§ 58-33A-80.  Standards of conduct of public adjusters.

(a) A public adjuster shall, under his or her license, serve with objectivity and complete loyalty the interest of his or her client alone and render to the insured such information, counsel, and service, as within the knowledge, understanding, and opinion in good faith of the licensee, as will best serve the insured's insurance claim needs and interest.

(b) A public adjuster shall not solicit, or attempt to solicit, an insured during the progress of a loss-producing occurrence, as defined in the insured's insurance contract.

(c) A public adjuster shall not permit an unlicensed employee or representative of the public adjuster to conduct business for which a license is required under this Article.

(d) A public adjuster shall not have a direct or indirect financial interest in any aspect of the claim, other than the salary, fee, commission, or other consideration established in the written contract with the insured, unless full written disclosure has been made to the insured as set forth in G.S. 58-33A-65.

(e) A public adjuster shall not acquire any interest in salvage of property subject to the contract with the insured unless the public adjuster obtains written permission from the insured after settlement of the claim with the insurer as set forth in G.S. 58-33A-65.

(f) The public adjuster shall abstain from referring or directing the insured to get needed repairs or services in connection with a loss from any person described by any of the following criteria, unless disclosed to the insured:

(1) The public adjuster has a financial interest in the person.

(2) The public adjuster may receive direct or indirect compensation for the referral from the person.

(g) The public adjuster shall disclose to an insured if the public adjuster has any interest or will be compensated by any construction firm, salvage firm, building appraisal firm, motor vehicle repair shop, or any other firm that performs any work in conjunction with damages caused by the insured loss. The word "firm" includes any corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, or person.

(h) Any compensation or anything of value in connection with an insured's specific loss that will be received by a public adjuster shall be disclosed by the public adjuster to the insured in writing, including the source and amount of any such compensation.

(i) Public adjusters shall adhere to all of the following general ethical requirements:

(1) A public adjuster shall not undertake the adjustment of any claim if the public adjuster is not competent and knowledgeable as to the terms and conditions of the insurance coverage, or which otherwise exceeds the public adjuster's current expertise.

(2) A public adjuster shall not knowingly make any oral or written material misrepresentations or statements that are false or maliciously critical and intended to injure any person engaged in the business of insurance to any insured client or potential insured client.

(3) No public adjuster, while so licensed by the Department, may represent or act as a company adjuster or independent adjuster on the same claim.

(4) The contract shall not be construed to prevent an insured from pursuing any civil remedy after the three-business-day revocation or cancellation period.

(5) A public adjuster shall not enter into a contract or accept a power of attorney that vests in the public adjuster the effective authority to choose the persons who shall perform repair work.

(6) A public adjuster shall ensure that all contracts for the public adjuster's services are in writing and set forth all terms and conditions of the engagement.

(j) A public adjuster may not agree to any loss settlement without the insured's knowledge and consent.

(k) Public adjusters shall not solicit a client for employment between the hours of 9:00 P.M. and 9:00 A.M. (2009-565, s. 1.)