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... x No Thanks Loading.. The Phantom Rolls Royce 5/6 /2013 by CompleteMarkets Editor , Barry Zalma This content has not been rated yet. In California and several other states, before a car can be insured, the agent must photograph the car and its vehicle identification number. This regulation is an effective weapon against fraudulent auto-theft claims. But in one case, an insured managed to purchase Physical Damage insurance on a Rolls-Royce before the regulation was fully effective. His planning was flawless. He was thwarted in his efforts only because of the actions of a dedicated, thorough investigator. To start his plan, the insured went to a Beverly Hills classic automobile dealer and took two Polaroid photographs (slightly out of focus) of a 1946 Rolls Royce. Unlike modern cars, the Rolls did not have its vehicle-identification number beneath its windshield. It was written on the specification sheet provided to him by the dealer. The insured began to create an artificial 1946 Rolls-Royce. First, he visited the Department of Motor Vehicles and obtained forms from the department for the issuance of replacement title and registration documents. He then filled out the documents with a vehicle identification number similar to the one in the showroom, but 200 digits higher. He also filled out a sworn declaration of lost title and signed it with the name John Jones, vice president, Lincoln Savings and Loan, the lender. The Department of Motor Vehicles processed his application for lost title and registration without an inquiry. A new ownership certificate showing ownership by Lincoln Savings & Loan was then issued and delivered to the insured's post office ...

... name and the agency insignia. Announcement letters can be mailed to 100 of the producer's select clients informing them of the selection and honor. To make it on the "Wall of Fame," a producer should have: met specific production goals, completed specific educational courses, met a specific percentage increase over previous year's production, and been recognized as a top performer an established period of times consecutively. Agent-of-the-Month Award-You can assign points based on production or base the award on the producer's premium volume as a qualification for the Agent-of-the-Month award. See the "Life Production" graph at the end of this section. In order to qualify, the producer must meet a minimum of, for example, $5 ,000 of annualized first-year commissions during the particular month. Send a press release and a photograph of the agent to local newspapers. Make copies of the newspaper article and send them to the producer's top 50 or 100 clients. Agency Dedicator Program-This program provides recognition each month to those producers who, during the month, produce $5 ,000 in annualized first-year commissions. You can present an engraved trophy to each agent who qualified as a "dedicator"eight times or more in one year. New Producer Club-Organize a special club for trainee producers. If the trainee pays for 12 cases or more in a month, the producer and spouse will be your guests for a gourmet dinner. This also helps the new producer's spouse get better acquainted and feel a part of the agency. Lead-Day Participants-You can choose to assign qualified producers a "lead day." This means you give the ...

... has already used the mark in commerce and bases the filing on use in commerce, he or she must submit three specimens per class showing use of the mark in commerce with the application. If, instead, the application is based on a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce, the applicant must submit three specimens per class when filing either an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use. What to File as a Specimen The specimens must be actual samples of how the mark is being used in commerce. The specimens may be identical or examples of three different uses showing the same mark. If the mark is used on goods, examples of acceptable specimens are the tags or labels attached to the goods, containers for the goods, displays associated with the goods, or photographs of the goods showing use of the mark on the goods themselves. If it's impractical to send an actual specimen because of its size, photographs or other acceptable reproductions that show the mark on the goods or packaging for the goods must be furnished. Invoices, announcements, order forms, bills of lading, leaflets, brochures, catalogs, publicity releases, letterhead, and business cards generally are not acceptable specimens. If the mark is used for services, examples of acceptable specimens are signs, brochures, advertisements, business cards or stationery that shows the mark in connection with the services, or photographs that show the mark as used in the rendering or advertising of the services. In the case of a service mark, the specimens must either show the mark and include some clear reference to ...

... x No Thanks Loading.. Public Relations: An Investigation 4/30/2013 by Jack Burke This content has not been rated yet. Unfortunately, too many insurance agencies define public relations as sending out a story on employee promotions with photograph attached. Hundreds of articles have been written on the how-to's and 1-2-3s of public relations (PR), but few take the time to examine the actual concept of public relations and the agency's or company's role within that context. First, let's divide PR into three very distinct categories: the general public (your Personal Lines markets), the business public (your Commercial Lines markets) and the trade public (your peers) . IMMS Silver Membership predominantly deals with Commercial Lines, so it's too bad that a public relations campaign for the business public is the most difficult to develop and nurture. (Trade relations are generally the easiest, with the general public falling in the middle.) This article examines each of these categories independently, with ample cross-referencing. The Trade Public An agency or brokerage owner might ask, Why worry about relations within the insurance industry? ' There are any number of reasons, a few of which are: 1. PERCEIVED AGENCY VALUE. Every day we are seeing agencies bought, sold, merged, and clustered. We are also seeing agencies not being bought, not being sold, not merging, and not clustering. Public relations within the industry can alter your agency's perceived value. If other agency owners continually hear about your agency, its value is psychologically enhanced- which can translate into added dollars if you ...

... insurance other than Earthquake coverage will pay for property repairs. Insurance policies can pay for repairing many of a building's components. For example, pre-earthquake damage caused by faulty plumbing and electrical or mechanical systems may be covered. Many older buildings have asbestos in cottage cheese' ceilings or as part of the building's insulation; for these, special and separate repair measures may be covered by Liability policies. Third-party liability provides a significant source of funds for repair. For example, damage may be the result of poor construction. Experts should determine whether the property had met codes and standards, including seismic safety standards. If the building was defectively constructed and the defects contributed to the earthquake damage, the builder or prior owner may be liable for the cost of repair. It is important to take lots of photographs of the property's damage. Pictures of newly exposed beams and other normally hidden parts of the structure can be particularly valuable. Ideally, a construction expert should inspect the nature of the damage. It's best that this expert be hired by the owner's attorney rather than the owner directly, even though the owner will pay for the services. This allows attorney-client privilege to cover the expert's report, lending greater flexibility to the owner's case. Even if this consulting' expert is not an expert in litigation, he or she will be able to provide the attorney with the factual basis for knowing if a claim exists and how that claim can best be proven. The Mortgage Factor Because the mortgage holder is named as an additional insured, any checks from the insurance company require the lender's endorsement. As ...

...l help, graphic designers, and photographers. Additionally, many independents ...

... The responses from subsequent seminars began coming in immediately, producing nearly three times more registrations than in the past. If it looks like junk mail, it is junk mail. If the presentation looks second-rate, so will the product. Be genuine. Why do so many businesses (of all sizes) have an inferiority complex? Why do they want to portray themselves as something different than what they are? The answer: They're not sure that what they are is acceptable to someone else — especially to prospective customers. In a highly competitive business environment, the temptation to alter reality becomes increasingly severe. The same businesses that complain about job applicants who "enhance" their resumes do the same thing when presenting themselves. Their brochures are filled with hyperbole. How often has a company used a photograph of the building where its offices are located, implying that it owns the entire skyscraper? How many companies insist on including products and services that they can't deliver in their promotional literature? Irrational? Of course — and unnecessary, too. Inferiority complexes can cause businesses (like individuals) to behave inappropriately and push others away. The goal is to be genuine. Most businesses have more expertise, experience, and knowledge than customers ever know — that's what today's customers are seeking. It's intellectual capital that counts today. Charlotte Otto, senior vice president for public affairs at Procter & Gamble, recommends that we look at ourselves as "knowledge engineers." Customers want credibility — a condition that occurs only when image is consistent with reality. Otherwise, the discomfort and dissonance raises a red ...

... attorney's office. On arrival, I found the witness attired in a dress and spike heels. He told me that he thought it would help him to recall the accident more clearly if he wore the same clothes he had on the night he witnessed the accident. Q: I work in California and have often seen identification cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. What can you tell me about these cards? A: The ID card consists of one letter and seven digits. Before 1990, they started with the letter U. From 1990 to 1993, the they started with the letter A. As of this writing, they're in a series that starts with B. There was never any explanation as to why they jumped from U to A. As with driver's licenses, the photograph appears in the lower left-hand corner. The identification card is valid for six years for individuals under the age of 65, and 10 years for those over 65. © Copyright, The John Cooke Fraud Report. Reprinted with permission. Login or Register (for FREE) to gain access to thousands of other great articles. Need more reasons to join? Need insurance for you, your business or your family? Get quality appointments - Save yourself a whole lot of time & money when you use our directory of carriers, wholesalers and service providers. Negotiate lucrative contracts with carriers and wholesalers. Net result. More revenue for your agency! Clients & Prospects will research you, your co-workers and your agency here. The most comprehensive online insurance industry reference library for - Personal Lines ...

... Completed ACORD applications for all lines of coverage requested. Never submit handwritten applications-ever. 2) A thoughtfully written cover letter over the signature of a respected member of the firm, briefly describing all operations and providing answers to questions which could arise during a review of the applications. These might include such issues as named insureds, wide swings in payrolls or sales, and changes in geographic exposures. 3) Documented loss history and analysis for all lines of coverage. Be sure to include insurance carrier loss runs, currently valued, for at least three full years plus several months of the current year. Your underwriter will be grateful, and perhaps more receptive, if you provide an experience recap to simplify the underwriting analysis. 4) Comment on the physical properties of the account, and include current photographs of representative locations or problem exposures. A good picture is worth a thousand words. 5) Identify who should be contacted at the agency for additional information or discussion. This seems to be simple but is rarely done, leading to unnecessary delays. Responses to carrier requests for additional information should be immediate to keep the interest at a high pitch. If you determine that the carrier is no longer in the hunt' (seeking business) compared to other carriers in the agency, they should be notify the proper person there. It poisons the company-agency relationship to waste time quoting when a party's out of the equation. 6) Furnish the current program structure if it's available to you (remember that you are working together), and spell out your pricing needs. This is a quick ...

... covering payroll expenses and protecting against the loss of suppliers and buyers, You should also consider other types of business insurance to minimize the damage from a catastrophe. In deciding on the policies that best fit your needs, ask yourself these questions: Are your coverage amounts and deductibles appropriate? For what types of disasters (perils) are you insured? Which perils are excluded specifically? Does your insurance provide adequate protection to senior management against litigation from inadequate business continuity planning? Does your coverage factor in inflation, improvements, and building code changes? Is your coverage for "replacement cost" or "actual value" (cost less depreciation)? Will your Business Interruption insurance pay loss of income and payroll expenses? Is your documentation (serial number, date of purchase, cost, receipts, photographs, etc.) current and detailed enough for your insurance company? Do you have the originals of all policies secured in a fireproof cabinet, or off site, with copies readily available? Are you covered for loss of power or other critical services? What about coverage for a denial of access order issued by civil authorities? Does your insurance cover losses from a disruption of transportation services? If the Disaster Management Team makes a "disaster declaration" will your insurance cover the costs charged by your alternate site vendor? What about the extra personnel and other costs associated with activating and operating the alternate site? Do you carry enough Life insurance on key executives? If you implement an effective Business Continuation Plan will your insurance premiums go down? Have you reviewed your coverage with your professional insurance ...