Noble Public Adjusting Group makes it our business to keep our Florida blog readers informed about all things affecting you as an insurance policyholder. That includes both Florida homeowners and commercial property owners who maintain insurance on your property. In the vein of educating policyholders in Florida, we would like to refer to an article we read at Claims Journal that prompted today’s blog post. The article is titled, Erasing the Abuse of Unlicensed Public Adjusters.
The article brings up a critical issue, especially going into the 2018 Hurricane Season in Florida. The first section of the article from Claims Journal does a great job of explaining why you should ALWAYS check the credentials of not just a Florida Public Adjuster before hiring them after a catastrophic event, such as a Florida hurricane, but also contractors and other tradesmen who might approach you.
Here is that above-mentioned section, “They surface in the wake of any catastrophe or run-of-the-mill claim generating-event. Contractors, tradesmen, restoration companies or others emerge, offering not only to repair damage to homes or property but to also negotiate on behalf of the policyholders with their insurance company. The proposition offered to policyholders by these unlicensed or “non-public” adjusters is enticing at first glance. They promise insureds that they’ll handle the entire process – beginning with estimating the damage, to filing your insurance claim, to handling repairs, to an ultimate settlement with the carrier. This would leave the policyholder unburdened by the perceived hassle of haggling with the insurance company.”
In Florida, public adjusters like Noble Public Adjusting Group are state regulated professionals. We undergo training, examination, and certification to ensure adherence to specific professional regulations. A Florida Public Adjuster, in fact, must put up a $50,000 bond, pass a background check and be insured before they can practice in Florida. Licensed public adjusters in Florida must also receive ongoing, continuing education in state insurance regulations to maintain their licenses. Should they stray, they are subject to state punishment or penalties.
Be Sure to Check The Credentials of Any Florida Public Adjuster
Unlicensed public adjusters undergo no training, examination, certification or review by state regulatory authorities. They have no fiduciary duty to the policyholder and are bound by no professional regulations. Often, the only penalties they may face could be civil claims by the homeowner or property owner, or – if they commit fraud – possible criminal charges. Unlicensed public adjusters who also serve as contractors are motivated strictly by profit, not by aiding their insured client. Since they effectively “double-dip” in the insurance proceeds, claiming both a commission on the insurance proceeds and a fee for the work delivered, no guarantee ensures the work will be completed. As has been seen in many markets following catastrophes, many are opportunists who arrive, collect their proceeds, and move on to the next catastrophe.
Noble can’t stress to our blog readers strongly enough that you need to make sure and check the credentials of a Florida public adjuster before you hire them, as well as that of contractors and other tradesmen who might approach you, especially after a catastrophic event like a hurricane. Noble keeps an updated list of contractors we have personally vetted if you need repairs or replacement of any kind at your Florida home.
The Florida public adjuster you need to hire when you have an insurance claim for a loss at your home or commercial property is Noble Public Adjusting Group. We are well-respected, licensed, insured and bonded Florida public adjusters. Noble is a member of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, The National Insurance Restoration Council, and the Chamber of Commerce of Panama City Beach, Destin, Pensacola, and Walton. We are very active in these organizations, as well as sponsoring several worthy causes. The owner of Noble, Bo Williamson, seen in the image above, oftens speaks to large groups about public adjusting and living a Godly life. Bo was a highlighed speaker at the latest IMG Expo convention in New Orleans, and recently spoke to the students at the Lighthouse Private Christian Academy in Pensacola.
You can read reviews of Noble from happy clients who have used our services by following this link at our website, where we have a 4.9 rating out of a perfect 5. Call us today if you would like us to file your insurance claim in Florida, discuss this blog post, find a vetted contractor in your area, or for any other concerns or questions you might have. We love hearing from our blog readers!
Noble Public Adjusting Group
107 Amar Place Suite 103
Panama City Beach (West End), FL 32413
(850) 249-MY-PA