Don’t Sign: Protecting yourself from predatory contracts after a disaster

One week after a public adjuster knocked on his door, Craig Stafford found himself at the Department of Financial Services booth in the Port Charlotte Town Center insurance village, worried that he had been taken advantage of.

“It was a few days after the storm. I thought they were knocking on the door to tell me the power was coming back on, and they approached me. They were canvassing the whole area with different agents,” said Stafford.

Stafford said they told if he signed their contract, they would be the middleman between him and his insurance. Stafford signed the contract.

A closer look shows that the contract says Stafford will owe the adjuster 10% of whatever he gets from the insurance company.

“To me, it seems like they were misrepresenting themselves. Then I realized it and said I need to talk to someone.”

Now, Stafford hopes the Department of Financial Services can help him void that contract.

“I felt like I was preyed upon,” Stafford said.

Before you sign anything, read the entire document to make sure what you are being told matches what you agree to.

It is also recommended that you do some research on the company to make sure it is real and see if anyone else has had a negative experience or review of the company.