July/August 2005
An Anderson Insurance & Investment Agency, Inc. Publication
Volume 5, Issue 4
How Treating Insurance Company Reps Well
Could Save You Money!
By: Mark Kraemer
When an insurance company employee
visits your place of business, they’re
usually one of two types – either a Loss
Control Specialist or a Premium Auditor.
Both can influence your cost of insurance –
negatively or positively. Yet, they are often
treated like they have a highly
communicable disease and are shuffled off
to the lowest level employee with the
least amount of knowledge. Big mistake!
Despite what you may think, these folks
are human beings. They have feelings.
Treating them poorly can turn their feelings
against you. Treating them well can
influence a lower cost of insurance.
Unfortunately, these folks are often
given the runaround when trying to book
appointments for inspections or audits.
And when they finally get an appointment,
an unknowledgeable employee – with no
authority – is assigned to help them while
they’re on site. They are rarely, if ever,
treated warmly. And many have told me
they are viewed as an intrusion, a nuisance,
a pain in the neck, a waste of time and other
non-repeatable descriptions.
Instead of antagonizing these company
reps – people who can influence the cost of
your insurance – remember, here are some
suggested ways to treat your insurance
company reps like royalty:
•
Make sure your receptionist – or
whoever answers the phones –
knows who your insurance company
is. When a company rep calls, it’s a
great start for them to talk to a live
person and book an appointment
quickly.
•
•
Business
People: A
Secret Way To
Save Money
Page 1
Rental Car
Insurance –
What You
Need To
Know
Page 1
continued on page 2...
Straight Answers To The Nagging Questions
About Rental Car Insurance!
You’ve just started your vacation.
You’ve arrived at your destination,
collected your luggage, and are in the
process of renting a car. You’ve given
the person behind the counter your
drivers license and credit card, and now
you’re being asked if you want to buy
their insurance.
It’s expensive. Do you need it?
Well … it depends.
Using the Car for Business?
If you’re using the car for business
while on your trip, chances are your
personal auto policy will not cover you.
You definitely want to check with us
BEFORE you rent a car for business
purposes.
What’s
Inside
Damage to the Rental Car
If the rental car is damaged while in
your care and control, your personal
auto policy will cover those damages property damage coverage includes a
14 day limit for loss of use, collision
damage waiver and liability.
Personal car insurance coverage in
MN only covers car rental contracts
up to a maximum of 30 days,
according to state statute 65B.49
subdivision 5A. What can a renter do if
a vehicle is needed for longer than 30
days?
continued on page 2...
Check out our web page!
www.andersonagencyins.com
•
•
•
Trivia Contest
- You Can
Win!
Page 3
Community
Spotlight
Page 3
“From the
Desk of Shaun
Irwin”
Page 4
...continued from page 1, Treating Insurance
Company Reps
•
If available, place a sign in
your reception area that says
something like “ABC
Company Welcomes John
Doe of XYZ Insurance
Company.” Believe me, most
reps have never, ever seen
anything remotely resembling
a greeting like that. And
you’ll score huge points right
off the bat.
• Alert your receptionist to
greet the rep warmly. Be sure
to offer coffee, soft drinks,
etc. And make the rep feel
welcome … “We’ve been
expecting you, Mr. Smith. I’ll
let Ms. Jones know you’re
here.”
• Try not to keep them waiting.
If you can help them get their
job done quicker, it will be
appreciated.
• Your primary contact for the
rep should be knowledgeable
and have the authority to help
the rep with what he needs.
If at all possible, involve the
man or woman at the top –
the owner, President, CEO,
etc. – even if it’s for just a
brief greeting. Having “top
management” involved is a
big deal to insurance
companies.
When dealing with Premium
Auditors, have your payroll records
well organized and categorized by
type of employee. Saving the auditor
time can only benefit you and your
company.
Lastly, remember that these
insurance company employees are
only doing their job. If treated well
they can have a huge and positive
impact on your insurance program
which can ultimately lead to lower
premiums and more profit for you
and your business.
Call or Email us 612-331-3712
or [email protected]
to request your FREE report on
“How to Prepare for an Audit”
...Continued from page 1, Rental Car Insurance
A consumer can rent a vehicle
for a monthly limit and then
switch to another car rental
company. Simply turning in the
vehicle and re-renting it from the
same company may not be seen
as separate rentals. If possible,
switch companies. This statue
applies only to rented, not leased
vehicles (this section written by
John Ewoldt at the Star Tribune).
Damage to Other Property or
People
Liability coverage kicks in if you
damage another vehicle or other
property, or hurt other people.
Your personal auto insurance
policy will cover you in your
rental car at the same level of
liability protection you carry on
your policy.
In some cases, you’ll
automatically get more coverage
in the rental car if the state
you’re driving in requires a
minimum amount of protection
that is greater than the amount
you carry on your policy.
When renting a car outside of
the United States, can I still use
my personal auto coverage ?
Personal auto insurance is
usually only valid in the United
States and Canada. Coverage
elsewhere can be bought at the
rental counter.
What if I am moving and I
would like to rent a Uhaul or
similar vehicle?
After deciding what type of
vehicle you need and before you
rent it, please give us a call.
Typically a truck with a gross
vehicle weight under 26,000
pounds is insured under
Minnesota statute 65B.49,
subdivision 5A and defined in
statute 168.011. Be careful
because a rented trailer is
generally not covered by
personal insurance and may need
to be insured through the moving
company.
Are there other ways to save
money on car rentals besides
declining their insurance?
Prior to renting, compare rates at
the comparison sites such as
www.expedia.com,
www.orbitz.com,
www.travelocity.com or
www.carrentalexpress.com. Just
fill in what it asks for like the
dates, locations and vehicle type.
Be sure that you’re comparing
the total cost including taxes.
Prices for add-ons such as car
seats and additional drivers vary.
Whom can I call with other
questions about car rentals?
Call us before you leave if you
have questions about your
personal situation. That’s why
we’re here … to help you!
www.andersonagencyins.com
[email protected]
612-331-3712
www.andersonagencyins.com
Pearl of Wisdom
"Our character is what we do when we
think no one is looking."
H. Jackson Browne
Trivia
Every newsletter Anderson Agency
will have a trivia contest where the
winner will receive a prize.
If more than one person has the
correct answer, the winner will be
the entry that reaches our office
first. The only catch is that you have
to email your response back to us.
Send your answer to
[email protected]
Remember to include your name.
Q:
In the recent
launch of
Discovery on
July 26th, what
were the names of the 7
astronauts?
Email your answer to
[email protected]
Good Luck!
Congratulations to Patricia
Vessey who had the correct
answer to our last trivia
contest question.
What do Fortran, Pascal & Cobol
have in common?
They are all Computer
Programming Languages
Community Spotlight
Our business is about helping people protect
their families and businesses. There are so
many fine organizations in our community
working every day to help people live, grow,
prosper, and lead better lives that we wanted
to share just a few of their stories. Each newsletter will feature
a non-profit organization that is making a difference in your
community, in your life, in your world.
The mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to end the
devastating effects of MS. Join us for the 2005 MS River Road Run
motorcycle tour on Aug. 20 and 21, 2005!
The MS River Road Run motorcycle
tour is a 600-mile journey, starting at the
state capitol in St. Paul and cruising along
the back roads of Minnesota and
Wisconsin before stopping for the night in
Richland Center, WI.
You do the riding and we will take care
of the rest! Enjoy beautiful landscapes,
our route is like no other! The event is fully catered and fully supported
with suggested fuel stops, mechanical support and signs to guide you at
every turn.
Hundreds of people will ride together at the MS River Road Run to
raise funds and awareness in the fight against MS. Don't miss this
opportunity to make a difference.
Rev up your bike and sign up today!
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/MNM/home/
(612) 335-7900
Tips for a Tasty Barbeque
Here are some tips for keeping meat, poultry and fish nice and
juicy when grilling:
•
•
•
When marinating, the marinade should completely surround
the food.
The best cut for grilling beef steaks is a full one inch thick.
For fish it’s one to one and a half inches. Otherwise, they dry
out too fast.
Use tongs to turn meat. A fork punches holes and allows
natural juices to escape.
It’s usually best to turn meat only once. Close the grill lid for
greater doneness.
Questions? Comments? Email us anytime at [email protected]
Anderson Insurance and Investment Agency, Inc.
312 Central Ave S.E.Suite 392
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1064
www.andersonagencyins.com
Telephone: (612) 331-3712
Fax: (612) 378-0419
E-Mail: [email protected]
What’s inside:
•
•
•
•
Business People: A Secret Way To Save Money
Rental Car Insurance – What You Need To Know
Trivia Contest...You Can Win!
Community Spotlight
From Shaun’s Desk:
fire and the flames can erupt
surprisingly high.
•
Shaun J. Irwin, CPCU, RPLU
President
Summer is a great time to get outside
and enjoy the sun, beaches, fairs,
festivals and don’t forget the great
Minnesota get together coming up.
While enjoying the great outdoors I
want to remind you about some grilling
safety tips for veteran and rookie grillers
alike. Please be careful when grilling
with charcoal or gas as both can be
equally dangerous. Around fire, tragedy
can strike in just a flash (pun intended)
of carelessness or distraction. So, keep
these safety tips in mind when grilling ...
•
Keep your grill clean and free of
grease buildups. Grease can catch
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•
Email us & tell us what you
think of this newsletter.
[email protected]
dry grass, and other combustible
materials collect under them. If a
smoldering match or hot cinder falls
between the boards, it may ignite
these materials ... and the deck ...
and then your house!
For gas grills clean the venturi tubes
regularly. Blockages make the grill
hard to start or force the gas to find
somewhere else to go.
Never start a gas grill with the lid
closed. The gas may accumulate
inside and blow the lid off – rather
dramatically!
Don't lean over the top of a grill or
wear loose clothes. Sudden flare
ups – especially when lighting the
grill – could burn your face directly
and set your clothes on fire.
NEVER use a flammable liquid
other than grill starter fluid to start
your grill or smoker. And place the
lighter fluid container well away
from the grill before attempting to
light it.
Although decks are popular places
to bar-b-que, be aware that leaves,
•
•
•
•
It's a good idea to have a
multipurpose fire extinguisher next
to your grill.
ALWAYS shut off the valve to
propane tanks when not in use.
Keep children and pets at a safe
distance ... period.
Wear an insulated fire retardant mitt
and use long-handled tools designed
for grilling.