Photos Required for Proof-of-Loss – Are You Prepared?The Wise Crack - January-February 2007The Wise Crack, published bi-monthly, is the most widely circulated windshield repair newsletter available! It includes windshield repair tips, news, & marketing advice. Subscribe today!
As reported by the National Windshield Repair Association on November 8,
2006, a Massachusetts insurance company is now requiring glass repair and
replacement companies to submit digital photographs of all damaged glass as
proof-of-loss on glass claims. Please click on the following link to read
the NWRA news update.
http://www.nwraassociation.org/documents/nwranewsalert1108pdf.pdf (PDF
Link). | The directive took effect on October 16, 2006, so those of you repairing windshields in Massachusetts are already well aware of the change. Those of you not repairing windshields in Massachusetts will not be affected for now, however I think that that other insurance companies will be keeping an eye on this program, and if successful, may well follow suit. Whether for or against using photos for the purpose of proof-of-loss, one can certainly understand the benefits for an insurance company. A series of photos showing the license plate, VIN, type of damage, and location of damaged area, will certainly make it more difficult for dishonest repair technicians to file false claims. This is not only a benefit for the insurance company, but also for the consumer and the honest repair technician. I also think that taking photos of a vehicle to note any damage prior to starting a repair is a good idea. Not only does it help protect your liability for a customer’s vehicle, but it also takes your professionalism to a new level. While no action is required at this time for those of us outside Massachusetts, I always recommend thinking one step ahead. How are you currently submitting insurance claims? If you use a third party claims administrator, do they have the capability to receive digital picture files? If not, or if you don’t know, I strongly recommend that you get a system in place so you don’t miss a beat in the event other insurance companies adopt this policy in the future. Using eDirectGlass to submit and manage your insurance claims, you can easily upload your digital photos and attach them to your customer’s claim. Not only will the insurance company get the information they require, but you will also have ready access to any photos that you wish to attach to the claim for future reference. If you are still faxing in your claims, please give Delta Kits a call to see which option is right for your future insurance billing needs. -Brent Deines
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