Planning, Communications, Advocacy
- Opinion by Scott Johnson Leave a Comment
Insurance Consumer Advocate (ICA) Robin Westcott’s working group, the Homeowners’ Policy & Claims Bill of Rights Workshop has identified some pervasive problems in the emergency remediation business that, if resolved, could demonstrably reduce loss costs in the near term.
Identifying problems, of course, is light years from solving them but, it’s where any good fight begins. [Read more…] about Emergency Remediation Fraud & The ICA Working Group
- Opinion by Scott Johnson 1 Comment
Robin Westcott’s working group, the Homeowners’ Policy & Claims Bill of Rights Workshop, concluded its deliberations Thursday, July 18th. It was, in my opinion, a thorough and professionally conducted exercise that will yield many helpful recommendations. Hopefully those recommendations will lead to better consumer education first, improved regulatory oversight second, and only if/when absolutely necessary…better laws. You can watch the entire workshop: Day 1; here and Day 2 here.
One topic in need of far greater scrutiny but not included on the agenda is that of exorbitant referral fees paid by water extraction companies to plumbers. I know this sounds picayune, but…it’s not! [Read more…] about ICA’s Workshop…Referral Fee’s & Kickbacks!
- Opinion by Scott Johnson 2 Comments
I’m hopeful that Insurance Consumer Advocate (ICA) Robin Westcott’s working group called, the Homeowners’ Policy & Claims Bill of Rights Working Group, will provide much needed information that will lower costs for Florida’s premium payers. I’m hopeful but, not yet convinced.
[Read more…] about Florida’s Fraud Problem & the ICA’s Working Group
- Opinion by Scott Johnson Leave a Comment
No need belaboring details of what Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPCIC) has been doing–waiting until after a loss to underwrite, cancelling policies back to inception for alleged “material misrepresentation” for reasons unrelated to the claim or any attempt at fraud by the claimant. [Read more…] about UPCIC…Fines & Penalties!
- Opinion by Scott Johnson Leave a Comment
Recently, after reading yet another editorial implying that FIGA (Florida Insurance Guaranty Association) assessments are similar to deficit assessments levied by Citizens, I found myself in a conversation with an industry associate who seemed to accept this dislogic and the resulting conclusions spread by the likes of the Sarasota Herald Tribune, the Palm Beach Post and perhaps a few other media outlets and consumer groups. [Read more…] about Assessments–Citizens vs. FIGA
- Opinion by Scott Johnson 3 Comments
Last Friday the Florida Senate amended CS/CS/HB-635 and will send it back to the House for final approval. Of course, it may not pass the House (as amended) and thus may never become law, but…the practice one of the Senate amendments is designed to stop should be voluntarily abandoned by the one carrier whose actions gave rise to it in the first place. [Read more…] about UNIVERSAL’S Post Claims Underwriting…Revisited!
- Opinion by Scott Johnson 3 Comments
Industry alarms are sounding as more and more contractors and loss remediation entities, emergency water extraction companies and the like, exploit “assignment of benefits” to take control of homeowner’s claims–usurping rights to negotiate and adjust the loss, then threatening to sue the insurer to force payment of inflated bills.
Consistent with Florida’s curse, this scam not only has links to lawyers and public adjusters, it’s a major cost driver and frighteningly fertile ground for even more fraud! [Read more…] about ANOTHER RIP-OFF…Assignment of Benefits!
- Opinion by Scott Johnson Leave a Comment
Beginning Thursday, March 21st, 2013, Florida’s Consumer Advocate, Robin Westcott and the DFS Director of Consumer Services, Tasha Carter, will conduct the first in a series of eight local forums to hear directly from consumers on how their Florida property claims are being handled. [Read more…] about A CLAIMS FORUM…via the ICA’s office!
- Opinion by Scott Johnson Leave a Comment
This post may not sit well with some of my industry friends–Write Your Own (WYO) carriers and their agents ensconced in the current National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) approach as prescribed by federal law.
But…those taking umbrage may find comfort knowing that, like all my other good idea’s, this one will be totally ignored by anyone in a position to implement it. [Read more…] about FLOOD REFORM–Icing on the Cake!
- Opinion by Scott Johnson Leave a Comment
It feels like every time I begin looking for something to write about Chip Merlin bails me out with another blog.
In this case, after falsely accusing Citizens board of Governors of breaking the law, the head of a prominent sinkhole law firm alleged that insurance agents may be committing the crime of insurance fraud, via a blog he titled:
“Talk About Insurance Fraud, How About the Conduct of Some Insurance Agents?” [Read more…] about AGENT FRAUD…Chip Merlin, again!