We noted with interest recently that another insurance industry statistical agent will begin assessing a fee for late reports starting in 2003. That makes two who have taken this step, a step that NISS adamantly refuses to take.

All statistical agents adhere to the same deadlines for reporting data to the various regulatory bodies. The filing deadlines that we ask our reporting companies to follow are very similar. It's the flexibility of the NISS systems that makes us a little different. We understand that there will be instances when a reporting company may be late and we have written our systems to allow for those exceptions.

This enables us to apply our customer-friendly approach to working with our member companies to meet our reporting deadlines. We send advance notices, write follow up letters and make telephone calls, all in the way of gentle arm-twisting to "pry" those late reports out of our member companies' hands. And, you know what, it works! Of course it's a little extra work on our part, but the positive side of the process is that it keeps us in touch with our members, helps us understand first hand what issues they are encountering, and gives us a chance to help them overcome whatever is holding a report up.