NICB Welcomes Safelite® Solutions as First Strategic Partner in Fighting Insurance Fraud

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Dec 13, 2011, 06:00 ET

DES PLAINES, Ill., Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today announced an agreement has been reached with Safelite® Solutions LLC of Columbus, Ohio, and its wholly owned subsidiary Alliance Claims Solutions™ of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to join the insurance fraud fighting organization as its first Strategic Partner.

Safelite® Solutions and Alliance Claims Solutions™ provide complete claims management solutions for the nation's leading fleet and insurance companies. The company currently serves as a third party administrator of vehicle glass claims for more than 175 insurance and fleet companies, including 18 of the top 30 property and casualty insurance companies. Safelite® Solutions and Alliance manage a network of nearly 9,000 affiliate providers and operates four national contact centers that are located in Columbus (2), Phoenix (1) and Cedar Rapids (1).

"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," said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. "The new category of Strategic Partner allows us to work closely with select companies that have a vested interest and commitment in fighting insurance fraud or vehicle theft, but don't meet our typical membership requirements. Safelite® Solutions is a great fit and outstanding choice for our first-ever Strategic Partner."

The partnership allows Safelite® Solutions to more seamlessly share information with NICB, as permitted by its insurance clients, to track suspicious claims.

"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," Wehrle added.

Wehrle noted that fraudulent glass claims cost insurers and vehicle owners millions of dollars each year. Questionable claims submitted to NICB related to auto glass fraud increased from 228 in 2008 to 2,142 in 2010.

"Most of our insurance company customers are already members of NICB, so we know how valuable this partnership can be," said Pete Pearson, Senior Vice President of Safelite® Solutions. "We look forward to working with NICB to make the public more aware of what we call 'windshield bullies' and other bad actors in the glass repair industry. We believe this partnership can send a strong anti-fraud message across the nation and, in the long run, it will help both consumers and insurers."

A video with more information on the strategic partnership with Safelite® Solutions is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RC4WvL8QL8.

Anyone with information concerning auto glass fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting the NICB Web site at www.nicb.org.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $319 billion in insurance premiums in 2010, or approximately 80 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 94 percent ($152 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

About Safelite® Solutions: Columbus, Ohio-based Safelite® Solutions provides property and casualty claims management services to more than 160 insurance and fleet clients, including 18 of the top 30 U.S. property and casualty insurance companies. A subsidiary of Safelite® Group, Safelite® Solutions and Alliance Claims Solutions™ operate four national contact centers and manages a network of more than 9,000 vehicle glass fulfillment providers.

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SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau