40 — Friday, September 25, 1992 — North Shore News Claims system ‘must improve’ to lower costs Ken Hardie AUTOTOPIC AUTO TOPIC — continues with comments by Robyn Allan, president and CEO of ICBC, who announced a number of new cost-cutting progams on Aug. 12. This week, she outlines changes affecting damage claims and the legal process for injury ciaims. “ICBC is reviewing its payment system to auto body shops and parts suppliers and will pay ac- counts in keeping with standard business practices. Just over 10 years ago, we started paying these vendors every 15 days. “This is no fonger necessary. A revised system will reduce paper- Failed Your is Your Repair Data Form must be imprinted by a certified AirCare Repair Centre and the certified AirCore Repoir Technician. MINIFTUNE & MINIT TUNE ARI 1525 Clyde WEST VANCOUVER BRAKE AUTO CENTRE YOUR CERTIFIED AIRCARE CENTRE Telephone 926-72 53 y CERTIFIED AirCare REPAIR CENTRE CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS / 4X4 SPECIALISTS SAME DAY SERVICE ON MOST CARS OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK 980-3431 work and allow ICBC to retain funds longer, earning more in- vestment income. “Where shops want more fre- guremt payments, ICBC will ask for discounts in exchange. “One area needing closer con- trol over costs is auto glass. Last year ICBC paid over $50 million in windshield claims. So far this year we're already over $30 mil- lion. “We are working with the auto glass industry on a significant price reduction. In addition, the application and size of gravel ag- gregate (used to ‘‘sand’’ highways) is constantly being reviewed by ICBC and the Ministry of Trans- portation and Highways to reduce glass-claims costs without affec- ting road safety. “Another issue is the cost of delays in the legal! system. “ICBC’s claims settlement phi- losophy ... which you'll see posted in every one of our claims facili- ties,says, ‘The Insurance Corpora- tion of British Columbia will settle all claims fairly and promptly.’ “One aspect of the claims set- tlement process which has added far too much to our costs ... and your premiums ... has to do with the time it takes to settle claims. Iv’s a fact that the longer it takes to settle a claim, the more costly that claim will be, and the more frustrating for the claimant. “Far too often, our busy court system delays the settlement pro- cesses and increases costs. We want to muke more use of «lter- See Allan page 41 NEWS photo Paul kicGrath WAITING TIMES at the North Shore AirCare station have made it difficult for some motorists to get their vehicle emissions tested, but drivers will not be forced to go without their cars. Deleting the under-the-hood inspec- tions is one way the stations have cut the time taken to inspect each vehicle. | AirCare Repair Centre FULLY STAFFED FAST SAME DAY SERVICE WILL TAKE APPOINTMENTS “QUALIFIED: TECHNICIANS” MARINE DR. N. VANCOUVER 987-5651 (OPEN SUNDAY) N. MAIN STREET VANCOUVER 986-2412 Repair Centre Repair Centre For a breath of fresh air see your North Shore Auto Family», “Air Care Repair Centre” near you. INFINITE © NISSAN » MAZDA ¢ CHRYSLER Air care you can depend on.