u/14point4kMODEM

Applied for the 9th time to a commercial adjuster position internally. The job was only posted for a few days and had limited area to one city vs all other postings for this same role being open to multiple states. Usually we get emails saying that there is an opening but not for this one.

Somehow I just noticed it checking for openings and applied.

My interview, which is normal an hour long with two managers, was with just the one and only scheduled for 30 minutes.

Not 3 hours after the interview I get notice that I wasn't selected and they picked someone in that specific city.

Normally there's an entire second interview with the next level of management with the final candidates.

I'm already looking for other companies but is this somehow really unusual? Is there any further recourse to ask about the process and how it was fast tracked for a clearly pre selected person?

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If someone knocks on your door and offers to "handle your insurance claim," "work with your adjuster," "negotiate with the insurance company," or promises to get you a bigger settlement in exchange for signing a contract, call in your claim with you on the phone, be careful.

In Virginia, those activities are generally restricted to licensed public adjusters (or attorneys acting within their legal authority). Contractors can inspect damage and provide repair estimates, but they cannot act as your insurance representative unless they are properly licensed.

Virginia law states:

"No person except a public adjuster duly licensed under this article shall..."

• "Accept a commission, fee, or other compensation for investigating or settling claims;"

• "Prepare, complete, or file an insurance claim on behalf of an insured."

Virginia Law

The Virginia State Corporation Commission has also specifically warned contractors that:

"Contractors may not engage in the unauthorized practice of public adjusting by soliciting, negotiating, or effecting the settlement of an insurance claim on behalf of an insured."

In plain English:

A contractor can:

Inspect your roof or siding

Tell you what damage they see

Give you a repair estimate

Explain their repair process

A contractor generally cannot:

Interpret your insurance policy for you

Negotiate claim payments with the insurer on your behalf

Tell the insurance company what should be covered

Act as your representative in settling the claim

Charge a percentage of your insurance recovery for claim-handling services unless properly licensed as a public adjuster

Virginia has continued tightening oversight of public adjusting and claim representation, reinforcing that anyone providing claim-adjusting services must be properly licensed and follow statutory requirements.

Before signing anything:

Ask whether the person is a licensed Virginia public adjuster.

Verify the license through the Virginia SCC.

Read any contingency-fee agreement carefully.

Be cautious of anyone who promises a specific insurance payout or says they'll "deal with the insurance company for you."

A good contractor repairs property. A licensed public adjuster represents policyholders in insurance claim negotiations. Those are not the same thing under Virginia law.

*Not legal advice. Just a reminder for homeowners to understand who is legally allowed to represent them in an insurance claim in Virginia.*