In The Know - June 2025
General Lines Agents - Review Your Customers' Policy Benefits
Many agents review their customers' coverage at renewal; it's a good practice to talk with your customers to make sure they have the coverage they need and uncover any gaps in coverage. Consumer needs can change quickly and a once-a-year review of homeowners insurance is often related to the premium.
Be sure to review coverages with your clients to see if they need to make any adjustments, such as:
• Do they need to locate alternative coverage? For example, some auto policies DO NOT cover the peril of flood, even if there is comprehensive coverage on the vehicle.
Now is the time to ensure the financial wellbeing of your clients. A few minutes can save a customer thousands of dollars and ease recovery from a storm.
Public Adjusting Contracts - Cancellation Requirement
Florida Statutes s. 626.854(7) states the public adjuster’s contract must contain the following language in minimum 18-point bold type immediately before the space reserved in the contract for the signature of the insured or claimant:
“You, the insured, may cancel this contract for any reason without penalty or obligation to you within 10 days after the date of this contract. If this contract was entered into based on events that are the subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor, you may cancel this contract for any reason without penalty or obligation to you within 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after the date on which the contract is executed, whichever is longer. You may also cancel the contract without penalty or obligation to you if I, as your public adjuster, fail to provide you and your insurer a copy of a written estimate within 60 days of the execution of the contract, unless the failure to provide the estimate within 60 days is caused by factors beyond my control, in accordance with s. 627.70131(5)(a)2., Florida Statutes. The 60-day cancellation period for failure to provide a written estimate shall cease on the date I have provided you with the written estimate.”
This is the only requirement that clearly identifies its exact position in the contract. The law says the verbiage must be positioned immediately before the space reserved in the contract for the signature of the insured or claimant. All the other requirements for public adjusting contracts only need to be before the signature location.
Public Adjusters and Public Adjusting Firms - Advertising
Advertising by public adjusters and firms increases sharply during hurricane season, particularly after a storm has made landfall in Florida.
Any advertisement, in whatever format, by a public adjuster or public adjusting firm must include the full name and license number, as specified in Department records, of the public adjuster who has caused the advertisement to appear. Where a firm containing multiple licensed public adjusters is causing the advertisement to appear, the full name and license number of the designated primary adjuster as specified in Department records must appear in the advertisement. (Rule 69B-220.051(4)(b), F.A.C.)
The licensed adjuster whose name appears in the advertisement is responsible for personally reviewing the content of the advertisement and assuring that the advertisement complies with the Rules 69B-220.051 and 69B-220.201, F.A.C., and Parts I, VI and IX of Chapter 626, F.S., and is in all regards fair, accurate, and in no way untruthful, deceptive or misleading. (Rule 69B-220.051(4)(c))
Register for the 2025 FIFEC Conference – July 23-25, 2025
Don’t delay! Take advantage of the current discounted rate before the full rate commences in July. We look forward to welcoming you to the 2025 FIFEC Conference this July. Please forward any questions to info@fifec.org.
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