The Office of Insurance Consumer Advocate will hold hearings Wednesday in Tallahassee on why homeowners have not yet received payment from insurance claims filed after the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes.
Advocate Robin Westcott will meet with insurers and consumer representatives on ways to respond to consumer complaints.
Westcott hopes to produce a report from the hearing that includes recommendations for addressing payment delays through administrative or legislative actions.
The working group will discuss adjusting and solicitation of consumers after a loss, nonrenewal of policies, mediation and post-claim underwriting.
The group could also produce a property insurance reform package with a stronger consumer Bill of Rights.
“Consumers should not be victimized by poor claims handling and unscrupulous business practices by those seeking to exploit homeowners when they are most vulnerable," Westcott said.
The hearings are expected to continue to Thursday.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater appointed Robin Smith Westcott to serve as the state’s Insurance Consumer Advocate in July 2011 with the expectation that she be “committed to holding insurance companies accountable and to ensuring consumers get exactly what they pay for and are protected from fraud and abuse.”