Guaranty Association Benefits Company

If you are in a career of service to customers, you already understand that your positive interactions can help control a situation. But have you ever thought about the same thing when you're the customer?

It is unlikely that you ever gone shopping and thought, "Well, I better use my best service skills to customers today while buying these shoes. " It's funny how a simple twist words can change the whole story.

Think of a time when you were extremely agitated with a service provider. How did you react and, in turn, how did they react? Did you tell them exactly what you thought or did you try to put yourself in their place and be understanding? Whatever action you have chosen, the attitude and behavior with which you meet will probably be reflected back to you.

is a perfect example of the latter of the holiday season. One of my colleagues mentioned how she had ordered a gift for her husband - a t-shirt of his favorite band. Weeks have passed and the gift failed, despite having asked for expedited delivery. When asked by e-mail said they had found the lost order, but that he can not arrive on time. She graciously responded, thanking them for responding and raved on and on how much her husband loved the band. When the package arrived (before Christmas) inside the box was not only the shirt but also two additional t-shirts of different styles, a DVD and an autographed photo of the band members. How awesome is that? She chose to reflect a positive attitude and in return, the company made ten times.

As we all head into the bustling shopping back-to-school take the time to reflect on our service not only as a supplier but as a client as well. See how your choices in behavior can affect the outcome of your shopping experiences. Share your positive customer service experiences with us in the comments!

Thanksgiving is about family, giving thanks for what you have ... and turkey. Turkey is the main course for most Thanksgiving Day dinners, and sometimes people like to get creative with how they cook. One of the most popular methods of cooking is frying. Those using this cooking method to their Thanksgiving beast swear a fried turkey is tastier than cooked turkey in the oven.

Frying a turkey has its advantages. A fried turkey takes less time to cook than a cooked turkey in the oven and the turkey comes out more juicy as well. Fry the bird also leaves open the oven to cook other delicious dishes that will have your mouth watering members of your family.

The problem with frying a turkey is that it can be dangerous. If the correct safety steps are not taken, you can not only ruin the main course, but cause property damage and serious injuries. Here are some tips from the US Fire Administration for frying your turkey safely this year.

1. Turkey fryers should always be used outside a building safety distance and other flammable materials.
2. Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.
3. Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce spills.
4. Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat control. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
5. Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil within the cooking container may remain dangerously hot hours after use.
6. To avoid oil benefits, do not overload the fryer. (Make a functional test by placing the turkey in a pan and fill with water so that the turkey is covered in three inches of water and the water is at least 6 inches from the top of the pot. Measure the amount of water and make sure to completely dry both turkey and pot.)
7. Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes against oil splashes.
8. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over and cause a fire or even an explosion hazard.
9. The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.
10. Keep a fire extinguisher use nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help.

For more information on the safety of Thanksgiving, visit the Department of Homeland Security website.

So now that we know the steps to cooking safely your main course, what is your favorite dish to accompany the turkey? Share yours below and Happy Thanksgiving!

With a new year and a chance for resolutions, I resolve not to lose important files on my computer this year. Of family photos and videos, invaluable for tax records, budgets, the music library, and everything else, there's a lot on your computer, you do not want to lose. And your company's computer? Does your business continues to function if your data was not available?

I think everyone has accidentally deleted a file. In addition to this, many other things could go wrong: a virus, hard drive crash, a laptop stolen, or worse, your home and its contents are destroyed in a hurricane or fire

The solution is. make copies of your data so that it is readily available in case of disaster. Remember your home and its contents could be destroyed, so consider making two sets of backup files. We stay at home and the other is stored somewhere off site - keep a copy at work or with a friend or neighbor

Here are some options that are often used for data backup :.

CD / DVD copies - most computers have a CD burner or DVD already, and you can choose blank discs for less than a dollar each. This is a quick and inexpensive way to start, but it is very difficult to automate a backup solution. As the size of your data increases, you burn through the disc quickly

Flash Drives -. These are small devices that plug into any USB key. They are easy to carry; you can keep in your pocket as your keys. As long as you do not lose the drive, your backup data goes where you go. You will need to remember to connect the player and periodically backup. You can get a 128GB USB drive for about $ 60

External Hard Drive -. These devices are larger than a flash drive, but still connected to a USB drive. Most will come with software to make the backup process hassle free and automatic. Some even come with a solution of a single click so you press a button on the front of the drive and let it do its job. The prices on these continue to drop and you can easily pick up a 500GB drive for about $ 100

online backups -. There are several companies that will help you get your work through secure connections to their servers. The advantage of such services as "cloud-based" is that they are not in your home and will be available even if your home was destroyed. Most give you a few gigabytes free. If you need more storage there is a monthly fee - usually $ 5- $ 10. Mozy, Dropbox and Google Drive are a few options.

Do you have a story where a backup saved you? What strategies do you have in place?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

With the beginning of each new year comes about our New Year's resolutions: eat better, exercise, spend less money, etc. I know it seems early to start working on a change, but studies show that you can be more successful if you start in December. Considering how much time we spend at work each day, we should really do work-related resolutions and personal. Have you ever thought of doing a resolution ergonomic work station

Here are some things to think :?

Posture. Your forearms and thighs parallel to the floor when typing? Your feet are flat on the ground? Do you sit straight in your chair and not addressed or in another uncomfortable position? Did you change your posture about every 8-10 minutes?

keyboard. keyboard is about an inch below your writing surface? Your mouse on the keyboard tray? Is this the keyboard tray or a slight negative tilt?

president. Is the back of your chair unlocked so you can stretch all day? The seat plate not touching the back of your knees?

monitor. When you look right before your eyes remains in the top 1/3 of the monitor screen?

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, then why not resolve to do some ergonomic changes for 2013. I would like to hear about your new year's resolutions related work and good luck with all of your 2013 goals!

Where do you feel most safe from the threat of fire? At home? You're not alone. A 08 survey nationwide by the Society of protection against fire engineers showed that 79% of Americans feel safer from fire at home than in public. In reality, the vast majority of fire deaths occur in the home.

modern commercial and public buildings have many characteristics of protection against fires that are not present in most homes. Some of them, such as fire sprinkler systems and illuminated exit signs are obvious to the casual observer. Others, such stairway enclosures fire rating, are less visible. The owners and occupants of commercial and public buildings are responsible for properly maintaining fire protection and detection, construction systems (such as electricity and heating and cooling) and emergency exit facilities and the equipment. Inspections by staff from the fire department, responsible for the implementation of the code, and representatives of insurance companies help to ensure that these systems are maintained in good condition.

The next time you stay at a hotel or motel, take a few minutes to identify some fire safety features. Initially, you are likely to notice the sprinklers, fire extinguishers, exit signs, fire alarm boxes manuals and smoke detectors. Now look closer. Note corridor emergency lighting (which sounds when power is lost), panic bars on exit doors, a fire closure door to your room, fire safety instructions in the elevator, and a number of other features that are supposed to protect the building and its occupants against fire.

Once you're home, wondering if your own fire safety provisions are adequate. Smoke detectors are installed and working? Does your family developed and practiced a fire escape plan? Can you find a working fire extinguisher without delay? Is the furnace inspected and maintained as required? A positive answer to these questions can help transform the perception of fire safety in the home a reality.

Click above for a video tour of the customer's website Central, myCentral®

Everyone wants the right to timely and accurate service? Well, technology has come a long way and many companies have not only user-friendly websites, but more and more companies also have mobile applications that customers can self-service their accounts. By entering this world of technology, customers typically receive more benefits they were even expecting.

A great advantage of self-maintenance of your accounts is convenience. First, there is no "waiting time" as there might be if you call a company. Your information is at hand 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Making payments electronically will eliminate the hassle and costs of written test, paper filing, or buy stamps, and many companies offer credit to their customers if they fall within their electronic options. Many insurance sites offer options for reporting complaints, auto printed ID cards, and change request policy, to expedite the processing of such information.

Then there is peace of mind. Receive reports almost instantly, without worry about lost or stolen mail. Bills and policies are stored electronically on a secure site. The payment of invoices electronically also helps keep your identity be compromised and helps you avoid late payments or missed.

Many websites and mobile applications also provide useful information in the form of articles or free advice on how to save money, how to protect your home, how to keep the private private information, and more.

, and then there are the environmental benefits. No paper means less waste to recycle. For example, just by switching to electronic billing, statements and payments for a year, the average American household would avoid the release of 63 gallons of wastewater into the environment!

If you are considering the idea of ​​using the self-service options for your own account but have questions or if you simply want to ensure that you receive all the benefits of choosing this method, contact the company . They are often happy to explain the benefits of their website or mobile app! If you have already self-service to your accounts using the online or mobile options, what are your favorite benefits?

It is spring again and Mother Nature is already sending us strong winds and hail that can affect the only thing that offers the greater protection to our home: The roof. Most of us have a lot of questions regarding our roofs. What type of roof should I? the recent bad weather has affected my roof? Is my roof leak? Should I contact my insurance company and file a claim?

The first thing you need to do after a storm is to perform a visual inspection of your roof. Do you see any missing shingles or visible damage? If the hail storm included, you should check your windows, garage doors, and outside air conditioner condenser for damage. You should also check the status of your fences, buildings and outdoor play structures. If the storm had heavy rain, check your ceilings for water stains and drywall damage.

If the hail was bigger and lasted for a long period of time, you can have damage to your roof you can not see from the ground. If you think there is damage, you should call your insurance agent to discuss your options. You will need to consider whether the expected damage will exceed your deductible when deciding to file your claim. Your agent can advise you call a roofer to check the eaves to file a claim with your insurance company. Depending on the number of requests the agent received in your area, the agent may recommend that you go ahead and file a claim.

Once you file a claim, most companies will assign an expert. It is the job of the insurance adjuster to inform you on your roof and the claims process. They can tell you the difference between twenties, three-tab shingles and shingle dimensions of thirty. They can tell you if your roof can be repaired or if the damage is significant enough to warrant replacement. They can also indicate if they see any areas on the roof that can be hot spots for leaks.

If your roof needs replacing, you will need to find a contractor to do the work. It is very important that you do your homework as a consumer when choosing a roofer. Talk to your neighbors for referrals, or Google the company for information. Check references of the contractor, or use companies such as Angie's List or the Better Business Bureau for information on these companies. Once you have found a roofer, ask them guarantees on the cover material and manufacture. The roofer can also make recommendations for better materials hedging or materials that can provide better ventilation in your home.

Your insurance agent, your insurance adjuster, and your roofing contractor can all guide you through the claims process, but you can do your part by doing your research and ask questions when something is clear. If you have experienced a roof application, what words of wisdom can you share?