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Tom, I'm glad you posted that here. We got additional info this evening that the cost is about 60.00 to e-appoint and you pay that online also using the e-appoint link.

We are very appreciative of Dr Birzon of the Univ of FL's Insurance Education department who provided links and answers to many questions about CE's for non residents, Appointments, and continues to provide us support on licensing issues along with his departments new online adjusters licensing program that waives the FL state test.

We have had a few members of our site activated for the FL tornado's that are being required to verify they've done their e-appoint(self appointing) before the IA firm would deploy  them.

I just had an experienced adjuster lose their license at the 48 month period for not getting her appointment or proof of self appointing. It cost her a great assignment we had for her working daily claims. She did not know the license had lapsed until the adjusting firm who took the precaution to check all deploying adjusters license on line to verify they are still active found out . This is due to the new 1/25/07 Fl DFS announcement that they have discontinued the 90 day warning notices that CE's or appointments are due. She is having to retake the exam now in order to work.

Here is the link to the 1/25/07 order:

http://www.fldfs.com/Agents/Memos/D...-25-07.pdf

Be sure to read the MY PROFILE info on this link to self schedule your own alerts on your CE credits and appointments if needed.

I went out and checked as you suggested to see about the appointment. It appears that Pilot Cat has been proactive and appointed me. My home license is Texas and all CE requirements have been meet. So as I understand it I don't need to meet the CE requirements for Florida, correct? And even though Pilot has appointed me, should I self-appoint also, in the event I don't go out with them? Thanks for any input.

WSJT

Sorry, I don't have an answer to that and need to have the answer. I think CL appointed me, but it is somewhat confusing, so I am not sure. I have gone online and checked my status and I am okay, but not sure about the appointment status.

wstj:

I'd contact the FL DFS directly and get specifics as we are getting new information from Dr Birzon in our ongoing discussion on ClaimSmentor regarding the appointments. According to a recent post over the weekend, he advises that the appointments have to be changed from self appointing to the adjusting firm you are working with and back again to self appointing when you are done with an assignment. We've asked lots of questions about this we are awaiting answers to since his post.
I know many of us plan to call DFS- it's too important not to get these issues cleared up as it seems everyone is handling the appointments with IA firms differently (some firms are appointing and others telling adjusters to self appoint before they will deploy them and some silent on this issue).

Just some of the pending questions we do have are:
1) What if an independent is working for multiple firms as they
are not under an exclusive agency assignment?
2) Is there a fee (now about 60.00 for the first time you appoint) each time you change the appointment?
3) Does anyone know if the vendors who are appointing are paying the appointment fee?
4)If a vendor has appointed you, are they sending in the forms shown on the DFS e-appoint site saying you are no longer working there as the forms require?The system allows an appointing firm to review and update the appointments they make right on the system.

I think there is alot of confusion about the use of the appointment as shown on the new e-appoint site and forms.

Going directly to DFS is probably the safest way to assure each person's information.

The woman I mentioned who had lost her adjuster's license over the appointment issue says she specifically recalls doing her self appointment but she had only the documents where she'd sent the appointment docs in but didn't have a cc of a letter or form online from them acknowledging they had it so they would not give her the benefit of the doubt from the info she gave me. What a nightmare for her as she was in the middle of handling daily assignments when the problem was discovered.

I think I'd set up an alert to yourself on the DFS My profile system to check your e-appoint status at regular intervals to be sure their system shows you with an e-appoint and with the up to date information to avoid these problems.

I have an email into them and am waiting on a response. I'll have to go back to the website to see about the alert. If you get any further info on this appointing mess let me know. Thank

I just got off the phone with an appointment clerk. This is what she told me:

Staff adjusters must be appointed by a carrier. They do NOT have the choice to be self appointed.(620 license)

The only licensed people allowed to self appoint are Independent adjusters and Public adjusters.(Indp is 520 license)

Appointments for ALL folks are due within 48 months of getting your license. The cost right now is approximately 60.00. Once you have either self appointed or gotten an appointment from an Independent adjusting firm, you have to RENEW the appointment within 24 months and every 24 months thereafter. It's a bit confusing to e-appoint. First you have to go through the whole cycle of filling out the online forms to make yourself an appointing entity. You get 2 different emails with codes and an appointing entity number. After you activate the links in the emails showing you are now an appointing entity- you STILL have to go back in and appoint yourself under your appointing entity #( it's like doing it twice!) before you are actually self appointed under yourself as the appointing entity and get the screen up to make payment.

I specifically asked what the purpose was in self appointing- i.e..what does that tell the state,etc..She couldn't say what the purpose was but said she could only say that if you are not appointed(by adjusting firm or self appointed) as an Independent adjuster that your license would be cancelled(within the 48 months)
There are also fines for delays in appointments and renewals found in #10 of this link to FAQ on the DFS website e-appoint frequently asked questions:

http://www.fldfs.com/Agents/eappoint_faqs.htm

Also, I specifically asked if the appointment had to be updated each time as an independent that you switch firms. She could only say that "the system shows either your appointed or not" but doesn't say which it has to be. She said technically the appointments should be kept up to date and to see the FAQ about failures to appoint within 45 days.

Note again#10 in FAQ. It says the fines have to be paid by the appointing firm NOT the licensee.

I hope more folks post here as to what the adjusting firms are telling them. Are they wanting you to self appoint or are they appointing you? This is applicable to permanent and non resident Independent licenses(not the FL emergency cat adjuster license).

Another interesting comment regarding CE's:

She said the CE's are not required for your first 2 years then the 24 month deadline begins from the 2 year period so you actually have 48 months total from the initial date of licensure to get your first 24 hour CE's.

Anyway- call DFS directly if you have questions on your license and they can answer your specific situation.

To follow up on Deborah's question to the FL Insurance Dept. (since they couldn't answer the question), does anyone know the purpose for getting an appointment?  I self-appointed months ago but, other than additional revenue obtained, I am not sure of the reason for an appointment.  .

Here is the response I received from FDFS.

I am responding to your email on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer, Alex Sink. A review of our records indicate you currently obtain a state appointment with Pilot Catastrophe Svc Inc/Miami effective 7/5/06 for a nonresident property and casualty independent adjuster. However, you must be appointed in each county you will transact business in. You can only hold one active appointment for the 75-44.



If we may be of further assistance, please contact us at 850-413-3137.



Sincerely,



Bernadette Pettis

Government Analyst I

Agent/Agency Licensing

Department of Financial Services

Now, what the heck does each county you work in mean. This is getting more confusing the more we ask questions. It is showing me as appointed by CL. Do I need to self appoint. I am under the impression that Florida is really not sure what they are doing.

Thats my take. If you have to have an appointment for each county at $60 a pop, well sounds like their making money hand over fist. I'm very confused. I talked to a guy at another IA and he said they take care of it. But what if one doesn't? I guess it's up to the adjuster to keep up with who, what and where you have an appointment.

It may be like the ice cream store. A single or a double dip. If you self appoint you can double dip, but let your vendor pay the fee if you want to be exclusive!

I agree with Tom that the only way to be sure you will not run into issues with the DFS is to self appoint. The only exceptions would be staff (who can't self-appoint) or those who maintain a long term relationship with one vendor and know that vendor is doing the appointing and renewals. I have never heard anything or read anything on the DFS website about "County Appointments."  Perhaps that is for agents??

I wanted to make a little clarification about Deb's statement that CE's are not due for the first 24 months you have a FL license. This depends on your birth month.  Your 24 months start with the next birthday you have after you are licensed.  Nelson & I were first licensed in FL 10/05.  Because of our birthdays, my CE's are due 12/07 (December birth month) and Nelson's are due 4/08 (April birth month.)

Luckily, it is very easy go to "My Profile" on the DFS website to see your CE cutoff date for CE's and check your appointments.

Kim

 

I agree this is getting stranger by the moment(the appointment by County?????). I'm going to forward that info to Dr Birzon(without the adjusters name) and see if he can get us a clarification since he speaks directly with DFS and can get us a definitive answer. As to the birthdays, interesting since the DFS person I spoke with gave me a date other than my birthday month that my CE's were due. It seems we are each getting different answers depending on who we are speaking with. What happened to the simplier days when my carrier took care of license renewals and CE reporting..lol....

Wstj: what is a 75-44 mentioned in that letter? Maybe that has to do with the county appointment? A staff adjuster has a 620 license and an independent has a 520- I am not familiar with what a 75-44 is?

I have no idea what the 75-44 is referring to. I just want to know if this is something I need to take care of or its up to the IA's. From reading the posts from everyone it sure does look like you get a different answer depending on who you talk to. I'll be interested to see what Dr. Birzon finds out. Thanks.

I believe the "7" is for non-residents. The 5-20 is all lines; the 5-44 is for just property & casualty.

I may be wrong but; I have worked in many states as a emergency/temp. adjuster. The permit was not any problem. I have worked in NY and never had a NY License. It seems like a big waste of time and money unless it keeps you from working. I have a Texas Resident License. Can any one tell me for sure and send a copy of the law and tell me which state I can not work as a catastrophe adjuster with a Texas Resident License only ?

Here's FL's emergency adjuster rule requiring reporting within 7 days online and even more information on appointments and responsibilities of the appointing entities also referring to new forms revised 7/2006:

http://www.fldfs.com/Agents/Rules/Chapter%2069B-220%20Adjusters.pdf

Trader, also be sure to read provision 6 d. on page 2..it states that the emergency license is only valid to work Emergency losses as a result of the storm and not valid to work other losses.