American Integrity Insurance Expedites Claim Handling in Wake of Hurricane Matthew

Offers Post-Storm Tips for Homeowners

TAMPA, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Integrity Insurance Company is mobilizing its disaster recovery
team to help impacted customers get their homes – and lives – back to
normal in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The Tampa-based home
insurance company has activated its disaster recovery team and is
deploying its mobile catastrophe unit to Titusville to assist its
policyholders impacted by the storm. The Hurricane Matthew Response Team
and mobile catastrophe unit will be stationed at the Searstown Mall,
located at 3550 South Washington Avenue in Titusville, from 10:30 am –
5:30 pm on Thursday October 13 and Friday October 14.

“Our thoughts are with all residents on Florida’s east coast who
experienced the brunt of the damage from Hurricane Matthew,” said Robert
Ritchie, American Integrity Insurance President and CEO. “We stand ready
to serve our policyholders who were affected by the storm and help them
get back on the road to recovery.”

Customers can also call 844-My-AIIC-1 or file a claim online at
IntegrityStormResponse.com as quickly as possible to expedite the
recovery process and help them avoid scams.

Beware of AOB – the storm after the storm

“After a storm, some unscrupulous contractors could try to take
advantage of hard working Floridians who are simply trying to restore
their homes,” says Teresa Heller, Senior Vice President of Claims at
American Integrity Insurance. “It’s a good idea for consumers to avoid
contractors who knock on their door soliciting their business. We can’t
emphasize how critically important it is for homeowners to work directly
with their insurance company throughout the claims process to help them
steer clear of scams.”

All consumers should refrain from signing paperwork they don’t
understand, especially any that include an Assignment of Benefits (AOB)
clause. Such contracts include words to the effect of, “I transfer and
assign any and all insurance rights, benefits and causes of action under
my property insurance policy to the contractor.”

When consumers sign an Assignment of Benefits contract, they may give up
their rights to their claim, including financial reimbursements and
legal control. This allows contractors to bill the insurance company
directly – and pocket the money without doing the repairs or charge
inflated costs for their work, leaving the policyholder to pay the
excess charges. In worst case scenarios, contractors could place a lien
on a customer’s home for unpaid services – and contractor’s liens in
Florida are enforceable by foreclosure.

Post-storm recovery tips

American Integrity recommends following these steps if you’ve
experienced damage to your home:

• Stay safe. If you need to vacate your home because it is unlivable,
  keep all of your receipts for temporary lodging and other expenses.
• File your claim right away.
• If you do not have a home inventory list, create a list of the damaged
  items and include as much information as possible, such as model and
  manufacturers’ numbers, receipts and photographs.
• Take photographs of the damage.
• Protect your property by making temporary, not permanent, repairs to
  prevent further damage.
• Read all paperwork carefully and ask for recommendations and
  credentials when selecting a contractor. American Integrity Insurance
  partners with Nexxus Solutions Group, a network of licensed and
  credentialed contractors who warranty their work for three years, for
  their customers’ post-loss home repairs. Nexxus Solutions Group can be
  reached at 1-855-963-9987.

It’s important to note that after a storm, American Integrity responds
to claims based on severity. After helping customers who have been
displaced from their homes, adjusters will reach out to policyholders
based on the level of damage sustained by their home.

“While we’re striving to get the claims process started for all of our
customers as quickly as possible, we’ve got to help those whose homes
are uninhabitable first – providing them with shelter, food and
clothing,” Heller says.

For more information about American Integrity Insurance, visit www.aiicfl.com
or call 866-968-8390. To file a tropical storm or hurricane-related
claim, please call 844-MY-AIIC-1 or go to https://aiicfl.com/manage-claims/report-a-claim.

About American Integrity Insurance Group (American Integrity)

American Integrity Insurance, one of the largest writers of Florida
homeowners insurance, has in excess of 225,000 customers and is
represented by more than 800 independent agents. The Tampa-based company
offers sound and comprehensive property insurance solutions, including
traditional home insurance and coverage for vacant homes, condominiums,
manufactured homes, umbrella and dwelling fire policies. For more
information, please visit the company’s website at www.aiicfl.com,
call 866-968-8390, or connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter,
Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Instagram.

Contacts

American Integrity Insurance Company
Toni Logan, 813-512-6672
tlogan@aiicfl.com