Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Wants Investigation of Credit Report Use

Florida’s insurance consumer advocate is seeking a state investigation of homeowner policy cancellations and claim denials that are based on credit information.

Robin Smith Westcott made the request in a letter Tuesday to Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty.

Westcott contends the tactic should be considered an unfair trade practice. She wrote that insurers are obtaining credit reports after customers file claims and then using previous instances of bankruptcy, foreclosure and liens to cancel policies after the consumers have paid premiums for years.

She added that homeowners often then are unable to obtain or afford other coverage because their policies ostensibly have been cancelled for misrepresentation, so they face the prospect of losing their homes.