Member FAQ recommendation on whether or not we should do or continue to do business with a specific carrier?
ANSWER: IA&B does not, and
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technically cannot, provide any advice or recommendation in that area, for a couple of different reasons. We can, however, provide you with some “food for thought” in assessing your relationship with various carriers. So, read on! Why IA&B can’t provide advice Antitrust laws place strict limitations on anything that could be deemed an “agreement” to act in concert, including whether to do business or not to do business with a particular company (a.k.a. a boycott).
One tool that can be, and is increasingly, used in assessing companies is IA&B’s “CSI” (stands for Company Satisfaction Index). The CSI is a biennial report card developed from a membership-wide survey. Interestingly enough, the tool is also increasingly used by carriers themselves to see how they are viewed by producers as a group. The CSI does not address any specific products, but rates the companies on four categories:
w Agency/Company Relationship, and w Technology; The information is found at www.iabgroup.com (go to Carrier Relationships, then Company Satisfaction Index).
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? E-mail it to us at iab@iabgroup.com. Please use “Primary Agent FAQ” in the subject line of your message. You can also fax your question to (717) 795-8347. We look forward to answering your questions!
w Products, Pricing & Underwriting, w Policy Service & Claims,
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS PRODUCE RESULTS There is no better time to become part of The Cumberland Insurance Group Team. We are now appointing agents in Central Pennsylvania.
Commercial and Personal Lines Competitive Commissions Exceptional Customer Service Financial Strength Experienced Underwriters Marketing Support
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What to do Members must individually assess the financial strength and the integrity of the carriers with which they do business. Some criteria will likely be similar from
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Contact Amber J. Ayrer at 800-232-6992, ext. 1237 or aayrer@cumberlandgroup.com
Celebrating 166 years of service [5]
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Producers are all considered competitors under law. If you have attended an IA&B seminar or meeting, you may have noticed a statement at the beginning of every class reiterating the requirement to comply with antitrust laws: in substance, the statement reminds participants that they must refrain from exchanging information regarding price, refusals to deal or agreements to proceed in certain anti-competitive respects. This is not to say that you cannot name a company or say anything about it, but the nature of what can be said is restricted. For IA&B — as an association — to recommend that you refrain from doing business with a particular carrier could be deemed an “agreement” among competitors to take concerted action.
one agency to the next (obviously, the company’s financial rating comes to mind), others may differ: products, claims handling, underwriting, technology, ease of doing business… and sometimes, quite simply, trust.
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QUESTION: Do you have any
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