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Hail storms of this magnitude require experienced, professional, and licensed insurance adjusters who can adequately determine the loss and compensation per the insurance policy. The team of certified and insured Public Adjusters at messtx.com are professionally trained on insurance laws and will manage every detail of your claim. Unfortunately, unqualified ‘helpers’ are perusing neighborhoods offering repair work. Please be cautious. Texas Policy Holder Advocates have begun a campaign to protect you, the insured, from falling victim by requiring licensing for general contractors and roofers. To learn more, please visit:http://www.texaspolicyholderadvocates.org/ Scroll down to find Support Licensing for Texas General Contractors and Roofers atchange.org. The following is a letter that was sent to the Texas Governor, Texas State Senate, and Texas State House in support of this cause and petition: Letter to Texas Governor Texas State Senate Texas State House License Texas General Contractors and Roofers Texas does not currently license roofers, general contractors, restoration companies, insurance appraisers or umpires. Right now, a criminal who lives outside of the US with no experience can technically operate in any of these roles. Skills and trustworthiness should not be optional. Deceptive advertising, fake licensing and aggressive sales tactics should not be permitted. We are in favor of… Background Checks Testing Continuing Education Requiring insurers to pay overhead and profit on all claims. Reduction of unnecessary litigation General Contractor or Roofer’s company name on all insurance checks Reciprocity with other states that currently license GC’s and Roofers. Enforcement of unscrupulous general contractors needs the support of licensing and an oversight of a state agency. In 2014, the Texas Department of Insurance Fraud Unit received approximately 13,341 fraud reports, highest number in the unit’s history. Far too many unsuspecting consumers misplace trust with unscrupulous roofers and general contractors that can lead to theft, poor workmanship, insurance fraud, and unnecessary litigation. Fraud, barratry, and unnecessary litigation is costing Texans not only in high insurance premiums but also reduced coverage. The citizens of Texas as well as the legitimate general contractors and roofers whose businesses are based in Texas support licensing. Help us protect the Texas consumer, home and businesses owners. Texas has recently experienced an inordinate amount of destructive storms across the state producing grapefruit size hail. One resident reported that hail pelted through the roof decking and ceiling of his home, damaging inside kitchen appliances. Several hours later, the hail still measured three inches!
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On June 26, 2012 The Texas Department of Insurance issued this notice. TO: ALL AGENTS, PUBLIC INSURANCE ADJUSTERS, AND ADJUSTERS, AND TO ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES, CORPORATIONS, EXCHANGES, MUTUALS, COUNTY MUTUALS, RECIPROCALS, ASSOCIATIONS, LLOYDS, AND OTHER INSURERS WRITING PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
RE: ADJUSTING CLAIMS BY UNLICENSED INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES It has come to the attention of the Texas Department of Insurance that a number of contractors, roofing companies, and other individuals and entities not licensed by the department have been advertising or performing acts that would require them to hold a public insurance adjuster license. Additionally, the department has learned that the tactics used by these unlicensed individuals include visiting neighborhoods and areas of the state where languages other than English are commonly spoken. These unlicensed individuals often prey on unknowing consumers by promising to ‘work’ insurance claims to achieve a higher settlement. All agents, adjusters, and insurers should be mindful that, pursuant to the Insurance Code Chapter 4102: 1. A person who, for direct, indirect, or any other compensation, acts on behalf of an insured to negotiate or effect the settlement of an insurance claim is performing the acts of a public insurance adjuster. 2. A person who advertises, solicits business, or holds himself or herself out to the public as an adjuster of claims for loss or damage under any policy of insurance covering real or personal property is also performing the acts of a public insurance adjuster. With limited exceptions, a person performing the acts of a public insurance adjuster or holding himself or herself out as a public insurance adjuster in this state must be licensed under the Insurance Code Chapter 4102. Additionally, insurers cannot utilize roofers as de facto public insurance adjusters nor provide commissions to them in the form of direct or indirect payments or rebates that are in excess of amounts owed under the policy. The department takes seriously the harm unlicensed individuals and entities can cause on the marketplace when they prey on unsuspecting consumers and the industry. I urge insurers, agents, adjusters, and consumers to help call attention to and halt attempts by unlicensed persons to negotiate insurance claims, and I encourage everyone to report these practices to the department and the TDI Fraud Unit (1-800-252-3439 – Report Fraud). The Insurance Code provides for both civil and criminal penalties for violating this licensing requirement. The department will refer unlicensed persons performing the acts of a public insurance adjuster to the Texas Attorney General, pursue all remedies available under the Insurance Code, and highlight these practices to the Legislature so that it may consider further steps to regulate these persons and activities. Eleanor Kitzman Commissioner of Insurance CALL TODAY: 855-445-3404 RELATED LINKS: www.messtx.com © 2016 MESSTX.com The Insurance Information Institute is a website designed to improve the understanding of insurance and its processes. Here are some interesting statistics they recently shared pertaining to lightning:
According to an analysis by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), local U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 22, 600 fires per year from 2007 to 2011. These fires caused an average of nine civilian deaths and $451 million in direct property damage per year. Home fires accounted for 19 percent, non-residential structures, including businesses and other non-residential properties accounted for 7 percent, vehicle fires accounted for 1 percent, and outdoor and unclassified properties accounted for the remaining 73 percent. Lightning fires in non-residential properties caused an average of $108 million in direct property damage each year per the survey. The average annual damage in non-residential properties included:
Damage or loss due to lightning can cause major financial burdens. Help protect your assets by ensuring that your belongings are adequately covered under your insurance policy and adding protection systems whenever possible. Our certified and knowledgeable Public Adjusters at messtx.com understand the significance of these kinds of losses. They are experienced in negotiating with insurance companies and handle your claim from start to finish. CALL TODAY: 855-445-3404 RELATED LINKS: www.messtx.com © 2016 MESSTX.com Replacing damaged items after a storm can be very expensive but most home and business owners have purchased insurance policies to help them with the costs. Standard policies provide limited coverages on electronics with a limit per category as long as it is an approved peril such as fire, lightning, wind and hail. If you electronics are covered and you have a limit of $4000 on your computers you must remember to apply your deductible first. So, if you have a $1000 deductible that leave you $3000 to apply toward your loss. Look at the policy closely to see the limits on each specific category. Homeowners can purchase additional coverage called a Home Media Package. It will be considered an endorsement on your current policy and provides a broader coverage for electronic devices. It would cover such things as:
* TVs * computers * home theaters * cameras * mp3 players * cell phones * DVD players But most of these policies do NOT include smaller electronic items such as: Gps systems video games systems You will need to visit with your insurance representative to find out for sure the list the specific items included in this coverage. You will also need to purchase this insurance in specific dollar amounts… i.e. $2500, $5000 or $10,000. In 2014 State Farm reported the following results by state for claims filed due to lightning strikes: #1 Florida – 10,440 #2 Georgia – 9,805 #3 Texas – 5,622 #4 Louisiana – 5,007 It’s not IF a storm hits but when it hits. Will you be ready, protected and covered. When our home, family or business has been effected by a storm we tend to be emotionally compromised and not always able to make good solid decisions. If you are in a position to have to file an insurance claim let the experienced professionals at messtx.com help put your life back in order. We care about you. CALL TODAY: 855-445-3404 RELATED LINKS: www.messtx.com © 2016 MESSTX.com |
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