Joseph Armato: Choosing A Public Adjuster

Joseph Armato is an industry-leading contractor who started Nationwide Contracting and Consulting, Inc. Joseph J Armato has been a licensed public adjuster for over 30 years. He is aware that choosing a public adjuster can be a difficult task; here Joseph J Armato hopes to provide insight on how to select a skilled and knowledgeable adjuster to suit your needs.

• Don’t hire the first adjuster you find. Joseph J Armato notes that many individuals settle for the first adjuster that they find on the market. However, Joseph J Armato warns that just because an adjuster has a decent marketing campaign does not mean they are qualified in the field.
• Make sure they have experience. It is important that a public adjuster has experience in the field. Joseph J Armato notes that adjusters should belong to a number of groups including the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, Windstorm Insurance Network, and United Policyholders of America. These groups help uphold the ethical standards of public adjusters. If you are wondering if an adjuster belongs to a certain organization, many of them have online directories that list all of their members.
• Check to see if they are licensed. A public adjuster should be licensed by the state you reside in. Joseph J Armato notes that if an individual is not licensed, they are committing a third degree felony by stating they can adjust your claim.
• They should review your insurance policy. Joseph J Armato notes that a major red flag is when a public adjuster makes a promise prior to reading and reviewing your insurance policy. A skilled public adjuster will meet with you, see your loss, and review your records before establishing a track for recovery.
• Check their references. Joe Armato warns that a public adjuster’s reputation with an insurance carrier can affect your claim drastically; thus, it is important that your public adjuster has a positive reputation around your community. You can find this out by speaking with references and others around your community.