If they are not licensed public adjusters, they may be committing a crime!
Only licensed public insurance adjusters and attorneys are permitted to solicit to represent policy holders in the claim process. Navigating an insurance claim is such a foreign experience for many homeowners and business owners, insureds are often victims who unknowingly trust people who say they can help when they are not trained or licensed to do so. In most states, the licensure of a public insurance adjuster can be found on the department of insurance’s website.
(1) A “public adjuster” is any person, except a duly licensed attorney at law as exempted under s. 626.860, who, for money, commission, or any other thing of value, prepares, completes, or files an insurance claim form for an insured or third-party claimant or who, for money, commission, or any other thing of value, acts on behalf of, or aids an insured or third-party claimant in negotiating for or effecting the settlement of a claim or claims for loss or damage covered by an insurance contract or who advertises for employment as an adjuster of such claims. The term also includes any person who, for money, commission, or any other thing of value, solicits, investigates, or adjusts such claims on behalf of a public adjuster.
Unfortunately it is far too common to find contractors, roofers, restoration companies, plumbers and even insurance company adjusters often referred to as “independent” adjusters who are holding themselves out to “help” policyholders through the claims process. Independent adjusters (IA’s) are licensed to work on behalf of insurance companies and represent their interests -not yours. In fact, it is considered a conflict of interest and, as such, is forbidden in the Florida Administrative Code for a person licensed as an IA to adjust a loss on behalf of a policyholder.
The investigators at the Department of Financial Services (DFS) process and prosecute cases of the Unlicensed Practice of Public Adjusting (UPPA) whenever they are reported. The Florida Association of Public Adjusters works with the DFS to investigate and report confirmed cases of UPPA.
If you believe you have come across a case of UPPA, you can report it here with the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. They have a UPPA Committee that will investigate the report and forward it to the appropriate department within the Florida Department of Financial Services to make sure it.