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NAPLES, Fla. — Today, at a press conference in Naples, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis highlighted the 'Check My Contract' portal to fight post-storm fraud. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) 'Check My Contract' portal assists residential or commercial property insurance policyholders who have entered into a repair contract with contractors, restoration professionals, or public adjusters related to an insurance claim. Check My Contract allows these policyholders to submit repair contracts to DFS for independent review to gather any potential evidence of insurance fraud against Florida policyholders, especially following storms, and ensure the contract complies with Florida Law. Click HERE to watch the entire press conference aired live on X.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Just a few years ago, Hurricane Ian struck Southwest Florida, causing catastrophic damage and leaving residents to recover and rebuild from this historic storm. While some homeowners are working to recover from Ian and the impacts of recent hurricanes Helene and Milton, I'm asking policyholders to use the Department of Financial Services' free 'Check My Contract' portal. This portal helps residential and commercial property insurance policyholders submit their repair contracts following a storm to DFS to ensure they comply with Florida Law. If the contract is deemed out of line with state law or an illegal Assignment of Benefits contract, we'll give the policyholder the tools needed to cancel it. This portal will also allow my fraud investigators to determine if there are any bad actors committing systemic fraud in our communities following storms and then hold them accountable. Visit PrepareFL.com to learn more about the Check My Contract portal and submit your repair contract today."

Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter said, “Consumer protection is at the heart of our mission, and both CFO Patronis and I are committed to fighting insurance fraud. The Check My Contract service gives consumers the tools to verify that their contracts are legitimate and comply with state law, which is crucial during an already challenging recovery process. This service also strengthens the Department’s ability to take swift action against bad actors, particularly following a hurricane. I encourage all consumers to take advantage of this free resource."

Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said, "Collier County has zero tolerance for scam artists targeting our residents following storms. If you suspect fraud or unlicensed activity in your community, please report it to my office immediately so it can be investigated and bad actors can be held accountable. Thank you to CFO Patronis for supporting Southwest Florida and for raising awareness on the dangers of post-storm fraud and scams."

Representative Bob Rommel said, "Post-storm fraud can disrupt recovery and leave homeowners on the hook for repair costs. That's why we have worked closely with CFO Patronis to pass vital reforms to stop bad actors from taking advantage of our citizens following storms. Thank you to the CFO and Sheriff for their efforts to protect residents and ensure Southwest Florida can continue on the road to recovery."

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis 
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).