Two Miami Adjusters Arrested in $400,000 Hurricane Fraud Case

July 21, 2006

  • July 23, 2006 at 6:00 am
    adjuster says:
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    It is about time. I handle property claims in South Florida and this is only the tip of the iceberg. Fraud is everywhere and these public adjusters prey on the hispanic population taking up to 40% of the claims payment. They inflate and fabricate claims. The public is not aware of this but would be outraged if they actually knew the extent. If the insurance adjuster does not do their job, then hire legal help but give the insurance company a chance. I am trained to find coverage and to pay claims.

  • July 24, 2006 at 1:15 am
    Anonymous says:
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    Adjuster, Calm down, I also work South Florida claims, I also have my eyes on three other Public Adjusters who are about to bite the bullit. I would only hope that they would not print that they are adjusters at all, But simply SCAM ARTISTS which have the new scam of fraud pipe breaks, Believe me, Anotherone will bite the dust shortly

  • October 18, 2006 at 10:15 am
    Ana Diaz says:
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    In ALL professions, there are good and bad. This includes ALL adjusters. As many bad public adjusters there are licensed, there is the same amount of bad insurance adjusters, both staff and independent.The insurance company/insurance adjusters have no one to blame but themselves. If the claims are handled correctly and on a timely basis what need would there be for public adjusters. Insureds have a right to representation and hiring a PA just levels the field.

  • August 28, 2007 at 11:42 am
    another adjuster says:
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    Thank you, adjuster. I also work homeowner’s claims in South Florida for many years and have seen MANY fraudulent claims. When you hear somebody moaning about high premiums, just look across at the public adjuster you or your neighbor hired. If you have a problem, get a lawyer, not a PA.

  • August 29, 2007 at 5:31 am
    ADJ says:
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    Ana Diaz what PA Firm do you work for?

  • October 29, 2007 at 11:58 am
    An indep adjuster says:
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    The most recent posting’s author should be very careful about what he writes as that was a very racist comment. Public adjusters come in all races, shapes and sizes. I’d love to know where the hell you came from and how many crooks your nationality has. (also, go back to 1st grade and learn how to put a sentence together).
    I would say that 95% of all **PUBLIC ADJUSTERS** are crooks and not necessarily Cubans..

  • January 12, 2008 at 12:46 pm
    max barberena says:
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    Not every PA is created equally. I find it quite ironic that the there are some IA’s requesting that the in insured’s give the carriers a chance. When I handle claims that are underr paid by hundred of thousands of dollars, I strongly beleive the IA and carrier should be chareged for grand theft. The reasons PA’s exist is because IA’s and carriers don’t do the right thing but unfortunately the State doesn’t hold you guys accountable. Insured’s should ask questions if considering hiring a PA, what insurance expereience they have, what certifications, what associations are they members of, and check with the state to see if your PA has been ever reprimended. Right now Charlie Christ is about to file suit because the carriers are not lowering premiums, if carriers will not do the right thing with repsect to premiums, wht do you think they will do in respect to your claims. If the carriers did the right thing I would e out of a job.

  • August 18, 2009 at 3:05 am
    ADJ says:
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    Im sorry all adjusters feel this way about Public Adjusters. As an adjuster (independent) for several years, I find that most of the older P.A.’s had a better grasp on policy law. Unfortunatly, that doesn’t exist today. However, let it be known that there are individuals that work as public adjusters that are more qualified than ANY INDEPENDENT one. I know this because i have worked on both sides of the field. Today I have been a P.A.for the last ten years and represented people in 7 different states. I think that business as usual needs to look for a job in the SIU department. Maybe they can absorb your hatred.

  • June 24, 2010 at 11:21 am
    Public Adjuster says:
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    Having worked on both sides for years, I am always amazed at the views from individuals that have never walked in the others shoes. I can tell you 1st hand that after a hurricane there are by percentage of the number of adjusters working for carriers vs. percentage of PA’s working for the homeowner there are more IA’s causing underpaid claims and re-opened files. When someone says hire an attorney and not a PA, they have obviously no clue as to the way the system works. The attorneys hire PA’s to inspect and write the estimate as they know the PA’s are insurance professionals and needed by the public to interpret policy and understand the claims handling process. The individual that made the statement that 95% of “All Public Adjusters” are thieves only shows their lack of professionalism and knowledge of the subject. As a matter of fact the OPPAGA report conducted by the state only came up with around 5% of PA’s with complaints on their license. Of course I don’t condone the PA’s actions in this article, but this isn’t a case of on bad apple spoils the bunch. I have worked clean up behind insurance adjusters for the carrier and have seen the poor jobs done as well as some PA files that are inflated to get a better payoff. The key is to “Pay for All Damages”.. I suggest anyone in this business attend seminars and the Wind Conference so you can get the other sides point of view before throwing out negative statements and accusations without merit. I have a great reputation as a PA and have worked successfully and professionally with many insurance carriers on behalf of my clients. Quit all this finger pointing and he said she said. Share all information during the process so all parties are playing on the same “level” field so we can get the insured what is due to them. Why is it that the carrier will pay attorney fees, engineering fees, architects fees and other professional fees needed to evaluate a re-opened claim, but if a PA re-opens a claim and legitimately shows the carriers payment to be to low, their fees are not covered under an RCV policy? If the PA fees were recoverable on a “re-opened” claim can you imagine how much more scrutiny the insurance carriers would put on their adjusters in the field to do a complete and thorough inspection and scope of loss? How many adjusters reading this have inspected a residence in under 30 minutes? I know this not something you want to admit to as I was trained by an adjuster that showed me many shortcuts and time saving scoping techniques leaving the details out for the clean up crew or the mediation and appraisal department. There is bad on both sides of every industry so quit pointing fingers and look in the mirror and clean up your side of the fence as I am trying to help top clean up mine.



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