Public Adjusters

If an adjuster asks you to sign a contract for a fee or a percentage of your claim payment to adjust your claim, you’ve probably been approached by a public adjuster. A public adjuster does not work for or represent your insurance company. If you sign a contract with a public adjuster, they will represent you by adjusting your claim and presenting it to your insurance company. A public adjuster must be licensed by DFS, so you should ask to see their public adjuster license.

Important Things to Remember

• Solicitation by public adjusters is limited to Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Public adjuster fees are limited to 20 percent. When a state of emergency is declared by the Governor for a natural disaster, the public adjuster fees are limited to 10 percent of the claim payment for one year after the declaration for initial claims for damages caused by that disaster.
• Public adjusters cannot charge fees for claim payments made before the date they enter into a contract with you.
• Fees are negotiable.
• An insured or claimant may cancel a contract with a public adjuster within ten business days after it is executed without any penalty.

Hiring a public adjuster does not guarantee a larger claim payment or a faster settlement. Your public adjusting contract is legally binding and obligates the insurance company to add the public adjuster as an additional payee on the claim check.

If you suspect an adjuster is working without a license, if they urge you to overstate an insurance claim or if you otherwise suspect fraud, call 1-800-22-STORM or (850) 413-3089.