National Flood Insurance changes will be terribly maddening for individuals attempting to get a good adjustment. For instance, the Superstorm Sandy flood adjustment fiasco led to a Congressional investigation and 1000’s of flood claims being re-opened and ultimately paid years late as a result of these overseeing this system and its attorneys nitpicked and refused to pay claims for the stupidest wrongful causes.
Will Hurricane Ian be a repeat of Superstorm Sandy? It is simply too early to inform, however I’m fielding calls from these which are already disgruntled with wrongful claims selections.
One wrongful notion being repeated on this hurricane is that the flood adjuster will solely comply with pay for property that’s bodily touched by the flood waters. This is inaccurate. However, a latest denial of any cost for the kitchen counter tops not touched by the flood waters however are bodily connected to folded kitchen cupboards serves for example. I suppose flood policyholders can have new kitchen cupboards sans the tops
The typical adjustment pays for the substitute of the tops. In some circumstances, if it may be completed and is less expensive, the tops will be eliminated after which re-attached. The value to take away and re-attach is usually a lot better than simply agreeing to interchange the cupboards with the tops. But one thing is paid for the counter tops.
The level is that this is only one instance that’s repeated 1000’s of instances with infuriating outcomes. I can’t imagine that nationwide flood managers can’t discover individuals enlightened sufficient to know this primary idea or trainers that may train adjusters to allow them to higher perceive. If they’re instructing in any other case, we want Congress and the Executive Branch to step in and reform the system.
James Purcell is an estimator with appreciable expertise. He despatched me quite a lot of present flood associated claims points as examples he’s encountering within the discipline the place he believes flood adjusters are wrongfully refusing to pay Hurricane Ian claims:
Policyholder: Electrical wiring in crawl area was flooded with salt water (Photos offered)
Flood Adjuster: Can be addressed in a complement with an itemized electrician estimate signed by the insured and the contractor.
Policyholder: Wall base plate and fasteners flooded with saltwater requiring re-nailing per Flood Bulletin W-13027
Flood Adjuster: We can’t check with Prior Sandy Based Bulletins for 2022 claims.
Policyholder: Flood adjuster included substitute for traditional grade 6’ x 6’8” sliding patio door; precise broken door is a premium grade (PGT) door, sized 11’ x 8’ and impression rated. (Photos of door and producer label offered)
Flood Adjuster: Our estimating software program (Xactimate) doesn’t enable for a sliding door of this measurement. A signed contractor estimate shall be wanted to adjuster for incurred value.
Policyholder: Floor tile being changed is estimated as ceramic materials; tile is definitely stone.
Flood Adjuster: Xactimate doesn’t have a stone flooring line merchandise, this may be addressed with a signed contractor estimate stating like, variety, and high quality.
(JAMES: Xactimate has a complete class for stone flooring (FCS)……)
Policyholder: IA changed flooring tile attributable to ‘crawlspace below was flooded up past subfloor’ however didn’t exchange the plywood subflooring (IA included to scrub subflooring solely).
Flood Adjuster: The FEMA Flood coverage requires documentation of injury attributable to flood. Please submit in photographs of the subfloor exhibiting harm.
(JAMES: How does one ‘photograph’ Category 3 water harm to a plywood subfloor? Microscope?)
Policyholder: Flood adjuster agreed to interchange flooring tile attributable to utilizing commonplace grade tile put in with skinny set; precise tile put in is a premium grade 18” tile put in in a mortar mattress. (Photos offered)
Flood Adjuster: Premium grade will be addressed with a signed contractor estimate stating like, variety, and high quality. Photos of the mortar mattress shall be wanted, Xactimate pricing for mortar mattress consists of lath and now we have to point out this was the pre-existing set up in lieu of skinny set.
(JAMES Purcell : How does one present a photograph of mortar mattress from earlier than the flood occurred?)
The National Flood Program says that these flood adjusters are there to assist and assist the policyholder, however don’t decide what’s paid. If so, then who’re the individuals behind the scenes making these wrongful denials? Somebody is liable for silly discipline claims selections. People are being harmed due to this incompetence.
Thought For The Day
Your most sad clients are your biggest supply of studying.
—Bill Gates