NICB AND GEORGIA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER URGE CAUTION AS HOMEOWNERS SEEK CONTRACTORS FOLLOWING RECENT TORNADOS

Posted: Jan. 24, 2023 at 5:16 PM MST|Current: 1 hour ago

Commissioner’s Workplace and NICB Personnel Deployed to Disaster Promises Village

DES PLAINES, Unwell., Jan. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Lethal tornados moved throughout the Southeast before this thirty day period impacting 1000’s of homeowners and organization house owners alike. The Countrywide Insurance plan Crime Bureau (NICB) and Georgia Insurance plan and Security Fireplace Commissioner John F. King is reminding residents to continue to be vigilant when hiring a contractor, or other sellers,  to make repairs to houses and corporations.

“Following the impacts of potent tornados resulting in devastation to houses in the Southeast, dishonest contractors will function to defraud individuals in their time of need to have,” mentioned NICB President and CEO David Glawe. “We know people want to get back on their ft, but this is not a time to enable your guard down.  Protect your self and your liked kinds from these criminals.”

“Regrettably, negative actors know to focus on victims at their most vulnerable, such as after a storm-similar decline,” said Commissioner King. “Beware of any one who reveals up at your dwelling or area of enterprise right away soon after a storm. Your 1st phone following a catastrophe should really be to your insurance enterprise to file a assert. Whether it truly is a contractor or public adjuster, do your analysis and validate credentials ahead of signing any contracts or agreeing to any providers.”

Commissioner King not long ago declared that he is deploying company workers to guide Georgia citizens by environment up a regional Catastrophe Claims Village. NICB brokers will be on the ground along with the Commissioner’s employees delivering boots on the floor aid for victims in require.

The village will be held at the Oxford Village Searching Centre 921 Memorial Dr. Griffin, GA 30223 this Wednesday, January 25 and Thursday, January 26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each and every working day.

Individuals not able to attend the function are inspired to phone the Consumer Expert services Hotline for guidance at 1-800-656-2298, available Monday via Friday involving 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Before selecting a contractor, get in touch with your insurance policies business. There is no want to rush into an agreement with a contractor who solicits your repair service get the job done, specially if it was not asked for.

NICB and Commissioner King advise the subsequent tips right before using the services of a contractor:

• Get more than a single estimate.
• Get every little thing in crafting. Expense, perform to be completed, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules, and other anticipations must be in depth and itemized.
• Request references and do the investigation.
• Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and produce down the license amount and their vehicle’s license plate selection.
• Look out for out-of-condition contractor licenses, as nicely as car or truck registrations, as these may also show achievable fraudulent contractors.
• Never indication a deal with blanks conditions you will not concur with can be extra later on.
• Never spend a contractor in full or signal a completion certificate until eventually the perform is concluded.
• Make sure reconstruction is up to present-day code.
• Make positive you critique and fully grasp all files despatched to your insurance coverage provider. Signing an Assignment of Benefits arrangement transfers your insurance legal rights to the contractor. Know what that indicates for you.
• In no way permit a contractor strain you into earning a brief selection or choosing them.
• Under no circumstances permit a contractor interpret the language of your insurance policy policy.
• Never ever let a contractor discourage you from calling your coverage organization. Speak to your coverage company to start with.
• Try to remember, if you failed to ask for it, reject it!

On top of that, some deceitful contractors will state they are supported by the govt. On the other hand, the Federal Unexpected emergency Administration Company (FEMA) does not endorse particular person contractors or loan organizations. Normally request official identification from these declaring to symbolize governmental organizations. Buyers need to contact FEMA for a lot more details at (800) 621-FEMA.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, contact the NICB at 1-800-TEL-NICB. For further details, visit NICB’s website, www.NICB.org.

REPORT FRAUD: Anyone with information regarding coverage fraud or motor vehicle theft can report it anonymously by contacting toll-cost-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422) or distributing a kind on our site.

ABOUT THE National Coverage Crime BUREAU: Headquartered in Des Plaines, Unwell., the NICB is the nation’s top not-for-earnings corporation solely committed to combatting and protecting against coverage crime as a result of Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations Education and Criminal offense Prevention and Strategy, Coverage, and Advocacy. The NICB is supported by much more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance plan organizations and self-insured companies. NICB member companies wrote above $582 billion in coverage premiums in 2021, or extra than 82% of the nation’s house-casualty insurance plan. That contains a lot more than 96% of the nation’s personal auto insurance plan. To find out more, visit www.nicb.org.

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