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Posted By rej69 on 03/08/2014 4:44 PM

I am embarking on a new career path after years of alcoholism. I have a domestic violence conviction (Being drunk at home) and a deferred felony for injury to a child (spanking my 12 year old while drinking). I want to know if there is a chance in hell of becoming certified. I have the class ordered, a family member who is a CAT adjuster to hold my hand and walk me through getting started, but do not know if I am wasting my time. Anyone who has overcome this barrier or knows of someone who has, I would love to hear your story. Thanks

First thing's first, there is NO shame in alcoholism. My father was the greatest man I know and he was an alcoholic till the day I had to take him off of life support on 28 September 2013. The illness that is alcoholism does NOT define a person anymore than CANCER defines a person.

Based upon your information, one must believe your domestic violence conviction was a misdemeanor (please correct me if I am wrong) Whilst I do NOT know the specifics of your case, the fact remains a deferred Felony is NOT a conviction unless you do something to violate your terms of "probation" for lack of a better word.

I have multiple members who have had colorful criminal histories and most were able to become licensed adjusters. Most importantly you must NOT attempt to hide your past (which you obviously have no intention to do)

If you have a Felony on your record and (some misdemeanors) for example Florida. If you have a felony, (It cannot be involved with a breach of trust, fiduciary duty, or involve insurance fraud) If it is, you are out of luck.

They have a three tiered system for our claims adjusting brethren with a felony on their record. Not sure on the cut offs but for simple felonies (again for lack of a better word) you have a 5 year waiting period from date of conviction, more serious the felony comes a 10 year waiting period and a 15 year waiting period for a serious felony BEFORE you can apply for a license.

I know of folks with multiple DUI's who were able to become adjusters. I also know of an individual with multiple drug convictions who was able to become licensed.

Be this as it may, the people you need to be talking too are the state's Department of Insurance to which you want a license with. They are the be all end all with regard to your particular set of circumstances.

I wish you all the best 

Robbie is correct in the fact you need to be forthcoming about your past.  I know of an adjuster with a felony drug conviction (dealing) that was able to get a Texas Adjuster's license.

The problem you will find is not obtaining your license, but having firms willing to hire you.  Hopefully your friend can help you with that.  When I was in the position to hire adjusters, my company had a policy of no criminal convictions.  I fought it unsuccessfully.

Rej69,

R_Smith has a valid point. Even IF you obtain a license, you will then be subject to additional background checks through most IA firms.

With that being said, every IA Firm is different. Whilst some accept zero criminal history, others are more forgiving (to an extent). For example I worked as a claims manager for an IA firm back east where the senior partners took each adjuster's criminal history (if there was any) on a case by case basis.

The ONLY absolute NO way no how is with regard to insurance fraud and breach of trust and fiduciary duty.

Did the domestic and felony arise out of the same incident? How long ago and how long are you on probation?"

Understand I am judging you for what happened nor am I condoning what happened. But I can tell you that when I was a young man , I simply believed the bad guys were in jail and people pled guilty to crimes they really committed.

I now know that the legal system is inherently flawed and many times people will plead guilty to something rather than roll the dice with a jury trial. The DA is notorious for that to keep their conviction rate at 99.7%.

Posted By rej69 on 03/08/2014 4:44 PM
I am embarking on a new career path after years of alcoholism. I have a domestic violence conviction (Being drunk at home) and a deferred felony for injury to a child (spanking my 12 year old while drinking). I want to know if there is a chance in hell of becoming certified. I have the class ordered, a family member who is a CAT adjuster to hold my hand and walk me through getting started, but do not know if I am wasting my time. Anyone who has overcome this barrier or knows of someone who has, I would love to hear your story. Thanks

Honesty is the best policy. First deal with your DOI and make sure they are ok with you. After that, should you get licensed, know that you will undergo background checks. Be sure to disclose everything (even things that you are not sure will show up), lest you be considered a liar and thus untrustworthy. If your convictions are recent, your chances of finding a good vendor to send you work are slim to none, though there are a few that do not background check, mistakenly thinking that the DOI will do it for them. Those firms are not long for this world :) If the convictions were from long ago, you may want to point that out and hope for the best.

Keep in mind that we are sending you into peoples homes and businesses and we have to keep track of the histories of the people we send out. Unless you really, really know the people potentially employing you, your background check is what you will be initially judged upon, and even then, many carriers require a spotless record (minus traffic violations). Regardless of the actual circumstances,(keep in mind that as I stated earlier, you will be judged based on what is on paper) if you will forgive the indelicacy, you record says "violent" and  "child beater". Would you as a business owner assume the risk and liability for sending a violent child beater into the homes or businesses of your clients? Would you want your insurance company to send a violent child beater to your home if you filed a claim?

Probably not. 

The guy has reached out and is being completely forthright with his criminal history. Our legal system is completely dysfunctional. We do NOT know the specifics of this man's case history. A Deferred Felony is deferred for a reason, because they CANNOT prove exactly what transpired. Hence a probation status of sorts at which the conclusion of said probation that charge vanishes.

What's the old adage? Let ye who hath  NO sin...cast the first stone!

Posted By CatAdjusterX on 03/15/2014 1:29 AM

The guy has reached out and is being completely forthright with his criminal history. Our legal system is completely dysfunctional. We do NOT know the specifics of this man's case history. A Deferred Felony is deferred for a reason, because they CANNOT prove exactly what transpired. Hence a probation status of sorts at which the conclusion of said probation that charge vanishes.

What's the old adage? Let ye who hath  NO sin...cast the first stone!

It's not about casting stones, it's about liability. 

Posted By AcceleratedAdjuster on 03/15/2014 1:31 PM

Posted By CatAdjusterX on 03/15/2014 1:29 AM

The guy has reached out and is being completely forthright with his criminal history. Our legal system is completely dysfunctional. We do NOT know the specifics of this man's case history. A Deferred Felony is deferred for a reason, because they CANNOT prove exactly what transpired. Hence a probation status of sorts at which the conclusion of said probation that charge vanishes.

What's the old adage? Let ye who hath  NO sin...cast the first stone!

It's not about casting stones, it's about liability. 

.............................................................................................

OK fair enough. With that if this happened a few years back, he would be wise to refrain from entering the business until such a time that this DF has been erased upon successful completion of probation