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You wouldn’t happen to be a public adjuster would you? How can someone be a positive advocate if they take 30-50% of the claim payout.
Doing the math, lets say someone gets offered an initial $70k for their home. They disagree, get a public adjuster who goes and gets the insurance company to pay out $100k. Depending on the percentage the insured agreed to, they are looking at only getting… wait for it… $70k on down to $50k. This is positive?
It wouldn’t be a bad idea if they extended that proposed law to the lawyers as well (preventing them from getting more then 10% of any settlements) you might see some changes in the number of frivolous lawsuits being filed.
Public Adjusters are pure scuz that delay, inflate, and ultimately take away a percentage of the valuable dollars that should go to the insured. I wish NJ would cap them out of existence.
As long as they have the same authority for your business, I’m down with that
AKA “the shark instinct” – preying on those most vulnerable and in need. Yikes!
Why do you need a law? If someone wants to charge you more than you want to pay – how about just saying No!!! Having a public adjuster is an option, not a necessity. How about a law saying that lawyers can only charge 10%???
Public adjusters tell the insured’s they will work so hard for them when as we insurance savvy people all know they work for THEMSELVES.
They tout themselves as “watchdogs” of the insurance industry and sometimes frighten folks into entering a fee agreement with them.
I have been a public adjuster for over 20 years. Never charged anyone more than 12.5 percent for our services on the complete loss (that’s the cap in neighboring New York)(10% on most other states). That is plenty for most PA’s to handle your loss, cover expenses and make a profit on their services. If you don’t feel the percentage is reasonable, DONT SIGN THE CONTRACT! Call NAPIA or AAPIA and they will guide you to a public adjuster that will work for you at a reasonable price and based on the amount of work that your claim requires.
Everyone must understand that public adjusters are necessary. It is a true disgrace to see how insurance companies handle people when they are unaware of what they are entitled to and there’s no one to fight for them.. Please keep in mind that these complaints are just a small fraction of perhaps unsatisfied people. There are a large number of very satisfied consumers. Percentage caps should be limited to large losses only. Small losses and reopened claims deem higher % rates accordingly. If the 10% cap is enforced. There will be “no” advocates for people with smaller losses. I have seen many $700 settlements turn into $6500 settlements. Which couldn’t be accomplished without the expertise of a Public Adjuster. Like lawyers a public adjuster has to make a living and without the proper assistance a person can be denied and/or underpaid. Law makers need to investigate and understand how come and why before making hasty decisions.
Two questions: One – Where is the agent? Are they not out helping their clients? Two – Where is the state department overseeing insurance regulation? Do they not provide assistance to residents with claim problems? Fix those first, then in a disaster there is a way for the people with claims to receive adequate guidance and the insurance carriers won’t try to cut corners on claims.