This is an update to articles concerning Claims Handling After Sandy, which were posted here on Sunday, March 3, 2013 and on Thursday, March 7, 2013.
As previously reported, many Policyholders are unsatisfied with what they consider to be insufficient offers from their Homeowners and other Property Insurance Carriers toward paying Sandy Damage Claims. See, for example, the Comments printed in "Bucks / Troubles With Flood Insurance" p. B4, col. 1 (New York Times Nat'l ed., "Business" Section, Saturday, March 9, 2013), and published online following the post by Tara Siegel Bernard, "How Does Your Hurricane Sandy Claim Stand" ("Bucks" Blog at New York Times Online, Friday, March 1, 2013).
In particular, a commonly reported complaint of many Policyholders is that Adjusters are not returning their calls.
One of the major goals of modern adjustment of Claims is or should be to avoid or prevent Bad Faith Claims, so far as possible. Many seminars are held frequently in which presenters speak at length about how in their judgment Adjusters can do their best to avoid Bad Faith lawsuits. Yet, one of the ways to avoid Bad Faith lawsuits is simply human.
People do not like to be ignored, whether they are Policyholders or Adjusters. Telephone calls should be returned. This is not only simple courtesy, but it is a very good way to avoid angering somebody. People do a lot of things when they are angry, that they might not think about doing, at least right away, when they are not angry.
No-one is likely to sue you because you returned their calls.
Further, they called you because they want to talk with you, not necessarily because they want to sue you or your Company.
Hurricane and Other Catastrophe Claims Handling, and Avoiding Bad Faith While Handling Catastrophe Claims, are some of the articles featuring these tips in Claims Magazine, for example, and you can read them online or print them, free, from the Publications Page of my website.
Have a good St. Patrick's Day today!
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