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Press/Analyst Contacts
Hertz and First Notice Systems Team Up
to Facilitate Insurance Replacement Car Rentals
Ability to place auto insurance claimaints
in rental cars without delay increases policyholder satisfaction
and reduces claims expense
Boston, MA & Park Ridge, NJ — March
24, 2003 — First Notice Systems™,
Inc., the leader in claim reporting solutions for the
insurance industry, and The Hertz Corporation, the world's
largest car rental company, today announced a strategic
alliance that enhances the services insurance carriers
can provide their policyholders when auto claims are reported.
With the new alliance, insurance companies affiliated
with First Notice are now able to offer a Hertz car rental
reservation to policyholders who need alternate transportation
when reporting an auto claim.
The ability to reserve a car at the onset of reporting a
claim eliminates the period most customers must wait for
a claim adjuster to examine the customer’s file. During
this time, policyholders usually need to find an alternate
means of transportation. Individuals who require an immediate
solution often end up paying standard prices instead of the
discounted rates their insurance carriers may have pre-negotiated
with a car rental provider like Hertz. The joint solution
between First Notice and Hertz, however, reduces claims-paid
expenses and fills the void in customer service associated
with such rentals.
“This alliance allows auto insurance carriers to leverage
complementary services that, when combined, can really assist
policyholders,” said Martin Aita, Director of Administration,
Suburban Development for The Hertz Corporation. “Anyone
who’s been involved in a car accident knows that there’s
enough to worry about without considering how to find a rental
car. Policyholders whose carriers use First Notice get prompt
relief; a car is reserved at a Hertz Local Edition location
as soon as they report their claim.”
“Some carriers worry about authorizing car rentals
too early—before a claim is evaluated by an adjuster,” said
Jim Leightheiser, Vice President of Product Marketing for
First Notice. “Our rules-based software uses the same
decision-making process that adjusters use. It ensures that
we only offer Hertz rentals to qualified claimants who have
the appropriate coverage. In addition, we can limit the initial
rental authorization period to last just long enough so that
claim adjusters can follow up with policyholders to extend
the rental as needed.”
The Integrated Service
First Notice Systems' call center representatives initiate
car rentals with Hertz through an automated connection. Once
a caller qualifies for a rental, he or she chooses the nearest
Hertz Local Edition branch. First Notice immediately transmits
the rental authorization request to that branch, which makes
an outbound phone call to the policyholder within one hour
to finalize the rental details, including the type of car
and pick-up time. When claim adjusters receive the first
notice of loss report, they’re informed that a rental
has been authorized for an initial period. Adjusters can
then access the web-based Hertz Insurance Replacement System
to manage the remainder of the rental.
Hertz Local Edition is Hertz’s network of suburban
car rental locations with more than 500 suburban branches
across the United States. The network offers a fast and convenient
customer pick-up service and a wide variety of current car
models. In addition, special insurance replacement rates
and direct billing to insurance carriers are available. Backed
by 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, this network embodies
the Hertz reputation for quality.
“Insurance policyholders contact First Notice in times
of need,” said Will Fulton, President of First Notice
Systems. “By teaming up with Hertz we can, on behalf
of our insurance clients, confidently offer them a value-added
service from a company known for treating customers with
the utmost care. The combined service exceeds customer
expectations and saves our clients money in the process.”
About First Notice Systems
Founded in 1993, First Notice Systems (www.firstnotice.com)
is the premier provider of claim reporting and customer service
solutions to the insurance and healthcare industries. First
Notice 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. Concentra is a leading healthcare company offering
a broad range of products and services that provide quality
patient care for work-related injuries and that manage the
rising costs of healthcare and workers’ compensation.
Concentra serves the occupational healthcare, group health
and auto/liability markets. “Concentra” is a
registered trademark of Concentra Operating Corporation (www.concentra.com).
About The Hertz Corporation
Hertz is the world’s largest car rental company, operating
from approximately 7,000 locations in more than 150 countries.
Hertz Local Edition is Hertz’s suburban network of
rental locations with business, leisure and insurance replacement
rates available as well as pick up and drop off service. |
