Local Chandler Arizona Auto Glass Shops KILL Safelite Expansion
Tommy Jones ZipGlassNetwork.com Tuesday, March 27, 2012
 Safelite announced that it'll postpone plans to expand the firm's Chandler, Ariz. Call center facility. A suggested change to an Arizona bill is threatening to require Safelite to change their business practices, which would include the Chandler call center.
"Safelite Solutions' growth in Chandler remains on hold because of the unpleasant business climate we find ourselves in," claims Brian O'Mara, VP of national contact center operations for Safelite. "We are still taking a 'wait and see' approach, but the enlargement will at last need to be made somewhere. We might like it to be in Arizona, but unfortunately, that can't occur if we will be forced to refer claims to F-rated shops."
The growth was anticipated to form 300 new jobs straight away at the Chandler call center. The facility originally opened in June of 2010, and, according to the company, at first employed around 195. Safelite had projected at that point that ultimately the facility would grow to roughly 1,000 employees.
"It's bad for policyholders very simply. There are 49 other states plus DC where operations may be shifted, if this bill passes," claims O'Mara. "Our doors remain open to all policymakers to come and see our facility and learn more about how we do business and how this bill would hurt Arizona customers. We look forward to moving past this and developing a good working relationship with our baby-kissers, our affiliate glass shops and all others that are interested in a fair and open market in the auto glass industry."
In the change to the Arizona bill it states that if the insured, "does not like a specific provider, the 3rd party administrator shall provide the insured with the names of 3 at random selected providers on the supplier list on a revolving basis with no preference given to any supplier. The 3rd party director is required to offer all providers on the list before any supplier might be offered again."
"If the Arizona bill were to pass, Safelite could still handle claims for insurance corporations. They could still use their eight hundred numbers. They could still process the calls and they could still do what 3rd party directors do," asserts Kerry Soat, Managing Director for Fas-Break, Incorporated, in Chandler, Ariz, in response to Safelite's news. "So threatening to close the Arizona call center or perhaps give the impression their business would close in Arizona merely shows how much they'd like to keep the 'status quo' in Arizona. What's wrong with good service, excellent products and good installations as a technique to compete in Arizona?"
The bill was referred to the Arizona Senate's Rules Panel, which meets today.
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