We could talk about manipulation of policy obligations and
payouts. We could talk about fine print. We could speak of holding back
information regarding coverage and adjustments in policies that would save a
policyholder a great deal of money or enable more coverage. We could talk about
their manipulation of the legal system and the entire legislative process,
investment strategies, agents and residuals, shakedowns, threats and much else.
But at the same time those in the industry will decry the
fraud committed against them, and it is this deception and dishonesty that I
personally see firsthand. As someone who is hired to perform services for
people I am often approached by those seeking an official estimate by a
licensed contractor that they can turn into the insurance company as a claim.
Just today while I was eating lunch a local guy showed up at
my door. His house had been damaged by a drunk driver and he wanted an
estimate. At least he was honest and admitted he would probably do the work
himself, but he needed the estimate to turn into the insurance company.
What often happens is the contractor will spend time looking
at the job, taking notes, working out an estimate and getting prices. Then he
has to type the thing up and send it to the homeowner. Altogether I might
invest 2-3 hours in the process or more depending on the job.
And this service is always free. Every contractor knows that
there's a chance he won't get the job. But he does the estimate anyway
believing the homeowner is genuine in his desire. The labour that goes into the
estimate is done on a good faith basis.
When the homeowner knows that he's just going to take the
estimate and turn it in and then either do the work himself or in some cases
not do it all... the contractor has been misled and has wasted his time and
energy.
Today I told the guy I wasn't interested. I didn't elaborate,
but I've had it with insurance estimates and don't want to be involved in them
anymore. I recommended some other people. But I mentioned if he's honest with
them he'll offer them something (maybe $50?) for their time and effort. They
may or may not do it. No one likes doing estimates but maybe if someone was
paying for it....
What I also don't like is that the homeowner almost always
tries to get you to pad the estimate. They want it inflated so that they can
squeeze a little more out of the insurance company. Many even ask for two
estimates... one for them and one to turn into the insurance. That's really
quite common. I've always refused to do this and it usually damages or ends the
client relationship.
Now I'm not feeling sorry for the insurance companies. They
negotiate all their prices, over-depreciate everything and squeeze out every
penny wherever they can. They are a deceitful lot and I personally have no
regard or respect for anyone who works in the industry in any way.
But... two wrongs don't make a right. It's not our place to
exact vengeance. It's not our place to feel morally vindicated in behaving as
they do. At this point many a businessman, in fact many a 'Christian' financial
guru will tell me I'm naive if not foolish.
If that's their take on it, so be it. I'll be foolish and
simplistic in my business acumen. I would rather be honest and forthright.
The world is full of thieves. If I'm honest and almost always
finish last then that's my lot isn't it? I'm not invested in the society and I
don't judge my success or failure by their standards.
But by in turn deceiving the insurance companies we help to
perpetuate and endless and quite cancerous cycle. I turned down the work
because I don't want to bother with it, but also because I already know my
estimate will be one of the lowest in the area. I'm not what he wants. He's
going to want one of the other guys with fancy trucks and their names painted
on the side... some of the one's whose work I get hired to fix on occasion.
It's an irony that's both sweet and bitter.
As I said, I've broken with several clients over the years
due to this issue. I've had some that were really quite astonished that I
wouldn't supplement my estimate and just flat lie about what was damaged. I've
also known plenty of guys who spent the time on estimates to find their time
was wasted. The person never rebuilt the garage or the shed.
It's using and abusing people, taking advantage of them and
throwing them away. It's everywhere but I refuse to have any part in it. I
won't work for the criminals but I won't rip them off either. Then I would be
just like them.
I'm afraid too much of what passes for Christian wisdom is in
reality a vindication of the world system. This is a particular danger in the
American setting. I'll admit, it's very difficult to work through all these
issues. I was really bothered the other day when I changed my car insurance and
when looking over the new policy I read the fine print about how I had to
participate in a lawsuit if my insurer chose to file one. I don't like that but
I don't have a choice. Hopefully it won't come to that. If it did, there would
probably be some difficulties involved due to my non-compliance. But... that's
life in a fallen world.
