It has been brought to our attention that homeowners are being solicited by contractors and remediation companies to handle their insurance claim when they have sustained a loss to their property i.e. roof damage, water damage, mold or fire losses.

Persons who represent a policyholder in an insurance claim must be specifically licensed to adjust claims by the State of Florida.  These individuals and/or companies may try to convince the home or business owner that their contractor/roofing  license permits them to “handle the insurance claim.”  They may advertise that they can handle everything, from start to finish, meet with the adjusters to discuss the damages to get the insurance company to pay for the work they want to perform on the property.  The truth is, they are not trained or licensed to assist in the claim process, are in violation of Florida Statutes and are committing a third degree felony.

If a contractor or remediator offering to adjust your claim is also a licensed public adjuster, Miami, Florida Statute 626.8795 clearly states they cannot participate directly or indirectly in the repair or replacement of the damaged property.  The statute further prohibits the adjuster from soliciting or accepting any remuneration from the entity performing the repair or replacement, nor can the adjuster have any financial interest in the entity performing the work.

Policyholders can report suspected cases of UPPA on the FAPIA website.