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Insurance lobbyists are fighting for the proposed legislative Senate Bill (SB) 10 and
House Bill (HB) 1774, dubbed ‘The Blue Tarp Bills’. We have discussed what these bills propose and their negative implications in a previous blog. The following are some ways to get involved and protect your rights as Texas citizens, consumers, and insurance policyholders:
We must speak out and fight against injustice for the benefit and safety of our citizens, communities, and nation. Texans should not subjected to ‘The Blue Tarp Bills’ which have negative intentions and will ultimately allow ill-behaved companies to abide by even lower standards. Texas home and business owners are entitled to the coverage outlined in their policies and if passed, these bills will undermine the process. RELATED LINKS: www.messtx.com © 2017 MESSTX.com
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The weather sure is nice this week! The sun is shining and the wildflowers are blooming, infusing the air with wonderful fragrant breezes. However, do not let Mother Nature or Texas weather fool you as this is still the season for tornadoes, wind, and hail.
If the past few years are any indication, we are sure to get hit hard with severe weather sooner or later this year. We have previously discussed tornado preparedness and how to recognize damage to your home and property. While we do not wish to sound like a broken record, your safety and preparedness is our top priority through this weather season and we would like to offer a few more tips in the event of a loss to your covered home or property:
or shelter area, have sufficient gas in your vehicle, and have extra food on hand.
Our public adjusting services are valuable and preferred because of our superior customer service and proven success in negotiating insurance claims. Our professional and experienced team will aid you through every step of the insurance claim process and ensure it is done right the first time. We offer free consultations and inspections. Don't risk it alone, call today! RELATED LINKS: www.messtx.com © 2017 MESSTX.com Dear Roofers and Contractors, While our certified public adjusters at Morgan Elite Specialist Services are by no means legal entities or advisors, they do take pride in their knowledge and understanding of Texas Insurance Law. We have recently been made aware that many contractors include language in their contracts indicating that they will, in some form or fashion, act on an insurance claim on behalf of their clients. Said contractors have been contacted directly by the Texas Department of Insurance and reprimanded. Although actions of this nature may stem from good intentions to provide top notch customer service practices, the days of ‘one stop shops’ in the insurance claims contracting field are seemingly gone. To be clear, HB 1183 basically states that “no contractor can negotiate an insurance claim on behalf of an insured. Also, no contractor, insurance adjuster, or public insurance adjuster can both act as a contractor AND adjuster for an insured.” While the bill may seem unfair to roofers and contractors, it was initiated to protect insureds from being grossly taken advantage of as they were at one point. We would like to offer some advice backed solely by good intentions to help safeguard the future of your ethics, business, and integrity: 1.) Have all contracts reviewed by an attorney: Ensure contracts do not contain language that negates or does not coincide with Texas insurance laws. 2.) Do not initiate a claim: Advise homeowners or insurance policyholders to initiate warranted claims. Provide all information pertinent to the loss which will assist in properly filing a claim. 3.) Do not inspect or even be present during any insurance inspection: Aside from providing quotes, roofers and contractors are not allowed to negotiate anything with insurance companies. Unfortunately, we have seen instances where contractors have been reported to TDI for making simple material requests to an insurance adjuster. 4.) Refer clients to public adjusters when sustained damages warrant a claim: When attained, public adjusters and attorneys are the only parties aside from policy holders that can legally negotiate claims with insurance companies. Unfortunately, warranted insurance claims are increasingly denied and without assistance these denials seem to be reaching epidemic proportions. Our team at Morgan Elite Specialist Services, we are licensed professionals and experts in the insurance field. Don't just take our word for it! According to OPPAGA, back in 2004, public adjusters were able to only get a 20% increase on insurance claims. Now, public adjusters are taking claims that would have only received $2,029 and negotiating for $17,187. That's an 750% increase in settlement! As the age old adage goes, the proof is in the pudding. We offer free consultations and inspections. 
RELATED LINKS: www.messtx.com
© 2017 MESSTX.com We have previously discussed the highly anticipated verdict regarding insurance tort reform and the implications it could have on the future of insurance practices. The reform is related to insurance claims and certain prohibited acts and practices in the business of insurance. The issues are once again heating up at the Texas State Capitol as the reform gains traction and seems to be supported primarily by Republican politicians, those presenting the bills, and insurance lobbyists and companies.
According to Insurance Journal, however, the bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. While parties backing the reform claim that it will further protect the insured, residential policy holders as well as major companies and business owners are concerned with the ill effects that the bill will cause consumers and are speaking out. Opponents assert that claims will be harder to file, let alone bring any wrongful claims to suit. The bill will also allow insurance companies to issue claims practically at their own discretion, basically throwing out the Prompt Pay Act. (Root, J. (2017, March 02) There are many aspects to take into account and consider if Senate Bill 10 and House Bill 1774 are passed and adopted. While we try to remain as unbiased as possible, the way our politicians have structured this ‘solution’ makes the fact hard to ignore that the bill favors insurance companies over insured consumers. As a courtesy, we have attached links to the bills below. We invite you to assess them and express your viewpoints. Your thoughts are important to us! If you happen to feel strongly on any portion of the bill, we urge you to contact your local politicians and representatives, even the capitol, and let them know your stance. Our leaders have the obligation and privilege to listen and take your opinions into account. Senate Bill 10 - http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/html/SB00010I.htm House Bill 1774 - http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/html/HB01774I.htm Sources: Root, J. (2017, March 02). Texas Businesses Line Up Against Lt. Governor's High-Priority Insurance Bill. Retrieved March 06, 2017, from http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2017/03/02/443464.htm RELATED LINKS:www.messtx.com © 2017 MESSTX.com 2017 has ushered in an indiscriminate variety of weather, including an increased number of tornados. Many factors play into the creation of a tornado, including fluctuating temperatures and wind speeds, rain, hail, and thunder. While there is still much to learn about the causes of tornados, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) states that “tornadoes are associated with large (supercell) thunderstorms that often grow to over 40,000 feet.”
The NCAR further explains that “a column of warm humid air will begin to rise very quickly and appears to rotate when winds at two different altitudes blow at two different speeds creating wind shear. This causes a horizontal rotating column of air and if this column gets caught in a supercell updraft, the updraft tightens the spin and it speeds up, creating a funnel cloud. The rain and hail in the thunderstorm cause the funnel to touch down, creating a tornado.” Here are some common safety tips that will help protect yourself and others in the event of a severe storm or tornado:
Please stay safe and practice these common safety actions during harsh storms and tornados. Morgan Elite Specialist Services offers free consultations and inspections and will help protect your insured assets in the event of severe weather. Sources: How Do Tornadoes Form? (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from https://eo.ucar.edu/kids/dangerwx/tornado3.htm RELATED LINKS: www.messtx.com © 2017 MESSTX.com |
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