We continue to see a pattern of noncompliance in the areas noted below. This section has been created to assist you in keeping your insurance business in compliance. The items are intended as reminders only and are not necessarily the exact text of the Florida Statutes or Florida Administrative Code. The legal cites have been provided for your further reference.
We'd like to remind agents about the unlawful nature of issuing certifications, declarations or other evidence of coverage that differs from the terms, benefits or conditions of an underlying insurance contract. Informational Memorandum OIR-03-003M issued on February 21, 2003 addressed this topic and remains relevant today.
Certificates of insurance generally serve only as evidence of insurance in lieu of an actual copy of an insurance policy. An insurer is under no obligation to abide by any certificate of insurance which has been modified by any person or entity which does not have actual or apparent authority to do so. Distribution of a certificate of insurance which has been modified without authorization and which purports to alter the provisions of the underlying policy, misrepresents the conditions or terms of the insurance policy in violation of Section 626.9541(1)(a)1, Florida Statutes, thereby subjecting the person or entity modifying the certificate to license discipline and administrative fines, in addition to possible criminal penalties.
[See Informational Memorandum OIR-03-003M]
The Florida Administrative Code sets the premium for title insurance policies issued within 3 years of a previous policy at:
In order to qualify for these rates, the title agent must include proof of the previous title insurance policy. Failure to include the proof of prior coverage within 3 years could result in the title insurance agent and agency being found to have violated Subsection 627.780(1), Florida Statutes, for quoting, charging, collecting or accepting a premium for title insurance that is other than the premium promulgated by the Florida Administrative Code.
Please be aware that the Department may suspend or revoke the license of a title insurance agent or agency that has:
Cases involving reissue rates that were charged illegally will also be referred to the Office of Insurance Regulation to determine if the title insurer violated Subsection 627.780(2), Florida Statutes, by accepting a premium for a title insurance policy issued by their company that is not the premium promulgated by the Florida Administrative Code.
The Florida Statutes defines closing
services as the services performed by a licensed title insurer,
title insurance agent or agency, or attorney agent in the agent's or
agency's capacity as such, including, but not limited to, preparing
documents necessary to close the transaction, conducting the closing, or
handling the disbursing of funds related to the closing in a real estate
closing transaction in which a title insurance commitment or policy is
to be issued.
This means the closing services fee listed on the settlement statement form is to
include all the fees and charges made by the agency to close and
complete the transaction.
Consumers should not be charged additional fees in addition to the
amount listed as the closing or settlement services fee on the HUD-1 or
other settlement statement form.
Examples of fees that should not be listed as separate line items on the form
include, but are not limited to:
Agencies that charge additional fees as separate line items may be found to be engaging in deceptive practices against Florida consumers in violation of the Florida Statutes. The penalty for violations such as this can be as strong as suspending or revoking the license of the agent and the agency involved in the practice. Agencies may provide consumers with a detailed listing of the fees and charges that comprise the closing services fee being charged. This listing would be in addition to the settlement statement (HUD-1) form and the amounts included would need to total to the same number listed on the settlement statement form as the closing services fee.
The Florida Bar has recently made it clear that if a public adjuster files a claim of lien against a customer on their behalf or on behalf of their adjusting firm, which is a fictitious entity requiring representation by a lawyer, it would be considered engaging in the unlicensed practice of law. There is no statutory authority to authorize the conduct as Section 713.03, Florida Statutes, creates liens rights in favor of numerous occupations and professions, but fails to include public insurance adjusters.
Any public adjuster that engages in this type of activity is subject to disciplinary action by the Florida Bar and the Florida Department of Financial Services if a violation of the Florida Insurance Code is committed.