Are Public Adjusters a Scam? What People Say vs. What Florida Law Says
Online threads are full of strong opinions about public adjusters. Here are the most common ones, checked against the law that regulates us, with the subsection for every answer, so you can read it yourself.
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What People Say, and What the Law Says
"Public adjusters are all scammers."
Public adjusters are licensed and regulated by the Florida Department of Financial Services, and Fla. Stat. §626.854 spells out what they can and can't do. Some of the rules carry fines of up to $10,000 per act, and up to $20,000 per act during a declared state of emergency (§626.854(23)(b)). Like any profession, it has good and bad actors. The license search and the 10-point test separate them.
"They take a huge cut."
Florida caps the fee: 20% of claim payments, 10% for claims from a declared state of emergency during the first year, 1% in certain cases where the insurer pays the policy limit early, and 0% on payments made before you signed the contract (§626.854(11)(b)). The fee has to be in a written contract (§626.854(6)(a)).
"Once you sign, you're stuck."
You can cancel within 10 days after signing without penalty, or after a declared emergency, within 30 days after the loss or 10 days after signing, whichever is longer (§626.854(7)). If you don't get a written estimate within 60 days, you can cancel then too, unless the delay was beyond the adjuster's control (§626.854(12)(b)).
"They make you use their contractor."
A public adjuster can't take a contract or power of attorney giving them the authority to choose your repair providers (§626.854(18)), and can't hire third-party services at your expense unless you agree in writing after signing the adjusting contract (§626.854(6)(b)).
"Just let your roofer handle the claim."
In Florida, a contractor can't advertise, solicit, offer to handle or perform public adjuster services unless licensed as a public adjuster (§626.854(16)). A contractor can explain a repair bid. Negotiating your claim is a licensed job.
"They pay kickbacks and hand out gifts."
A public adjuster can't pay anyone but another public adjuster for referrals (§626.854(13)), and can't offer a homeowner a rebate, gift, gift card, cash, coupon or a deductible waiver (§626.854(23)(a)). Anyone offering you one is breaking the law, and that's a reason to walk away.
"They knock on your door right after the storm."
Public adjusters may solicit only Monday through Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (§626.854(5)). Telling you there's "no risk" in filing a claim is treated as deceptive in their ads (§626.854(8)(a)). You never have to sign at the door.
"Hiring one just ends in a lawsuit."
A public adjuster documents the loss, writes an estimate and negotiates with the insurer. Disputes can also go to appraisal, when the policy has the clause, or to Florida's DFS mediation program, neither of which is a lawsuit. A public adjuster isn't a lawyer, and Homeland isn't a law firm.
Source: Fla. Stat. §626.854 (2025). Subsections (5) through (18) apply to claims under residential and condominium unit-owner policies (§626.854(19)). General information, not legal advice.
Where the Critics Have a Point
Not every claim needs a public adjuster. If the damage is small, nothing is in dispute and the insurer’s payment covers a real repair estimate, you may not need one, and a good adjuster will tell you so. Bad actors do exist, which is exactly why the license search, the written contract and your cancellation rights matter. Use our 10-point test on anyone you’re considering, including us.
Read: Is a Public Adjuster Worth It? · How to Verify a Public Adjuster License
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