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CLAIMS SELF
SERVICE CENTER
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Farmers: 24 Hour Claims: (800) 435-7764
(HelpPoint)
Claims for your auto, home, business or boat should be reported
to HelpPoint service (1-800-435-7764;
en Espanol 1-877-732-5266; or for the hearing impaired 1-888-891-1660) as soon as possible.
For these types of claims it is a good idea to write down: |
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The names of all persons involved,
including witnesses and their addresses and phone numbers |
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The circumstances of the claim |
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The name of the insurance company (and
agent if available) for anyone else involved in the claim |
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Our customers may always choose their own
service providers; however, we may, with your consent, refer
you to a pre-approved repair facility, an expedited glass replacement
company, or even arrange for towing or a rental car for you while your
car is being repaired (depending on your coverages).
Customer assistance
Even though you never plan on having a claim, there are a few steps you
can take in advance that will assist in the settlement of the claim. |
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Keep records on major household items,
electronics, vehicles and any unusual items. |
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Establish an inventory of your possessions
and update the inventory annually. |
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If possible, videotape possessions or take
photos with written documentation and keep in a secure place. |
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Be prepared to provide copies of all
documents for claims representative |
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Farmers
Circle of Dependability direct repair program
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Faster
service -as you take your vehicle directly to your selected
repair facility.
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High
quality of repairs - as all repair facilities have state of
the art equipment & training. |
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A
lifetime guarantee - on repairs for as long as you own your
vehicle. |
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1.
Damage Evaluation
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Take the vehicle to
your selected repair facility.
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Damage
evaluated and estimate written. |
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Repair
process is explained and all questions are answered. |
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Schedule
a repair date that is convenient for you. |
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A
rental vehicle is arranged for those with the appropriate coverage. |
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2.
Repair Process
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Drop off your
vehicle on the scheduled date.
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Repairs
begin immediately. |
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You
will be kept informed of the progress of the repairs. |
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3.
Vehicle Pick-up
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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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a Circle of Dependability repair facility in your area. |
Direct Repair Shops
Farmers has a program that uses a network of prescreened auto repair
facilities known as Direct Repair Shops. These handpicked facilities
meet our strict program guidelines.
All Direct Repair Shops have state-of-the-art frame and unibody repair
equipment. All body and structural measurements strictly adhere to
manufacturer specifications. Each facility must meet training and
education requirements for their employees as well as adhere to
Environmental Protection Agency requirements during both the repair and
paint process.
You are always free to choose where you would like to have your vehicle
repaired. But, working with one of Direct Repair Shops generally means
faster claims service and vehicle repair.
Participating customers receive a lifetime parts and workmanship
warranty from both Farmers and the Direct Repair Shop for as long as
they own the vehicle. Warranty availability is subject to state and
local regulation.
Find
Auto Repair Services near you
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FASGLAS®
FASGLAS® is a national program with over
12,000 independently owned and operated glass shops that provide auto
and home glass replacement and repair services.
Upon contacting Farmers HelpPoint® you
will be given an explanation of the program and an election of whether
or not you want to participate in it. Farmers will then link you
directly with a FASGLAS® vendor who will
arrange to provide repairs at one of their local glass shops or send a
qualified glass replacement/repair technician to your home or work,
whichever is convenient for you. For home glass claims, the FASGLAS®
vendor will arrange for the technician to be dispatched directly to
your home. You pay only your deductible. The remainder is billed
directly to Farmers.
Customers participating in this program receive a warranty from the
glass service provider. Farmers will stand behind the warranty offered
by the glass service provider should our customer not be satisfied with
the quality of work performed. Your Farmers agent or a claims office
will find a FASGLAS® glass repair
service near you.
Find
Glass Repair Services near you
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Farmers Auto Rental Service
Farmers Auto Rental Service is a program
that quickly provides a rental vehicle for your use after an accident.
This network of pre-screened, nationally-known, rental car companies
will provide free pickup and delivery, direct billing to Farmers and an
automatic deposit waiver (deposit waiver is not available in all
areas). Auto Rental Service provides service for customers and other
parties in an accident for which we have accepted responsibility.
Your Farmers agent or claims office can put you in touch with the Auto
Rental Service.
Find
an Auto Rental Agency near you |
Farmers
Farm Tow Towing Program
The
Farmers Tow Program (FARMTOW) provides access to roadside assistance at
any time of the day or night. Not only does this program provide towing
to the nearest qualified repair facility, but it also provides service
for “lock out”, battery “jump
start” and other labor charges performed at the place of your
vehicle’s disablement.
In
most cases, Farmers will be billed directly.
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Catastrophe claims reporting
When disaster strikes, you need a
claims center that can handle your needs under crisis conditions. Farmers is a
recognized leader in expediting claims. We get you back where you belong when
you need it most.
In the case of a flood, tornado, earthquake, fire,
storm or any other event that severely damages your property, contact your
Farmers agent immediately. In the event that you're unable to reach your agent,
the National Catastrophe
Claims Center is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The
center can assist you with claims reporting and processing. Contact the Claims
Center toll-free at the numbers below:
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Farmers Insurance Group of
Companies
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National Catastrophe Claims
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17150 W 118th Terrace
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Olathe, KS 66061
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(888) 344-4343 (toll-free)
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(800) 421-8978 (Fax)
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Claims are handled on a priority
basis. If your home is uninhabitable, call the National Catastrophe Center
immediately. Claims representatives are on duty to assist you.
After
reporting your claim, take steps to prevent further damage to your property:
Make any necessary temporary repairs, photograph any property that is removed
from your premises and keep any records or receipts of the expenses that you
have incurred. Your claims representative will request this information.
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Windshield Crack Repair
By Cooper Miller
It’s happened to all of us, driving along the highway
minding our own business, when a chip of stone kicked up
by the car in front pings against the window and chips it.
It’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen to
your car, and considering the size of the damage, it is
disproportionately expensive to put right. Many people
take their car to the repair shop with a stone chip in the
windshield, and then get charged for a replacement at a
cost of hundreds of dollars.
However, this need not be the case. Under many
circumstances, instead of replacing the whole windshield,
you can use a windshield repair kit to fix small cracks
and chips in the glass at a fraction of the cost.
A typical car windshield is made up of a laminate of at
least two layers of glass with a polymer resin sandwiched
between them This gives the glass huge strength, and in
the event of an accident, the resin is designed to hold
the pieces of glass together and stop them showering into
the car and causing injury.
Because of the layered structure of a windshield, crack
repair is possible. Usually in the event of a stone chip,
only one layer of glass is damaged, with the underlying
layers remaining undamaged. This means that it is possible
to make the windshield more stable, and prevent the damage
getting any worse, without having to replace the whole
windshield.
If the stone chip has gone through more than one layer of
the glass, or is positioned right in the centre of the
driver’s field of vision, then you should consider
replacing the wind shield completely, because under such
circumstances, the damage could cause impairment to the
ability of the driver.
If you are able to repair the windshield, you should carry
out the work as soon as possible after the damage occurs.
If it is left too long, the cracks can spread out across
the screen thanks to the pressure of the air pushing
against the glass when you are driving. As the cracks
spread, the glass becomes weaker and weaker, and can
eventually simply shatter under the pressure, which is
obviously highly dangerous for the driver and any
passengers in the car.
The actual method of repairing a stone chip or small crack
in the glass is simple with the appropriate windshield
repair kits. Although different manufacturers package the
kit differently, the actual method used is roughly the
same.
Windshield crack repair is carried out by injecting a
clear resin into the crack or chip under pressure in order
to completely fill any spaces, then the resin is cured
rapidly using a special light that leaves it as hard as
rock. If it is carried out properly there should be no
distortion of vision when you repair windshield crack
damage, and in many cases, the resin bonds so well with
the edges of the cracks that the actual damage is much
less visible and distracting for the driver.
As well as small windshield repair kits designed for a
single use, larger professional kits are also available
that contain enough resin and equipment to perform up to
100 repairs. Because it is a fairly straightforward task
to repair cracked windshields using the proper tools,
there are many companies available who will carry out the
service on your behalf, although at a much higher cost
than doing the work yourself – albeit a lot less than you
would have to pay for an entirely new windshield.
The windshield on your car is there to protect you at all
times, but it must be clear to see out of to help you
avoid any trouble in the first place. It is vitally
important to repair any damage to it, no matter how small
it is, to ensure your safety, and also to prevent it
getting worse and potentially costing you a lot of money.
About the Author: Jason has been in the construction
equipment and industrial sales business for over 10 years.
He owns and operates Red Hill Supply to better serve the
automotive and industrial industries. -
Automotive Tools
Source: www.isnare.com
Check FASGLAS®
to see if your windshield repair is covered, or find a
windshield repair facility near you. Some carwashes
offer this as a service, and will directly bill Farmers.
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Regan Latta, L.U.T.C.F.
"Your claim is our primary concern.
When you bought your policy, you purchased our promise to pay. My
prior experience as an Independent Agent, taught me Farmers has the
BEST claims service in the insurance industry. You certainly get
what you pay for. With Farmers, you get the best of both worlds, Low
Rates, AND excellent claims service!"
Ph: 281-444-2226
Fax:281-444-6281
e-mail:
rlatta@lattainsurance.com |
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