FAPIA MEMBER CODE OF ETHICS

1. Members shall conduct themselves in a spirit of fairness & justice to their clients, insurance companies, the public and FAPIA.

2. Members shall refrain from improper solicitation and all solicitation shall be in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations of Florida Department of Financial Services (FLDFS) , Florida Statute 626.854 and the Florida Administrative Code including rules 69B-220.201 and 69B-220.051

3. No misrepresentation of any kind shall be made to an insured, insurance company, FAPIA , FLDFS or any other regulatory or state law enforcement entity.

4. Commission rates shall be fair and equitable and strictly in accordance with the prevailing laws or regulations of FLDFS Florida Statute 626.854

5. Members shall conduct themselves so as to command respect and confidence. They shall work amicably with one another, their clients, insurance company representatives, FAPIA , FLDFS and any state law enforcement entity.

6. Members must be qualified, by knowledge and experience, for the work they undertake. They must not endanger the interests of the public adjusting profession, or risk injustice to insureds or insurance companies by attempting to handle losses or claims for which they are not qualified, and for which they cannot find competent technical assistance.

7. Members shall not engage in the unauthorized practice of law.

8. Members shall not acquire any interest in salvaged property or participate in any way, directly or indirectly, in the reconstruction, repair, or restoration of damaged property, that would be a violation of Florida Statute 626.8795 Public adjusters; prohibition of conflict of interest.

9. Members shall be cooperative and assist one another by working in unison while making every effort to maintain high professional standards and integrity.

10. Members shall not disseminate or use any form of agreement, advertising or any printed material that is harmful to the profession of public adjusting, which does not comply with the rules and regulations of the FLDFS , or which might subject public adjusters or FAPIA to criticism or disrespect.

11. Members who take on apprentices shall provide counsel, advice and guidance relating to the public adjusting profession in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations of FLDFS . Members will work with their apprentices in a cordial and professional manner, so as to foster a harmonious relationship with FAPIA , FLDFS and the general public.

12. Members shall review, understand and subscribe to the code of ethics specified in the rules of FLDFS, including but not limited to 69B-220.201 Ethical Requirements for All Adjusters and Public Adjuster Apprentices .

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS
​Read all instructions carefully before completing the form on this page. If the form is not properly completed it may be rejected or returned for correction.

You may attach up to 25 additional sheets to supplement any section. 

Please note FAPIA cannot intervene on your behalf in a civil or criminal case, nor can we give you legal advice. We do not have jurisdiction to consider complaints against non-FAPIA public adjusters, insurance companies or insurance company adjusters. Our ethics committee considers whether a public adjuster has violated our rules of conduct and determines whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the public adjuster should receive some type of discipline.

The level of investigation varies depending on the complexity of the allegations. If your complaint is closed, you will receive a  written explanation of the reasons why. There is no right to appeal a decision not to pursue an investigation.


PART ONE - Required Information. You must give your name, address and phone number, and the name, address and phone number of the subject public adjuster. The address of the public adjuster is particularly important as we do not want to confuse the public adjuster you are reporting with someone of the same or similar name. List only one public adjuster per submission. You can file a complaint only against an individual public adjuster, or public adjusting firm however, we can only enforce rules and regulations over public adjusters that are members of FAPIA.


PART TWO - Facts/Allegations. Describe each thing about which you are complaining. Recite all of the details, in chronological order, supplying dates where possible. Please number any additional pages you attach.If you have letters, documents or other evidence, you should attach them in the upload option near the bottom of the form. It is helpful if you mark any attachments as exhibits (A, B, C, etc.), and refer to them in the description of your complaint.
Please be aware that simply alleging conclusions without setting out facts that support those conclusions will result in the need for FAPIA to ask you for additional information and may delay a disposition of your complaint.


​PART THREE - Witnesses. Your inquiry/complaint will be considered even if there are no witnesses. If you have witnesses, attach an additional sheet, listing nothing but witnesses, with the name, address and telephone number for each witness. Please include a brief description of the facts about which that witness would testify. If you do not attach a list of witnesses, we will presume that you have no witnesses, other than the public adjuster and yourself.


PART FOUR - Attempted Resolution. FAPIA will attempt to resolve any disputes between FAPIA public adjusters and their clients. If you have not tried to do so, you should attempt to resolve your matter by writing to the subject public adjuster, before contacting FAPIA or filing a complaint. Even if this is unsuccessful, it is important that you do so in order to have documentation of good-faith efforts to resolve your matter. If you choose to go forward with a complaint, you should specify what resolution efforts you have made on your own behalf.
​

​PART FIVE- Signature. By submitting this form you certify under penalty of perjury that your allegations are true. 
Unsworn complaints are not considered.