Unlicensed Activity & Insurance Fraud – They go hand in hand

While having dinner right before the stay at home order was put in place, I overhead a woman nearby say that a roofing company knocked on her door and said she had wind damage to her roof and they would get her a new roof!  I did not want to seem as though I was eavesdropping, but I certainly was!
 
She went on to say that her roof was 25 years old.  Yes, you read correctly, 25 years old! When she purchased her home about 6 years ago, she said there were soft spots on her roof so she knew she would have to replace her roof at some point but why not let her insurance company pay for it!  Listening to this, I knew she did not have any damage from Hurricane Irma a few years ago, yet she still let the roofer misrepresent her claim for a new roof.  I see two problems here … UPPA and Insurance Fraud.
 
UPPA is the Unlicensed Practice of Public Adjusting (UPPA) which is a 3rd degree felony in Florida.  You must be a licensed and bonded public adjuster to represent policyholders in Florida with an insurance claim.  Presenting a false claim to your insurance company is insurance fraud and these both seem to go hand in hand these days.  I was shaking my head and could not believe she was discussing this as if there was no wrongdoing on her part. 
 
What is more frustrating is that insurance companies complain about the increase in claims and the associated costs to pay these claims, yet they continue to engage and deal with these unlicensed individuals only further proliferating the problem.
 
Do you really think insurance companies are absorbing these costs if they pay these fraudulent claims? Definitely not!  Each and every one of us gets a premium increase every year even though we may have never filed an insurance claim.
 
If you are unsure that damage to your property is covered under your insurance policy, it is always best to seek advice from a licensed professional, rather than a door knocker.  These individuals only have their interests in mind, not yours.  If you have damage to your property and are unsure if you are covered or you received an inadequate claim settlement from your insurance company, Reliant Insurance Adjusters will provide a free damage assessment and policy review. Call us 561-288-6434 or visit us here.
 
Thought for the day … Honesty, integrity and always doing the right thing goes a long way.