The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) governs agent and adjuster licensing, and company licensing and registration. Its Agent and Adjuster Licensing Office regulates the licensing, registration, and certification of individuals who will sell insurance or adjust property and casualty claims in Texas.
Texas insurance premiums in 2017 topped over $160 billion, making Texas the second-largest insurance market in the nation and the eighth largest in the world. The TDI regulates nearly 500,000 insurance agents, 146,000 adjusters, and more than 2,800 companies.
Each year thousands of complaints are filed against insurance agents and adjusters in Texas. In Fiscal Year 2018, the TDI resolved nearly 20,000 complaints. If a complaint is filed against you with the TDI, your livelihood and career are put in jeopardy. Even if you believe the complaint is meritless, it is critical that you take it seriously from the start. We urge you to contact an experienced Texas insurance license defense lawyer as soon as you are notified of a complaint filed against you.
Enforcement Section of the Texas Department of Insurance
The TDI’s Enforcement Section investigates alleged rule violations or other malfeasance by insurance agents and other entities and takes disciplinary action as necessary. Disciplinary action can include license suspension, revocation, penalties, or other sanctions. Penalties may include restitution to consumers, administrative penalties, cease and desist orders, denial of license applications, license revocations and suspensions, monitored probations, and rate reductions.
In FY 2018, the Enforcement Section assessed $4.7 million in restitution to consumers and another $6.3 million in penalties. The Enforcement Section imposed disciplinary action in 826 cases of the roughly 1,100 total cases the subsection of the TDI resolved. Clearly then, the majority of cases that move forward to the Enforcement Section result in disciplinary action taken against the licensee.
Other types of cases the Enforcement Section handles include: matters related to issuing or renewing a license, issues related to unlicensed entities engaging in insurance business, unfair or deceptive practices, unfair claims settlement practices, and excessive rates. The Enforcement Section is also responsible for analyzing agency data to provide compliance monitoring and, when necessary, refer cases to the TDI Fraud Unit for criminal prosecution.
Hire An Insurance License Defense Attorney
Complicated insurance license defense cases can be difficult. We can help. At BERTOLINO LLP we can work with you to combat allegations of law or rule violations filed against you. We can investigate the complaint, be your advocate, and help you build a strong case designed to succeed. You do not have to face the Texas Department of Insurance alone.
BERTOLINO LLP represents licensed professionals across the entire State of Texas. To best serve our clients we have offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Our honest, experienced attorneys will fight aggressively on behalf of your license and reputation.
Contact us today or call (512) 476-5757 and schedule a case evaluation.
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