| [August 03, 2004] |
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ServiceMaster Clean and First Notice Systems Link Up to Mitigate Water Damage Claims
BOSTON & DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. --(Business Wire)-- Aug. 3, 2004 --
Immediate dispatch of restoration specialists helps contain damage and lowers homeowners' repair costs
First Notice Systems(R), Inc., the leader in claim reporting solutions for the insurance industry, and ServiceMaster Clean, the nation's leading home cleaning and insurance industry restoration expert and a division of the ServiceMaster Company (NYSE: SVM), today announced a new alliance that lets homeowners insurance carriers immediately act on time-sensitive water damage claims. By offering insurance claimants the option to use ServiceMaster Clean's national network of restoration professionals when a claim is first reported, this joint service improves customer satisfaction and reduces insurers' exposure to costly losses.
"We're very pleased with the results of connecting ServiceMaster Clean to the claim reporting service we have with First Notice Systems," said Gale Harder, Assistant Vice President of Claims at General Casualty Insurance Companies. "Being able to immediately enlist a restoration specialist for any type of water loss means that we have a chance to contain damage before it gets worse. This service is very convenient for our policyholders who are looking for a restoration solution that's available on short notice."
Insurance carriers that utilize First Notice Systems' outsourced claim-reporting services or its claim reporting software - ClaimCapture(TM) - can easily leverage this combined service. Insurers determine up-front the conditions under which ServiceMaster Clean restoration specialists are offered to callers. For example, carriers often choose to extend this option only to policyholders with a certain type of coverage, loss type or loss severity. Once a caller is deemed eligible - a process that's automated by First Notice's claim reporting application - the customer service representative explains the program to the claimant using carrier-specific scripting. If the caller expresses interest in ServiceMaster Clean, the claim information is instantly transmitted to one of ServiceMaster Clean's Quality Restoration Vendor businesses, which calls back the insured within one hour to schedule an appointment at the damage site. The restoration specialist then arrives on site within four hours to stop water damage in its tracks.
"By triggering our emergency restoration services during First Notice's claim reporting process, we can get to the loss site sooner and maximize the impact of our restoration services," commented Jeff Coulter, Vice President of Disaster Restoration at ServiceMaster Clean. "Water is a moving fluid. It seeks equilibrium. The longer it's left untouched, the more damage it causes a homeowner." In fact, ServiceMaster Clean, working with the Boston Consulting Group, found that 85% of damaged flooring is saved when homeowners' claims are referred to them within two days of the loss date.
"Many of our clients are familiar with ServiceMaster Clean and have relied on them at the local level," said Will Fulton, President, First Notice Systems. "With our new joint solution, their restoration specialists can be even more effective because they're dispatched earlier in the claims process."
About ServiceMaster
ServiceMaster currently provides outsourcing services for more than 10.5 million residential and commercial customers. As America's Service Brands for Home and Business, the core service capabilities of the Company include lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, plumbing, heating and air conditioning services, cleaning, furniture repair and home warranty.
These services are provided through a network of over 5,400 company-owned and franchised service centers and business units operating under leading brands which include Terminix, TruGreen ChemLawn, TruGreen LandCare, American Residential Services, Rescue Rooter, American Mechanical Services, ServiceMaster Clean, American Home Shield, AmeriSpec, Merry Maids and Furniture Medic.
About First Notice Systems
Founded in 1993, First Notice Systems(R) (www.firstnotice.com) is a premier provider of claim reporting and customer service solutions to the insurance and healthcare industries. With over 90 national clients now utilizing First Notice Systems' claim reporting services and software products, First Notice successfully connects insurance carriers, third-party administrators and healthcare organizations with their customers through a combination of call center outsourcing services and rules-based Web technology. With headquarters in Boston, MA, First Notice Systems, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Concentra Inc.
About Concentra Inc.
Concentra Inc.(R) is the comprehensive outsourcing solution for containing healthcare and disability costs. Serving the occupational, auto and group healthcare markets, Concentra provides employers, insurers and payors with a variety of integrated healthcare services. These services include employment-related injury and occupational healthcare, in-network and out-of-network medical claims review and re-pricing, access to specialized preferred provider organizations, first notice of loss services, case management and other cost containment services. Concentra and First Notice Systems are registered trademarks of Concentra Operating Corporation. All rights reserved. www.concentra.com.
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