Update on Gerber

[HoosierLife]

So I sent in my first Gerber app with contracting about 6 weeks ago. About 2 weeks ago, I got something in the mail from Gerber. It contained 2 apps for GI, throw up plan and the college plan. But that's it, no letter, no writing #...nothing but the apps.

Today I got a commission from them. Then I get a call from a client asking why his policy (which he got in the mail today) had a different rate than what I quoted him. I checked his age and fexquoutes and it should have been what I told him.

Turns out, they give direct bill rates for credit/debit cards. Though I had to wait on hold for 10 minutes, twice, they let me add his routing/account# on the phone, without the client present, and change his draft date.

They also gave me my writing #, and my log in info for the Gerber portal.

Also asked about them not having a date to pick for the draft. She gave me a couple of options that seemed like a pain, then I finally asked what would happen if I submitted an app with no bank/cc information? She said it would still issue, but issue pending and a bill would be sent to the client. We could then call in and add the bank acct info along with the draft date at the same time.

 

[Todd King]

One of these days Gerber might just catch on to the independent side of things. We'll see.

 

[HoosierLife]

One of these days Gerber might just catch on to the independent side of things. We'll see.

Yeah I asked if possibly in the future they would add the ability to set a draft date on the app. She proceeded to lecture me on the fact that they have 300 million policies to service, or something like that and only 200 call center workers and this saves time.

I then asked her if she really thought adding this initially would take more time then every agent having to call in after the fact, but then she started getting huffy so I changed the subject.

 

[Newby]

Yes, Gerber contracting is proving to be a complete nightmare. They won't process you agent appointment until you submit an application. But when you submit an app, it won't get issued for months and you can't tell your client anything about when the premium will draft.

We are telling our agents now to submit the contracting with a small application on yourself or a family member. Don't put a client through this or you will piss off a client.

Hopefully after you have an agent number it will be a little better doing business with them.

 

[HealthGuy]

What else can you expect from a company named after a baby food?

 

[Daytona_Guy]

We are telling our agents now to submit the contracting with a small application on yourself or a family member. Don't put a client through this or you will piss off a client.
.

Three months from start to finish to get my daughter's policy in my hands.

Not ready for prime time.

 

[Mattschmidt]

just another reason not to use them...Lesson learned

 

[Justin Bilyj]

Are they this bad on the med supp side?

 

[WinoBlues]

Yes, Gerber contracting is proving to be a complete nightmare. They won't process you agent appointment until you submit an application. But when you submit an app, it won't get issued for months and you can't tell your client anything about when the premium will draft.

We are telling our agents now to submit the contracting with a small application on yourself or a family member. Don't put a client through this or you will piss off a client.

Hopefully after you have an agent number it will be a little better doing business with them.

That is what I did. Just wrote a little plan on my granddaughter and waited. And yeah it takes a while.

 

[Todd King]

Are they this bad on the med supp side?

No where near as bad. Gerber doesn't actually underwrite the med supps though. Mutual does.