Telephone Claims Representative l

at  Portage Mutual Insurance

About Portage Mutual
Portage Mutual Insurance is a trusted national property and casualty mutual insurance company. We have been owned by our policyholders since 1884 and proudly serve their interests by offering competitive home, automobile, commercial and farm insurance products. Portage Mutual has office locations in Edmonton (AB), Portage la Prairie (MB), St. Catharines (ON) and Bedford (NS) with products being 100% distributed by brokers across Canada. We greatly value our relationships with policyholders and brokers.
People at Portage Mutual
Working at Portage Mutual allows you to learn, grow and develop while collaborating with experienced and committed colleagues. We support remote, in-office and hybrid work arrangements while continuing to build diverse teams and a culture of inclusivity. We are growing and offer resources to empower both individual and team success. We are proud of the communities we serve and are rooted in making positive impacts within them.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Candidates must reside in Canada and be authorized to work in Canada.
• Minimum of one-year experience in the insurance industry, service industry or transferable technical position (construction, automobile repair, agriculture is desirable).
• Demonstrated skills with Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• Prior experience with Guidewire Suite an asset.
• High School diploma required.
• Post secondary education (business, agriculture, or insurance) preferred.
• CIP or willingness to work towards designation required.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Remote, In-Office, Hybrid and Flexible Work Arrangements
• Learn, Grow and Development Opportunities
• Competitive Compensation Package of Salary plus an Incentive Plan
• 24/7 Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Health, Dental, Critical Illness and Group Life Insurance Coverage
• Defined Contribution Company Pension Plan
• Paid Personal Days in addition to Vacation Time
  If you have the qualifications we are seeking and would thrive in a work environment where you are valued and respected, please apply. We thank you for your interest in Portage Mutual Insurance, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. (No agencies please).
  Portage Mutual Insurance is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities during all phases of the recruiting process, including the application process. If you require accommodation because of a disability, we will work with you to meet your needs. If you are selected for an interview and require accommodation, please advise the HR representative who will consult with you to determine an appropriate accommodation

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Operating with the utmost good faith and the customer’s interests in mind, the Telephone Claims Representative will directly investigate, evaluate, reserve, negotiate and resolve assigned claims in accordance with Best Practices of the Company. They must have knowledge in property, automobile and/or liability insurance. Using remote investigation techniques, the Telephone Claims Representative will gather details of insurance claims, secure statements, review estimates, negotiate settlements and work closely with both customers and service providers to bring claims to resolution.
The individual will analyze coverage and determine eligibility, and inform customers and brokers of the findings both verbally and in writing. They identify risks requiring underwriting reviews and notify underwriting accordingly. The Telephone Claim Representative will focus primarily on automobile physical damage losses and low value property claims such as mysterious disappearance, small theft, small vandalism, and low limit sewer back up claims.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Review new losses and prepare investigation plan.
• Contact the insured to discuss loss details.
• Explain claims process in a clear and concise manner to the policyholder to ensure efficient claims experience.
• Secure recorded statements with policyholders, third parties, independent witnesses and any other stakeholder as necessary.
• Secure photographs, diagrams, and photographs of losses.
• Engage experts (engineers, appraisers, etc.) as needed to assist in determining facts.
• Review complex policy wordings to determine if losses are covered.
• Be aware of and understand trends in legislation and case law that impact coverage.
• Communicate verbally and in writing to policyholders and brokers coverage positions.
• Collect information that assist in determining the scope and estimate of damages.
• Negotiate settlements based on results of loss investigation, coverage analysis and damage assessment within authority limits.