Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse is a fast-growing fraud scheme that is hurting Florida’s insurance consumers. While AOB is a long-established legal tool intended to allow vendors to receive prompt payment from insurers after doing emergency repair work in a home – without having to directly involve the homeowner – this process is being abused by a cottage industry of unscrupulous trial lawyers, water remediation firms and roofers. These bad actors are persuading homeowners to sign over the benefits of their insurance policies as a means for fraudulently inflating claims, filing thousands of lawsuits against insurers, and driving up attorney’s fees.
PIFF recognizes the usefulness of Assignment of Benefits but recommends legislative reforms be enacted to prevent AOB abuse from becoming a statewide consumer crisis on par with sinkhole claims abuse and PIP auto insurance fraud, which resulted in increased premiums for Floridians.
PIFF supports a change to Florida’s “one-way attorney fee” law so that businesses that sue insurance companies are required to pay their own lawyers – just like they do when they sue any other business. PIFF also supports legislation that will end referral fees between vendors; require detailed written estimates for work to be performed by a vendor; prohibit unlicensed adjusting by vendors; and put reasonable limits on how much work can be performed before the insurer is able to adjust the claim.
Visit FightFraud.Today and sign the petition to let members of the Florida Legislature know that you want to stop scams on Florida Homeowners. To learn more about how Floridians are being victimized, read their stories today.
TALLAHASSEE An Ohio insurance-rating company has warned that recent court rulings and skyrocketing losses from water-damage claims have created an “uncertain operating environment” for Florida’s property insurers and that it will downgrade the financial stability of 10 to 15 Florida-based companies, potentially threatening the solvency of thousands of homeowners policies. Demotech, Inc., a company which…
DetailsAs the Legislature debates restricting attorney fees in insurance litigation involving assignment-of-benefits agreements, a tort-reform group has identified a way to circumvent that fix. Attorneys could convince policyholders to file suit in their own name. A report, “Restoring Balance in Insurance Litigation,” released Monday by the Florida Justice Reform Institute, discusses that possibility in the context of…
DetailsDAYTONA BEACH – It’s not uncommon for plumbers called in to fix a broken pipe to ask a homeowner to sign an assignment of benefits form before making repairs. Faced with the immediate need, many agree to sign, which transfers the right to file an insurance claim to the plumber. In most cases, there is nothing…
DetailsSun Sentinel – Ron Hurtibise Groundhog Day isn’t until Feb. 2, but two legislative meetings scheduled next week in Tallahassee will likely have a “been-there, done-that” feel to many of the participants. Banking and insurance panels from the state Senate and House will kick off this year’s efforts to solve the “assignment of benefits” problem…
DetailsOrlando Sentinel – Gray Rohrer TALLAHASSEE – Millions of Floridians will feel the pinch in their pocketbooks when the calendar turns to 2017, as higher rates for some of the top property and health insurers in the state are set to take effect. The top five property insurers in the state – Universal, Citizens, Security…
DetailsCBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Increases in water-damage claims — primarily in South Florida — will likely reverse years of downsizing by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance, board members were advised Wednesday as they approved a hike in the corporation’s operating budget. Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway said efforts to shed policies have already slowed…
DetailsBy Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Increases in water-damage claims — primarily in South Florida — will likely reverse years of downsizing by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance, board members were advised Wednesday as they approved a hike in the corporation’s operating budget. Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway said…
DetailsFlorida Trend – News Release Rising water claims and “out of control” litigation threaten the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s long-term financial stability and will stifle efforts by Citizens to offer premium breaks to policyholders in 2017, Citizens leaders stressed during a governing board meeting on Wednesday. Barring significant changes, including possible legislative action on assignment…
DetailsSt Augustine Record – Sheldon Garner As people work to return to their homes impacted by Hurricane Matthew, some might end up being charged more than they should for repair work or running into other problems. With pressures surrounding rebuilding and being displaced after a storm, it becomes common to hear stories of homeowners who…
DetailsCitizen Property Insurance is in a crisis. And it has nothing to do with the usual suspects troubling the state-run homeowners insurance company: sinkholes or hurricanes. You can’t even blame Hurricane Matthew for this. Read Full Article
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