| If I need help, can I speak to a live person? |
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| Yes, just call us toll free at 1-877-252-4604 or visit us at www.mysmartclaims.com. |
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| Will my insurance company raise my rates or drop me if I do this? |
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Insurance rates rise only when the risk profile to the property increases. For example, a property is located in a newly designated hurricane prone area, or the homeowner has begun storing say explosives on the property. In these instances the risk profile of the property changed and as such, it would be expected and prudent for the carrier to increase its rate. However, when a random event, such as a: broken pipe, kitchen fire, hail, wind, vandalism, lightning, flooding, etc. occurs, the risk profile to the property has not changed. These are random events, which are exactly what you buy insurance for in the first place and which the insurance company has considered in its actuarial calculations and priced into their rates. |
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| I don’t have good computer skills. Can I still use MySmartClaims? |
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| MySmartClaims is very user friendly and provides a tutorial which walks you through the process. It is very simple to use.
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How many claims can I process for $299? |
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| You can process only one claim. Corporate clients have the ability to process multiple claims under a different fee structure. |
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| If insurance industry people developed MySmartClaims, why are they helping me get more money out of my insurance company? |
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Like any other industry, insurance is made up of different constituencies. In this case, the people who developed the software work on behalf of the lay person. A good analogy would be the legal profession where you have lawyers that are advocates for the plaintiff and those that advocate for the defendant. We are advocates for the victim, the insured. And because insurance is really a zero sum game where one side (victim) loses most of the time, we developed this tool to educate the consumer and level the playing field. |
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I understand the service also helps homeowners in Canada, Puerto Rico and other countries. How does that work? |
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| No, MySmartClaims currently only applies to property in the United States and Puerto Rico. |
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Is there a point at which damage is so bad, MySmartClaims won’t get more money? |
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| Yes, when your property is a total loss, you have probably maximized your policy limits; as such this tool would not be useful. This tool can be used for a catastrophe but not a “catastrophic loss”. |
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What is the role of public adjusters? Who pays them? |
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| Public adjusters represent the consumer and typically charge 20% to 40% of the recovered amount so the payment comes from the settlement money. |
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| Do I have to wait for a settlement report from my insurance company? Can’t I just begin with MySmartClaims? |
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Before you receive a settlement, your insurance company will provide you with their estimate to repair the damage. This document (the insurance company loss estimate) serves as the source document for entering information in MySmartClaims.com. Without this document, you cannot complete the process. |
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What if my insurance company leaves the state (quits doing business here) by the time I resubmit my claim? |
| Your best bet would be to contact an attorney. Nevertheless, as it relates to MySmartClaims.com, if you do not receive more money than the carrier’s estimate, we will refund your money. |
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| When I get my check, do I have to spend it on repairs and prove it? |
You don’t have to. The law leaves that decision up to you. However, when the settlement is on mortgaged property and the lender is on the insurance policy, the settlement check will be in the name of both parties. In these cases, the check must be endorsed by both parties in order to be cashed. When settlement checks are large, lenders have been known to hold funds in escrow and disburse them against work performed on the property. |
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| I’m settling estate matters for a recently deceased homeowner. Can I use this to their benefit if it’s within the 5-7 year period? |
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| As long as the insurance on the property has not been cancelled due to the transfer of the asset, you can stand in for the deceased homeowner. |
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| I sent the revised estimate to my insurance company and they’re avoiding me. Can you help me get the money MySmartClaims says they owe me? |
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The insurance company can avoid you only so long. If you submitted the Proof of Loss affidavit, they must respond within the allotment time provided by law. If they do not, they open themselves to claims against them for “bad faith” which can triple the damages. If the Proof of Loss grace period expires, contact and attorney they will know what to do.
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