ICBC will soon handle customer's claims more than 170 languages, with the help of an interpreter, across the province.
The initiative is an on-demand, over-the-phone translation service provided by Language Line Services. The program was piloted in nine Lower Mainland claim centres, and earlier through ICBC's Dial-a-Claim service.
The trial period was so successful, ICBC plans to roll the service to all claim centres in B.C.
"The successful handling of any claim depends on open and clear communication," said Craig Horton, vice-president of claims at ICBC.
"This service will reduce the anxiety some of our customers may feel by creating an environment for them to ask questions and resolve any issues in their own primary languages."
During the pilot of the translation service, the top 10 languages requested were Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, Farsi, Hindi, Russian and Japanese.
On average, it will only take seconds to be connected to an interpreter, and the service will operate 24-7, everyday of the year.
