So now the Patch is ok with ambulance chasers?

Normally I would agree about the bloodsucking laywers but we need to have somewhere to go to get help with the insurance companies. They are using delaying tactics and before long deadlines will pass to get FEMA support. Maybe it's me but I find the information on the Toms River website to be confusing and only leads to more questions that they refuse to answer.

The sad thing now is the amount of parasites that are being encountered at every level of the "Sandy Recovery". First, we have the insurance companies who have been using every excuse under the sun not to pay the claims. Second, comes the "fly by night" contractors who take the money and run or bring in some very unsavory characters to our homes to "clean up". Third, we have our local politicians who are too busy dancing in front of the cameras to realize we need a clear and concise "game plan" to see all facets of the recovery are thought through. Then finally, the fools who fail to see the scum in Congress who saw the opportunity to sneak their "pet projects" into the legislation that would provide us the financial relief to move things along. IMHO those in Congress who tried to sneak in those monies for MS, LA, and Alaska are scum. They are no better than grave robbers or looters.

It has been over two months and all I received thus far is a 15k advance which was gone in a week. Now I know for a fact my insurance company has the adjusters report and I say okay then cut the check. The response is the report is with their examiners. It's criminal and I call Travelers every day and ask for a date when I can expect my settlement. We can't tell you when sir. What would happen if I took over 2 months to send my premium payment? Would Travelers be so understanding? I am very busy and doing my best ya know.

Wow ...wowwwww...wwwwwww*breath*...wwww

I wa completely against hiring a public adjuster until this weekend at the Brookdale College home show. I met a woman from ad adjusting firm and all I can say is look into it with an open mind and your opinion will surely change as mine did. I lost my home in Bayville and now I'm confident that I will get what is warranted from the insurance companies. The best part is they will go after the insurance company after we get our settlement and get 18% of the extra money they get for us.

After receiving the claim from my flood insurance adjuster last week i also hired a public adjuster. The numbers they allocate for damages are absurd. They even manage to depreciate labor????? i was hoping the process would be civil, but i had no choice after seeing their numbers. i think they just send the lowest numbers possible and hope that some people just don't fight back!!! i hope elderly residents don't get taken advantage of.

Hiring a Public Adjuster is one way to get more money from the insurance company, the problem is that you give a large percentage of your money to the PA, and the insurance company puts your file to the bottom of the pile, so the money gets delayed. Another way is to hire a reputable insurance restoration contractor that knows how to write a proper estimate for repairs that will be accepted by the insurance company. All of the initial estimates we've seen have been very low initially, but after review, and responding with a proper estimate, ALL have raised the amounts drastically.

It's my understanding that the MAXIMUM they should be paying for PA fees is 15% (and the range is actually 10% to 15%) and that most public adjusters end up retaining an insurance law attorney to assist the homeowner, which means the homeowner is paying BOTH the PA and the insurance law attorney. It is usually best to go directly to the insurance law attorney.