If you’ve seen those “not my job” photos going viral—like crosswalk lines painted straight over garbage or signs installed upside down—you already know one brutal truth: when people phone it in, chaos follows. Bored Panda’s latest hit piece, “People Are Sharing Priceless ‘Not My Job’ Moments Caught In Pictures”, is blowing up because it’s painfully relatable. But here’s the twist no one’s talking about: that same “bare minimum” energy is exactly what can wreck your insurance claim.
Insurers, repair shops, adjusters, even you can accidentally fall into “not my job” mode. The result? Delays, lowball offers, and claims that quietly die in someone’s inbox. Let’s flip the script. Inspired by those viral fails, here’s how to keep “not my job” energy out of your claims process—and turn it into “paid in full” energy instead.
---
1. The “Painted Over the Problem” Fail: Don’t Let Anyone Gloss Over Damage
Those pics of workers painting fresh lines straight over potholes and trash are funny… until you realize that exact thing happens with claims every day. A rushed adjuster snaps two pics, misses water damage behind the wall, and boom—your payout only covers half the real repair. That’s the claims version of painting over a sinkhole.
If your car, home, or business is damaged, your job is to refuse cosmetic fixes in the claim file. Document everything—close-ups, wide shots, video walkthroughs, timestamps, even humidity readings for leaks if you can get them. When contractors come out, ask them to list hidden or future risks (mold, frame damage, electrical issues). Send those reports to your insurer immediately. The more you surface, the harder it is for anyone to “paint over” the real problem with a lazy estimate.
---
2. “Not My Department” Shuffle: Make One Person Own Your Claim
In those viral “not my job” pics, you can almost hear the worker thinking, “Eh, someone else will fix it.” Claims departments can fall into the same trap—underwriting blames claims, claims blames the body shop, the body shop blames parts suppliers, and you’re stuck in voicemail purgatory.
Here’s the move: pick a single human being to be “your person” on the inside. When you first file:
- Ask for a dedicated claims rep’s direct phone and email
- Confirm their title and what they *can* authorize
- Schedule a follow-up date on the spot (“I’ll check back with you on Tuesday at 2 PM, cool?”)
Then, whenever a new player joins—the adjuster, the rental car company, the contractor—CC your main contact. You’re quietly killing the “not my department” excuse and turning your claim into a project with an owner. Claims that have an “owner” move faster. Claims that bounce between inboxes get forgotten.
---
3. Viral Documentation Energy: Treat Your Claim Like It Might End Up Online
Those “not my job” posts are so shareable because the evidence is undeniable: a bench blocking a door, a curb painted around a fallen branch, pure chaos. Your claim needs that level of undeniable receipts, even if you never go public.
Adopt “this might go viral” energy for your documentation:
- Film a narrated video: “This is my living room, water entered from *here*, damaged *this*, and here’s the date/time.”
- Save call logs, claim portal messages, and confirmation emails in one folder.
- Screenshot every status update in your online account.
- When something feels off, write a quick recap email: “Per our call today, you stated…”
If things get messy later—denial, delay, lowball—you’re not arguing from vibes. You’re rolling out a highlight reel of receipts that any supervisor, regulator, or attorney can understand in minutes. That alone can flip a claim from “ignored” to “expedited.”
---
4. Don’t Be the “Lazy Install” Customer: Read Your Policy Before You Need It
Those photos where someone installed a door handle in the middle of the wall or a handrail that leads nowhere? That’s what a badly chosen policy looks like at claim time—technically “installed,” functionally useless. Many people only realize their coverage is nonsense after they file a claim.
Stay ahead of that fail by doing a pre-claim reality check:
- Look for **deductibles** that are higher than your emergency savings—huge red flag.
- Check exclusions for common scenarios where you live (flood, wildfire, hurricane, theft from car, e-bike, etc.).
- Confirm limits on personal property (jewelry, electronics, collectibles) and business equipment if you WFH.
If you spot a “door handle on the ceiling” in your coverage—something that looks ridiculous when you actually imagine using it—fix it now. A 15‑minute call or a quick app change today beats a cold reality check after disaster strikes.
---
5. Turn “That’s Not My Job” Into Your Secret Superpower
The wildest part of those viral failures? Every single one happened because someone decided, “That’s above my pay grade.” In the claims world, you win when you do the opposite and claim jobs that technically aren’t yours—but massively help you.
Power moves that aren’t “required,” but change everything:
- **Pre-fill the adjuster’s job**: Send a bullet-point damage summary, estimates, and photos in one clean email instead of waiting to be asked.
- **Track your own timeline**: Keep a simple note of date filed, date inspected, offers made, and who said what. If it drags on, you can calmly reference, “We’re at Day 32 since filing.”
- **Escalate like a pro**: If your claim stalls, ask (politely, on record) for a supervisor review or a written explanation citing specific policy language.
- **Know your state’s rules**: Many regions have deadlines for acknowledging, investigating, and paying claims. A quick search—“[your state] insurance claim timelines”—can give you leverage fast.
You’re not trying to be a nuisance; you’re showing you’re organized, informed, and not disappearing. In a pile of claims, that’s how you stand out—and get moved to the “let’s just get this paid” pile.
---
Conclusion
Those “not my job” posts are hilarious… until you realize the same energy can quietly cost you thousands in an insurance claim. In a world where laziness goes viral, your best defense is being the one person who refuses to phone it in.
Document like a creator, assign an “owner” inside the insurer, patch policy gaps before disaster hits, and take on the extra 10% that most people skip. That 10% is where the real money—and the fastest payouts—actually live.
Share this with the friend who always sends you the latest “look at this disaster” meme. The next viral fail shouldn’t be their claim.
Key Takeaway
The most important thing to remember from this article is that this information can change how you think about Claims Process.
