It is only a matter of time before this same problem comes to Texas. The entire roofing industry in both states is an absolute racket. Texas is going to have major issues on both the property and casualty side coming from PL homeowner’s insurance and commercial auto liability (specifically in the transportation sector)…
For some reason companies have had very little luck challenging/fighting the non-meritorious claims filed by roofers and I can’t understand why. Tile roofs are supposed to be rated for 150 mph winds yet claims have been filed in areas that never had wind speeds that were that high. Some of the problem was that the original construction was subpar and this doesn’t surface until some roofer begins to nose around on the roof.
I don’t understand it either. I think the combination of public adjustors, attorneys and contractors have set up a very advanced system of racketeering. They are keenly aware of the regulatory loopholes and know that the insurer’s only recourse is to sue (which insurers know they will end up burning even more money going to trial). The only solution for insurers is to pay the 30K claim and move on to the next one. Even though attorneys and public adjustors are not supposed to “refer” to each, I know it happens all the time.
Quite honestly, you all need to review some of the claim photos I’ve looked at as an agent. Blatant hail damaged marked as “mechanical or blisters”, clear wind damage marked as “shingle sagging”. The reason for the lawsuits is adjusters looking for reasons not to pay. If more companies just paid, moved on, and then priced those paid losses into the rates, everyone would be fine. But, it’s always a fight. And this is coming from someone who has been in the industry 22 years now. Nickel and diming a claim leads to lawsuits. Just pay, move on, and charge the appropriate rate for that.
Nice self policing lawyers, you’ve degenerated into parasites that kill the host. No worries Republican legislators just slam all the business into Citizens and all the risk onto the backs of the taxpayer…can anyone say Socialism? I’m sure the state legislature is preparing Citizens for the increase in business LOL A perfect microcosm of whats wrong with the country Those with the $$$ get to write the law. Real reform or solutions can’t get through a legislature dominated by lawyers and office holders beholden to campaign donations. Take a look at the current Gov voting record or any of the current FL house and Senate on these issues….
If Citizens fails to be more friendly to new business it will serve to frustrate agents which will in turn frustrate the consumer. Without extreme frustration to the consumer nothing will happen I’m afraid.
Frustrate the agent? It’s a take it or leave it industry. Offer the quotes, the customer takes it or moves on. What’s the frustration? The compensation is percentage based.
why don’t Florida regulators crack down on unlicensed activity and fraud that are driving these rate increases on the backs of Floridians? It’s not the public adjusters or the attorneys engaging in fraud which increases claim severity and frequency. It’s the army of unlicensed folks that regulators fail to regulate going door to door “selling” claims.
Who do you think you’re kidding? It’s PA’s and attorney’s working with contractors who inflate small claims to large claims and turn wear items like roofs into brand new ones causing this issue. It has little to do with unlicensed people.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at your comment. PA’s, attorney’s, and roofer’s are all working together!
Licensed roofers, contractors, and attorneys are going door to door. They inflate claims, threaten to sue and the companies settle because it’s far more expensive to go to trial. Florida’s insurance is regulated by attorneys. Until that’s changed and solid legislation can pass, we’ll be in this situation for a long time. The only thing that may change it is a catastrophic loss beyond what we’ve ever seen before.
IMO, lawyers and PAs are leeches that will exploit any opportunity that benefits them (read – money). Given what is going on in the FL market, I have a suspicion many are one claim or inflated estimate away from a trial or disbarment themselves.
Once again the litigation has strangled the insurance market. The TV ads that seem to claim money for nothing. Perhaps they should be required to expose how much of the claim went to the damaged party and what went to the attorney. We have a major problem ahead as the cost to insure is becoming higher than the real estate taxes. On one of my property’s the mortgage payment is almost less than the Re Tax/ Insurance escrow.
Truth, integrity and honesty serve the common good by facilitating affordable services for all. Lies, fraud and bogus practices increase costs, reduce value and the quality of life. That’s true across all societies! Maybe the industry should run a campaign to raise consumers behavior standards to cut out cheating. This is not moralistic, its common sense. Costs are always passed on, we all pay for cons, cheats and corruption, and treating insurance as an income opportunity just puts up costs and reduces coverage for all. It’s time to put the brakes on, greed is the accelerator, and the Florida insurance industry is heading for a cliff.
It is only a matter of time before this same problem comes to Texas. The entire roofing industry in both states is an absolute racket. Texas is going to have major issues on both the property and casualty side coming from PL homeowner’s insurance and commercial auto liability (specifically in the transportation sector)…
For some reason companies have had very little luck challenging/fighting the non-meritorious claims filed by roofers and I can’t understand why. Tile roofs are supposed to be rated for 150 mph winds yet claims have been filed in areas that never had wind speeds that were that high. Some of the problem was that the original construction was subpar and this doesn’t surface until some roofer begins to nose around on the roof.
I don’t understand it either. I think the combination of public adjustors, attorneys and contractors have set up a very advanced system of racketeering. They are keenly aware of the regulatory loopholes and know that the insurer’s only recourse is to sue (which insurers know they will end up burning even more money going to trial). The only solution for insurers is to pay the 30K claim and move on to the next one. Even though attorneys and public adjustors are not supposed to “refer” to each, I know it happens all the time.
^^^ This comment needs more upvotes
Quite honestly, you all need to review some of the claim photos I’ve looked at as an agent. Blatant hail damaged marked as “mechanical or blisters”, clear wind damage marked as “shingle sagging”. The reason for the lawsuits is adjusters looking for reasons not to pay. If more companies just paid, moved on, and then priced those paid losses into the rates, everyone would be fine. But, it’s always a fight. And this is coming from someone who has been in the industry 22 years now. Nickel and diming a claim leads to lawsuits. Just pay, move on, and charge the appropriate rate for that.
Nice self policing lawyers, you’ve degenerated into parasites that kill the host. No worries Republican legislators just slam all the business into Citizens and all the risk onto the backs of the taxpayer…can anyone say Socialism? I’m sure the state legislature is preparing Citizens for the increase in business LOL A perfect microcosm of whats wrong with the country Those with the $$$ get to write the law. Real reform or solutions can’t get through a legislature dominated by lawyers and office holders beholden to campaign donations. Take a look at the current Gov voting record or any of the current FL house and Senate on these issues….
If Citizens fails to be more friendly to new business it will serve to frustrate agents which will in turn frustrate the consumer. Without extreme frustration to the consumer nothing will happen I’m afraid.
Frustrate the agent? It’s a take it or leave it industry. Offer the quotes, the customer takes it or moves on. What’s the frustration? The compensation is percentage based.
why don’t Florida regulators crack down on unlicensed activity and fraud that are driving these rate increases on the backs of Floridians? It’s not the public adjusters or the attorneys engaging in fraud which increases claim severity and frequency. It’s the army of unlicensed folks that regulators fail to regulate going door to door “selling” claims.
Who do you think you’re kidding? It’s PA’s and attorney’s working with contractors who inflate small claims to large claims and turn wear items like roofs into brand new ones causing this issue. It has little to do with unlicensed people.
It’s because we have a Republican government, and why would they cut down on anything that puts money in their pockets?
The Democrats would have no issue with Citizens being the only option at whatever rate is popular. Playing partisan isn’t a solution.
The dems created the current broken system. See: Charlie Christ.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at your comment. PA’s, attorney’s, and roofer’s are all working together!
Licensed roofers, contractors, and attorneys are going door to door. They inflate claims, threaten to sue and the companies settle because it’s far more expensive to go to trial. Florida’s insurance is regulated by attorneys. Until that’s changed and solid legislation can pass, we’ll be in this situation for a long time. The only thing that may change it is a catastrophic loss beyond what we’ve ever seen before.
IMO, lawyers and PAs are leeches that will exploit any opportunity that benefits them (read – money). Given what is going on in the FL market, I have a suspicion many are one claim or inflated estimate away from a trial or disbarment themselves.
Got Strems?
Greed is not good!
Once again the litigation has strangled the insurance market. The TV ads that seem to claim money for nothing. Perhaps they should be required to expose how much of the claim went to the damaged party and what went to the attorney. We have a major problem ahead as the cost to insure is becoming higher than the real estate taxes. On one of my property’s the mortgage payment is almost less than the Re Tax/ Insurance escrow.
Truth, integrity and honesty serve the common good by facilitating affordable services for all. Lies, fraud and bogus practices increase costs, reduce value and the quality of life. That’s true across all societies! Maybe the industry should run a campaign to raise consumers behavior standards to cut out cheating. This is not moralistic, its common sense. Costs are always passed on, we all pay for cons, cheats and corruption, and treating insurance as an income opportunity just puts up costs and reduces coverage for all. It’s time to put the brakes on, greed is the accelerator, and the Florida insurance industry is heading for a cliff.