Claims adjusters can be just like any other person. Some are trainees while others have little or no experience. Others have a lot of training and experience.
How can you tell which adjuster will be assigned to you if you have an insurance claim? They don’t just show up and give you a resume. Sometimes you might be lucky enough to receive their business card.
The qualifications of adjusters are rarely mentioned. But, those qualifications…or the lack thereof… can make or break your case.
People are too trusting and compliant. If they have suffered a loss, they should call their insurance company to report it. The policyholders are often unaware that they have the right to challenge the qualifications of adjusters when they arrive to adjust the claim. They are like sheep that wait to be shorn. Then comes the shearing.
Today, I will walk you through how to determine the qualifications of an insurance adjuster. After you have this information, it’s possible to decide whether or not you want to allow the adjuster to work on your claim.
This process is only applicable to first-party claims in which you are the policyholder. This process is not applicable if you are a claimant on an insurance policy of another person.
1. Once you have filed your Notice of Loss, the insurance company will assign an adjuster who will handle your claim. You should know that your policy does not require you to accept an adjuster representing the insurance company.
3. An adjuster will reach out to you to set up a time to meet with you. Keep the appointment.
4. Take control of the situation when the adjuster arrives. Ask the adjuster questions before he begins his inspection.
a. Are they licensed adjusters in your state? Find his license number. My state’s law requires that adjusters must have their license card.
b. Are they temporary adjusters?
c. How long has he been an adjuster for?
d. How long has he been working for this company?
Which specialized claims training classes did he take?
f. Is there ever been a complaint against him at the Department of Insurance of your State?
g. Who is his supervisor’s name and phone number?
After you have this information, you can decide whether to accept the adjuster.
These are my recommendations
1. Accept a temporary adjuster. Temporary adjusters, also known as Storm Troopers, have received very little training. Are you willing to have an untrained adjuster handle your loss?
2. Accept an adjuster who has less than two years experience in handling your type of loss. He’s still a rookie if he has less than two years of experience.
3. Accept a licensed adjuster only. If your state doesn’t license adjusters, there is no other option.
4. Don’t accept an adjuster who hasn’t been trained in the type of loss you are dealing with. Sometimes, an insurance company will send auto adjusters to help with large property claims. Why should you trust an adjuster who isn’t a specialist in your particular type of claim?
5. To verify that the adjuster has not been subject to complaints, check with your state Department of Insurance. Find out why he was subject to a complaint. The most important thing is the reason for the complaint.
6. You can send a letter to the supervisor of an adjuster if you don’t get satisfactory answers to your questions.
7. If your request is denied by the insurance company, you can file a complaint with the Department of Insurance in your state.
This type of challenge is not something adjusters are used to receiving from policyholders. You shouldn’t be surprised if adjusters refuse to answer your questions. Adjusters are trained to control policyholders in the claims process. They can feel very threatened if you are in complete control. However, their insecurity and lack of control shouldn’t stop you from asking these questions.
As a claimant, your job is to submit a claim that maximizes your recovery. Unqualified adjusters will only make your claim submission more difficult.
Two special reports are available at no charge. The first is “5 Things to Do When Shopping for Car Insurance” and the second is “5 Avoidable Things When Shopping For Car Insurance.” Each of these are worth $9.95, but you can get them all for free by signing up for my newsletter below.