What is a short pay claim?
A short pay claim is when the insured’s insurance company doesn’t pay the full amount of the invoice from the repair
facility. The difference between the insurance offer and the actual repair cost is the value of the short pay.
Am I responsible to pay the short pay claim amount?
You are the one that authorizes the repairs on your vehicle. You owe the repair facility the
full cost of repairs at the
end of the day.
Is my body shop overcharging me?
Not necessary. Short pay claims are a tactic insurance companies use to control claim costs.
Since the body shop is
liable for the repairs, they cannot skip the necessary operations that the insurance adjuster
may not be willing to pay
for. This is the most common reason for a short pay claim.
Why do I have to pay more than my deductible?
You shouldn’t have to pay more than your deductible. However, your insurance company is the one
trying to make you pay
any additional amounts owed to the body shop. Your policy states what the insurance company will
owe in the event of a
loss. If the body shop’s repair bill is fair and reasonable, your insurance does likely owe you
more money for the
repairs. It is your responsibility to collect from your insurance company; your body shop can
help but they are limited
on what they can do.
Why can’t my body shop negotiate with the insurance company?
Unfortunately, Body shops legally cannot adjust, negotiate, or settle a claim on an insured’s behalf. Only attorneys and
licensed public adjusters can negotiate a claim on the behalf of the insured.
I have been with my agent for 30 years; can he/she do something?
Your agent’s job is to sell you the policy coverage you are seeking. Agents bring money into the
insurance company via
premiums. In most cases, they are trained to adjust claims. The claims adjuster is the one who
adjusts claims when there
is a loss. The claims adjuster is trained to negotiate claims while minimizing the amount of the
loss. They protect the
money from leaving the company.
Can my agent help me collect the short pay amount?
Agents usually don’t get involved in the claims settlement part of a loss.
Can I just handle the claim myself?
You can handle the claim by yourself. However, your insurance adjuster is going to try to throw
you in the middle of the
disagreement of the shop. They are probably going to say that the shop is overcharging you.
Public Adjusters and
Attorneys are trained professionals that collect loss settlements on behalf of the policyholder.
It is unlikely that an
insured will have the knowledge and patience it takes to negotiate their claim with a
well-trained insurance adjuster.
If Insuraclaim cannot collect the additional amount, will I have to pay for their services?
Insuraclaim only charges a percentage fee of the recovered short pay claim. The fee will be
offered after a free claim
Evaluation. If we cannot collect, we don’t charge. Thus, we will only take cases where we think
money is owed to the
policyholder.
How long will it take for Insuraclaim to collect the short pay?
The time depends on your insurance company and its willingness to fight the demand for payment.
When we get involved,
the insurance company usually understands that they are going to owe more money and would like
to settle the claim as
soon as possible.
What happens if my body shop is being unreasonable in their billing?
We have no problem with telling a shop that they are being unreasonable in their billing of
services. We are not going
to spend much time on a claim if your body shop is being unreasonable. If we take your claim on,
your body shop was
likely being fair and your insurance company was not being fair.
What is a Public Adjuster?
A Public Adjuster is a highly-skilled, professional insurance expert with a vast knowledge of
insurance policies,
co-insurance, depreciation, building, and personal property damage assessments, repair and
replacement costs, and
negotiation. A public adjuster is a highly-skilled, professional insurance claims adjuster who
is an advocate for the
policyholder in appraising and negotiating an insurance claim. Aside from attorneys, public
adjusters licensed by state
departments of insurance are the only type of claims adjuster that can legally represent the
rights of an insured during
a property insurance claim process. Primarily they appraise the damage, prepare an estimate and
other claim
documentation, read the policy of insurance to determine coverages, and negotiate with the
insurance company’s adjuster.
How can a Public Adjuster better serve me over an insurance company adjuster?
The insurance company adjuster is employed by the insurance company and that is where their
loyalties are. They must
strike a balance between your interests and those of their company. A Public Adjuster works for
a client’s interests
exclusively.
How is Insuraclaim compensated for collecting the short pay claim?
Insuraclaim charges a percentage fee for claims they are hired for. This fee will be offered
after a no-obligation claim
evaluation.
How successful is Insuraclaim at negotiating
settlements for insureds?
Insuraclaim has successfully settled claims from thousands into millions of dollars. If the
money is owed to our
clients, we will get them paid.
Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, the Department of Insurance requires that Public Adjusters enter into a contract with the
policyholder. We also are
required to have our client sign a Limited Power of Attorney so we can represent the insured. We
are required to keep
these on file for 5 years in most states.
