Overview
When processing commissions in AMS+, we match imported commission statements to policy records based on policy number or commission number, and optionally, coverage type, and effective date. These matching criteria are an important part of commission processing.
If a match isn't found, you may end up with red edits that need to be fixed to associate commissions to your policies. Check out the Red-Edit Clean Up video for steps to fix red edits. To prevent red edits, you may need to update your matching criteria. Please note, matching criteria may vary between carriers.
Learn about matching criteria and when to update them in this article.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Matching criteria
- Policy number - Commonly used to identify policies in commission statements. Can be found on the policy > Policy Details tab.
- Commission number - Occasionally used instead of policy numbers to identify policies in commission statements. Can be found on the policy > Commissions > Settings tab.
- Coverage type - Occasionally used if the carrier is using the same policy number for multiple lines of coverage. Can be found on the policy > Policy Details tab.
- Effective date - Occasionally used if an agency is storing the same policy number with different effective dates. Can be found on the policy > Policy Details tab.
When to update matching criteria
You only need to update matching criteria in the following scenarios:
Carrier uses commission numbers instead of policy numbers
Carriers commonly use policy numbers in their commission statements. By default, AMS+ matches commissions to policy records by policy number.
On occasion, a carrier may use a number that is different from the policy number on their commission statements.
If this happens:
- Add the commission number to the policy record on its Commissions > Settings tab.
- Please note, you will want to do this for every policy record on the commission statement.
- Go to Commission > Carrier Setup and select the carrier that owns the commission statement.
- Select Commission Number and save changes.
- Now, AMS+ will know to check the commission number field instead of the policy number to assign commissions to policies.
Carrier uses the same policy number for multiple lines of coverage
Some carriers use the same policy number for multiple lines of coverage. When importing statements from these carriers, the policy number is not unique enough to find a matching policy record. AMS+ won't know which policy record to assign the commissions.
In this scenario, you can add additional criteria to look at the policy number AND a coverage type. This tells AMS+ which policy record gets the money.
Coverage type is the most common, but some agencies will match on the policy’s effective date. The carrier must provide the correct effective date on the statement for that to work.
Note: Effective date isn’t commonly used because, many times, carriers either don't provide an effective date or it's not the same one the agency uses.
Common questions
How do I get data into the Commission Number field if I’ve been using the Policy Number field up to now?
Contact the Client Success Team for assistance. We can help you add commission numbers to your policies via data import. We can pull a report to get the number from the current policy number field and re-import it into the commission number field. Additionally, if you were using a custom field to store the true policy number, we can use this import to copy that data into the actual policy number field.
I don’t need to match on Policy Number and Coverage Type for some of my carriers. How do I change this?
Go to Commission > Settings > Carrier Setup and select “Carrier Setup.” Select the carrier name from the dropdown menu. You will see 3 options with checkboxes - Policy Number has to be checked, Coverage Type, and Effective Date is optional. If you don’t need to match on anything other than Policy Number then just make sure the boxes next to Coverage Type and Effective Date are unchecked.