It's unfortunate that some of you had bad experiences with certain GA's. Don't know much about Superior Access but I know this for sure. I am on the MGA side myself and here are some facts:
1. During the hard market, MGA's tend to act like standard markets. Two reasons for this. First, certain E & S carriers enforce stricter rules and guidelines. Second, GA underwriters are inundated with apps.
2. Most of us (MGA U/W) are on salary. We get paid whether we write the account or not. However, it is important for us to keep our production high while keeping the loss ration low since some of us are paid bonuses or profit sharing. Hence some rudeness won't hurt the UW or the firm. Many owners of MGA's would agree that it's important to focus on maintaining an agency that can produce and terminate a bunch that don't.
3. Each UW may deal with over 100 different retail producers. Each producer (1 agency) may send as many as 5 to 10 apps a day. Some may only send 1 app per month. The closing ratio on some agencies are better than others. We tend to work closer and provide faster service to those agencies that can actually produce and not waste time.
4. When receiving a very first submission from a new agency, we notice things very quickly. Some submissions are half complete while others maybe fully complete with supplemental, loss runs, brief description and comment about the risk, etc... One thing UW's hate the most is when the description of operation simply states "Commercial Building (period!)". When the submission is crappy, we tend to disregard and pay more closer attention to those cleaner, complete submissions.
5. Many GA's have adopted and started implementing "Clearance System". This allows each UW and branch offices to share data. Once a submission is received, it must go through clearance desk first to make sure there are no other prior submissions. The clearance deak must enter the data before it get's delivered to the UW.
Now the solutions to the above facts:
1. The market's softening up. Carriers are hungry for business. UW's are still inundated but not as bad as before. Try to build a relationship with one that you like. Talk to them about hobbies other than insurance. We love to chat. Not long but a short discussion about the illegal immigration problems won't hurt.
2. This is something you will need to find out for yourself. Find other GA's that have the same carriers that the rude GA's have. For example, go to any of the carrier website and search. I would never do business with people that don't appreciate my business and neither should you.
3. Closing ratio is not fully up to the retail producer. However, every once in a while try sending in an account that you know will bind for sure (ie. renewal account from a different GA). Call and ask before submitting.
4. Complete submission comes with specialty experience. I know this because some agents with 20 years of auto insurance experience has no clue how to fill out an ACORD 125, let alone obatining loss runs. Don't be afraid to call any GA UW and ask what and how to fill out something. Ask before submitting and request supplemental apps. Few extra minutes spent on a single submission could result in a real postive result for you and your client.
5. Fastest way to submit is via e-mail. Try to send in your submission and CC a copy to your designated UW. Faxing is usually slower.
As for GA's not answering or returning your calls, I am guilty of this myself. But please understand that we cannot be available all the time and sometimes, we do make agency visits and not in the office all the time. If you have a real good relationship with an UW, he/she may give you his/her cell number and you could reach him/her. We all carry one of those
Now a question for channel, what does SAIC have that other GA's don't? Why put up with poor service?