The work behind a counter-assessment
A second opinion is more than a fresh estimate. The independent expert reads the policy wording and schedule to understand what is actually covered, visits the property or examines the damaged items, reviews the insurer's adjuster report line by line and identifies where scope, pricing, causation or depreciation differ from their own findings.
They then assemble supporting evidence such as contractor quotes, photographs, moisture or structural readings and price databases, before presenting a reasoned counter-claim to the insurer and negotiating the difference. Many firms also follow the file to payment, including any interim payments and final release documents. The more of these steps you need, the higher the fee.
Three common ways to be charged
Counter-assessment pricing tends to follow one of three models, sometimes combined. Which one suits you depends on how far apart you and the insurer are and how much work the file requires.
| Claim value | Indicative fee (on settlement) | Indicative fee (on uplift only) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 25,000 | 10% to 15%, or flat fee | 15% to 25% |
| 25,001 to 50,000 | 8% to 12% | 15% to 22% |
| 50,001 to 100,000 | 7% to 10% | 12% to 20% |
| 100,001 to 200,000 | 6% to 8% | 10% to 18% |
| 200,001 to 400,000 | 4.5% to 7% | 10% to 15% |
| 400,001 to 800,000 | 3.5% to 5% | 8% to 12% |
| 800,001 to 2,000,000 | 2.5% to 4% | 6% to 10% |
| Over 2,000,000 | 1% to 2.5% | Negotiated case by case |
Indicative amounts, to be checked with each expert.
Percentage of the settlement or of the uplift
Public adjusters in the US and Canada and loss assessors in the UK, Ireland and Australia commonly charge a percentage. For a second opinion the key question is the base: some apply the rate to the whole settlement, others only to the additional amount obtained above the insurer's last written offer. A fee on the uplift aligns the expert with the real value they add and is often fairer when an offer already exists.
Several US states regulate public adjuster fees, and some cap the percentage, for example on claims arising from a declared catastrophe. Check the rules in your state before signing.
Flat fee or hourly review
For a limited desk review, such as checking an adjuster's report or a cash-settlement offer, many surveyors, engineers and consultants quote a fixed fee or an hourly rate. This gives cost certainty and suits claims where you intend to negotiate yourself once you have a credible independent figure. Ask whether a site visit, a written report and a follow-up call with the insurer are included.
Indicative fee bands by claim value
No official scale exists for second opinions in English-speaking markets. The table gives an order of magnitude observed on the market for a percentage-based counter-assessment, in local currency (GBP, USD, CAD, AUD or EUR). It is not an official or legal tariff, and a firm may quote above or below these ranges depending on complexity, urgency and the fee base used. Rates usually decline as the claim value increases.
Many firms also apply a minimum fee so that small files remain viable, and taxes such as VAT, GST or HST may be added on top of the quoted rate.
Several factors move a quote within these ranges. A second opinion on a file the insurer has already investigated in depth may be quicker, because the expert can test existing reports rather than start from scratch. On the other hand, a claim that has been declined on causation grounds, or one where the property has already been repaired and evidence must be rebuilt from records, usually costs more. Expert discipline matters too: a structural engineer or forensic accountant brought in to rebut a specific finding generally charges by the hour at professional rates, separate from the assessor's percentage.
Can your policy fund the second opinion?
Commercial property policies and some high-value home policies include a claims preparation or professional fees extension. Where present, it may reimburse reasonable fees of an expert you appoint to prepare or quantify the claim, usually up to a sub-limit and sometimes only with the insurer's prior agreement. Some wordings exclude fees paid to a loss assessor or public adjuster specifically, while covering architects, surveyors and engineers needed for reinstatement.
Legal expenses insurance occasionally covers expert costs in a contractual dispute with your own insurer, but many policies exclude that scenario. Read both wordings carefully and ask the insurer in writing what it will reimburse before you sign an engagement letter.
Worked examples across claim sizes
Small claim: the insurer offers 8,000 for kitchen water damage and your contractor quotes 14,000. A flat-fee desk review costing a few hundred may give you enough evidence to negotiate alone. A percentage counter-assessment at, say, 15% of the uplift would cost around 900 if it closed the full gap, which may still be worthwhile.
Medium claim: a storm loss where the insurer offers 60,000 against an independent estimate of 95,000. A 10% fee on the full settlement would be about 9,500, while 15% to 20% of the uplift would be roughly 5,250 to 7,000. The base clearly matters more than the headline rate.
Large claim: a commercial fire with a disputed offer of 1,200,000. A sliding-scale fee of 3% to 5% on the final settlement could still amount to tens of thousands, but the expert may need forensic accountants for business interruption and engineers for structure. All figures here are illustrative only and outcomes are never guaranteed.
Comparing firms and reading the engagement letter
Request at least two written proposals and compare them on the same basis. The engagement letter should state the fee rate, the base it applies to, any minimum fee, whether tax is included, how expenses and sub-experts are billed, and what happens if you end the contract or the claim is settled before the expert adds value.
Check for cancellation rights, which several US states and UK consumer rules provide, and for any clause allowing the firm to be paid directly by the insurer. Treat promises of a guaranteed increase with suspicion; a credible expert explains where the insurer's figures look weak and gives a realistic range, not a promise.
- fee base: whole settlement or uplift only
- minimum fee and cap, if any
- taxes and out-of-pocket expenses
- scope: review only, or negotiation through to payment
- termination terms and cooling-off period
- licensing or regulatory status in your jurisdiction
Organisations offering this service
- Expert Witness Institute - Medical expert witness services: Page of the UK expert witness institute dedicated to medical expert witness services, aimed at clinicians acting as experts in legal cases.
- La Médiation de l'Assurance: Mediation service for the French insurance sector, publishing a mediator charter and an annual activity report on its handling of disputes.
- Financial Ombudsman Service: Official free dispute resolution service in the United Kingdom, handling complaints from policyholders against insurers, including disputed or rejected insurance claims.
- Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA): Chartered UK professional body for claims and loss adjusting professionals, responsible for training, qualifications and standards across the claims profession.
External links provided for information only; check the terms directly with each organisation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a second opinion worth paying for on a small claim?
Often only as a flat-fee desk review. If the gap between the offer and your quotes is small, a percentage fee may absorb most of any increase. Compare the likely fee with the realistic uplift first.
Why do some experts charge on the uplift rather than the total?
Because the insurer has already offered part of the money. Charging only on the additional amount links the fee to the value the second opinion actually adds.
Will the insurer pay my expert's fee?
Only if the policy includes a claims preparation or professional fees extension that applies, usually up to a sub-limit and often subject to prior consent. Many home policies have no such cover.
Can I cancel after signing?
Many jurisdictions give consumers a cooling-off period, and some US states set specific cancellation rights for public adjuster contracts. Check the engagement letter and local rules.
A counter-assessment pays for itself only when its fee is proportionate to the gap it can realistically close. Use these indicative ranges to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis before committing.