Florida’s Consumer Protection Coalition offers the following suggestions for what to do if your property has suffered hurricane damage:
- If your home or apartment suffers damage from Hurricane Matthew, contact your insurance agent or your insurance company first and as soon as possible. They are in the best position to assist you quickly. Do not allow a third party, such as a water remediation firm, say they will contact your insurance company for you.
- If you are asked to sign an Assignment of Benefits form by a contractor, make sure you read it carefully and understand clearly what rights and benefits under your insurance policy you may be signing away. You do not need to sign an AOB in order to get your insurance claim processed or your residence repaired.
- Signing over your insurance benefits to an unscrupulous vendor may cause an increase in costs for which you could be left on the hook. Make sure that you stay in control of the home insurance policy you bought and paid for – and do not sign away that control to a third party who may not have your best interests at heart.
