Catastrophe Response From State's Fourth Largest Auto Insurer Goes Beyond Settling Claims
Surprising claims pattern shows falling objects — not flooding — caused most vehicle damage following Hurricane Charley
PUNTA GORDA, Fla — August 19, 2004 —When the sun rose over storm-ravaged areas of Florida on Saturday, August 14th, few people were thinking about their car, boat, RV or motorcycle insurance. And for good reason.
"In a storm of this magnitude, people's lives and homes obviously take precedence over their vehicles. It's our job to get to work on claims immediately, settling them fast and accurately and we hold ourselves to aggressive service standards. But, we know that people's needs go beyond getting their cars repaired," said Juan Andrade, claims general manager. "So, while the more than 250 Progressive claim representatives from 38 states got to work on handling claims in Florida, they also got to work on figuring out how to make people's lives easier, faster."
Progressive's efforts in storm stricken areas of the state include:
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Making a special "job assistance" program available. If a person lost their job as a result of the hurricane, applies for a job with Progressive in Florida and is hired, the company will make a one-time payment to them. For claims positions in Florida, the company will pay $1,000. The company will pay $500 to those who are hired for sales and service jobs at the company's regional call center in Riverview. Those interested in a job with Progressive should go to jobs.progressive.com
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Making cool drinks and convenience items available to anyone at eight remote catastrophe claims centers, in claims offices in storm stricken areas from Ft. Myers to Daytona Beach and in each of the company's Immediate Response Vehicles servicing affected areas
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Staffing a Hurricane Charley Command Center with claim representatives dedicated to handling hurricane claims and answering questions, available by calling 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737)
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Proactively identifying recreation vehicle and watercraft claims by sending mobile claims specialists to RV parks, marinas and boat storage yards to check vehicle and hull identification numbers to determine if the RV or boat belongs to a Progressive customer, then contacting the customer to let them know the company has begun work on their claim
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Reminding the company's more than 26,000 employees around the country that the Progressive Insurance Foundation will match contributions made to eligible 501(c)(3) charitable organizations
To date, the company has settled over a third of all claims reported from the storm and reminds its customers to call 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report claims. Andrade said: "We're ready to help whenever our customers are able to call us."
The Progressive group of insurance companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7, in-person and online service. The companies offer insurance by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, online at progressive.com and through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S. The company's hallmark 24/7 claims service is available through more than 430 claims offices countrywide and nearly 30 offices in Florida.
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