Six ICBC workers have been sacked from the Richmond claims centre and more could be on their way out after an investigation into their conduct.
The insurance corporation fired one of the estimators in March and another five last week at the Elbridge Way centre following a lengthy probe into claims that were being improperly processed.
A Richmond auto body shop, Hugh Autobody on Capstan Way, is at the centre of the investigation and has lost its ICBC accreditation as a result.
However, the News learned Tuesday that ICBC is still investigating and more employees may be sacked as a result.
Basically, the fired workers violated ICBC policies by approving repair estimates from an auto body shop over the phone, rather than in person.
ICBC policy requires a visual examination to ensure the approved auto body shop isnt deliberately inflating the estimate.
The investigation continues and there could be one or two more (firings) to come, said ICBCs manager of media relations, Mark Jan Vrem.
Apparently, an unusual amount of business was going to a very few number of businesses.
A member of staff is understood to have brought the matter to bosses attention late last year.
The RCMP was brought in at the very beginning, Jan Vrem said, but its (the RCMPs) view that this is very much an internal matter and they dont see it as criminal.
Jan Vrem said ICBC is now taking a closer look at their centres across the province to make sure the problem is not systemic.
