Tampa Bay Real Estate Info

Hurricane Wilma's victims cope with claims adjusters
http://www.topteamweb.com

MIAMI-DADE -- March 2, 2006 -- South Florida residents and business owners are struggling with inexperienced claims adjusters to reach amicable settlements, and some of these residents have been so disappointed with the settlement offers that they have filed complaints with the state's insurance regulators.

Those that have insurance through Citizens Property Insurance, the state-run insurer, are unlikely to see adjusters from their insurer -- instead, many of the adjusters helping Citizens with its claims are new to the job or from out of state.

Regulators have received over 3,000 consumer complaints in relation to claims adjusters working for Citizens, and insurers using emergency adjuster point out that it is financially difficult to have a full team of adjusters on staff annually, which is why many are calling in reinforcements when crises occur.

While the adjusters are licensed, they often work for independent adjusting firms and are inexperienced, but those adjusters are also often given a crash course in a particular insurers' procedures and policies regarding insurance claims.
However, many of these adjusters are still unclear about Florida's insurance regulations and laws, which has prompted many of the consumers' complaints. Source: Miami Herald (03/02/06)