Proud Member of the
American Policyholder Association
Dependable Claims Specialists (DCS PIA) is a Professional Member of the APA, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit watchdog organization dedicated to protecting consumers from unfair insurance company practices.
What is the American Policyholder Association?
The American Policyholder Association (APA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) watchdog organization that promotes integrity, honesty, and best practices in the property loss adjustment sector of the insurance industry. The APA was founded to give policyholders a voice and ensure that the insurance industry operates fairly and transparently.
The APA promotes best practices with licensing agencies and governing bodies, monitors and reports on insurance fraud committed against property owners, and advocates broadly for policyholder benefits and solutions in insurance coverage, the claims process, and the repair and rebuilding process for policyholders in every state.
Importantly, the APA does not accept funding from insurance companies. Their work is funded entirely by their members and donations from individuals and businesses who believe in protecting policyholder rights.
How the APA Protects Policyholders
Consumer Protection
The APA stands against insurer tactics of delaying, lowballing, or denying valid claims. They work to ensure every policyholder receives full and fair payment of the coverage they pay for.
Regulatory Advocacy
The APA collaborates with elected officials, law enforcement, and government agencies to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies.
Fraud Investigation
The APA accepts and investigates reports of insurance fraud against policyholders, working to hold bad actors accountable and protect property owners.
Coalition Building
The APA unites consumer advocates, public adjusters, attorneys, and builders to create a stronger voice for policyholders across the country.
The APA Mission
“What is best for the policyholder” directs all decisions. The APA seeks to ensure Americans receive security, peace of mind, and confidence in fair claims handling and dispute resolution.
The APA recognizes that for most Americans, their most significant investment is their property. Policyholders deserve the security and confidence that was promised when they paid their premiums. The APA serves as a fiduciary of the property owner, working to ensure that insurance companies honor the policies they sell.
Why DCS is a Professional Member
At Dependable Claims Specialists, we believe that every policyholder deserves honest, fair treatment from their insurance company. Our membership in the American Policyholder Association reflects our commitment to the highest standards of professional integrity and our dedication to policyholder advocacy.
Where the APA Fits: Advocacy, Not Regulation
It helps to understand what the APA is and what it is not. The APA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit consumer-advocacy and watchdog organization. It does not issue licenses, it does not regulate insurers, and it does not decide your claim. That work belongs to government agencies. The APA operates in a different lane: educating policyholders, advocating for stronger consumer protections, and investigating and reporting insurance fraud committed against property owners. The three roles are complementary, not interchangeable.
State regulators
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) / Office of Insurance Regulation license adjusters and insurers, enforce the insurance code, and accept consumer complaints. They are government bodies. TDI governs public adjusters under Insurance Code Chapter 4102; DFS under Statute 626.854.
Licensed professionals
Public adjusters represent policyholders in valuation, documentation, and negotiation. Attorneys handle legal rights, bad-faith claims, and litigation. Each is bound by their own licensing rules. DCS is a licensed public adjusting firm and coordinates with attorneys when a matter turns on legal questions.
The APA (advocacy)
A nonprofit watchdog that takes no insurance-company funding, promotes best practices, advocates for consumer-protection reforms, and reports fraud against policyholders. It strengthens the system from the outside; it does not replace the regulator or your professional representative.
Why a Policyholder-Side Firm Aligns With the APA
In a property claim, the policyholder and the insurer sit on opposite sides of the same dollar. The insurer has experienced staff adjusters, defense counsel, and an economic incentive to pay no more than the policy requires. For most policyholders, a major loss is a once-in-a-lifetime event against an operation that handles thousands of claims a year. That imbalance is exactly what consumer-advocacy organizations exist to address.
DCS is a public adjusting firm that, by license and by written contract, represents the insured and never the carrier. The APA takes no insurance-company funding and advocates for what is best for the policyholder. The interests line up by design. Aligning with the APA is not a marketing badge; it reflects the same duty DCS already owes every client under Texas and Florida law.
Shared standard of conduct
The APA promotes integrity and best practices in property loss adjustment. DCS works exclusively for policyholders, discloses fee and scope in writing before any work begins, and complies with the statutory fee caps in Texas Insurance Code §4102.104 and Florida Statute §626.854(11).
A check against bad actors
The APA investigates and reports fraud committed against policyholders. A firm that supports that mission is publicly accepting accountability, not avoiding it. If you suspect misconduct on your claim, you have both a professional in your corner and an independent channel to report it.
Advocacy for better rules
The APA advocates for stronger consumer-protection rules. Reforms such as Florida prompt-pay requirements, matching/uniform-appearance protections (Fla. Stat. §626.9744), and the AOB changes in HB 7065 (2019) and SB 2-A (2022) directly shape how policyholders pursue claims.
A coalition, not a silo
The APA unites consumer advocates, public adjusters, attorneys, and builders into a stronger collective voice. DCS works the same way: each professional does what they are licensed to do, and complex matters are handled in coordination rather than in isolation.
Reform, AOB, and Why Consumer Advocacy Matters
Property insurance law is not static. In Florida in particular, the rules have shifted significantly in recent years, and policyholders feel the effects directly. An Assignment of Benefits (AOB) is an agreement in which a policyholder transfers some or all of a policy's claim rights to a third party, often a contractor who then deals with the insurer directly. Perceived AOB abuse helped drive major Florida reforms, including HB 7065 in 2019 (which added requirements and limitations around AOB agreements) and the broad property-insurance changes in SB 2-A in 2022.
These reforms changed deadlines, fee-shifting, and the mechanics of how claims and repairs are paid. Whatever one thinks of any particular reform, the point for a policyholder is simple: the landscape changes, and an organization watching it on the consumer's behalf is valuable. The APA monitors these developments and advocates for rules that protect property owners.
For clarity on how DCS works within this landscape: DCS does not take an assignment of your benefits. As your public adjuster, DCS represents you directly under a written contract that complies with state law. You keep your policy rights; we put our expertise to work documenting, valuing, and negotiating the claim on your behalf. And because legal advice, bad-faith claims, and litigation are attorney work, we coordinate with a licensed attorney whenever a matter turns on legal questions rather than the amount of loss.
Learn More About the APA
Visit the American Policyholder Association to learn about their work, access resources, or report insurance fraud.
What APA Professional Membership Means for You as a Policyholder
The American Policyholder Association is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that promotes integrity and best practices in property loss adjustment. As a Professional Member, DCS supports the APA's mission of consumer protection and policyholder advocacy. Our practices that align with APA's mission and with our Texas and Florida licensing obligations include:
- No carrier compensation. Public adjusters represent the insured, not the carrier. Our fee is paid from the policyholder's recovery under a written contract that complies with Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 and Florida Statute §626.854.
- Written disclosures. Fee, scope, and termination terms are set out in the written service agreement before any work begins, as required by both states.
- Statutory fee caps. Our fees comply with the caps in Tex. Ins. Code §4102.104 (Texas catastrophes) and Fla. Stat. §626.854(11) (Florida).
- License standing. Active Texas Public Insurance Adjuster license #2237777 (Joshua Osteen, individual) and Florida Public Adjuster license #W045717 (Joshua Osteen, individual); Texas Firm License #3134924 and Florida Firm License #W820363. All verifiable through TDI and DFS lookup tools.
- Public-interest engagement. The APA advocates for stronger consumer-protection rules and reports insurance fraud committed against policyholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the APA a government agency?
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What does it mean that DCS is a Professional Member of the APA?
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Does APA membership cost extra for clients?
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Is APA membership the same as being licensed?
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How can I verify DCS's APA membership?
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Does the APA handle individual claim disputes?
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Why does a policyholder-side firm like DCS align with the APA?
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What is Assignment of Benefits (AOB), and why does the APA care about it?
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How do I report insurance fraud against a policyholder?
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Does the APA give legal advice or represent me in court?
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Need Help With an Insurance Claim?
As APA Professional Members, we hold ourselves to the highest standards. Schedule a free consultation and let us advocate for you.
