Radey is an AV-rated firm consisting of lawyers who practice before state agencies and in all state and federal courts.
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) took the opportunity in its recent Insurance Insights newsletter to remind agents of the diligent effort requirement in the Surplus Lines Law. DFS points out that one of the stated purposes of the Surplus Lines Law is to protect authorized insurers from unwarranted competition by unauthorized insurers who are […]
In its Insurance Insights newsletter, the Florida Department of Financial Services has summarized its access to licensees’ records as its compliance topic of the month. DFS notes that its right to conduct investigations and attain access to the accounts, records, documents, and transactions pertaining to or affecting the insurance affairs of any licensee is addressed […]
From time to time, questions arise as to whether an agent may impose credit card fees on customer transactions. The insurance code treats this issue differently for agents than for insurers. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently summarized the ability of agents to charge credit card fees as follows: If a credit card company […]
For a variety of reasons, an agent operating an insurance agency might find it necessary to close the agency’s operations. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently identified three key steps that agents might overlook when closing an agency in Florida. Surrender the agency license. First, DFS points out that the agent will need to […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently advised in its Insurance Insights publication that it has seen an increase in the number of potentially misleading agency names following the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. Under Florida law, an agency cannot have a name that would be potentially misleading or deceptive. For example, agency […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services has issued guidance to agents regarding unlawful or unauthorized charges. The department advises that it has received an increasing number of inquiries from Florida agents asking if they can charge fees for services ancillary to placing insurance, such as issuing certificates of coverage. The department responds that charging these types […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) in its Insurance Insights publication has reminded life and health agents using “virtual offices” to list their home addresses as their business addresses on file with DFS if their records are kept at home. DFS notes that many agents do not lease permanent locations but instead rent conference […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services has proposed changes to rule 69B-231.020, which establishes the scope of licensees subject to the penalty provisions of rule chapter 69B-231. The rule currently specifies that the chapter applies to insurance agents, customer representatives, adjusters, navigators and service representatives licensed under Chapter 626 of the Florida Insurance Code. The […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services recently published a reminder relating to potential dealings with agents and other licensees whose licenses have been suspended or revoked. DFS points to a provision of the Florida Insurance Code providing that it is unlawful for a former licensee, during his or her period of suspension or revocation of a […]
The Florida Department of Financial Services recently highlighted the need for agents to updated their addresses in its Insurance Insights publication. In particular, DFS noted that many life and health agents work from home but lease the opportunity to use conference rooms for meeting with clients outside of their homes. In these cases, the agents […]
