TEST: PCIAA Insurers for Action Alert–Florida Public Adjusters

The following information has been provided by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (“PCIAA”):

 

PCIAA Insurers for Action Alert–Florida Public Adjusters 

Immediate grassroots action is needed to help pass House Bill 661. If approved, the bill would prevent efforts by the public adjusters to take advantage of consumers and increase costs to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and the state.

The Florida House Jobs & Entrepreneurship Council will vote on HB 661 tomorrow, April 16, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. If you live in Florida, please call members of the Council and urge them to support HB 661. If you do not live in the state, but manage your company’s government affairs operations; please consider activating your grassroots capabilities today.

This is one small piece of the effort to try and bring stability to the Florida insurance market.

Included below are talking points that can be used to support our position on this issue. Click here to obtain contact information for members of the Florida House Jobs & Entrepreneurship Council.

Talking Points:

• HB 661 would regulate the licensing and business practices of public adjusters. This important proposal protects consumers by implementing reasonable and important restrictions on public adjusters.

• HB 661 prohibits efforts by public adjusters to take advantage of consumers. Public adjustors drive insurance prices up for consumers by increasing costs to private insurers, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and the state of Florida.

• HB 661 would prevent public adjusters from coercing consumers into binding contracts without having sufficient time to examine the extent of settlement options. The bill would assure that consumers will not be manipulated into making immediate, binding decisions at a time of great personal stress after a devastating event.

• Current law allows unscrupulous public adjusters to intentionally mislead a claimant regarding the terms or coverages of their policy. HB 661 would stop this occurrence by making it an unfair trade practice to make false or misleading statements to claimants about their insurance coverage.

• HB 661 provides some important limitations on the fees that public adjusters can charge Floridians. Without these restrictions, public adjusters can charge exorbitant fees – directly reducing the insurance payout that homeowners receive to rebuild their home. HB 661 will put more money into the hands of Florida homeowners who need – and deserve their full claims checks.

• HB 661 would implement strong licensing standards for public adjusters –assuring that public adjusters are well qualified to settle claims for consumers, and enabling consumers to have confidence in the qualifications of the adjuster.

• Protect Florida homeowners, VOTE FOR HB 661.

Please contact William Stander at 850-681-2615 if you have any questions or comments. Thank you in advance for your participation in this effort.

Sincerely,

Michael Gilhooly
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America

 

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