Doing backups and day-end via overnight remote processing may be options so that the system is always accessible when the agency is open. A coverage-enhancing opportunity may be missed because the agency won't be talking to the client at the client's most susceptible time. The agency may re-market an account to a new carrier without knowing its full claims history, thereby depriving the quoting carrier of the true underwriting picture. The agency may not put together a procedure to track claims reported to the carrier, so a claim may go awry before the agency has a chance to intercede or help the client. The agency loses an educational opportunity for staff to learn nuances of coverage and the importance of offering higher limits and optional endorsements.
Some carriers fax or e-mail individually throughout the day.
Choose a method to stay in the loop and monitor it to make certain that it works. The agency should determine its preferred tracking mechanism for directly reported claims. Ideally, that procedure should include the entering of claims into its database. Limits may be reduced by the client as a premium-saving maneuver without proper education. Check your client list for individuals better handled by your agency staff and exempt those clients from the service center.