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CARCO GROUP INC.
Leader in Vehicle Pre-Insurance Inspection Management and Technology Development
A pioneer in vehicle pre-insurance inspection systems, and recognized leader
in the field, CARCO Group, Inc., was founded in 1977 to provide inspection services
to the insurance industry. The company responded quickly to the inspection requirements
created by the enactment of legislation in New York, which created a Photo Inspection
Law [Regulation 79] to stem the serious rise in auto insurance rates. This serious
economic problem was brought about by the rapidly increasing numbers of fraudulent
claims for nonexistent [phantom] vehicles, and claims for pre-existing damage.
An initial network of more than 1000 independent contractor-operated inspection
sites was established throughout the State for the convenience of the motoring
public.
Starting with just five employees in 1977, the company now employs more than
250 people and has two major divisions: the Insurance Services Division and the
Research Division.
Insurance Services Division
New York’s ground-breaking photo inspection law, Regulation 79, required
that any car being insured for theft, fire or collision must be physically inspected
at an authorized inspection site within a specified time. The inspection process
included obtaining information regarding the year, make and model of the vehicle,
list of options and accessories, description of any existing damage to the vehicle,
and verification of the Vehicle Identification Number [VIN]. In addition, photographic
documentation that clearly showed all four sides of the vehicle, plus a close-up
of the Federal Safety Certification Label, also called the EPA Label, were required.
This procedure prevented a policy owner from obtaining insurance for a “phantom” vehicle
or from receiving compensation for pre-existing damage.
The success of this law in reducing the amount of fraudulent
claims in New York influenced other states to pass similar physical
damage inspection laws. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and
the State of New Jersey, for example, passed more limited inspection
programs in 1979 and 1980, respectively. Since that time, however,
both Massachusetts and New Jersey have adopted programs which
are virtual identical to New York. In 1991, the State of Florida
implemented a cursory vehicle inspection program covering the
seven most populated counties, while the States of California
and Rhode Island initiated vehicle inspection programs in 1991
and 1994, respectively. In each instance, CARCO responded by
establishing comprehensive site networks to provide efficient
and expansive inspection services to meet the needs of the insurance
community.
In March of 1994, CARCO acquired Autocheck, a major competitor
in the vehicle inspection market. As a result of the merger of
Autocheck’s inspection
site network with CARCO’s, an industry-leading national site network in
excess of 4,000 locations was created. In July of 1995, CARCO continued its strategy
of growth through acquisition by acquiring the operating assets of the insurance
inspection services division of AutoInfo, Inc., its largest competitor. This
acquisition enabled the company to operate more efficiently and provide enhanced
service to the insurance community, including a combined national site network
of more than 6,000 locations.
In January of 1997, the Province of Ontario in Canada passed the “Insurance
Act” which requires physical damage inspections throughout the Province.
While this represented a major challenge to CARCO, both in terms of establishing
a physical presence on foreign soil and in serving a Province equivalent in size
of about four states, CARCO met the challenge and quickly set up a site network
of almost 750 inspection stations within a three-month period.
Today, through its history of high performance and accomplishment, a fully computerized
protective inspection program, and the most extensive site network available
to serve the motoring public, CARCO continues to enjoy a dominant market position
in its industry segment.
Research Division
In an effort to broaden and diversify its business base, CARCO
began to explore opportunities to penetrate new markets which
would complement its initial business
venture. In that regard, the Research Division was started more than 20 years
ago, in 1979. This division was formed to provide comprehensive background
investigation on job applicants and employees newly hired for large corporations
under the purview of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. This service is
generally sold to a company’s Human Resources or Security Department.
A typical investigation may include a verification of education, prior employment,
residence, credit and litigation history, and a search of publicly-accessible
criminal and motor vehicle records.
The Wall Street investment community was targeted as the Research Division’s
first marketplace, as it is a people-intensive industry concentrated in a relatively
small geographic area, and operates under laws and regulations which mandate
employee screening. Shortly thereafter, the banking community was targeted. The
Division quickly established itself in these industries and began to provide
its services to many of the largest and most prestigious banks and brokerage
firms in New York, including the Federal Reserve Bank and the New York Stock
Exchange. This division continued to expand rapidly and, in 1980, opened a branch
office in Houston, Texas, to provide background investigations to the petrochemical
industry, representing many of the nation’s largest oil and drilling companies,
in addition to regional brokerage firms and banks.
In the Fall of 1991, CARCO announced the development of ZIPCRIM™, a proprietary
automated product which enabled clients to order and receive, via their own PC,
criminal history record, credit, and motor vehicle reports in a quick, easy and
inexpensive manner. ZIPCRIM opened a whole new market for applicant/employee
screening. Due to expanding business, CARCO established a separate business unit
within the Research Division from which to launch its automated employee screening
products. ZIPCRIM and, most recently, ZIPCRIMPLUS™, represents the second
and third generation Windows® - based platforms developed by CARCO. These
products, as well as ongoing research and development and technology enhancements,
including document imaging, are positioning CARCO Research well for the future.
Early
in 2000, the company acquired Murphy & Maconachy,
Inc. [MMI], a licensed investigative and information services
company
with 19 years of industry experience in the development of comprehensive
investigative programs. CARCO/MMI consists of more than 50 professionals
including former FBI agents and Law Enforcement investigators,
insurance professionals, research analysts, forensic accountants,
environmental scientist, certified fraud examiners, and computer
specialists.
Together, CARCO’s two companies have combined to provide
a variety of services to assist insurance carriers, self-insured
entities, third-party administrators
and defense counsel in good faith investigations into the facts and circumstances
of submitted claims and insurance related litigation.
Over the years, CARCO has significantly diversified its client base, and now
performs this service for a wide variety of clients on a national basis, including
those in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, electronics, communications, insurance,
energy, manufacturing and restaurant industries, as well as the retail-related
businesses.
The unique information-related services provided by CARCO’s operating divisions,
embodying vehicle photo inspection and personnel background investigations have
a common link: gathering and disseminating information. Likewise, the essential
characteristics of both divisions are also compatible: 1] they are high volume
in nature, 2] are fairly inexpensive, 3] provide the opportunity for long-term
repeat business, and 4] are technology-based and highly automated.
PETER
L. O’NEILL, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
CARCO Group Inc.
Peter
O’NEILL co-founded CARCO in 1977. He has served
as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer
since 1977, and as Chairman of the Board since 1984. Mr. O’Neill
is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in the State of
New York, and before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. O’Neill,
who has over 25 years experience in security and law enforcement,
formerly served as Vice President of the Wackenhut Corporation,
as Assistant General Counsel of ARA Services, and as a Special
Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. O’Neill has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate
University, Hamilton, NY. He received his law degree from the
New York University School of Law in
New York, NY. He is a member of the National Law Enforcement Association, the
American Society of Industrial Security and the New York State Law Enforcement
Foundation.