A couple in Florida claimed that their insurance company did not pay them enough to fix damage caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017. While they did eventually get the insurance company to increase its payout to $17,647, the couple says that the check still has not arrived. The couple claims that the roof still needs to be fixed and could start to leak at any time.
They reached out to a local news channel, and a representative from the channel reached out to the public adjuster’s office. The office subsequently said that the money was available to be picked up at any time. While the couple claims that they paid the adjuster 10 percent, the adjuster’s office said that no payment was required unless there were funds available to do so. A representative from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters also confirmed that adjusters won’t charge a person upfront.
Instead, adjusters get paid after a payment has been made on a claim. Furthermore, they have a fee cap of 10 percent of the claim amount if the damage occurred during a state of emergency. That cap remains in place for a year after the emergency is lifted. However, if a claim is not related to a state of emergency, a public adjuster could charge up to 20 percent.
A homeowner who experiences storm-related roof damage may be entitled to compensation from their insurance company. This may help to either repair damaged areas or pay for the cost of installing a new roof. If a claim is denied, an attorney may help a homeowner appeal the decision. Legal counsel may also help if a payout seems less than what should be provided under a policy’s terms.