Don’t fall victim to roofing fraud
It is an unfortunate fact that roofing scams are becoming more and more frequent. This is especially true around hurricane season when homeowners are at their most vulnerable. Here at Stay Dry Roofing, we hear of too many Tampa, FL victims of roofing fraud, so we have put out as much information as we can to help our neighbors and residents make the right and safe decision when it comes to repair and replacement of their roof.
Your roof is such an important part of your home, that not giving it the quality of care it deserves can lead to disaster in the near future. This is why it is better to always use an experienced, honest roofing contractor. While we understand the costs may be higher, in most cases, homeowners end up paying more in the long run from fixing shoddy repair work from less qualified contractors. And in worse cases of roofing fraud, homeowners are completely robbed of their money without seeing any work performed at all!
5 ways to protect yourself from roofing fraud
1. Read all the documents BEFORE you sign
When someone is trying to scam you or commit fraud, they will often try to present you with an excessive amount of paperwork to read through, or rush you through the signing process. However, it is important to make sure you read and understand every page before you sign something. Once you sign something, it can be very hard to change a valid agreement, even when it is clear you are not benefiting as much as you thought. A key point to look for in your document is an Assignment of Benefits. If you aren’t sure what that is, then read the second point below!
2. Understanding what an Assignment of Benefits means
An Assignment of Benefits, or AoB, is an agreement that transfers the insurance rights claims or benefits from your policy to a third party. Ultimately, by assigning another contractor as the Assignment of Benefits, they will be able to file claims, make adjustments, and make decisions for you without ever having to ask you questions regarding your wants, needs, or finances. We recommend you do not sign over your assignment of benefits to anyone unless they are a trusted and proven contractor.
3. Check on contractor credentials
It never hurts to do a little extra work in verifying credentials on a contractor. An extra hour here or there could save you thousands! Ask to get information on your contractors license, insurance bonds, workers’ compensation coverage, and even references from prior clients. A trustworthy roofing contractor will be happy to provide you with all this information and can do so right away. Someone attempting a roofing fraud will often give you the runaround or not be able to provide something in a timely manner.
4. Understand what your insurance policy covers
Many times, roofing fraud occurs when an untrustworthy contractor tries to tell you what your own insurance claim may cover. In fact, nobody but your insurance agency will know what is covered and what isn’t. If you don’t check with your insurance provider then you may believe you are fully covered, then get hit with a huge bill at the end of the process! It is important to call your provider and understand your insurance policy in entirety before signing any documents.
5. Avoid repairing or damaging the roof before getting insurance claim approval
When filing for an insurance claim, your provider will only cover the damage that has currently happened. So if further damage occurs due to a bad contractor or self-repair, that will not be covered and can actually make your original claim invalid. Avoid doing the repairs yourself and don’t let a contractor start repairing your roof before you get the go ahead from your insurance!
Do you need to file a claim?
Whether you had hurricane damage from a recent storm or are looking to get some general repair work done, contacting a trusted roofing partner is key. Don’t fall for roofing fraud in Tampa, FL, instead contact Stay Dry Roofing! We are your local honest, fully licensed and insured roofing contractors who have been serving the Bay area for over 30 years! Let us help you solve your problems today!
