Terms Used In South Carolina Code 38-48-20

  • Adjuster: means an individual who determines the extent of insured losses and assists in settling or attempts to settle claims. See South Carolina Code 38-1-20
  • Director: means the person who is appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate and who is responsible for the operation and management of the department. See South Carolina Code 38-1-20
  • insurance: includes annuities. See South Carolina Code 38-1-20
  • License: means a document issued by the state's director or his designee authorizing a person to act as an insurance producer for the lines of authority specified in the document. See South Carolina Code 38-1-20
  • Public adjusting: means investigating, appraising or evaluating, and reporting to an insured in relation to a first party claim arising under insurance contracts, that insure the real or personal property, or both, of the insured. See South Carolina Code 38-48-10
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Solicit: means attempting to sell insurance or asking or urging a person to apply for a particular kind of insurance from a particular company. See South Carolina Code 38-1-20
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
Every individual commonly called a public adjuster, adjusting losses for an insured, must be licensed by the director or his designee. These individuals shall apply for a license on a form prescribed by the director or his designee. The written examination for a public adjuster license shall be the same as that prescribed for insurance adjusters. The director or his designee shall satisfy himself that each applicant for a public adjuster’s license is an individual of good moral character, has sufficient knowledge of the insurance business and duties as a public adjuster, has not violated the insurance laws of the State, and is a fit and proper individual for the position. No license may be issued pursuant to reciprocal arrangements or agreements as provided in § 38-48-40 to a nonresident public adjuster who resides in a state which has enacted a statute requiring the licensing of public adjusters and which refuses to license South Carolina public adjusters; however, a license may be issued to such applicants upon a successful completion of the examination for public adjusters prescribed by the director or his designee. Only licensed public adjusters may solicit business from an insured who has sustained an insured loss. Individuals engaged in providing public adjusting services without a license shall be deemed to be engaged in unauthorized transaction of insurance business and subject to the remedies provided in Chapter 25, as well as the disgorgement of fees or restitution to the insured for any fees paid.