"Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It is estimated that insurance fraud costs the United States $80 billion dollars or more a year, which is ultimately passed down to consumers. The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF) estimates this fraud costs each family approximately $950 annually!"
Help stop insurance fraud! In the event of a loss, DO NOT sign anything until you have spoken with your insurance company and/or your insurance agent!
Unscrupulous contractors, roofers and water mitigation companies will try to get you to sign and Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form to begin repairs. AOB occurs when a homeowner signs a contract for service with a vendor, which transfers or "assigns" the rights to the claim and the claim proceeds to the contractor in exchange for repairing the damage. If you sign an AOB, any claim check will include the vendor as well, thus moving control of the claim proceeds from you to the vendor! Furthermore, this could delay the repairs from being made which may prevent you from returning to your home as quickly as possible.
The contractor, roofer or water mitigation company may then directly submit to your insurance carrier an extremely inflated bill for services rendered, often 2 to 3 times the normal rate! They could also sue the insurance company directly and place a lien on your property. All this leads to higher premiums for you!
AOB abuse for Florida homeowners and condominium owners must be stopped!
Here are some easy steps to stop this fraudulent activity and keep your insurance premiums affordable:
- If you have a loss, always call your insurance company and/or insurance agent first.
- Never sign a contract that you have not read or one that you do not understand
Contact us for all your Insurance needs! (321)725-1620
Bob Lancaster Insurance
Serving Florida since 1964
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