Enservio Finds Guns & Ammo Overvalued in Claims

NEEDHAM, MA--(Marketwired - Dec 8, 2014) - Enservio, Inc., a leading provider of software and services across the entire value chain of contents claims processing, today announced that firearms and ammunition are commonly overvalued in insurance claims from more than 50% to 126% respectively. Enservio data also finds that approximately 10% of the $2 billion in claims it processes annually contain guns, ammo and firearm accessories. 

According to GunPolicy.org, the estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) in America is 101.05 firearms per 100 people, making the U.S. the highest per capita in the world for the possession of firearms.

"The chances of a field adjuster or claims inventory professional finding a gun while on the job are extraordinarily high," said Enservio Senior Contents Consultant Chad Horlbogen, who has 26 years of advanced firearms experience and tactical weaponry training. "Americans love their guns, but valuing them can be difficult. Being a specialty item, firearms have unique characteristics that claim pros need to know about in order to fairly reimburse or replace these items correctly."

A common perception held by policyholders is that guns depreciate very little and are worth more than what they paid for them -- in some cases, more than retail value. One reason for this thinking is due to the fact that they are constructed of solid, lasting materials.

"Many people believe that all guns appreciate in value. They are often passed down between generations, and considered a member of the family," added Horlbogen.

State and federal restrictions placed on purchasing guns can also amplify their perceived values. For these reasons Enservio recommends obtaining expert appraisal on this specialty product category.

Enservio Findings

• Handguns: Average policyholder claims $285; actual cash value is $186
  
  
• Rifles: Average policyholder claims $291; actual cash value is $186
  
  
• Rifle Ammunition: Average policyholder claims $104; actual cash value is $46
  
  
• Rifle Magazines: Average policyholder claims $36; actual cash value is $10
  
  
• Shotgun scopes: Average policyholder claims $62; actual cash value is $31
  
  

In an effort to educate claims adjusters on the key value factors behind valuing firearms and ammo, interested parties can tune in to hear Chad Horlbogen present a 30-minute webinar on "Best Practices for Valuing Firearms" by visiting: http://www.enservio.com/web-overview/firearms-on-demand-webinar

About Enservio, Inc.
Enservio® software and services help you solve one of the biggest issues in property insurance -- knowing what's inside an insured's home or business. This visibility helps you right-price your policies upfront, settle claims quickly and accurately, manage replacements to keep customers happy, as well as run your business more efficiently. Founded in 2004, we are headquartered in Needham, MA, with offices and professional staff across the U.S. Enservio is a strategic partner of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) in their continued fight against insurance fraud. For additional information, please visit the company's web site www.enservio.com or call 888.567.7557. Connect with Enservio via LinkedIn (http://us.linkedin.com/company/enservio), Twitter (https://twitter.com/enservio), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/enservio).

Enservio is a registered trademark of Enservio, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective holders.