Safelite Solutions Becomes NICB "Strategic Partner"
December 13, 2011

Safelite’s third-party glass claims administration division, Safelite Solutions, has become what the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is calling its first “Strategic Partner,” according to a joint release issued by both NICB and Safelite. The partnership also includes Alliance Claims Solutions of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which the company acquired in 2009. According to the release, the partnership will allow Safelite “to more seamlessly share information with NICB, as permitted by its insurance clients, to track suspicious claims.”

In a video produced by NICB and Safelite to share information about the partnership, Safelite Solutions senior vice president Pete Pearson says in the past the company has provided information about potentially fraudulent claims to insurers, who could then report these to NICB. With the partnership, this will change, Pearson says.

“Now when we see trends or anything that looks a little bit suspicious, we can provide that data directly to [NICB] and [NICB] can conduct an investigation and shine a spotlight on these things that might be questionable,” says Pearson.

In the video, Pearson refers to “windshield bullies”—a term made popular by a public service announcement the two groups produced together last December.

“Over the past several months, we have had the opportunity to work with Safelite on issues related to fraudulent auto glass claims on behalf of our member companies, and we have great respect for their dedication to fighting fraud in the glass repair and replacement industry,” says NICB president and CEO Joe Wehrle in the release. “… We are particularly excited about working with Safelite Solutions to include the claims data in our analysis and investigations, and we believe this will be extremely valuable in helping reduce fraud and minimizing its impact on the overall cost of glass claims.”

While the release announcing the partnership notes the rising number of “questionable” auto glass claims from 228 in 2008 to 2,142 in 2010, the latest third-quarter 2011 report from NICB actually shows a 68-percent drop from last year in this area.

NICB, an insurer group, defines “questionable claims” as "claims that NICB member insurance companies refer to NICB for closer review and investigation based upon one or more indicators of possible fraud."

Terms of the partnership have not been disclosed. Stay tuned to www.glassBYTEs.com™ for more information as it becomes available.

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