Whereas
the Topical Index offered on our site presents a complete
listing of subjects related to the work and interests
of Premier Claim Consultants, the Online Resources
below are selections from the Topical Index that are
some of the primary resources needed by consumers
during the adjustment of their property claim. These
are resources that Premier believes need to be made
available in isolation from other claim-related materials,
so that consumers who have an open property claim
can quickly and conveniently locate and use the tools
that are most often needed during the course of a
property insurance claim.
The resources listed here are provided
in relation to the following claim-related subjects
that we anticipate may be related to issues associated
with the adjustment and settlement of your property
insurance claim. These are:
Your Property
Claim Rights
Public Adjusters
How to Find and Manage a Repair Contractor
If You Need an Attorney
Filing Complaints and Consumer Complaint
Studies (California)
Your Property Claim Rights
Your commercial or homeowners policy
contract provides the essential agreement between
you and your insurance company. There are also laws
and case rulings in your state that likely will affect
how your policy is interpreted in certain respects.
But in most states the insurance commissioner will
have put forth reasonable rules and regulations governing
the conduct of insurance companies within the state,
as well as how claims are to be investigated and adjusted.
For a listing of the current regulations in your state,
check with your state’s Department of Insurance.
In California, these regulations are
called the Fair
Claims Practices Settlement Regulations.
The link just provided will take you to the version
of these regulations available on our site that is current
through February 2, 2007, which you can review at your
leisure. As updates to these regulations are made, we
will endeavor to update our unofficial listing and also
make appropriate reference to and application of changes
or updates to these regulations in our
News section and on our Blog.
Top
Public Adjusters
Premier Claim Consultants recommends
that if you need assistance with your claim or if you
have questions about the California
Fair Claims Practices Settlement Regulations,
that you contact a licensed, reputable public insurance
adjuster. One of the best resources available for consumers
when evaluating public insurance adjusters is Greg Stafford’s
Property Claims
Adjusting: A Complete Guidebook for the Consumer, California
Homeowners Edition
(Murrieta, CA: Premier Claim Consultants., 2007). Chapter
3 of this book looks at the role of public adjusters
in comparison to that of company and independent adjusters.
Chapter 4 considers the different kinds of public adjusters
you might encounter, how to recognize “the good”
public adjusters, and also includes a “Checklist”
for use when evaluating public adjusters you may be
considering. Chapter 5 is devoted entirely to how you
can calculate the appropriate fee for a public adjuster,
in relation to the type of claim adjustment you need.
Additionally, you can check
a public adjuster’s license here.
Top
How to Find and Manage a Repair Contractor
Before interviewing any repair contractors
for work on your property, you should review the publication
“What
You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor,”
published by the California
Contractors State License Board. After
you have familiarized yourself with the recommendations
found in this publication, you can begin your search
for a contractor.
Most reputable contractors advertise
in your local directories, but you can also check
with others you know who have had work done on their
home or commercial property for referrals. Public
insurance adjusters are good resources for locating
contractors skilled in the areas of water and fire
restoration. Your insurance company can also provide
you with referrals, but only if you ‘expressly
request’ them or if they advise you in writing
of your right to choose your own repair entity (California
Fair Claims Regulations, section 2695.9[c][1][2]).
Under no circumstance can an insurance company require
you to use a particular repair entity (California
Fair Claims Regulations, section 2695.9[b]).
Once you have one or more contractors
to consider, you should check their license status
at the California
Contractors State License Board. Be sure
to check their license classifications to make sure
they are qualified to service your needs. A list of
the different contractor classifications can be found
here.
If they will be using their own employees for some
of the work, be sure you also check to make sure that
they have workers compensation insurance. This information
will also be listed on the same page where the contractor’s
license status and classifications are shown.
Once you have checked some of the
contractor’s references, confirmed that the
contractor is licensed and qualified to complete the
necessary work, then you can proceed with contractual
discussions about the work to be performed, following
the guidelines of “What
You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor.”
Top
If You Need an Attorney
It may be that in the course of trying
to settle your property insurance claim you will need
legal advice or legal representation. Public adjusters
are licensed to adjust claims. Most of them are not
licensed to practice law. Though Premier Claim Consultants
can provide you with referrals for attorneys qualified
to assist you, you can also search
for insurance attorneys in your state.
Before retaining any attorney, make sure the attorney
is licensed to practice law in your state, specializes
in the area of law pertaining to your situation, and
that you have a complete understanding of the terms
of your agreement, including the extent of legal representation
to be provided and the corresponding costs.
Top
Filing Complaints and Consumer Complaint Studies
(California)
For Californians, if you experience
problems with your insurance company, with your public
adjuster, with your contractor, or with your attorney
that cannot be resolved to your satisfaction, the
following online resources should provide you with
an avenue of complaint and possible dispute resolution:
Finally, to
see how your homeowners insurer ranks in the current
Consumer Complaint Study published by California Department
of Insurance, you can review the 2006 report
here.
Top
|
