Steve Patrick inspired me to write today’s post. In Level The Playing Field, he commented that “adjusters are persuaded by those they like, trust, and respect – just like prospects do with sales professionals. This is human nature.”
Frontline Insurance Company Wrongful Practice Rap Sheet
Departments of Insurance and insurance regulators should start keeping a Wrongful Claims Conduct Rap Sheet regarding insurance companies that mistreat policyholders. Insurance companies are never going to advertise or air their dirty claims handling tricks to the public. How do policyholders learn which insurance companies are good faith claims handlers versus those with a history of frustrating their customers when it comes time to service and pay claims? Why don’t the state departments of insurance make these complaints easier for the public and journalists to find?
Continue Reading Frontline Insurance Company Wrongful Practice Rap Sheet
Insurance Claims Manager Tries to Teach Public Adjusting Firm a Lesson—Does State Auto Have an Ethical Claims Problem?
An active bad faith lawsuit in Maryland has raised some crazy allegations worthy of consideration. A claims manager for State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company allegedly refused to settle a claim because he wanted to teach the public adjusting firm retained by the policyholder a lesson and leverage this case with other cases in which the public adjusting firm was involved. Here are the facts recited in an Order by a federal judge:1
All Insurance Agencies Admit Insurance Company Claims Service Has Materially Deteriorated Over the Last Three Years
An article, E&O Claim Frequency Is Increasing, written by an insurance industry consultant, Chris Burand, and published in the Insurance Journal, stated the following:
Church Mutual Found To Be Systematically Underpaying Claims By a Federal Judge and Engle Martin Grossly Underestimated The Loss
Church Mutual has not been so friendly and acting in good faith to its Louisiana policyholders. A federal judge in Louisiana made this closing statement about a trial with Church Mutual where Engle Martin acted as Church Mutual’s independent adjuster:1
Wind Damage to Flat Roofs—Prove It! – Tara Stone and The Windstorm Insurance Network Set Flat Roof Wind Damage Webinar
The Windstorm Insurance Network (Wind) is a one of a kind organization where representatives of insurers and policyholders collaborate in a professional exchange of information and learning about wind damage claims. A recent notice about flat roof claims issues caught my attention. Tara Stone is on the Wind board of directors and has organized this event. I think it is worth your attendance if you handle claims involving wind damage to flat roofs.
The Future of Property Insurance: The Impact of Using AI on Claim Handling
If you read this blog or are active on any kind of social media, you’ve heard of ChatGPT by now. The artificial intelligence platform seems to be taking the world by storm, as people use it for everything from complex coding to writing grocery lists. The possibilities are quite literally endless.
Continue Reading The Future of Property Insurance: The Impact of Using AI on Claim Handling
Citizens Property Insurance Employees and Vendors Should Read this Blog Because of Systemic Wrongful Claims Handling
The American Policyholders Association Board of Advisors meeting resulted in me writing two blogs today. While Doug Quinn was explaining a program providing whistleblowers an avenue to report illegal claims activity, which I noted in Are You an Employee in the Insurance Industry Who Is Upset About Unethical and Illegal Claims Activity?, the information about Citizens Property Insurance claims adjusters systemically backdating letters for about two months caught my attention.
Are You an Employee in the Insurance Industry Who Is Upset About Unethical and Illegal Claims Activity?
The vast majority of people working for insurance companies, third-party administrators, independent adjustment firms, and engineering firms are honest and hardworking folks who want the insurance product to work properly. Those same people hate to hear and see instances of fraud and improper claims conduct by anybody—including claims managers and others they work with.
Florida Regulatory Officials Overrun With Unfair Claims Practice Complaints From Hurricane Ian
Imagine if you were responsible for overseeing Florida’s insurance regulations and a subordinate came to you with a problem:
“Boss, we have so many complaints about insurance companies mistreating policyholders coming into the complaint telephone line that the entire staff only has time to take the calls and log the complaint. We do not have anybody left to follow up on the complaint. What do we do?”