When you must present a property damage claim to your insurance carrier, you begin the claim process with optimism. The adjuster meets you at the site, hands over a business card and offers consolation. The adjuster inspects your damage, gets your statement, and explains what is needed from you to handle your claim.

You may very well walk away from that first meeting thinking that the claim process might not be so bad after all. Unfortunately, that feeling of goodwill can shift over the life of your claim. What begins as a cooperative venture to get your home repaired could end up as an insurance commissioner complaint.

Claim Conflicts Happen

If you are involved in your first property damage claim, you might assume that the contractor writes an estimate and the adjuster simply issues a check. The process is usually more complicated than that, which is why it can often lead to conflict. Most conflicts are ultimately about money.

The property adjuster won’t pay enough to repair your damage.

• The company deducted too much depreciation from your contents claim.
• They won’t pay enough for destroyed items because you can’t prove their value.
• They took an unfair coinsurance penalty.
• Your Proof of Loss was "inadequate," so they won’t pay anything.

Should You File a Complaint?                    

Whether your damage is minor or catastrophic, the claim process is likely to be challenging from day one. It will take more time, effort and money than you imagine. You and your insurance company are likely to disagree on many issues along the way, but you should give the claim process a chance.

You should try to work out your differences, keeping in mind that even the most complicated claims get resolved eventually. Consider filing an insurance commissioner complaint only when you are certain that you can’t resolve your differences any other way.

How do You File a Complaint?

Visit your state’s Department of Insurance website. Many commissioners supply an online form that makes the complaint filing process easy. You will need to provide policy and claim information. You’ll also have to describe the nature of your dispute and explain what you want as concisely as possible. You may decide to hire professional for help filing an insurance complaint.

Present Your Complaint with Clean Hands

When you have cooperated with the insurance company and complied with their requests, you can present your insurance commissioner complaint as a legitimately wronged party. Ask yourself a few questions:

• What did the adjuster and insurance company do to warrant this action?
• Have I provided enough documentation to establish a fair value for my damages?
• Have I complied with all of my policy requirements?
• Am I being unreasonable in my demands?

What Happens Next?

The insurance department will send a letter to the insurance company with a deadline for their response and explanation. Insurance commissioner complaints often end up on the Claim Manager's desk. The manager requests the file, discusses it with his staff and figures out if the adjuster did something inappropriate or the company has taken an indefensible position.

Whether or not an insurance company admits wrongdoing, the high-profile attention often forces them to reevaluate their position. Insurance companies don’t like commissioner's offices monitoring their activities, so they might ease up on a tough stance, agree to a demand they previously rejected, or simply pay you more money.

Before it Goes too Far

A complaint with the state insurance commissioner might help you resolve your claim conflicts, but Miller Public Adjusters can keep your claim on track before it gets that far out of hand.

Miller Public Adjusters currently serves the states of
Wisconsin - Florida - Illinois - Indiana - Michigan - Minnesota - Texas

Call us 24 hours a day at (800)958-4829 to schedule an appointment or
please fill out a Free Claim Review to see if we can help.