Dozens of our clients have told us about a strange pattern they noticed: the moment the conversation turns to involving independent adjusters, insurers change their tone. They try in every possible way to discourage the idea, implying that services from adjuster companies are unnecessary, too expensive, and will only slow down the process.
But have you ever wondered why an insurer is so persistent about not wanting you to have your own representation? The answer is simple and unpleasant: an accredited public adjuster protects the interests of the policyholder — and that poses a direct threat to the insurance company’s financial interests.
In this article, we decided to lay all the cards on the table and explain what truly stands behind this criticism.
The Core Conflict — Who Insurance Adjusters Really Work For
To grasp the real problem, just consider who’s responsible for paying their salary.
Insurance adjusters are employees or contractors of the insurance company. Their job description, though disguised with words like “assistance,” essentially boils down to one task: minimizing the company’s expenses. Their assignment is to pay you the lowest amount the contract allows.
In contrast, the public adjuster works for you. We report not to the insurance corporation but to you.
This creates a natural conflict of interest. When an insurance claim adjuster sees an independent expert at your doorstep, they understand that now they’ll have to deal with a professional. The fear of losing control is what fuels the negativity and unpleasant online comments about adjusters on demand.
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The Most Common Negative Things Insurance Adjusters Say About Public Adjusters
Insurance companies have spent years perfecting scripts designed to plant doubt in the client’s mind. You will likely hear these phrases even before you have a chance to say you’re considering hiring an independent claims adjuster.
Here are the most common myths used by insurance adjusters:
- “Home and business public adjusters only slow down the claim process.”
- “They take part of your settlement, and you’ll lose money.”
- “You don’t need them, we’ll take care of you.”
- “Hiring one of the independent public adjusters will only complicate your residential or commercial insurance claim.”
- “It’s better to work directly with us, without intermediaries.”
- “Public adjuster companies often overstate the extent of the damage.”
In some situations, these statements may sound convincing, but they are far from friendly advice. Cutting you off from professional help is a defensive tactic — the insurance expert benefits when you are left alone with a system you don’t understand.
Why Insurers Don’t Want You to Have Representation
The insurance company knows the statistics very well. They understand the difference between a claim handled by an inexperienced homeowner and a claim managed by a licensed claims adjuster.
Without good claim public adjusters, events unfold in a scenario favorable to the insurer. What does that look like? Homeowners make mistakes in early statements, damages are documented superficially, and lowball settlement offers are accepted out of desperation. Most policyholders are unaware of the extra coverages that are actually included in their policy.
But the situation changes dramatically the moment an independent professional adjuster takes the case:
- All damages are documented according to requirements.
- The scope of work expands noticeably, including hidden damages.
- The compensation amount increases significantly.
- The insurer loses the opportunity to manipulate the facts.
Insurance adjusters understand the consequences of hiring advocacy experts: representation means higher expenses for them. That’s why they work so hard to steer you away from hiring a citizens adjuster.
The Economic Reason Behind Insurance Adjusters’ Fear of Public Adjusters
It’s simple math. Insurance companies save millions of dollars every year by using straightforward tactics. Among the most common are:
- underestimating repair costs (a claims estimator often uses incorrect pricing);
- applying excessive depreciation;
- ignoring hidden damages;
- reclassifying the causes of loss;
- denying certain parts of the insurance claim.
Public claim adjusters challenge each of these tactics. When a specialist manages the claim, the final payout is typically 30–70% higher than what a policyholder would secure on their own.
Every dollar an independent public adjuster wins back for you is a dollar the insurance company cannot keep as profit. That’s why they prefer dealing with policyholders who don’t have professional representation.
The “Customer Service Illusion” — Why Adjusters Pretend to Be on Your Side
Do not confuse politeness with professional impartiality. Claims professionals working for insurance companies are trained to be personable. They’ll ask how you’re doing and express concern after storm, wind, fire, or water damage.
This “illusion of care” is part of a strategy. Once you think the adjuster is supposedly on your side, it’s only natural to let your guard down:
- you ask fewer questions;
- you trust the insurer’s estimate more;
- you’re less likely to start to find a public adjuster.
Remember! The friendly tone of an insurance adjuster does not change the facts. Their loyalty is directly paid for by your underpaid compensation.
How Negative Messaging Hurts Policyholders
When policyholders take insurers’ negative comments about independent adjusters at face value, they harm themselves. They delay bringing in professional help, trusting the company’s so-called “honesty.” From there, errors just start piling up:
- deadlines for submitting documents are missed;
- incorrect statements are signed;
- evidence for a home contents inventory is lost.
As a result, homeowners unknowingly agree to reduced coverage. When they later decide to contact an independent insurance claim adjuster, dealing with delays and unfairly low offers becomes much more difficult than if a specialist had been involved from day one.
What Public Adjusters Actually Do (That Insurers Don’t Talk About)
It’s already clear why insurers stay silent about the real scope of work we perform. Now let’s talk in detail about how we as local public adjusters protect your interests (and about the things insurance adjusters naturally prefer not to mention).
- Full independent inspection. We examine the property, focusing on hidden structural damages (such as smoke damage after a fire) that the insurance adjuster was happy to overlook.
- Detailed evaluation. We create documentation based on a total loss inventory and reasonably assess repair costs using actual market prices.
- Fighting for quality. We demand full restoration, rejecting offers to pay for cheap repairs, and ensure that all work complies with building codes (Ordinance & Law).
- Activation of additional coverages. We secure payments under Coverage D (Loss of Use), debris removal, extensions & endorsements, and other policy enhancements.
- Carrying the case to the end. We handle all calls and correspondence with the insurance company and conduct negotiating an accident settlement without a lawyer.
If you want a fair outcome, we are ready to take on your claim. In California, Illinois, and Wisconsin, our adjuster services are available to you. We build a technically sound case that increases your payout and — despite the myths — speeds up the process by eliminating bureaucratic obstacles.
Why You Should Question Any Insurance Adjuster Who Speaks Badly About Public Adjusters
Ask yourself a simple question: why would a professional be afraid of another professional reviewing their work? No ethical and honest specialist feels threatened by transparency.
If a claim adjuster from the insurance company is actively discouraging you from independent representation, ask them, “Why?” They are unlikely to tell you the whole truth, but such a direct question will provoke a genuine and negative reaction. That reaction is the first indicator of fear.
Losing control over insurance claim negotiation and the ability to dictate their own terms is not a pleasant prospect, which is why insurance adjusters fear it.
Final Thoughts — Public Adjusters Level the Playing Field
Insurance delays, disastrously low compensation (often by 30–50%), and claim manipulation flourish when policyholders have no representation. Public loss adjusters exist for one purpose — to level the playing field in a game against massive corporations. This is the main reason insurers don’t even want to see us.
Don’t let the insurance company get a chance to strip you of your right to hire your own expert.
Ready to fight for a full and fair payout? Protect your claim from day one! Call the On-Site Adjusting team at (866) 861-4992 or (866) 933-0404, or fill out our contact form.
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