so, pick a good topic question and suggest the answers, such as- this sample question-
"Based on your 2010 Farmers 1099, was it higher, lower or about the same as 2009?"
(Dashboard: Managing >e-folio> Reports> 2010 & 2009 archive)
^^^^^ If the question requires simple dashboard research, please map the way to the information as FIG has changed many dashboard report locations, now hard to find. This will enhance participation in answering your survey question. And, may educate agents on how to find a report location and information on their agency as part of our ongoing "Agents Helping Agents"tm Program.
The Oklahoma Voice editorial staff will review your submitted questions and select those that have the widest appeal and of general interest to the agency force and place them in a comprehensive agent survey for January 2011 issue.
Sure we can! If you have a short comment to make rather than a survey question- send it in. Simply click the survey link below and go for it! Survey results to be published in February 2011 issue of the Oklahoma Voice.
FAQ: All submissions will remain anonymous unless otherwise requested. Selected Submissions may edited for length, clarity and spelling. We only know submissions come from our listing of current or past agents, not their identity. So, submit it right the first time. If your submission is unclear, we will not be able to follow up with you with our questions or clarifications. You may submit more than one question or comment. Deadline for submissions Christmas Eve, Dec 24th -Editor Thanks in advance for "Agents Helping Agents!"tm
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Bethel Collision Center in Broken ArrowBBB Rated A+
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Ads are now hot links to websites
Support Our
Advertisers
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.
 Ads are hot links to our advertisers websites. Click any ad.
ads rotated for 12/10 issue.
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Pulse of the Agents Poll Results from Nov. 2010 IssueWhy do you believe 83 Farmers Agents left their agencies during Jun- Aug, 2010?
Weren't cutting the new contract quotas (new agts)
 6% Discouraged over promises that aren't there (new agts)
12% The majority were seasoned agents who retired
0% Farmers Latest and Greatest FA2
59%
None of the above or "Other Reasons"
24%
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If you have received your 2011 Farmers - Aetna Medical rates or your outside carrier's rates- What is your impression of Obama Care?
I am IMPRESSED with my Farmers- Aetna rates
0%
I am DEPRESSED with my Farmers- Aetna rates
41%
I am IMPRESSED with my outside carrier rates
29% I am DEPRESSED with my outside carrier rates
18% I don't have medical insurance. I have to eat!
12%
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Double Jeopardy Subsidy?
The company's stated contribution to agent medical premium subsidy has grown from 27%, years ago, to 52% today.
Does it appear the company paid subsidy on agent only portion of the family medical premiums is recovered on dependent(s) premium overcharges?
hint- Is suspected overcharge near amount added on your 1099 as normal income subject to all taxes?
FIG-Aetna Premium Subsidy POLL
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7 More Agents Leave Their Agency
No Satisfaction?
According to the Oklahoma Voice report of non-existent farmersagent.com email addresses, 7 were returned after we emailed the Nov. Issue. These are agents that left in Oct. or prior. Here's our count to date.
Jan thru Apr 88
May 5
June 30
July 29
Aug/Sept 24
Oct 6
Nov 7
Total 189 YTD
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Pulse of the Agents Poll Results continued
Do you believe the conversion process from legacy to FA2 Auto is based on skewed data that no one can explain or audit for accuracy?
YES
100%
NO
0%
Dashboard Internal Rate Processing
One agent remarked, "It's like somebody on the other end of the Dashboard System throws a dart at a large rate chart on the wall. Whatever rate the dart hits is your customer's quote."
Looks like 100% of responding agents may agree. Did you know, Games of Chance are illegal in Okla? Games of Skill are okay. -ed
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Crapolla- The more they stir it, the worse it stinks
Dear Okla Voice,
Two insureds called because they received a bill after they had paid the premium before the due date. Serviceless Point acknowledged that the system had dropped the Paid In Full discount and corrected. When I mentioned to the second serviceless helper that I had a previous insured with the same problem today, he replied they were aware of the problem, "Happens all the time." Since the discount is, at times, a significant amount, I wonder how many customers just pay the bill then think about shopping when they get another bill. Just another Monday, I guess. Okie Agent.
Correction, Okie Agent. You mean just another day of putting out fires on errors that just never go away. There are strong rumors circulating among UFAA members that it's sloppy jalopy off-shore Dashboard programming that just can't get it right; both saving & making FIG BIG profits, while many agents are going in debt.
Remember, ServicePoint employees hear the same problems multiple times daily. They do their best to handle agency problems, within their extremely limited authority on problems they did not create. -ed
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 High Medical Premium Renewals vs. Bankruptcy?
Decisions? Decisions?
Dear Okla. Voice, I nearly had a heart attack when I received Farmers Benefits Package in October. Like the agent contributor's article last month, my family medical premiums also skyrocketed. After a few calls to Home Office Benefits and to the Ho-Hum Aetna 3rd party administrator, I was still perplexed. Luckily, the timing seemed right, as I qualified for Medicare the end of 2010. So, I could drop my company medical for 2011. Even doing that was not an advantage, as I lose spousal dependent coverage. Her medical bills run about $8k every 6 weeks and Aetna pays about $4k under contract with the doctor. I was looking at medical bancruptcy if I lost her coverage. In desperation, I called your editor to find out the author of last month's article as our situations seemed very similar. I wanted to know if the author had discovered a solution I was missing. Your editor asked if I was a UFAA member. I said I was. He took my name & phone number and said he would verify membership and call the author (member) and ask him to call me. Less than an hour later the phone rings. We discussed our mutual medical situation and I discovered his situation was an exact carbon copy of mine. "Did you get an affordable and workable solution," I asked. "Sure did," came the reply and he gave me a direct line phone # to an individual in Farmer's Home Office. "She's great and very knowledgeable," he told me. "You will be impressed with the professionalism, results and large reduction in premiums with the recommendations to keep your wife's coverage," he told me. "Don't let a higher deductible scare you as there is a helpful solution to that too," he continued. "WOW!" I said. "Sounds like you just saved me from medical bancruptcy, thank you." "Yes, I was facing the same problem," he said, "But, with "Agents Helping Agents"tm you too can enjoy the outstanding benefits of your UFAA membership, as I was led to the saving grace of the home office individual by yet another UFAA Member," he said, as we terminated the call. Those monthly UFAA dues just saved me tens of thousands of dollars, my business my home, my savings and my dignity. Now, I can get a good night's sleep. Thanks UFAA! Arkie Agent. If Chapter 15 Members need more details contact ufaa15editor@ufaa.com for a referral to medical premium savings and coverage salvation, all still through Farmers-Aetna. Farmers enrollment period runs through December 18, 2010 for renewals, changes or dumping coverage for 2011. -ed
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| | Click on the UFAA Logo to go to ufaa.com |
Have you viewed the UFAA Website lately? It's been updated
and more user friendly too. Here's a sample article.
As the Membership Director, I would like to take a moment to let you know what UFAA has done for you and some of the benefits that you get as a Full UFAA Member.
Our Quarterly magazine, The Voice, is published with you, the agents, in mind. We regularly address issues, report on current events, and provide the agency force with a chance to freely express their opinions
Our past legal endeavors now allow you to have that PC on your desk Our nationwide activities opposing agent-owned ACA accounts led to the management company creating a company-owned ACA-saving you money
> Our efforts on the national level, in conjunction with the CEAA, effectively eliminated the 15.3% SECA tax on your contract value > Constant questions from our membership nationwide led to our introduction of a UFAA sponsored E&O program > Membership gives you access to our extensive legal library and our archive of Farmers historical documents > UFAA offers a Pre-paid Legal program and an Affinity Marketing Program through Prepaid Legal Services, Inc > We introduced the "Original" E&O Deductible Recovery Program to help you earn more money from outside business without the worry of a large deductible > Our outside legal opinion of the HMA agreement was designed to assist you in making decisions about your future > Our efforts on the national level defeated legislation designed to change the IRS definition of independent contractors - a change that would have adversely affected our livelihoods > Pro-agent legislation has been introduced in many states - and passed in several - that benefits all exclusive agents > UFAA Technology Services, a subsidiary of UFAA, will assist members with computer hardware and software questions and problems, recommend computer programs to assist members in operating their offices and recommend hardware configurations > As a member of UFAA you can log onto the member's only section of our Internet Website, www.ufaa.com, for the most up to date information available to the Agency Force. > Members have access to affordable website development and free email > We have introduced a 401K and profit sharing program exclusively for our members, which includes a greatly reduced rate for payroll services. > We are actively involved in both national and state legislative efforts that are favorable to our interests > Members enjoy the benefit of our Agent Referral Program for clients needing coverage at a vacation home or for that college student out of state > Legal referral and assistance is also available to our membership > 25% of your membership dues returns back to your local chapter > UFAA holds a National Convention every year for its membership to gather, meet and socialize with old acquaintances and make new friends along with offering compelling and informative discussions and presentations to attendees > UFAA members also have access to discounted continuing education
As always we are always working on offering more and more benefits to our membership. If you have any other questions about the benefits of joining UFAA or a suggestion on a benefit for our membership feel free to contact one of the National Officers or Chapter Presidents. All contact information can be found by clicking here" Source ufaa.com
In addition to above, Eastern Oklahoma Chapter 15 members also network at regularly scheduled monthly UFAA Luncheons and receive a monthly newsletter- The Oklahoma Voice. -ed
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Check out the UFAA  Chapter 15 Home Pagewith more Farmers, industry news, lots of member benefit information, newsletter archives and breaking news too late to publish above.
Double Ouch!
Farmers terminates agent for switching insurance from the Companies
to other carriers and withholds nearly quarter million in Contract Value for alleged embezzlement. Read the interesting court case here
 Quick reference Advertiser listing in this issueChapter 15 HOME PAGE Link
WOW! UFAA emails an Open Letter to all DMs
UFAA Vacation Membership Drive
Who is Farmers Lobbying in Okla?
Agents are the Driving Force of Farmers
Who is Farmers making Political Contributions to in Okla?
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 other article headlines on our Chapter 15 Home Page Link above.
We just can't make it much easier. Just mouse the Join Ufaa logo to obtain the a 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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