This week I have have seen or read of (3) Insurance Claim issues & probable mistaken steps to deal with insurance companies. I work with all the major underwriters and adjusters, here are a few tips I have learned over the years.
1) Know what your coverage is and what your deductible is most of my customers don't know, they want me to ask their ins. companies what their policy includes.
2) If you know what your deductible is and you think your damage exceeds the deductible amount it probably does.
3) Regulations prohibit an insurance company or adjuster from telling you where to have your boat repaired
4) Every Ins. Co. I have worked for guarantees the repair work for their insured, it is in the ins. companies best interest to have the repairs made right the first time, if not they are on the hook to have it repaired right the second time. (Half my ins. work is re-work others have done & failed)
5) Marine adjusting is VERY different from automotive & they know it. The auto side is very cut & dried with books that spell out typical repair costs for every case, no such thing exists for the marine industry, every case is reviewed and if questioned they will have a certified marine surveyor look at the job.
6) Always avoid starting a repair job then ask the ins. co. to step in & make a claim after the repairs have started, this always gets ugly.
7) I have never had a customer tell me their rates went up after a "normal" claim, when illegal activities are involved (drinking) they usually get dropped.
