Florida Agent May Have License Pulled

The Florida Department of Financial Services filed an administrative complaint against a Florida agent and is seeking to have his license revoked for allegedly selling bogus insurance policies to at least six businesses in the Sarasota area.

The complaint alleges that Bradley Beshore, of 3030 Chase Circle in Sarasota, sold policies for Meridian Benefit, an unlicensed insurance entity, currently in federal bankruptcy court in New Jersey. After purchasing the coverage, Beshore’s clients began incurring a total of over $1.2 million in unpaid medical bills since June, 2001. The department is seeking to revoke Beshore’s insurance agent license.

Beshore is affiliated with the insurance agency HRH of Sarasota. HRH and its affiliates are currently working to resolve claims from policies sold by Beshore for Meridian Benefit and have sent letters to affected policyholders. The letters advise policyholders to provide unpaid bills and other documents to HRH. The phone number for consumers’ questions is (850) 385-3636.

Beshore has been licensed as a Life and Health, Property and Casualty, and Variable Annuity agent since 1994.

Since February 2001, the department has shut down 16 unlicensed entities and their various affiliates after receiving complaints about unpaid claims. In addition, the department has sought administrative action against 76 insurance agents.

Employers and consumers considering doing business with an unlicensed insurance entity are urged to consider that there is no oversight of the company’s ability to pay claims and that there is no guarantee fund to cover outstanding claims should the company become insolvent. Consumers who have been victimized by these entities have reported damage to their credit and difficulty finding replacement coverage.

Topics Florida Agencies