Insurance companies are responsible for protecting and assisting you with any covered losses you may endure. In the event of a claim, the insurance settlement process is designed to repair and/or replace your belongings in a fair and timely manner. Whenever there is a large catastrophe like Harvey, the entire system is put under stress, causing delays as insurance companies and contractors deal with the massive amounts of people needing assistance. In order for the process to run smoothly, cooperation between you and the adjuster are very important.
There may be times where you and the adjuster do not see eye-to-eye. Whether it is a disagreement on the amount you deserve or if you are unhappy with the service you are receiving, there are step to take to help alleviate the situation. We have provided some suggestions on what to do in either of those situations.
Service:
If you feel that the adjuster is not providing you with the service you deserve, you can contact the claims department of your insurance company directly and ask for help. Due to the high demand of adjusters after Hurricane Harvey, you may not necessarily be assigned a new adjuster so easily, but it is definitely worth a shot to reach out and ask for better assistance. Also, contact your agent and let them know your situation so they can provide proper guidance and counseling. During times of heavy claims, insurance companies and adjuster are working around the clock to get to everyone.
Not Enough Money:
If you feel the adjuster has provided a low settlement offer, you have the option to dispute it. Keep in mind that appealing the amount the adjuster quotes is not as easy as simply stating the amount you feel you deserve. You need to be prepared to provide proper documentation including paperwork, receipts, pictures/videos, and reports explaining your statement. Your request must be reasonable and should include as much information as possible. We recommend always providing all letters with your contact information and claims number. This helps keep all documents organized and in place.
Almost always you will be able to come upon some sort of agreement with your insurance provider through their dispute solution process. In the event you are still unhappy with the outcome of your claim, you have the option of pursuing your claim even further. You can hire a public adjuster who acts solely on your behalf to help negotiate the claim amount. They typically charge a fee for their services, usually a percentage of the claim amount. Be sure to contact a few before hiring one. Here is a good resource to find public adjusters.
After your claim has been settled and you have received the promised payments from your insurer, we recommend an important step that is often overlooked. Take the time to call your agent and re-evaluate your insurance policy. Review the coverages you have and decide whether the protection your policy provides is an adequate amount to cover you in the event of damage in the future. Your agent will help explain where you might have gaps in coverage or if you are under insured.
If you have any questions on deciding proper coverage options or if you;d like to speak to one of our trained agents about your claims process, please contact us at 281-998-2500.