New York agents and brokers are enjoying slightly improvedrelations with carriers, according to a satisfaction poll by atrade organization.

The findings were reported by Independent Insurance Agents &Brokers of New York Inc. in their latest study of insurers'performance in a poll that drew responses from 261 agencyprincipals who were interviewed.

An official of the group suggested the improved scores could becaused by competition in a marketplace with falling prices.

IIABNY said overall scores for 31 companies researched for itsIndustry Index show improvements in all categories versus theirwinter "report card."

The overall carrier index scores for insurers in personal andcommercial lines were six-tenths and 2.7 points higher,respectively, from the combined overall score in the surveyreleased in February, the group said.

IIABNY said its latest poll, conducted in May and June, groupsnational, super-regional and regional carriers. The survey found ineach instance, regional companies continue to rate higher scoresthan their super-regional and national counterparts.

Members who took the survey for the first time rated theircarriers separately in personal and commercial lines, with thesummer index study finding commercial lines carriers scoring higherthan those in personal lines in this New York-centric project, saidIIABNY.

"Our study focuses on issues specifically facing principals ofNew York agencies and brokerages," said Kathy Weinheimer, IIABNYsenior vice president for industry relations and education. "Unlikeother similar surveys, IIABNY zeroes in on New York State."

One of the most significant findings of the survey, theorganization said, centers on the improved scores in underwriterresponsiveness. Among all carriers, the score was nearly threepoints higher, possibly attributed to the current soft market thatmay be causing companies to allow their underwriters moreflexibility in working with their agents.

Member agencies indicated their satisfaction in six majorperformance levels, such as ease of use of technology anddocumentation, kept promises and relationship with agency'scustomers, and agency-carrier relationship as a "real"partnership.

The respondents were asked to grade carriers on a scale of 0 to100.

On the question of whether a carrier "keeps its promises; treatsme, my agency and my customers with honesty and fairness," nationalcarrier personal lines scored 70.8 and commercial lines 72.1.

The score for super-regional carriers on that question was 77.3for personal lines and 77.4 for commercial lines. Regional carriersscored 79.2 for personal lines and 81.9 for commercial.

Among six questions national carriers scored the lowest on thequestion of whether "profit sharing and commission arrangements arefair."

National carriers were scored 59 for personal lines and 59.5 forcommercial lines. Super-regional carriers scored a 74.1 forpersonal and 74.3 for commercial, and regional carriers scored 75.5for personal and 80.9 for commercial.

IIABNY said individual scores for the 31 carriers are not madepublic because of their "competitive and confidential nature," butcarriers can view their own results.

The Industry Index survey was conducted by the Skaneateles,N.Y.-based Vincent McCabe Inc. consulting firm.

An executive summary of the findings is online athttp://ny.iiaa.org/Surveys/sum08idx.pdf

The Dewitt, N.Y.-based IIABNY says it provides legislativeadvocacy for more than 1,900 agencies and their 18,000employees.