Posted: 4/22/2012 1:19:07 PM EDT
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A few weeks back we had a pretty strong storm system come through the DFW area, and there were high winds and some tornadoes. You may have seen the video on the national news of tractor trailers being tossed around a trucking yard like children's toys. My town got a little rain but no hail or significant wind out of these storms.
At any rate, over the last two weeks or so, we've had four different people representing different roofing repair or insurance consultant firms knocking on our door. They want to do a free roof inspection and then manage the process of getting us a whole new roof through our homeowner's insurance policy. When I mentioned to the first guy that I had taken a look at the roof after this last storm and that we suffered no damage, it didn't slow him down a bit. They all want to handle the whole business for us, doing the inspection and helping us file the unnecessary and fraudulent insurance claim. Sure enough, driving around today I see signs from these different companies on the lawns of many of my neighbors. I can't believe anyone would want to file a claim on their insurance policy when they don't absolutely have to. It's such a patently obvious scam. |
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I work in the business and there are many thieves out there. I am proud to say I am not one of them.
I only recommend a homeowner call his or her insurance company if there indeed damage. I NEVER create or augment existing damage. I don't make the money that others do, but I make a good living and can sleep at night knowing that I haven't lied or cheated people out of their money. Bottom line is there are a few reputable companies out there, find one and have them look at your roof. If you suspect any damage, even the least, get it checked. For the OP, how do you know it wasn't damaged? What do you consider damage? What you might consider damage is usually different than what your state department of insurance, builders association and your insurance company considers damage. FWIW, I was an insurance agent for 15 years and am a certified Haag roof inspector. |
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I work in the business and there are many thieves out there. I am proud to say I am not one of them. I only recommend a homeowner call his or her insurance company if there indeed damage. I NEVER create or augment existing damage. I don't make the money that others do, but I make a good living and can sleep at night knowing that I haven't lied or cheated people out of their money. Bottom line is there are a few reputable companies out there, find one and have them look at your roof. If you suspect any damage, even the least, get it checked. For the OP, how do you know it wasn't damaged? What do you consider damage? What you might consider damage is usually different than what your state department of insurance, builders association and your insurance company considers damage. FWIW, I was an insurance agent for 15 years and am a certified Haag roof inspector. How do I know it wasn't damaged? What kind of question is that? Nothing fell on it to damage any of the underlayment, planking or roof supports, and there's no visible damage to the shingles when I walk all the way around my house. There's no moisture visible on the inside of the roof, so it appears to be doing just what a roof is designed to do: keep the weather outside. Why on earth would I participate in a scam, and generate an unnecessary insurance claim? |
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I work in the business and there are many thieves out there. I am proud to say I am not one of them. I only recommend a homeowner call his or her insurance company if there indeed damage. I NEVER create or augment existing damage. I don't make the money that others do, but I make a good living and can sleep at night knowing that I haven't lied or cheated people out of their money. Bottom line is there are a few reputable companies out there, find one and have them look at your roof. If you suspect any damage, even the least, get it checked. For the OP, how do you know it wasn't damaged? What do you consider damage? What you might consider damage is usually different than what your state department of insurance, builders association and your insurance company considers damage. FWIW, I was an insurance agent for 15 years and am a certified Haag roof inspector. How do I know it wasn't damaged? What kind of question is that? Nothing fell on it to damage any of the underlayment, planking or roof supports, and there's no visible damage to the shingles when I walk all the way around my house. There's no moisture visible on the inside of the roof, so it appears to be doing just what a roof is designed to do: keep the weather outside. Why on earth would I participate in a scam, and generate an unnecessary insurance claim? A shingle is considered damaged by wind if it is creased by wind at the top from repeated flapping or if it was flipped up and does not reseal. It is also considered damaged if while flipped up in the wind, debris becomes lodged under the shingle thereby preventing future resealing. A shingle damaged in this manner will not reseal over time and will eventually break off and be a source of possible roof leaks. FWIW, I was being serious, not a smartass with my original questions. Most people assume that because it looks fine it is. Also, many states limit the time you can file a claim after a storm. Often time leaks and other roof problems manifest themselves long after, that is one of the reasons DOI's mandate that insurance companies replace roofs if it meets minimum criterion. Lastly, in case you have any doubt, get it checked by a reputable company or call your insurance company. An adjuster will check it for you, but it will count as a claim even if there is no damage and they pay nothing. |
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I work in the business and there are many thieves out there. I am proud to say I am not one of them. I only recommend a homeowner call his or her insurance company if there indeed damage. I NEVER create or augment existing damage. I don't make the money that others do, but I make a good living and can sleep at night knowing that I haven't lied or cheated people out of their money. Bottom line is there are a few reputable companies out there, find one and have them look at your roof. If you suspect any damage, even the least, get it checked. For the OP, how do you know it wasn't damaged? What do you consider damage? What you might consider damage is usually different than what your state department of insurance, builders association and your insurance company considers damage. FWIW, I was an insurance agent for 15 years and am a certified Haag roof inspector. How do I know it wasn't damaged? What kind of question is that? Nothing fell on it to damage any of the underlayment, planking or roof supports, and there's no visible damage to the shingles when I walk all the way around my house. There's no moisture visible on the inside of the roof, so it appears to be doing just what a roof is designed to do: keep the weather outside. Why on earth would I participate in a scam, and generate an unnecessary insurance claim? A shingle is considered damaged by wind if it is creased by wind at the top from repeated flapping or if it was flipped up and does not reseal. It is also considered damaged if while flipped up in the wind, debris becomes lodged under the shingle thereby preventing future resealing. A shingle damaged in this manner will not reseal over time and will eventually break off and be a source of possible roof leaks. FWIW, I was being serious, not a smartass with my original questions. Most people assume that because it looks fine it is. Also, many states limit the time you can file a claim after a storm. Often time leaks and other roof problems manifest themselves long after, that is one of the reasons DOI's mandate that insurance companies replace roofs if it meets minimum criterion. Lastly, in case you have any doubt, get it checked by a reputable company or call your insurance company. An adjuster will check it for you, but it will count as a claim even if there is no damage and they pay nothing. Hmmm, no reply. He must be stuck up on his roof. 
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Hmmm, no reply. He must be stuck up on his roof. Maybe I was stuck up on my roof, and maybe I wasn't, but at least I don't have my head stuck up my ass. A company going around to every house in town and suggesting that they can file a claim with the homeowners' insurance company to get a whole new roof is an incorporated scam. Anyone defending such a company is a shill for a con game. One of the outfits that's got signs all over my neighborhood is Legacy Builders and Contractors. Their representative didn't come to my house and knock on my door based on a call from me about damage to my roof from the storm. They are out on the make, trying to profit off anyone dumb enough to believe that there's no problem in making shaky homeowner's insurance claims if it gets you what you want. |
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A company going around to every house in town and suggesting that they can file a claim with the homeowners' insurance company to get a whole new roof is an incorporated scam. Anyone defending such a company is a shill for a con game. DV8 has not defended the fraudulent company in any of his posts. Maybe you should go back and reread them. I'm not sure why you would claim he has his head up his ass.... 
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A company going around to every house in town and suggesting that they can file a claim with the homeowners' insurance company to get a whole new roof is an incorporated scam. Anyone defending such a company is a shill for a con game. DV8 has not defended the fraudulent company in any of his posts. Maybe you should go back and reread them. I'm not sure why you would claim he has his head up his ass.... If he's not defending insurance fraud, then my post doesn't apply to him. |
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Well shit, I just dropped 14k on a new roof and gutters.
Then again, if you get caught being involved in Insurance Fraud here in FL I think they feed you to the gators. They have seriously cracked down on that shit in the last few years. Most of the focus has been on the automotive side of things, but they don't screw around about homeowners either. |
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A company going around to every house in town and suggesting that they can file a claim with the homeowners' insurance company to get a whole new roof is an incorporated scam. Anyone defending such a company is a shill for a con game. DV8 has not defended the fraudulent company in any of his posts. Maybe you should go back and reread them. I'm not sure why you would claim he has his head up his ass.... If he's not defending insurance fraud, then my post doesn't apply to him. If a company is advocating filing a claim without an inspection just because your house was in the path of a storm, then they should be avoided. If they are offering an inspection of your property and can show documentation of the damage via pictures, then by all means file a claim to have it repaired or replaced. However, just because a company solicits business does not mean that they are scammers. |
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Before I left St. Louis, there were several instances of tornadoes and heavy hail. A lot of legitimate, and perhaps not so legitimate claims were made. It got so bad, that State Farm, as well as many other insurance companies, were cancelling policies for little to no reason.
Firms like the ones my brother-from-another-mother described are why. Oh, and fuck State Farm and the other companies that left people who had paid their premiums hanging when they were needed the most. |
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Roofing companies and contractors in general a rife with dirtbags. Sadly, it is the nature of business. However, that doesn't mean that every contractor out there is corrupt. What the OP is referring to is storm chaser companies. They follow big storms around the nation, set up shop in a town and blanket the town with advertising to solicit business. Some are good companies, some are frauds. Typically they work in a town for 45 to 60 days then on to the next storm in another area.
However, there is nothing illegal about it. If your roof is legitimately damages, they get it checked. Like any other job requiring the hiring of a professional, be it car repair, surgery or plumbing, check references, check references and check references. It also helps to call the local shingle suppliers to see if a contractor is current on their bills and is not "robbing Peter to pay Paul." OP, sorry you had a bad experience. Any company advising a person file a claim without an inspection of the property is probably not someone to do business with. Having said that, in the majority of states, homeowners policies read something to the effect "it is incumbent upon the property owner to notify the insurance company when they suspect they have damage. Failure to do so can result in denied claims at a later date." This is the part that some companies play on. Sadly, they give legitimate, honest and hard working contractors such as me a tough time. ETA: Yeah, State Farm does indeed suck. I am a preferred contractor for State Farm and several other companies when it comes to storm damage. They bust my balls at ever turn and are paying for less and less when it comes to repair and replacement of damaged homes. |
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On the second of March we had a severe hail storm, golfball to baseball sized hail. A few days later the knocks at the door started coming, "have you had you roof inspected yet...". I'll bet 20 reps have stopped by with this same line.
I have already inspeceted my roof and have had the insurance adjusted out to settle my claim with me not a second party scam artist. My roof is 18 years old nearing the end of its life, 25 year 3 tab shingles. I have full replacement cost coverage and pay a nice premium for such every year and my insurance company responded to my needs to protect my investment as they should. I dont feel I scammed the insurance company out of anything except the service I pay them for. |
| If your neighborhood flooded and they came out willing to check for related damage would you also be upset? Most people don't know what to look for. You apparently do and have inspected your roof on your own and determined it was fine. Good luck, that might cost you $6K+ down the road if you were wrong. |
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Hey DV8, you're a roofer and you say you're on the square. That's good enough for me, but you just keep posting the same fucking thing over and over again here, talking about how it's not a scam, this and that, good guys and maybe some bad guys. I'm telling you, these guys didn't say, "We'll do an inspection and then let you know if there's any damage and what you need to get you back to 100%." No, I was told that they would start with an inspection, and then the company(ies) would manage the whole process with the insurance company to get me a new roof.
Let me say this slowly so you can understand it: That's. Fuckin'. Fraud. |
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Quoted: If he's not defending insurance fraud, then my post doesn't apply to him. He never gave me the impression of defending fraud and I think he was genuinely trying to help you. There's information in his posts that I suspect a majority of homeowners do not know. I read his comments as "many roofers are shit and although fraud is not uncommon, it's possible your roof may be legitimately damaged" I was really surprised when you opened up with the head/ass comment. |
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Hey DV8, you're a roofer and you say you're on the square. That's good enough for me, but you just keep posting the same fucking thing over and over again here, talking about how it's not a scam, this and that, good guys and maybe some bad guys. I'm telling you, these guys didn't say, "We'll do an inspection and then let you know if there's any damage and what you need to get you back to 100%." No, I was told that they would start with an inspection, and then the company(ies) would manage the whole process with the insurance company to get me a new roof. Let me say this slowly so you can understand it: That's. Fuckin'. Fraud. So what you're saying is your entire neighborhood is caught up in fraud and the insurance companies that spend millions stopping this kind of shit aren't smart enough to stop it? Or could there possibly be damage after a storm that normally causes damage? |
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We see a lot of that here in the Tennessee valley too. After every hail storm. If your roof will not make it through a hail storm someone did your roof wrong.
Scams like this cause our rates to go sky high, yet people still fall for it then complain when their insurance rates go up or they are cancelled. |
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Hey DV8, you're a roofer and you say you're on the square. That's good enough for me, but you just keep posting the same fucking thing over and over again here, talking about how it's not a scam, this and that, good guys and maybe some bad guys. I'm telling you, these guys didn't say, "We'll do an inspection and then let you know if there's any damage and what you need to get you back to 100%." No, I was told that they would start with an inspection, and then the company(ies) would manage the whole process with the insurance company to get me a new roof. Let me say this slowly so you can understand it: That's. Fuckin'. Fraud. No, that is business. If there is no damage and they CREATE damage to get the insurance company to buy, that is fraud. If the homeowner knowingly goes along with it, that is conspiracy to commit fraud against the insurance companies. Trust me, they can and DO prosecute for that. I know of several companies out of business and owners and reps in jail because of it. Simply soliciting business after a storm is not insurance fraud. I've really tried to help illustrate the difference for you, but I have to run. I have to get to work. Bottom line is this, regardless of what the company says, it is the insurance adjuster from the insurance company who decides whether or not the roof meets the standards for damage as set out by the State Department of Insurance and the insurance companies themselves. A roofing company can say whatever they want, if the roof doesn't meet the standards, it doesn't get replaced or repaired by the insurance company. If the roofer creates damage, that is pretty easy to spot and a good adjuster reports them and they go on a black list. Can't make it simpler than that. |
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ETA: Yeah, State Farm does indeed suck. I am a preferred contractor for State Farm and several other companies when it comes to storm damage. They bust my balls at ever turn and are paying for less and less when it comes to repair and replacement of damaged homes. Most insurance companies are in the business of paying out as little as possible on any and every claim. Casualty, auto, injury, whatever it might be. They will make it as economically infeasible as possible to get paid fairly. They'll dangle 80% of what you should be paid (sometimes less) and make it not worthwhile to fight them over the last bit. Multiplied out over many thousands of claims, that adds up. Allsnake is bad about this as well. |
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At any rate, over the last two weeks or so, we've had four different people representing different roofing repair or insurance consultant firms knocking on our door. They want to do a free roof inspection and then manage the process of getting us a whole new roof through our homeowner's insurance policy. If they're promising you a whole new roof via your insurance before they even inspect it, then they're scammers. If there have been a lot of damaged roofs in the area due to storms and they are just offering to inspect, then they're looking for business. They could be legitimate or they could be "finding" lots of non-existent things to fix, but that's no different than many businesses. |