As an advocate on behalf of homeowners who need to submit a claim, you can help them with their insurance by explaining the process. However, it is important to point out that while you may be a good resource for information, you are not legally allowed to represent the customer in any negotiations or any other legal action regarding their claim.
If they have questions about filing a claim, they should contact the claims department of their insurer directly. You can also offer to be present at all meetings between your customer and an insurance company representative so that there is someone who has your customer’s best interests in mind at all times.
Other advice that you may be able to give is to investigate whether the claim falls within the coverage limits of the policy. You can also let your customer know about any possible deductibles, as well as any specific procedures or deadlines for their claim. All of these things are important to know, but it’s up to your customer how they want to handle their claim. It is not within your legal rights to make decisions for them or intercede in any negotiations that they are having with a claims representative from their home insurance company.
Each personal injury case is different and what one person may deem as fair compensation for their injuries and damages is often different than another person’s needs following an accident. As a result, it is important for your customer to know that even if they get the compensation that they are asking for initially, there is no guarantee that this offer will be accepted by the insurance company. If the initial offer is declined, they may need to gather more information and make their case to the claims adjuster again.
Finally, you can help your customers decide if they want to hire an attorney. While it may be well within their legal rights to do this or even negotiate a fair settlement with the home insurance company on their own, hiring an attorney can help them ensure that they have all of their bases covered and receive as much compensation as possible for their injuries in a timely manner.
The claim process is not as hard to understand and to navigate as people may think and if you can offer your customers some helpful advice on the matter, this can help them get to a resolution and move forward with their claim. Being an advocate for your customers is important, but remember that it’s not up to you. They need to have all of the information regarding their situation available to them from their insurer in order for them to be properly compensated for their injuries.
Why Do Statistics Don’t Show Homeowners Insurance Claim Advocates Are So Terrible?
Homeowners insurance claim advocates have been touted as an effective way to help consumers save money by making a claim on their homeowner’s policy. These claims are made by people who work for the company, but rather than providing the professional services that typically come with the territory, they instead advocate for consumers to get a lower payout from their insurance company. Once your deductible is met, HICAs can help negotiate with your insurer for a better payout or even bring you in-house as part of their referral program. So why does it seem like these advocates are such terrible representatives?
The most common cause is that these advocates aren’t actually advocating on behalf of consumers in general – they’re helping only those who retain them. HICAs benefit from increased volume and fees for the work they do, so their efforts aren’t necessarily to help everyone in a certain area or everyone who was affected by a particular event. In order to find out if your HICA actually wants to help you, it’s important to do your homework. Check to see that they’re licensed and insured in your state, since not all states require this of them. Some also have licenses within different states as well, which can be helpful as well.
You should also look at their history and reviews online. Checking the Better Business Bureau is highly recommended; however, many negative reviews on the BBB are typically resolved quickly, so it’s best to check with local sources as well. Any reviews you can find online can be helpful in determining whether or not your HICA is legitimate. They’re also a great way to learn more about their experience working with insurance companies and negotiating. You may also want to contact them directly to see what they say about their experiences, as well as how friendly and open they are in dealing with you.
When looking for an advocate, it’s important to ask the right questions, just like you would when interviewing for any job. Don’t forget that if the service is dependent on commission, that commission will need to come from your pocket directly. You should also ask whether or not a referral is necessary in order to receive any other benefits, such as a referral fee, and if so, how much. You shouldn’t feel obligated to pay for the service, but being asked up front can help you determine whether or not experiencing any additional benefit is worth it.
You may also want to make sure that your HICA represents you in all aspects of the process. Some HICAs ask for extra work from consumers who retain them – like checking with the insurer directly. The amount of time this takes varies greatly among advocates, but it’s always important to make sure you’re satisfied with your service in the end.