Steps to provide initial instructions to an assigned accountant or economist who are financial professionals from one of the pre-qualified firms.
When this applies
For the assigned financial professional to proceed with the file, the claims representative needs to provide them with the initial instructions.
Procedure
-
Prepare written instructions for the financial professional.
Note: When a claim is litigated, the claims representative should seek input from defence counsel (DC).
-
Determine file material required by the financial professional.
-
Determine if you need to authorize the assigned financial professional to send a letter to the
- customer (plaintiff), and/or
- plaintiff counsel (PC).
Important: This letter is at the discretion of the claims representative and is not required. The assigned financial professional can only send this letter when the claims representative has provided approval to proceed. If the letter is sent, it should
- advise the plaintiff or PC of the financial professionals involvement in the claim, and
- request the required documents needed to conduct the financial loss investigation.
| If a letter is ... |
Then ... |
|---|
| to be sent |
proceed to step 4. |
| not to be sent |
proceed to step 5. |
-
Discuss the file with the assigned financial professional, and provide the following verbal instructions on how to proceed:
- discuss the work required for the file, based on
- complexity of the file, and
- time sensitivity
- discuss the documents required to complete the initial assessment, including if
- ICBC has the file material, and/or
- the assigned financial professional needs to obtain them from the customer (plaintiff), and
- advise the assigned financial professional
- if they have the authority to contact the customer (plaintiff), and
- that you can provide them with written instructions to proceed.
-
Provide written formal instructions on how the assigned financial professional should proceed, if applicable.
Note: Include any written authorizations the assigned financial professional needs, if they are acting on behalf of ICBC.