Roof hail damage scam?
- Thread starter BigBake
- Start date
Cycfan is right.....the roof that's one or two years away from replacement will show damage from a minor hail storm, while the neighbor's roof that is only one or two years old doesn't show any damage from the same storm. Makes for some unhappy customers, when they start comparing settlements.
I will have to agree with Cyfan on this one. It is not uncommone for contractors to come into an area that has been hit by hail and drum up some business. They usually hire people on a as needed basis. I have seen contractors replace roofs and not use tar paper to save money. By the time you discover what has happened they are long gone. So I would contact a contractor you trust.
As for contacting your insurance company to report a claim it is a good idea if you think you have damage. If you do not have damage I would not. Insurance companies will not just look at rate adjustments from the dollar amount paid out - they will also look at the claims submitted. So it is possible to have a rate increase and have nothing paid out. Thus, I would always start with contacting a contractor you trust first.
Good luck!
As for contacting your insurance company to report a claim it is a good idea if you think you have damage. If you do not have damage I would not. Insurance companies will not just look at rate adjustments from the dollar amount paid out - they will also look at the claims submitted. So it is possible to have a rate increase and have nothing paid out. Thus, I would always start with contacting a contractor you trust first.
Good luck!
You can buy computer programs that track storms and will pin point down to a chity block the size of hail and ammount of damage that could potentially be done. These are the "fly-by-night" guys that chase the storms around the country.
I had some kid stop by my place in Ankeny this summer trying to get me to sign a contract with their construction company to get a new roof put on by them if the insurance would pay for it. Not really a scam but it did get me to contact my insurance company and have them send an adjuster out to look at it. I thought there was no damage at all and they are paying for a completely new roof when the roof was nearly shot anyway......Good deal for me!
We had a guy stop by our house and survey our roof. He told us there was several areas where the roof showed hail damage. Since the roof is 20 years old, I thought what the heck, and sighned the contract. I signed their contract that basically said if my insurance company agrees to pay, they get the job. Well, our insurance company, not only agreed to replace our roof, but also some siding, gutters, and a few other things. The insurance guy advised me to get another estimate for the roof replacement...said it was high.(but he still ok'd the full price) Any way we can get out of this contract and save ourselves money?
TIA
Danno
TIA
Danno
Man, why in the blue hell would anyone sign a contract with a roofing company BEFORE a claim is made and paid? Seems shady.
Anyway, if your adjuster OK'd the full price, why would you be looking to get out of the contract? Its not saving you any money, only your insurance company. But if they wanted to save the money badly enough, they'd tell you what the repairs should cost and give you the funds, and you'd have to hash it out with the roofing company.
Anyway, if your adjuster OK'd the full price, why would you be looking to get out of the contract? Its not saving you any money, only your insurance company. But if they wanted to save the money badly enough, they'd tell you what the repairs should cost and give you the funds, and you'd have to hash it out with the roofing company.
I signed the contract because
A) I didn't think I had anything to lose regardless if the insurance company honored the estimate or not.....and a free roof replacement if they did.
B)The roofing company rep said they could work with me on the deductible part by discounting parts of the estimate.
C)I thought having the roofing rep point out the damage would carry more weight with the insurance company than mine would.
I also had no idea that the adjuster would be as 'agreeable' as he was to replacing a 20 y/o roof over several hail dings....thought it was a long shot at best.
Now I've come to the realization that the roofing company has padded the estimate heavily, and I could easily get the roof replaced for about half of what they estimated. The quote was for around 17K.....I think I can get it done for less than 10K. We have a 2000 SF home that will require about 28-30 squares of shingles. There is also some gutter work and a few pieces of siding that will be replaced as well. The money saved would be really nice to put toward some new windows that are in bad need of replacement. So, back to my question....do I have any shot at getting out of this contract, or do I have to pay them their exorbinant prices....or should I just suck it up and live with it.
On the advice of the adjuster, I am getting a second quote. However, the adjuster is going to pay the claim on the original estimate.
TIA
Danno
A) I didn't think I had anything to lose regardless if the insurance company honored the estimate or not.....and a free roof replacement if they did.
B)The roofing company rep said they could work with me on the deductible part by discounting parts of the estimate.
C)I thought having the roofing rep point out the damage would carry more weight with the insurance company than mine would.
I also had no idea that the adjuster would be as 'agreeable' as he was to replacing a 20 y/o roof over several hail dings....thought it was a long shot at best.
Now I've come to the realization that the roofing company has padded the estimate heavily, and I could easily get the roof replaced for about half of what they estimated. The quote was for around 17K.....I think I can get it done for less than 10K. We have a 2000 SF home that will require about 28-30 squares of shingles. There is also some gutter work and a few pieces of siding that will be replaced as well. The money saved would be really nice to put toward some new windows that are in bad need of replacement. So, back to my question....do I have any shot at getting out of this contract, or do I have to pay them their exorbinant prices....or should I just suck it up and live with it.
On the advice of the adjuster, I am getting a second quote. However, the adjuster is going to pay the claim on the original estimate.
TIA
Danno
I'm glad someone revived this thread. Since my orig post another neighbor has had his roof repaired. But he told ms he went thru his insurance adjusted first and then hired a roofing company he knew.
I do think I will at least call my agent and have roof inspected. If adjuster finds something I'll use a local roofer I know of. If no damage found I'm not out anything.
That original roofer came around this spring again but I sent him packing. His team did a horrible job and I picked up at least 24 nails from road and countless nails and shingle debris from between our houses. Keep in mind all this debris sat there all winter. (except nails on road I picked up) it was great walking him over and showing him all the crap still there in spring.
I do think I will at least call my agent and have roof inspected. If adjuster finds something I'll use a local roofer I know of. If no damage found I'm not out anything.
That original roofer came around this spring again but I sent him packing. His team did a horrible job and I picked up at least 24 nails from road and countless nails and shingle debris from between our houses. Keep in mind all this debris sat there all winter. (except nails on road I picked up) it was great walking him over and showing him all the crap still there in spring.
