What Is Dependable Claims Specialists?
DCS is a Texas-based licensed public adjusting firm serving policyholders in Texas (home base) and Florida. This page explains what a public adjuster does, how the role differs from a loss consultant, an appraiser, and an umpire, and how DCS represents policyholder interests through every stage of a property insurance claim.
What Is a Public Adjuster?
A public adjuster (PA) is a state-licensed insurance professional who works exclusively for policyholders, never for insurance companies. PAs inspect damage, document the loss, prepare detailed estimates, review policies, and negotiate with the carrier on the policyholder behalf.
Licensed and Regulated
Public adjusters in Texas are licensed and regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102. Public adjusters in Florida are licensed and regulated by the Florida Department of Financial Services under Florida Statute §626.854.
Policyholder Side Only
A public adjuster cannot represent both the carrier and the policyholder on the same claim. We work for you.
Read and Apply the Policy
A PA reads and applies the policy in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). PAs are not attorneys and do not give legal advice. For legal questions, consult a licensed attorney.
Why Policyholders Need Their Own Expert
Who DCS Is, Specifically
DCS stands for Dependable Claims Specialists. It is a licensed public adjusting firm whose entire job is to represent the policyholder on a first-party property insurance claim, from the first inspection through the final settlement. DCS does not work for insurance companies and never represents the carrier on the same loss it handles for you. The firm is built around one idea: a policyholder facing a property loss should have an expert on their own side of the table who knows exactly how the carrier values a claim.
A Licensed Firm in Two States
Dependable Claims Specialists LLC holds a Texas Department of Insurance firm license (#3134924) and a Florida Department of Financial Services firm license (#W820363). Texas is the home base; Florida is served under the parallel Florida license. Any policyholder can confirm both licenses through the state insurance department online lookups.
Built by a Former Carrier Adjuster
The firm’s founder worked as a carrier field adjuster and team lead from 2010 to 2017. That inside experience is the difference: DCS knows how a carrier estimate is scoped, written, and reviewed, and where it tends to under-scope a loss.
The Carrier’s Own Estimating Language
Formerly Xactimate Level 2 certified; DCS continues to prepare estimates in Xactimate, the same platform carriers use - the same line-item platform most contractors use as well. That means the conversation with the carrier happens line by line in a shared format, not in vague disagreements over a lump sum.
Public Adjuster, Not a Law Firm
DCS handles valuation, documentation, and negotiation. Legal advice, lawsuits, pre-suit notices, and bad-faith claims are attorney work. When a claim needs counsel, DCS coordinates with the policyholder’s attorney and keeps handling the claim’s valuation side.
Reach DCS directly. Call 833-4UR-LOSS (1-833-487-5677) or email intake@dcspia.com for a free claim review. There is no upfront cost for public adjusting representation, and the contingency fee is paid only from a recovery and is capped by state statute.
Three Types of Adjusters - and Who Each One Works For
Most policyholders assume the adjuster who shows up after a loss is a neutral referee. They are not. There are three distinct adjuster roles in a property claim, and two of the three are paid by the insurance company. Understanding who works for whom is the foundation of understanding why having your own public adjuster matters.
Staff (Company) Adjuster
A salaried employee of the insurance carrier. Investigates and values the claim under the company’s internal claims guidelines and authority limits.
Works for: the insurance company
Independent Adjuster
A contractor the carrier hires per file, often surged in after a hurricane or hailstorm when staff adjusters are overwhelmed. Still works under the carrier’s guidelines and is paid by the carrier.
Works for: the insurance company
Public Adjuster (DCS)
A state-licensed adjuster the policyholder hires. Inspects, documents, estimates, and negotiates the claim for the policyholder’s side, paid on contingency only from a recovery.
Works for: you (the policyholder)
The same person cannot represent both the carrier and the policyholder on the same loss in Texas or Florida. Below, the full six-role breakdown adds the neutral appraisal-panel roles (party-appointed appraiser and umpire) and the advisory loss-consultant role.
Six Roles. Different Sides. Different Fee Structures.
Most policyholders never learn that there are six distinct roles in property insurance claim handling, and they do not all work for the same side. Knowing which is which is the foundation of understanding what your options are when a loss happens.
Staff Adjuster
An employee of the insurance carrier. Salaried by the carrier. Investigates and values claims under the carrier internal guidelines. Cannot represent policyholders.
Works for: Insurance company
Fee: Salary (carrier employee)
Independent Adjuster (IA)
A contractor hired by the insurance carrier, often during catastrophe deployments. Paid per file by the carrier. Works under the carrier guidelines. Cannot represent policyholders on the same loss.
Works for: Insurance company
Fee: Per-file (paid by carrier)
Public Adjuster (PA)
A state-licensed adjuster hired by the policyholder. Inspects damage, documents the loss, prepares the claim, and negotiates with the carrier on the policyholder behalf.
Works for: You (the policyholder)
Fee: Contingency, capped by statute (10% in TX under Ch. 4102; up to 20% in FL under §626.854, 10% during a declared emergency for the first year)
Loss Consultant
Advisory engagement. Provides policy review, coverage analysis, settlement-offer review, expert testimony, or attorney-litigation support without taking on the formal PA representation. Does not negotiate the claim with the carrier as agent of the policyholder.
Works for: You or your attorney
Fee: Flat fee or time-and-expense (not contingency)
Party-Appointed Appraiser
Named under the appraisal clause by one party. Required to be "competent and disinterested" or "competent and impartial" under the policy. Inspects, scopes, prices, and reaches a defensible loss-amount opinion. Not an advocate. Does not address coverage.
Works for: Neutral fact-finder
Fee: Flat-minimum-plus-time-and-expense. Never contingency. PA fee caps do NOT apply.
Umpire
Neutral tiebreaker selected jointly by the two party-appointed appraisers (or appointed by a court if they cannot agree). Reviews both estimates and the supporting record, may inspect, and issues a written award. Any 2 of 3 must agree for the award to bind.
Works for: Neutral third party
Fee: Flat-minimum-plus-time-and-expense, split 50/50 by the parties on standard policies. Never contingency.
Key distinctions that matter most
- Public adjusting and appraiser engagements are different roles with different fee rules. The PA fee caps under TX Ins. Code Ch. 4102 and FL Stat. §626.854 govern public adjusting work. They do not apply to appraiser or umpire engagements, which are time-and-expense based.
- Public adjusters are not attorneys. PAs read and apply policy language in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). They do not provide legal advice, draft demand letters in the legal sense, file Texas Ch. 542A pre-suit notices, or pursue litigation. Those are attorney work.
- Appraisers and umpires do not decide coverage. The appraisal process is strictly limited to the dollar amount of the loss. Coverage questions belong to the carrier, the courts, or a licensed attorney.
Why DCS
Texas-based public adjusting firm serving Texas (home base) and Florida. Carrier-side adjusting experience, decades of construction background, and estimates prepared in Xactimate - formerly Xactimate Level 2 certified, and DCS continues to estimate in Xactimate, the same platform carriers use.
Texas-Licensed Firm
Texas Department of Insurance Firm License #3134924. Florida Department of Financial Services Firm License #W820363.
Contingency Fee Structure
Public adjusting work is contingency-based and capped by statute (10% in TX under Ch. 4102; up to 20% in FL under §626.854, 10% during the first year of a declared emergency).
Both Sides of the Table
DCS personnel include former carrier field adjusters and team leads from 2010 to 2017. We know how the carrier estimate gets built and where it tends to under-scope.
Residential and Commercial
DCS handles property claims for Texas and Florida policyholders, from straightforward residential water losses to complex commercial catastrophe claims.
What We Do for You
DCS handles every aspect of a property insurance claim from policy review through final settlement.
Policy Review
Complete read of the declarations page and the full policy form, identifying every applicable coverage, endorsement, and condition that affects the claim.
On-Site Damage Inspection
Professional on-site inspection with detailed damage assessment, photographs, measurements, and written documentation.
Xactimate Estimating
Xactimate estimates using the same software the carrier uses, with line-item documentation that holds up to scrutiny. Formerly Xactimate Level 2 certified; DCS continues to prepare estimates in Xactimate, the same platform carriers use.
Claim Preparation and Submission
Sworn proof of loss, damage inventory, supporting evidence, and all required submissions handled professionally and on time.
Negotiation
Direct negotiation with the carrier adjuster on the policyholder behalf, with the documentation and policy expertise to support every line item.
Supplemental Claims
Supplemental claim handling for damage discovered after initial settlement, within applicable deadlines and policy conditions.
Appraisal Clause Strategy
When the dispute is about the amount of loss (not coverage), DCS reviews the appraisal clause and advises on whether and how to invoke it.
Claim Management Through Settlement
Complete handling of all paperwork, deadlines, and carrier communications. The policyholder always knows where the claim stands.
Attorney Coordination
For coverage disputes, statutory remedies, or pre-suit notices, DCS coordinates with policyholder counsel. Public adjusters do not provide legal advice.
How DCS Handles a Claim, Step by Step
Every claim is different, but the path DCS follows is consistent. How long a claim takes is largely controlled by the insurer, which holds the funds. DCS works toward a resolution within roughly 120 days; where a claim is not resolving in that window, we consider alternative dispute resolution such as the policy's appraisal clause.
Free Policy & Claim Review
DCS reviews your declarations page, the full policy form, the damage, and any communications you have already had with the carrier. This consultation is free and decides whether DCS can add value to your specific claim.
Scheduled promptly after your call
Written Public Adjuster Contract
If you hire DCS, both sides sign a written contract that complies with state law. It states the scope of services, the capped contingency fee, and your statutory right to cancel. The TDI-approved contract form carries a 72-hour right to rescind after signing (Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102).
At engagement
Thorough Inspection & Documentation
DCS inspects the loss in detail - photos, measurements, and, where appropriate, moisture meters, thermal imaging, and drone imagery for roofs. Every damaged item is logged so nothing is missed at the front end, where it is hardest to fix later.
Promptly after engagement
Xactimate Estimate Preparation
DCS builds a line-item estimate in Xactimate - the same software most carriers use - so the demand is presented in the carrier’s own format and can be defended line by line. This estimate becomes the basis for negotiation.
Following the inspection
Proof of Loss & Submission
DCS prepares the claim package - sworn proof of loss where required, damage inventory, the estimate, and supporting evidence - and submits it to the carrier, then attends the carrier’s inspection and responds to its requests.
Per the policy deadlines
Negotiation
DCS negotiates scope and value with the carrier’s adjuster, item by item, backing each line with documentation and policy language rather than argument. Most disputes are resolved here.
While the carrier reviews the claim
Appraisal Strategy (if needed)
If the only remaining dispute is the dollar amount of the loss, DCS reviews the appraisal clause and advises on whether to invoke it - a contractual, binding-on-amount alternative to litigation. Coverage disputes are not resolved by appraisal and may need an attorney.
Only if a value-only impasse remains
Settlement & Supplements
Once the loss amount is agreed, the carrier pays and the contingency fee comes out of the settlement - nothing if there is no recovery. If repairs uncover more damage, DCS can prepare a supplemental claim within the applicable deadlines.
On agreement; supplements within the applicable deadlines
When to Bring DCS Into Your Claim
You do not have to wait for the claim to go wrong. The earlier a public adjuster is involved, the stronger the documentation - but DCS can step in at any stage as long as the claim is still within the applicable deadlines.
Before You File
The most valuable moment. The loss is documented correctly from the first inspection and the policy is reviewed before anything is said to the carrier.
After a Low or Partial Offer
When the offer does not match the real cost to repair, DCS documents missed damage and renegotiates line by line.
After a Denial
DCS reviews the basis for the denial, gathers additional evidence, and submits a supported request to the carrier. (Whether a denial supports a legal cause of action is an attorney question.)
For a Supplemental Claim
When repairs reveal damage no one saw at first, DCS prepares a supplemental within the applicable deadlines.
For Complex Commercial Losses
Business interruption, code-upgrade coverage, and multiple coverage parts on a commercial policy are where professional representation pays off most.
When the Paperwork Is Overwhelming
If you do not know how to document a loss, prepare an estimate, or read the policy’s conditions, DCS fills the gap so deadlines are not missed.
Common Mistakes and What to Watch For
A property claim is full of decisions that look small but compound. These are the patterns DCS sees most often - described qualitatively, because every claim and policy is different.
Accepting the first number
The carrier’s opening estimate is a starting position, not a ceiling. A claim that is under-scoped at the front end is far harder to fix once a payment is cashed and repairs are underway.
Under-documenting the loss
Memory and a few phone photos rarely survive a back-and-forth months later. Detailed, dated documentation at the time of loss is the single most valuable thing a policyholder can have.
Missing policy deadlines
Prompt-notice, proof-of-loss, examination-under-oath, and suit-limitation provisions all carry deadlines. Missing one can jeopardize an otherwise valid claim, regardless of how real the damage is.
Not knowing which coverages exist
Additional living expense, ordinance-or-law (code upgrade), debris removal, and matching can all apply without a policyholder realizing it. A line-by-line policy read surfaces coverages most people never claim.
Letting depreciation go unrecovered
On a replacement-cost policy, recoverable depreciation (holdback) is paid once repairs are completed and documented. Many policyholders never go back to collect it.
Treating appraisal and litigation as the same thing
Appraisal resolves the amount of loss and can be binding on amount; it is not a lawsuit and does not decide coverage. Confusing the two leads people to either over-escalate or give up too early.
How DCS Gets Paid
For public adjusting work, DCS is paid on a contingency fee: a percentage of the recovery, with no upfront retainer and nothing owed if there is no recovery. The fee is paid out of the settlement.
Our fee is 10% of the claim recovery. If the insurer paid on the claim before the contract date, the fee is 25% of the new money recovered, capped at 10% of the total settlement - you pay whichever is less. The trigger is money the insurer actually paid before the contract date, not an offer.
Separate from the DCS contract, state law sets its own caps on what any public adjuster may charge:
- Texas: the public adjuster fee is capped at 10% of the claim payment on all claims under Texas Insurance Code §4102.104. The contract is on a TDI-approved form and carries a 72-hour right to rescind after signing.
- Florida: the public adjuster fee is capped at 20% of the claim payment for most claims under Florida Statute §626.854, and reduced to 10% for claims arising from a declared state of emergency during the first year after the declaration.
The contingency model aligns DCS with you: the firm is paid only when you are paid, and only a capped share of what is recovered. One important distinction: appraisal-panel work - serving as a party-appointed appraiser in Texas or Florida, or as an umpire in Texas - is a separate, neutral role billed time-and-expense, not contingency, and the public adjuster fee caps above do not apply to it.
The Rules DCS Works Under
Public adjusters are licensed and regulated in both states we serve. These are the rules that govern how we may contract with you and what we may charge - the framework we are held to. We read and apply your policy in the ordinary course of adjusting; legal questions belong to a licensed attorney in your state.
Texas (Home Base)
DCS Firm License #3134924
- TX Ins. Code Ch. 4102. The public adjuster statute. Caps the public adjusting commission on any claim at 10% of the insurance settlement on that claim (§4102.104).
- Written contract, on an approved form. The agreement must be in writing on a TDI-approved form (§4102.103; TDI form FIN535).
- Your 72-hour right to cancel. You may rescind the contract by written notice within 72 hours of signing (§4102.103).
- No percentage fee in one case. A percentage commission is not allowed if the insurer pays, or commits in writing to pay, policy limits within 72 hours of the loss report (§4102.104).
- We do not practise law. A public adjuster handles the claim; legal advice and legal remedies are attorney work (§4102.156).
- License authority: Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).
Florida
DCS Firm License #W820363
- Fla. Stat. §626.854. The public adjuster statute. Caps public adjuster compensation at 20% of the claim payment, reduced to 10% for claims arising from a declared state of emergency and made within one year after the declaration.
- Your right to cancel. You may cancel the contract without penalty within 10 days after signing - and for a claim arising from a Governor-declared state of emergency, 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after signing, whichever is longer (§626.854(7)).
- Working for the policyholder. A public adjuster represents the insured, not the insurance company.
- License authority: Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS).
Important. This is general educational information about how public adjusters are licensed and paid, not legal advice. Dependable Claims Specialists - Public Insurance Adjusters read and apply policy language in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). We do not provide legal advice, and we do not pursue legal remedies. For any legal question, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions About DCS
What does the DCS in Dependable Claims Specialists - Public Insurance Adjusters stand for?
Is DCS a law firm? Can DCS sue my insurance company?
What does DCS charge, and do I pay anything up front?
How is DCS different from the adjuster my insurance company sends?
What makes DCS qualified to challenge a carrier estimate?
When is the best time to bring DCS into my claim?
Does hiring DCS slow my claim down?
Can my insurance company refuse to deal with DCS or drop me for hiring a public adjuster?
What if my dispute is only about the dollar amount of the loss?
What kinds of losses does DCS handle?
Where does DCS work?
How do I verify that DCS is properly licensed?
Ready to Get the Settlement Your Policy Provides?
Texas-based licensed public adjusting firm serving Texas and Florida. Free claim review. Public adjusting fees are contingency-based and capped by state statute.
