Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced the recipients of the Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award, which recognizes the environmentally innovative farming techniques of Florida’s farmers and ranchers. [Read more…] about Commissioner Adam Putnam Announces Winners of 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award
Government
Attorney General Bondi Offers Tips for National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month and Attorney General Pam Bondi is encouraging Floridians to make sure preparations are in place for upcoming hurricanes. Two hurricanes hit Florida in the past two years and Tropical Storm Gordon is currently looming in the Gulf of Mexico. [Read more…] about Attorney General Bondi Offers Tips for National Preparedness Month
Gov. Scott: Florida Panhandle Should be Prepared as Tropical Storm Gordon Approaches
Governor Rick Scott made the following statement today regarding Tropical Storm Gordon, which is forecasted to develop into a hurricane and make landfall along the Mississippi coast this evening. Currently, there is no part of Florida under a hurricane warning, however tropical storm warnings are in effect for all of Escambia County and coastal portions of Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott: Florida Panhandle Should be Prepared as Tropical Storm Gordon Approaches
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Recovered Nearly $187,000 for Consumers in August
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recovered nearly $187,000 for Florida consumers during the month of August. Last year, the department recovered more than $2.6 million of consumers’ money from moving companies, vehicle repair shops, pawn shops, health studios, telemarketers, sellers of travel and more. [Read more…] about Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Recovered Nearly $187,000 for Consumers in August
Florida PSC Commissioner Brown Named to Blue Ribbon Task Force
Florida Public Service Commissioner (PSC) Julie Brown has been appointed to the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) Blue Ribbon Task Force, a partnership project with the U.S. Department of Energy, to help strategize an electric energy policy and regulatory framework in Puerto Rico. [Read more…] about Florida PSC Commissioner Brown Named to Blue Ribbon Task Force
CONSUMER ALERT: Understand What You Are Signing During Tropical Storm Gordon Recovery
Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier is encouraging Floridians who will be recovering from potential flood or wind damages to their homes and businesses from Tropical Storm Gordon to use caution when signing an Assignment of Benefits (AOB). Homeowners may be presented with a document to sign before repair work begins, which could contain what is known as an AOB, that transfers the insurance claims rights or benefits of your insurance policy to a third party.
Homeowners should contact their insurance agent, insurance company or CFO Patronis’ Insurance Consumer Helpline (1-877-693-5236) as soon as possible when making emergency repairs. After assessing the damage, restoration professionals may encourage homeowners to sign an AOB. By doing so, homeowners are giving the vendor the right to exclusively communicate with their insurance company, negotiate and endorse insurance claim payments and potentially file a lawsuit against the insurance company, with or without the homeowner’s knowledge. AOBs have been a cost driver leading to rising homeowners insurance rates across the state due to unnecessary litigation associated with certain AOB claims.
Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier stated, “As Floridians evaluate damages to their homes and property following Tropical Storm Gordon, it is vital they understand exactly what they are signing. AOB abuse has contributed to rising insurance rates and in some cases, unscrupulous contractors have left homeowners with unfinished repairs, liens against their homes and uncovered repair expenses. Homeowners are encouraged to review any documents they are asked to sign and use caution when signing an AOB. Consumers can always file a claim directly with their insurance company to maintain control of the rights and benefits provided by their insurance policy when resolving a claim.”
The following are a few tips to assist homeowners:
- Read your insurance policy and know what your responsibilities are following a loss.
- Contact your insurance company prior to signing any document that may contain an AOB.
- If the homeowner elects to sign the AOB, read everything carefully and do not feel pressured to sign it. Signing an AOB is not your only option.
- Beware of language that allows all proceeds of the claim to be made to anyone other than the homeowner or the homeowner’s mortgage company.
- Do not sign the document if there are any blank spaces.
For more information, visit OIR’s “AOB Resources” webpage or CFO Patronis’ Division of Consumer Services “Assignment of Benefits” webpage.
About the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. For more information about OIR, please visit our website or follow us on Twitter @FLOIR_comm and Facebook.
Traffic Shift Scheduled on U.S. 192 in St. Cloud
Starting next week in St. Cloud, eastbound and westbound U.S. 192 (State Road 500) traffic will move to the newly paved outside lanes, allowing the contractor to begin work in the median. The traffic shift will take three nights to complete, weather permitting. The schedule is as follows: [Read more…] about Traffic Shift Scheduled on U.S. 192 in St. Cloud
Gov. Scott Directs an Additional $3 Million to Help Counties Impacted by Red Tide
Governor Rick Scott announced that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is providing an additional $3 million in grant funding to assist local communities impacted by red tide, bringing the total amount of grant funding to $9 million. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Directs an Additional $3 Million to Help Counties Impacted by Red Tide
CFO Jimmy Patronis: $58 Million in Safety Funding Must Go to Florida Schools
In response to Gov. Rick Scott’s letter to the legislature urging the Florida House and Senate to send the remaining $58 million from the guardian program to the Legislative Budget Commission so school districts can access these dollars for safety measures, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis released the following statement: [Read more…] about CFO Jimmy Patronis: $58 Million in Safety Funding Must Go to Florida Schools
Voting Rights Groups Applauds Florida Election Officials for Providing Student-Accessible Voting, Urge Additional Early Voting Sites on Campuses
The League of Women Voters of Florida, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, All Voting is Local Florida, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund ask county Supervisors of Elections to follow the example of officials who have made it top priority to establish early voting on some college campuses in Alachua, Hillsborough, Leon, and Orange counties. [Read more…] about Voting Rights Groups Applauds Florida Election Officials for Providing Student-Accessible Voting, Urge Additional Early Voting Sites on Campuses
