Paint, anti-theft training for loss adjusters

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Last year, two key issues were given priority by the Loss Adjusters Association of Jamaica's (LAAJ) Motor Division. They were the need to determine the correct manufacture year of some vehicles made in Singapore and Thailand which were being imported into Jamaica, as well as a seminar on stolen vehicles and altered chassis numbers.

"Our main focus this year is the ongoing training of loss adjusters and valuators. Last year, we had a seminar for the motor members, which dealt with fraud in terms of chassis numbers, stolen vehicles and how to recognise cloned vehicles," said former president and current vice-president of the Motor Division of the LAAJ, David McKay.

"Presentations were done on what the signs are for stolen vehicles where people tamper with engine and chassis numbers to disguise vehicles. That was a main focus because we were coming across a lot of them. We are the eyes and ears for the banks, and we'll be continuing this," he said.

McKay said there will be a tightening up of this process. "The car market now is very soft. We're finding cases where we are valuing vehicles and people are having a hard time attaining the value on the market, not because the vehicle isn't worth it, but because it's really a buyer's market," he said.

"If you are looking for, say a Honda Accord, you would probably have 2,000 of them from which to pick, choose and refuse, so what will happen is that people will offer low. Say the asking price is $2 million, they will offer $1.6 million because they know it will be hard to sell. The market now is very soft. Particularly from the ads in the newspaper on a Sunday, there are far more sellers than buyers," McKay said.

A paint seminar, hosted by Automotive Art, will train loss adjusters in the process of vehicle painting, as well as the proper techniques in calculating material and labour costs to ensure a repairer is indemnified when he or she does a job.