Who is Beck Glass Shield?

Who is Beck Glass Shield? | Insurance Business Canada

Property

Who is Beck Glass Shield?

Taking glass insurance to a new level

Property

By
Beck Glass Shield

The following article was provided by Beck Glass Shield.

Beck Glass Shield [BGS] was created to fill a need in the glass insurance market. Never satisfied with the status quo, BGS founder Fred Beck realized that the burgeoning market for glass insurance needed a fresh approach. Together with his brother Merle, the Becks focussed on creating an insurance product that speaks to effectiveness, affordability and simplicity – all wrapped up in a formidable customer service philosophy.

Fred and Merle Beck began their glass industry journey in 1978 with the creation of Broco Auto Glass. Broco quickly emerged as one of the largest auto glass companies in BC at that time. After several successful years of learning and growing in the flat glass industry, the Beck brothers turned their attention to helping homeowners (and corporate clients) with the high cost of vandalism, damage and overall glass replacement. In 2000, they developed and sold a service contract for home & business owners to help them better protect these most valuable assets.

In 2012, Broco Auto Glass was sold to Belron and their flat glass division began operating as Beck Glass Insurance. In 2014, the then Financial Institutions Commission of BC [FICOMBC] (now operating under the BC Financial Services Authority [BCFSA]) and the Insurance Council became concerned that these glass contracts were too similar to an insurance product. Of the 43 companies that were offering glass contracts at that time, Beck Glass was one of only two businesses that undertook the regulatory steps to become a Managing General Agent [MGA]. Partnering with Trisura Insurance Group as its underwriter, it quickly became 100% compliant with the BCFSA regulations. In 2023, Beck rebranded as Beck Glass Shield with over 4,000 brokers enrolled on its platform, and proudly licensed in most provinces across Canada.

The Beck Glass Shield team believes that the best way to serve their customer base is to fully understand their needs – and deliver a product, and service – that is consistent with that commitment. As part of this philosophy, BGS developed an online Claims Tracking Platform that facilitates the efficient processing of claims. BGS’s proprietary Broker Management System [BMS] harnesses their expanding broker network’s need for simplicity, efficiency and effectiveness, and supports the broker community with speed, precision and centralization. The BGS team has created a symbiotic and collaborative relationship between the BMS and their brokers through easy access to a 24/7, 1-800 claims line, training and FAQ sheet.

As part of its Broker enrollment and on-boarding process, the BGS team offers ongoing and comprehensive training for new (and existing) BMS platform users. This hands-on approach is fundamental to the personal care and customer service culture that is at the heart of BGS.

“At Beck Glass Shield, we are all about making the broker’s life easier. We strive to offer the most efficient claims processing system in the business. Our brokers are naturally inclined to work with us, as we are partners in their knowledge, growth and success,” said Fred Beck.

If you ask Fred or Merle why someone needs glass insurance, the answer is simple: “It just makes sense: do the math.” Example: In the homeowner market, an average residential glass replacement runs about $1,200; with an average homeowner’s insurance deductible anywhere from $500 to $1,500. A single glass claim can easily result in a negative impact on the homeowner’s policy, often resulting in higher premiums. To avoid this, most homeowners opt to pay for these kinds of repairs out of pocket. “With a Beck Glass Shield insurance product, there is no hit to your home insurance premium from a claim, and it only costs about $60 per year”. As you can see, the math works!

More importantly, the BGS business model is centered around exceptional customer service. The BGS team that supports the BMS program and broker network is dedicated to making the client journey quick, easy and painless. Fred Beck is quick to tell you that while his name may be on the door, it’s his dedicated BGS team that makes it all work. From broker on-boarding, to customer service, to frictionless claims processing, the BGS team defines teamwork. Long hours and a shared dedication to customer satisfaction sets the BGS experience above all others.