Fair for Collier, Inc. is a 501 (c) 4 not-for-profit, grass roots citizens' organization whose purpose is to advocate for fair insurance rates and insurance reform for Collier County. Formed in October of 2006 by a small group of concerned citizens, FAIR has become the leading advocate in Collier County for insurance reform and fair treatment of policy holders. Membership is free. When you join FAIR, you join over 2000 fellow citizens in the fight for reasonable property insurance rates and consumer-friendly treatment of all policy holders. As a not-for-profit organization, we depend on contributions from the general public and concerned businesses for our operating funds.

Our website is easy to navigate and provides a wealth of information. You will find our "Bill  of Rights", legislative links, a brief history of FAIR  and other information pertinent to the insurance crisis besetting Collier County and all of Florida. You will also find our meeting schedule and a form to sign on with FAIR to show your support for our goals. There is a link to contact us, and we invite volunteers to participate in our efforts to keep focus on the critical need for property insurance reform in Collier County. We appreciate your support and enthusiasm for our cause!

F.A.I.R for Collier (Fighting Against Insurance Rates) Still Working For You

Are your property and wind insurance rates going up in 2010?  If you are with Citizens, yes they will be and it could follow through to private insurers as well.

After 15 years of trying to use state regulations, financial and insurance mechanisms to ensure availability and affordability for residential property insurance, the state realizes it hasn’t found the final solution to the issue.  During this year’s general session of the legislature, the Legislators revisited property insurance again.

Let’s just take a quick look at the last few years of change to the property insurance law.

In January 2007 there was a special legislative session just to discuss and create a law to bring down the sky rocketing property insurance rates. Many things were accomplished during that session, most especially was Citizens Property Insurance rates were frozen to 2009 and then later extended to 2010.

In 2008 there was some fine tuning of the previously written bill.  A Task Force was formed to study ways to return Citizens Property Insurance to its original role as a non-competitive residential market mechanism.  Citizens receives 50,000 new applicants each month.  At present there are about 1.1 million policy holders.  Approximately 400,000 policies have been taken out of Citizens by other private companies.  These companies must hold these policies for at least 3 years at rates no greater than Citizens.  Citizens Wind Only policies are not being renewed.  You must reapply for eligibility for a new policy.  If your home is in a wind-borne area and has an insured value of $750,000 or more you must have all openings brought up to the new FL building code.  In 2011 this will be a requirement for all insurance companies.  If Citizens incurs a deficit it may assess each of its policyholders 15% per account; may levy a 6% per account on all other private insured policies.  If more money is needed in an emergency, a 10% assessment may be assessed on all policies.

 

In 2009 –   The legislature (1) repealed the law that if a home is insured with Citizens, as of January 1, 2010, anyone wishing to purchase a home located in the wind-borne area with an insured value of $500,000 or more, must be provided a windstorm mitigation rating prior to the contract for sale and purchase; (2) increased premiums for customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by 10% a year; (3)UNREGULATED PREMIUMS for hurricane and other property insurance.  This means large insurance companies may increase your premiums without approval by the Office of Insurance Regulations (HB 1171); (4) SB 714 repealed the requirement for mandatory property insurance coverage on individual units of condominiums and removed the provision that an association must require owners to provide evidence of hazard & liability insurance.

WHAT IS F.A.I.R DOING NOW?

Recently a letter was faxed to Governor Crist urging him to veto HB 117 which is the bill to have unregulated premiums for large insurance companies.

 

In April, the president of F.A.I.R. was in Tallahassee and spoke to our representatives and senator on insurance issues.

 

Rebuild Program

After hurricane Ivan in 2004 hit the Panhandle area in the NW section of FL, a program called Rebuild of NW FL was established in January 2005. Private citizens, government, private businesses, faith based groups, social services and builders got together to organize Rebuild.  It provides homeowners to fortify their homes against a CAT 3 hurricane.  The idea is to harden homes against hurricanes; not repair after hurricane.  This program would be funded through  state grants (i.e. My Safe Florida Home) and grants from FEMA.  F.A.I.R. is trying to get business leaders, private citizens and local government together to organize.  Once this program is in place and if you are a recipient, you will receive credits through your insurance company and your rates will go down.