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[STK]
[IN] INS
[SU] NPT
TO BUSINESS, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
NICB: Where Storms Hit Fraud Often Follows
DES PLAINES, Ill., April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the
traditional storm season approaches, the National Insurance Crime
Bureau (NICB) and its nearly 1,100 member insurance companies are
warning consumers to ensure that they have a disaster plan. By taking
precautionary steps to ensure their personal safety, as well as to
protect their property, people can greatly reduce the risk of injury.
Having food and water sufficient for your family's needs for at least
three days is recommended, as is having a battery-powered or
hand-crank weather radio.
While personal survival from a storm or other natural disaster is
paramount, consideration must also be given to surviving one
financially if your home is damaged or destroyed and that is most
effectively provided through insurance. However, many times disaster
victims fall prey to predatory and fraudulent repair scams perpetrated
by individuals looking for a fast buck, usually at a victim's
expense.
After a disaster, professionals will often go door-to-door in
neighborhoods, which have sustained damage to offer clean up and/or
construction and repair services. Most of these business people are
reputable, but many are not. The dishonest ones may execute schemes to
defraud innocent victims. One such scheme is to pocket the payment and
never show up for the job, or never complete a job that was started.
Another scheme is to use inferior materials and perform shoddy work
not up to code in order to pocket more profit.
Almost all of these scams are unsolicited-they begin with a knock on
the door from a contractor who seeks out work. That is why we say, "If
you didn't request it, reject it." If you think you might have damage
from a storm, call your insurance company first. Your insurance
company will honor its policy so there is no need to speak with a
contractor who solicits your repair work-especially when you did not
request it.
NICB suggests you consider these tips before hiring a contractor:
-- Get more than one estimate
-- Get everything in writing. Cost, work to be done, time schedules,
guarantees, payment schedules and other expectations should be
detailed
-- Demand references and check them out
-- Ask to see the salesperson's driver's license and write down the
license number and their vehicle's license plate number
-- Never sign a contract with blanks; unacceptable terms can be added
later
-- Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate
until the work is finished and ensure reconstruction is up to current
code
-- Make sure you review and understand all documents sent to your
insurance carrier
-- Never let a contractor pressure you into hiring them
-- Never let a contractor interpret the insurance policy language
-- Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your
insurance company
For more on disaster fraud, watch this video.
Visit www.ready.gov for valuable information on preparedness.
Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft
can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800-TEL-NICB
(800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or
submitting a form on our website. Or, download the NICB Fraud Tips app
on your iPhone or Android device.
About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des
Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit
organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and
defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics,
investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness.
The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty
insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member
companies wrote $371 billion in insurance premiums in 2013, or more
than 78 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That
includes more than 93 percent ($168 billion) of the nation's personal
auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.
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SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau
-0- 04/16/2014
/CONTACT: Roger Morris, 847.544.7085, rmorris@nicb.org
/Web Site: http://www.nicb.org
CO: National Insurance Crime Bureau
ST: Illinois
IN: INS
SU: NPT
PRN
-- DC05580 --
0000 04/16/2014 10:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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