In today’s world, the most efficient means of one-on-one communication is email. Texting follows if both parties have smart phones.
Email and texting allow senders to create the message at their convenience and the recipient to respond at their convenience.
Given Congresses disabling the Post Office, a letter can take two days in some locales to arrive its destination. Congress’s putting such onerous pension requirements on the Post Office, requirements that many corporations don’t even come close to, has caused sorting facilities to be closed, such as in Duluth MN. Now mail from Duluth to Duluth has to be trucked 300 miles round trip.
A phone call either is not returned or the caller is on hold for a long time, sometimes an expected wait time is periodically given, sometimes not. Sometimes pleasant music is played, and sometime it is interested frequently by “Your call is important to us.”
Lots of companies only accept calls or offer chat rooms. Both can involve indeterminate wait times. The advantage of a chat room is that you often have a transcript of the chat. With a call, most of us are scribbling just bits and pieces.
Email gets around these because you don’t have to wait by the phone for a response. The only problem is that some people are as bad about answering email as they are about returning calls.
This was triggered by our leasing a new car. I tried to call the insurance agency, Otis-Magie, about the change. Once upon a time the receptionist took the information and we were done with it. This time my call was forwarded to an agent. I got his voice mail.
That was over an hour ago. I emailed the VINs of both cars to him. Then I emailed my phone number just in case I had garbled it up with my voice message.
I have to go mow the lawn. How can I hear my cell phone over the lawnmower?
Wouldn’t this all be easier and more convenient for all concerned if I could have done it all with email?
P.S. He did call back after an hour and a half. He had to handle one call after another. As I tell many people, you can only handle one customer at a time. He did appreciate my mailing the VINs to him.
Showing posts with label auto insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label auto insurance. Show all posts
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Thursday, December 11, 2014
A safer driving test?
I sent the following to the Star Tribune on 1999-07-15. I don’t think it was published. The link to inrets.fr still exists but the link to ccad.uiowa.edu does not.
"Unreal games" reminded me of many earlier thoughts I've had about driving simulation. When I tried Silicon Motor Speedway at the Mall of America, I thought that its technology could be used to give more rigorous driving tests. When I read about Unreal's software engine https://www.unrealengine.com/what-is-unreal-engine-4, I thought that this technology would be even better for a driving test.
States will probably continue to test applicants in real cars in artificial environments for many decades. But what if insurance companies tested their customers in artificial cars with a seemingly realistic environment? Instead of only stopping for a stop sign, keeping in the lane, turning correctly, what if
drivers could be tested on how close they followed, how well they could stop when a ball rolled into the street, how well they could drive at night, how well they could do in dozens of situations they would encounter on real streets.
As an inducement for drivers to take the test, the insurance companies would lower drivers' premiums according to how well they did on the test. Even if some drivers aced the test but continued many bad habits and attitudes, wouldn't they have gained some small change in behavior and skill?
To check on how far the technology has come, I searched the web for "driving simulator" and "driving simulations", I received 1300 references (via HotBot). Clicking on the very first item (http://www.inrets.fr/ur/sara/drifac_e.htm) I found a wealth of other links. One was a Driving Simulation Conference in Paris, France this past week. Another was a set of abstracts of papers written at the Center for Computer-Aided Design at the University of Iowa; these discussed many of the problems of driving simulation and solutions already found (http://www.ccad.uiowa.edu/research/ids/technical-papers/). Other links were to a few software packages from around the world.
In what I did visit, I found government and auto manufacturer sponsors, but no insurance companies. I reduced the selection by adding "insurance" and still had 830 finds. The first twenty didn't look promising other than some school districts' driver education programs were mentioned.
Considering what I found in a few minutes was far more than I had read about recently, insurance companies and others in a position to test drivers may be doing more than I know. For the sake of safety and comfort on the roads for all us, let's hope that someone, somewhere has already taken steps to increase dramatically the number of good, defensive drivers.
"Unreal games" reminded me of many earlier thoughts I've had about driving simulation. When I tried Silicon Motor Speedway at the Mall of America, I thought that its technology could be used to give more rigorous driving tests. When I read about Unreal's software engine https://www.unrealengine.com/what-is-unreal-engine-4, I thought that this technology would be even better for a driving test.
States will probably continue to test applicants in real cars in artificial environments for many decades. But what if insurance companies tested their customers in artificial cars with a seemingly realistic environment? Instead of only stopping for a stop sign, keeping in the lane, turning correctly, what if
drivers could be tested on how close they followed, how well they could stop when a ball rolled into the street, how well they could drive at night, how well they could do in dozens of situations they would encounter on real streets.
As an inducement for drivers to take the test, the insurance companies would lower drivers' premiums according to how well they did on the test. Even if some drivers aced the test but continued many bad habits and attitudes, wouldn't they have gained some small change in behavior and skill?
To check on how far the technology has come, I searched the web for "driving simulator" and "driving simulations", I received 1300 references (via HotBot). Clicking on the very first item (http://www.inrets.fr/ur/sara/drifac_e.htm) I found a wealth of other links. One was a Driving Simulation Conference in Paris, France this past week. Another was a set of abstracts of papers written at the Center for Computer-Aided Design at the University of Iowa; these discussed many of the problems of driving simulation and solutions already found (http://www.ccad.uiowa.edu/research/ids/technical-papers/). Other links were to a few software packages from around the world.
In what I did visit, I found government and auto manufacturer sponsors, but no insurance companies. I reduced the selection by adding "insurance" and still had 830 finds. The first twenty didn't look promising other than some school districts' driver education programs were mentioned.
Considering what I found in a few minutes was far more than I had read about recently, insurance companies and others in a position to test drivers may be doing more than I know. For the sake of safety and comfort on the roads for all us, let's hope that someone, somewhere has already taken steps to increase dramatically the number of good, defensive drivers.
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Insurance: good claim service, roundabout technical support
When I hit the bear in June (http://magree.blogspot.com/2014/06/bear-with-me-as-i-am-mad-and-sad.html) I received prompt and courteous service from the online representative to the adjuster to the auto body shop.
When I tried to find where the iPhone App to access my information, I had to go through a cycle of three messages. On the envelope from some recent documents, there was an ad to have insurance ID cards on my phone. “Download it today in the Apple App Store or Google Play.” I could not find it in the Apple App Store no matter what search words I used.
I sent email to the insurance company. The first reply was to supply my insurance ID and phone number. I supplied those and received the reply “available in… the Apple store…”
Surely she couldn’t mean a physical Apple Store. I tried iTunes and bingo! I sent that news back and received no reply, not even a thank-you for the clarification.
In 2013 there were some rave reviews for the App but the only 2014 reviewer claimed it would not accept his ID and password. I downloaded it anyway.
None of the screens showed me my insurance ID card, no matter how many promising links I tried. Then I figured I had to click the lock in the upper right had corner. Then I had a screen asking for my username and password. Now I could navigate to copies of the IDs for both cars. But, oh, it was so easy to misinterpret where the navigation triangles would take me. Often I wound up back at the log-in screen.
All-in-all I would say that the app was more inconvenient than digging around in the glove compartment for the ID card. When I hit the bear, I think I found our insurance papers in less time that it would take me to log on to the app. Also, I don’t need an app to call in a claim; I have the claim number in my contact list. I can find that phone number in about the same time as I could find the app icon on the right screen.
When I tried to find where the iPhone App to access my information, I had to go through a cycle of three messages. On the envelope from some recent documents, there was an ad to have insurance ID cards on my phone. “Download it today in the Apple App Store or Google Play.” I could not find it in the Apple App Store no matter what search words I used.
I sent email to the insurance company. The first reply was to supply my insurance ID and phone number. I supplied those and received the reply “available in… the Apple store…”
Surely she couldn’t mean a physical Apple Store. I tried iTunes and bingo! I sent that news back and received no reply, not even a thank-you for the clarification.
In 2013 there were some rave reviews for the App but the only 2014 reviewer claimed it would not accept his ID and password. I downloaded it anyway.
None of the screens showed me my insurance ID card, no matter how many promising links I tried. Then I figured I had to click the lock in the upper right had corner. Then I had a screen asking for my username and password. Now I could navigate to copies of the IDs for both cars. But, oh, it was so easy to misinterpret where the navigation triangles would take me. Often I wound up back at the log-in screen.
All-in-all I would say that the app was more inconvenient than digging around in the glove compartment for the ID card. When I hit the bear, I think I found our insurance papers in less time that it would take me to log on to the app. Also, I don’t need an app to call in a claim; I have the claim number in my contact list. I can find that phone number in about the same time as I could find the app icon on the right screen.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Taxes - burden or cost of civilization
My latest published letter is "Taxes aren't big in world of financial burdens". See
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/196096/
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/196096/
Friday, July 24, 2009
Hang up and drive!
Yesterday's Star Tribune had a couple of op-ed pieces on cell phone use and driving. Despite well-known statistics on the dangers of using a cell phone while driving, many people persist on using them, even after near misses.
A friend crossed over the yellow line on a curve while coming towards me, busily chatting away on her cell phone. When I chided her on it, my words went right over her head as if my warning was unimportant.
I've lost track of the near misses I've head with cell phone users.
What can be done about this threat to our own safety?
Many communities are passing laws to make cell phone use illegal while driving. But they've also had laws about speeding, running red lights, and driving while intoxicated. Too many people consider these laws impingements on their rights. Never mind the rights of their victims.
About the best that can be done is reduce the number of people acting unsafely.
Here are a couple of ideas that might help reduce cell phone use while driving.
Cell phone providers should change their manuals to stress not using cell phones while driving. Either let a passenger answer and make calls or wait until you can stop in a safe place. My cell phone manual has almost a page of advice about how to use a cell phone while driving. It should be changed to one word: Don't!
Insurance companies should amend their policies to automatically increase the deductible if the driver has an accident while impaired, either by substances or by use of a cell phone. Money does have a way of getting people's attention. This change probably would also require enabling legislation by states.
There are two personal things we can do to help reduce cell phone use by drivers.
The first is easy. I changed my cell phone voice mail message to:
Hi, this is Mel. Either my phone is off or I'm driving. If I'm driving I'll return you call as soon as I can stop safely.
The second is socially hard. If you believe a caller is driving, ask if he or she is driving. If so, ask them to call back when they have stopped safely. You might antagonize suppliers or friends, but...
Please feel free to pass this entry on to your cell phone provide or insurance company.
A friend crossed over the yellow line on a curve while coming towards me, busily chatting away on her cell phone. When I chided her on it, my words went right over her head as if my warning was unimportant.
I've lost track of the near misses I've head with cell phone users.
What can be done about this threat to our own safety?
Many communities are passing laws to make cell phone use illegal while driving. But they've also had laws about speeding, running red lights, and driving while intoxicated. Too many people consider these laws impingements on their rights. Never mind the rights of their victims.
About the best that can be done is reduce the number of people acting unsafely.
Here are a couple of ideas that might help reduce cell phone use while driving.
Cell phone providers should change their manuals to stress not using cell phones while driving. Either let a passenger answer and make calls or wait until you can stop in a safe place. My cell phone manual has almost a page of advice about how to use a cell phone while driving. It should be changed to one word: Don't!
Insurance companies should amend their policies to automatically increase the deductible if the driver has an accident while impaired, either by substances or by use of a cell phone. Money does have a way of getting people's attention. This change probably would also require enabling legislation by states.
There are two personal things we can do to help reduce cell phone use by drivers.
The first is easy. I changed my cell phone voice mail message to:
Hi, this is Mel. Either my phone is off or I'm driving. If I'm driving I'll return you call as soon as I can stop safely.
The second is socially hard. If you believe a caller is driving, ask if he or she is driving. If so, ask them to call back when they have stopped safely. You might antagonize suppliers or friends, but...
Please feel free to pass this entry on to your cell phone provide or insurance company.
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