Universal Property Insurance Claim Help

Help With a Universal Property Insurance Claim

Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company is the second-largest residential insurer in Florida by policies in force, with 582,637 policies as of July 31, 2026, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Whether your Universal claim was just filed or has been delayed, underpaid or denied, Florida’s claim rules apply.

A public adjuster works only for you, the policyholder, never for the insurance company. Insurance Claim Consultants can step in at any stage of a Universal claim: before you report it, while it is open, after a payment you think is too low, or after a denial.

How to Report or Follow Up on a Universal Claim

• Phone: use the claims number printed on your policy declarations page or insurance ID card.
• Online: log in to your account at universalproperty.com to report a claim and track its progress.

Keep your claim number, the name of each adjuster you speak with, and the date of every call, email and inspection. That record helps if you later need to dispute the outcome.

What Universal Must Do and When

Florida law sets claim-handling deadlines for residential property insurers, including Universal:

• Acknowledge your claim communication within 7 calendar days (Fla. Stat. 627.70131).
• Begin its investigation within 7 days after receiving proof-of-loss statements (Fla. Stat. 627.70131).
• Complete any physical inspection within 30 days of receiving proof of loss. The adjuster must give you their name and license number (Fla. Stat. 627.70131).
• Send you a copy of the detailed estimate within 7 days after it is generated (Fla. Stat. 627.70131).
• Pay or deny the claim within 60 days of notice, with a written explanation. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation can extend this by up to 30 days after an emergency. Late payments carry interest from the date notice was received (Fla. Stat. 627.70131).

You have deadlines too. Notice of an initial or reopened claim must be given within 1 year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months (Fla. Stat. 627.70132).

If Your Universal Claim Is Denied or Underpaid

These options are generally taken in this order:

• Ask for the detailed estimate and the written explanation: you are entitled to a copy of the estimate, and a denial or partial payment should come with a written explanation. Compare the line items to the damage you see.
• Document everything: photos, video, repair bids, receipts and any damage found after the first inspection.
• File a supplemental claim if more damage or cost turns up, within 18 months of the date of loss (Fla. Stat. 627.70132).
• Appraisal: if your policy includes an appraisal provision, a disagreement over the amount of loss can go to appraisal. Learn more about our insurance appraiser services.
• DFS residential property mediation: the Florida Department of Financial Services runs a mediation program that is nonbinding, and the insurer pays the cost. If you settle, you can rescind the settlement within 3 business days. Disputes under $500 are excluded (Fla. Stat. 627.7015). See the DFS mediation page.
• Consumer help: call the DFS consumer helpline at 1-877-693-5236 (1-877-MY-FL-CFO) or request help through DFS online assistance.
• Notice before suit: before filing a lawsuit, a notice of intent to litigate must be filed through DFS at least 10 business days before suit, and only after the insurer has made its coverage decision. The insurer then has 10 business days to respond (Fla. Stat. 627.70152).

How a Public Adjuster Helps

A public adjuster inspects and documents the damage, prepares a detailed estimate, files and supports the claim, tracks the deadlines above, and handles the back and forth with the insurer for you. Having one person keep the file organized, from the first inspection to any supplemental claim, mediation or appraisal, saves you time and keeps the claim moving.

Florida limits public adjuster fees (Fla. Stat. 626.854):

• 10% of claim payments for claims from a declared state of emergency during the first year after the declaration, and 20% otherwise.
• 20% on reopened or supplemental claims, charged only on new money.
• No fee on amounts the insurer paid before you signed the contract.
• No more than 1% if the insurer pays or commits to pay policy limits within 14 days of the loss or 10 days of the contract, whichever is later.
• You can cancel within 10 days of signing. For emergency claims, the window is the later of 30 days after the loss or 10 days after signing.
• A public adjuster must respond to your request for claim status within 14 days.

• No recovery, no fee. If we do not win you more, you owe us $0.
• Free claim review, in person, by phone or on site.
• Available 24/7, including during and right after storms.
• Helping property owners since 1990, with more than 11,000 people helped.

For storm claims, see our Florida hurricane claim guide and our hurricane insurance claim page. We also handle roof damage claims and water damage claims.

Insurance Claim Consultants is an independent public adjusting firm and is not affiliated with Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Information current as of October 2026; always check your own policy.