Make and document emergency repairs that are necessary to prevent further damage. Keep the damaged property, if feasible; keep all receipts; take photographs and video of damage before and after any repairs.

The insurance company should provide you with the name and direct contact information for the insurance claims adjuster who is assigned to your claim and when you can expect to hear from him/her. If you do not hear from an adjuster within a reasonable timeframe (approximately 3 days after filing a non-disaster claim and 5 days for a disaster claim), contact your insurance company to inquire about the status of your claim to avoid any further claim delays.

Please note, according to Florida law, your insurance company has 7 days to acknowledge your claim.

According to Florida law law, your insurance company has 7 days to acknowledge your claim. Within 60 days after you submit the claim, your insurance company should make a full payment; payment of the undisputed portion of your claim; or provide you with a written denial of your claim.

For more on specific timeframes, review the Homeowner Claims Bill of Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights.

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Communicate your dissatisfaction to the insurance company first.

• Ask the insurance company for a copy of the itemized repair estimate it used to determine the settlement and if you can provide an alternative estimate for consideration.
  
  
• Ensure that all damage and evidence – pictures, videos, receipts, discarded items – was considered in the estimate. If not, be sure to re-submit those for review. Ensure that similar or the same type of materials will be used and are included in the estimate. The insurance company may send out an insurance claims adjuster to re-evaluate the damage and claim.
  
  
• If the insurance company references exclusions or policy limits, request that they provide the specific policy language in writing for review.
  
  
• Ensure that the insurance company is applying the correct deductible – all perils or hurricane.  Your deductible is the amount you are responsible for if you incur damage and file a claim. Typically, you will have two deductibles: an all perils deductible and a hurricane deductible. The all perils deductible is applied when you file a claim for damage caused by events such as a fire, windstorm, theft, etc. as outlined in your policy. The hurricane deductible is applied when you have damage that is caused by a named hurricane. The deductibles are typically different amounts and the hurricane deductible may be higher. If the incorrect deductible was applied, your settlement amount may differ. For more details, review the Florida’s Hurricane Deductible Guide.
  
  
• Be sure that the insurance company is accurately calculating the value of your property based on your policy type - Replacement vs. Actual Cash Value.

If the insurance company does not take action or if you are still dissatisfied, you may contact the Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline @ 1.877.693.5236 for free guidance and assistance. If desired, you may file a complaint against the company and allow the Department to advocate on your behalf at no charge to you.

Review the Alternative Dispute Resolution Options Guide for more information on the options available to you. 

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