New Roofs

[Warren]

I have noticed that many of my neighbors, just south of Lake Sumter, are receiving new roofs from their insurance companies. I was approached by a roofer wanting to file a claim for me for the dammange of "past" storms. He claimed he could get my deductible, as well. He indicated that he has a lawyer, out of Tampa, who handles the claim application on my behalf. My roof is 14 years old. they picked at the edges of the tabs to see if they were loose and take lots of pictures. I could see no obvious signs of damage. I can't imagine any adjuster paying a claim. Seems like insurance fraud to me.

[petsetc]

A Villages insurance agent told me the game is, you sign over you claim to the contractor, the insurance company may or may not allow. If they don't allow, the roofer has a lawyer who then sues. If he wins anything, the roof gets done and the lawyer gets the damages, up to 10 times the claim. It's a quirk in the law here in Florida. In the same conversation, the agent said that no one will insure a roof above 15 years and at the time of the discussion (late Feb) one company, Coastal as I recall, just changed to 5 years on roofs.

DISCLAIMER - I did not research this, nor think too much about it, I am recalling and recounting as best I can. With the additional time available, perhaps someone else can look it.

FWIW

[retiredguy123]

There are several other threads on this topic. If you think you may have a valid claim for a damaged roof, call your insurance company and let them decide if you actually are entitled to compensation. But, under no circumstances, should you sign an "assignment of benefits" form presented to you by a roofer. This is a scam where the roofer takes control of the claim and the roofing project. The roofer can then replace or repair your roof, and you will lose control of the entire claim and any work done on your house. The roofer will have control of the quality and scheduling of the project. Not a good idea for you.

[villagetinker]

As noted above, NEVER sign an "assignment of benefits" form, once you do you have lost ALL control of your project.

[JGVillages]

I am no roof expert but; around 20 homes around me have had their roofs inspected and “insurance replaced.” Now the process is the roof gets inspected, if damage is substantial you contact your insurance company to get a claim started. The insurance company then send their own inspector to confirm or deny the damage. The insurance company then has their adjuster review the report with photos then approves or denies the claim. Finally with most of my neighbors going through this process my wife suggested since our roof is 17 years old we should at least participate in the process in case we have a legitimate claim. We did and it has been approved. With this 3 step process I am comfortable it’s legitimate.

[bob47]

I am no roof expert but; around 20 homes around me have had their roofs inspected and “insurance replaced.” Now the process is the roof gets inspected, if damage is substantial you contact your insurance company to get a claim started. The insurance company then send their own inspector to confirm or deny the damage. The insurance company then has their adjuster review the report with photos then approves or denies the claim. Finally with most of my neighbors going through this process my wife suggested since our roof is 17 years old we should at least participate in the process in case we have a legitimate claim. We did and it has been approved. With this 3 step process I am comfortable it’s legitimate.

Can you tell us what storm it was that caused your damage?

[JGVillages]

Extremely heavy winds 50-60 mph reported 2/6/20

[Topspinmo]

Extremely heavy winds 50-60 mph reported 2/6/20

That would be nice breezy day in okie land.

[mydavid]

Scam or not, north of 466 they are replacing roofs like crazy, and it has been going on for several months. They seem to be targeting the old flat shingle type, roofs that are 15/16 years old. Skylight roofing is doing most of the roofs in my Village.

[greenflash245]

very true

[Skunky1]

I saw a roof inspector from one of these company's go on my neighbors roof and actually break the tab and peel back the shingles.That did not look right to me. So I called my insurance company. They would send someone out to inspect my roof but the claim would remain on my record whether or not damage was found beyond 25%. If damage was found and I had my roof replaced my insurance rate would be increased.I feel that insurance company's will raise rates across the board for ALL of us because of this scam!

If you have your roof inspected by one of these roofing company's watch and record what they are doing to your roof.

[dmarti1973]

I am currently a regional insurance claim manager and live in TV. If you think you might have a claim, call your insurer. DO NOT LET ANYONE SOLICITING DOOR TO DOOR onto your roof. We have had 4 claims for damage to roofs in TV. We were skeptical and retained an engineer to inspect the damages. Two reports are not completed. One found no wind/hail related damage. One said there was damage, however it was described as "mechanical" damage. "Mechanical" damage means the damage may have been caused by foot traffic or in some cases, intentional. Contact The Villages Community Watch 750-0550 to determine what company has complaints filed. I know Sumter County Sheriff had a investigation going because I was interviewed by a detective. The sheriff has referred their findings to either the State's Attorney's office or the Attorney General's office. One of my friends was approached. Their insurer and another roofer inspected their roof and did find damage. Beware, however!!!

[retiredguy123]

I am currently a regional insurance claim manager and live in TV. If you think you might have a claim, call your insurer. DO NOT LET ANYONE SOLICITING DOOR TO DOOR onto your roof. We have had 4 claims for damage to roofs in TV. We were skeptical and retained an engineer to inspect the damages. Two reports are not completed. One found no wind/hail related damage. One said there was damage, however it was described as "mechanical" damage. "Mechanical" damage means the damage may have been caused by foot traffic or in some cases, intentional. Contact The Villages Community Watch 750-0550 to determine what company has complaints filed. I know Sumter County Sheriff had a investigation going because I was interviewed by a detective. The sheriff has referred their findings to either the State's Attorney's office or the Attorney General's office. One of my friends was approached. Their insurer and another roofer inspected their roof and did find damage. Beware, however!!!
I am curious as to why insurance companies don't warn their customers about the pitfalls of signing an "assignment of benefits" agreement that roofers present to the customers? It seems like the right thing for insurance companies to do. Do they not have any influence or control over these contractual agreements?

[BevSparks]

I am no roof expert but; around 20 homes around me have had their roofs inspected and “insurance replaced.” Now the process is the roof gets inspected, if damage is substantial you contact your insurance company to get a claim started. The insurance company then send their own inspector to confirm or deny the damage. The insurance company then has their adjuster review the report with photos then approves or denies the claim. Finally with most of my neighbors going through this process my wife suggested since our roof is 17 years old we should at least participate in the process in case we have a legitimate claim. We did and it has been approved. With this 3 step process I am comfortable it’s legitimate.

My friend is in this business and it is legit as you said. If anyone wants her info, message me. :)

[Kahuna32162]

All original roofs, in The Villages, North of 466 are between 17 and 20 years old. Insurance companies, like American Integrity, are refusing to renew or write new homeowners policies unless the roofs are replaced. We have had 2 major wind events in the last year, one last August and then again in early February of this year. Many roofs show damage from those events and may be eligible for an insurance claim.

We did file a claim and, right now, are waiting for the decision from the adjuster who came out and inspected the roof. It's not a given that they will replace the entire roof. In some cases they might only be willing to repair the obvious damage. It's kind of a crap shoot. We are working with a roofer, who was present when the inspection was made and was able to point out the issues he had observed.

If all goes well, and the need for replacement is confirmed, we'll just be responsible for our $1000 deductible. If not, it's a 15k to 20k job. :(

The bottom line is, everybody whose home was built North of 466, and still has the original roof, will need to replace it in the next 3 years or so. Start budgeting accordingly.

[rickdankert]

We have had over 90 homes in our villa community replaced using this process. Including mine. No roofing company was involved. I called my insurance company, filed a claim, they sent out an adjuster, he approved a new roof, company sent me a check, I chose my own roofer, and had the work done. I controlled the entire process.

[NY2TV]

My rate just went up more than 20% without ever having filed a claim and I am having trouble getting quotes from other companies because my roof is 13 years old because so many roofs are being replaced through insurance claims!

[Warren]

A Villages insurance agent told me the game is, you sign over you claim to the contractor, the insurance company may or may not allow. If they don't allow, the roofer has a lawyer who then sues. If he wins anything, the roof gets done and the lawyer gets the damages, up to 10 times the claim. It's a quirk in the law here in Florida. In the same conversation, the agent said that no one will insure a roof above 15 years and at the time of the discussion (late Feb) one company, Coastal as I recall, just changed to 5 years on roofs.

DISCLAIMER - I did not research this, nor think too much about it, I am recalling and recounting as best I can. With the additional time available, perhaps someone else can look it.

FWIW

..........and there you have it: Money, it it goes to court, a $15,000 roof turns into a $150,000 roof plus the cost of defending yourself in the courtroom, if the insurance company loses the case . Many judges are influenced by the "optics". It is the consumer against the big insurance company with deep pockets. Who's it going to hurt?

[Lightning]

I have noticed that many of my neighbors, just south of Lake Sumter, are receiving new roofs from their insurance companies. I was approached by a roofer wanting to file a claim for me for the dammange of "past" storms. He claimed he could get my deductible, as well. He indicated that he has a lawyer, out of Tampa, who handles the claim application on my behalf. My roof is 14 years old. they picked at the edges of the tabs to see if they were loose and take lots of pictures. I could see no obvious signs of damage. I can't imagine any adjuster paying a claim. Seems like insurance fraud to me.

If you are replacing your roof AND have a lightning protection system (LPS) commonly called lightning rods you should have the system removed by a UL listed LPS installer who is a Master Installer according to Lightning Protection Institute criteria. At the completion of the re-roofing the LPS installer should re-install the LPS.

You should also be aware that door-to-door installers of LPS may not have installed your system according to NFPA-780, The National Standard on Lightning Protection Systems. If that is the case you should be prepared to pay the cost to bring the system up to the above national standard.

[rrb48310]

All original roofs, in The Villages, North of 466 are between 17 and 20 years old. Insurance companies, like American Integrity, are refusing to renew or write new homeowners policies unless the roofs are replaced. We have had 2 major wind events in the last year, one last August and then again in early February of this year. Many roofs show damage from those events and may be eligible for an insurance claim.

We did file a claim and, right now, are waiting for the decision from the adjuster who came out and inspected the roof. It's not a given that they will replace the entire roof. In some cases they might only be willing to repair the obvious damage. It's kind of a crap shoot. We are working with a roofer, who was present when the inspection was made and was able to point out the issues he had observed.

If all goes well, and the need for replacement is confirmed, we'll just be responsible for our $1000 deductible. If not, it's a 15k to 20k job. :(

The bottom line is, everybody whose home was built North of 466, and still has the original roof, will need to replace it in the next 3 years or so. Start budgeting accordingly.

Good luck, but we went this, American Integerity as of Jan. 2019 added a exclusion for roofs that in short only covers shingles that were damaged. The problem is on older roofs the shingles aren’t pliable so when repairing the wind damaged shingles nearby older shingles break and those aren’t covered by American Integerity ( one of the ONLY Insurance Companies that have this exclusions ).

I was forced to choose American Integerity because they were the only company that would insure a home with a roof over 15 years old. I was prepared and going to replace my roof this year (19 years old), but there was some wind damage so we filed a claim. Not insurance fraud real damage, our claim was approved but for replacement of the shingles that were damaged not including additional shingles that would break.

So I replaced my roof, canceled American Integerity and got an insurance company with Integerity.

[blueash]

With this near fraud, [and you know it is] surely the carriers are going to figure it out and change the language of the policies. Maybe they need to do it now. So that instead of getting a new roof you will get the depreciated value. If a roof has a 20 year life and it is 15 years old when a wind damages it, you get covered for 1/4 of the cost as you have used 3/4 of its lifespan. It is the same process as if you total your car. You don't get paid for a new car to replace your 15 year old car. Everyone would be crashing their car if this were the case. Now everyone is "crashing" their roof and we will all pay in higher premiums.

[Schmuckerron]

Starting around 2000-2007 many homes were roofed using Atlas Chalet shingles.
They were found to be defective and there was a class action suit. The manufacturer was ordered to pay out boatloads of money to repair/replace the shingles. Many homeowner were not aware so they did not file a claim. Insurance companies have been replacing these roofs all over the country. Perhaps these people having theirs replaced fall into that category. They will leak over time, they crack easily and the tar around the nails bubbles and pops leaving the home vulnerable to leaks and mold. Insurance. Companies would rather replace a roof than deal with internal water damage and mold which could be more expensive.

[eremite06]

Read Fla. Statute 627.7152

[BS Beef]

If all goes well, and the need for replacement is confirmed, we'll just be responsible for our $1000 deductible. If not, it's a 15k to 20k job. :(


If they’re charging $15-$20k you should look for a new contractor. Assuming they are replacing your roof with a laminate shingle.

[BS Beef]

I have noticed that many of my neighbors, just south of Lake Sumter, are receiving new roofs from their insurance companies. I was approached by a roofer wanting to file a claim for me for the dammange of "past" storms. He claimed he could get my deductible, as well. He indicated that he has a lawyer, out of Tampa, who handles the claim application on my behalf. My roof is 14 years old. they picked at the edges of the tabs to see if they were loose and take lots of pictures. I could see no obvious signs of damage. I can't imagine any adjuster paying a claim. Seems like insurance fraud to me.

Careful, in many states it’s against the law for a contractor to “get your deductible” back. Obviously it’s insurance fraud if they/you inflate the claim to cover your deductible. I would encourage you to find a local reputable contractor. They can do a legitimate inspection of you roof and give you advise on whether to submit a claim or not. If you don’t know of a good local contractor ask your insurance agent.

[OhioBuckeye]

I have noticed that many of my neighbors, just south of Lake Sumter, are receiving new roofs from their insurance companies. I was approached by a roofer wanting to file a claim for me for the dammange of "past" storms. He claimed he could get my deductible, as well. He indicated that he has a lawyer, out of Tampa, who handles the claim application on my behalf. My roof is 14 years old. they picked at the edges of the tabs to see if they were loose and take lots of pictures. I could see no obvious signs of damage. I can't imagine any adjuster paying a claim. Seems like insurance fraud to me.

I think since we’re going through bad times I would be talking to a lawyer, contractor or someone else besides this roofer. We’re going through hard times right now, personally I would wait until the country got back on their feet. Lots of scammers out there, just wouldn’t want to see some crook taking advantage of our senior citizens. Be cautious & check this out with your lawyer or a professional you can trust. I just can’t believe that many people would need new roofs put on all at the same time. Just sounds a little fishy to me!

[Mumbles]

A Villages insurance agent told me the game is, you sign over you claim to the contractor, the insurance company may or may not allow. If they don't allow, the roofer has a lawyer who then sues. If he wins anything, the roof gets done and the lawyer gets the damages, up to 10 times the claim. It's a quirk in the law here in Florida.

FWIW

Hmm. Should attorneys take a tougher oath: "First, do no harm."? Has worked reasonably well for physicians.

[davem4616]

if you have integrity nothing else matters....if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters

[MarvM]

Have a reputable roofer examine your roof. He will tell you if there is sufficient damage to file an insurance claim. Last spring I had a person come to my door and told me a similar story. I called the a local roofer and asked him to examine my roof, which he did and said there was sufficient wind damage to file a claim. I did file the claim, and the roofer and my insurance company worked together to agree to terms. I did pay my deductible which was small compared to the cost of my new roof. My roof was 19 years old at the time. The entire roof was brought up to current code and architectural shingles and more extensive venting installed.

[ProfessorDave]

Most of these claims are due to a hail storm that came through in the past year. You likely wouldn't notice - but if the shingle is damaged over time a) granules will dislodge, b) the UV sun will destroy the asphalt underneath and c) the roof will leak. Surprisingly, 20% of all new roofs in the United States are replaced by insurance due to hail damage. This is especially true in states like Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. Hope that helps.

[CWGUY]

if you have integrity nothing else matters....if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters


:ho: Best saying that I've seen in awhile! Thank you.

[CWGUY]

Hmm. Should attorneys take a tougher oath: "First, do no harm."? Has worked reasonably well for physicians.

:shrug: How long before we see the billboards.....Dan got my 22 year old "20 YEAR" roof replaced for free. Told them it was storm damage..... Thank you Dan...... screw my neighbors insurance premiums! :icon_wink:

[Leslie peikin]

I think that, by law, insurance rates cannot be raised because of an "act of God" which would be the case in an insurance claim for a roof damaged by wind, hail, etc.

[retiredguy123]

I think that, by law, insurance rates cannot be raised because of an "act of God" which would be the case in an insurance claim for a roof damaged by wind, hail, etc.
Huh? Almost all homeowner claims are for acts of God. Why do you think insurance on beachfront property and in flood zones is so expensive? Hurricanes and floods.

[BS Beef]

I think that, by law, insurance rates cannot be raised because of an "act of God" which would be the case in an insurance claim for a roof damaged by wind, hail, etc.
It just has to be approved by the state insurance commissioner. Their a wreck. That’s why there are so few large companies willing to write policies down there. Bet you had a different company in your home state than you have now. I know I do.

[terrydinning]

Sounds fishy to me.

[Shadow8IA]

I got a notice from Progressive insurance about this a few months ago. They said never to assign your benefits to anyone.




I am curious as to why insurance companies don't warn their customers about the pitfalls of signing an "assignment of benefits" agreement that roofers present to the customers? It seems like the right thing for insurance companies to do. Do they not have any influence or control over these contractual agreements?

[bpascani]

I have noticed that many of my neighbors, just south of Lake Sumter, are receiving new roofs from their insurance companies. I was approached by a roofer wanting to file a claim for me for the dammange of "past" storms. He claimed he could get my deductible, as well. He indicated that he has a lawyer, out of Tampa, who handles the claim application on my behalf. My roof is 14 years old. they picked at the edges of the tabs to see if they were loose and take lots of pictures. I could see no obvious signs of damage. I can't imagine any adjuster paying a claim. Seems like insurance fraud to me.
Yes, it is, in a way. By giving them that opportunity, you will be required to sign a piece of paper, which really is "assignment of benefits", which actually means they own your roof, which means they own your house. We lost a house that we wanted to buy because of this (and the owner didn't disclose it!). The insurance company denied the claim, so the owner was pretty much stuck..didn't want to pay for replacing the roof, but now it was "reported", so we couldn't get insurance or our mortgage!! Thank GOODNESS our insurance broker did the due diligence well. We found this out about a week before we closed, and AFTER we had had the home inspection! It was a mess. By pass that "help" and contact your insurance agent yourself, if you think you need to have it checked out. I'm happy to say, that we did find a wonderful home, in a lovely neighborhood, with awesome neighbors! ....good things come to he who waits!!!

[remarks006]

I did the same , per recommendation from a friend , as I saw lots of roofs going up around me👍.

[ts12755]

Dont ruin it. Saved a lot of us Thousands of dollars. The insurance companies have to pay claims otherwise they've got to reduce the rates

[rmd2]

I have noticed that many of my neighbors, just south of Lake Sumter, are receiving new roofs from their insurance companies. I was approached by a roofer wanting to file a claim for me for the dammange of "past" storms. He claimed he could get my deductible, as well. He indicated that he has a lawyer, out of Tampa, who handles the claim application on my behalf. My roof is 14 years old. they picked at the edges of the tabs to see if they were loose and take lots of pictures. I could see no obvious signs of damage. I can't imagine any adjuster paying a claim. Seems like insurance fraud to me.

It is fraud and the insurance companies are in Tallahassee trying to get something done about it. Don't know if they can... My agent explained this to me after I questioned why my insurance rates went up over 30% in 2 years. We are paying for all these new roofs.

[rmd2]

All original roofs, in The Villages, North of 466 are between 17 and 20 years old. Insurance companies, like American Integrity, are refusing to renew or write new homeowners policies unless the roofs are replaced. We have had 2 major wind events in the last year, one last August and then again in early February of this year. Many roofs show damage from those events and may be eligible for an insurance claim.

We did file a claim and, right now, are waiting for the decision from the adjuster who came out and inspected the roof. It's not a given that they will replace the entire roof. In some cases they might only be willing to repair the obvious damage. It's kind of a crap shoot. We are working with a roofer, who was present when the inspection was made and was able to point out the issues he had observed.

If all goes well, and the need for replacement is confirmed, we'll just be responsible for our $1000 deductible. If not, it's a 15k to 20k job. :(

The bottom line is, everybody whose home was built North of 466, and still has the original roof, will need to replace it in the next 3 years or so. Start budgeting accordingly.

I have AI insurance and I had to pay a $4,500 deductible.

[CWGUY]

Dont ruin it. Saved a lot of us Thousands of dollars. The insurance companies have to pay claims otherwise they've got to reduce the rates

:icon_wink: Did you read post #28? :oops:

[Challenger]

I think that, by law, insurance rates cannot be raised because of an "act of God" which would be the case in an insurance claim for a roof damaged by wind, hail, etc.

your reference is to the rate for an individual that has made a recent claim. Does not refer to the cumulative effect of hundreds or thousands of fraudulent
claims and the overall experience of that class of insureds.

[Kahuna32162]

I have AI insurance and I had to pay a $4,500 deductible.

Your level of deductible was your choice when you purchased your homeowners policy. It might be that high in an effort to keep your premiums lower

[caljeff]

I live in the Village of Pine Ridge adjacent to Drake and Moyer Loop. I had my roof replaced in 2/20. The replacement was not due to any weather related damage, but the roof underlayment product liquified. This caused both a dark and white residue to accumulate in the valleys of my roof. After going through a six month process it was replaced free of charge to me. There are several in my neighborhood who have or are currently having their roof replaced in the same manner. I should mention that in our cases neither lawyers, insurance companies or sidewalk solicitors were involved.

[brianherlihy]

I bought a villa in October 2019. In January 2020 I received a letter from American Integrity saying (non-renewal) for October 2020. When I contacted my agent he sent me an inspection report with pics, that I didn't know existed. It indicated missing shingles and curling. I was shocked! Then the agent told me to send a letter to American Integrity that I would change to ACV versus Replacement cost. I said a big NO.
I put my ladder up and went around the villa with a camera and there are NOT any missing shingles and 99 % of the roof has NO curling.
In late Septemeber I am going to challenge the insurance companies inspection and suggest I may need a lawyer. Anyone have any other ideas.

[vintageogauge]

I am currently a regional insurance claim manager and live in TV. If you think you might have a claim, call your insurer. DO NOT LET ANYONE SOLICITING DOOR TO DOOR onto your roof. We have had 4 claims for damage to roofs in TV. We were skeptical and retained an engineer to inspect the damages. Two reports are not completed. One found no wind/hail related damage. One said there was damage, however it was described as "mechanical" damage. "Mechanical" damage means the damage may have been caused by foot traffic or in some cases, intentional. Contact The Villages Community Watch 750-0550 to determine what company has complaints filed. I know Sumter County Sheriff had a investigation going because I was interviewed by a detective. The sheriff has referred their findings to either the State's Attorney's office or the Attorney General's office. One of my friends was approached. Their insurer and another roofer inspected their roof and did find damage. Beware, however!!!

I had this happen in Ohio just 4 years ago. The company that was going door to door after a storm said there was wind damage, they brought our insurance company in and they refused to allow the repair stating there was no damage, less than 2 weeks later we had a rain storm and water came through the roof damaging the ceilings, walls, murals, paint, clothing in the closets, carpet, etc. I then filed a claim with the insurance company and it ended up costing them nearly twice what it would have had the agreed to the repair in the first place. This same door to door company went to my son's home and got him a new roof, while they were there they noticed hail damage on his aluminum siding and gutters, since they no longer made the aluminum siding, these guys got his house completely re-sided with with vinyl siding along with new gutters and down spouts. I would not hesitate in using them again.

[retiredguy123]

I bought a villa in October 2019. In January 2020 I received a letter from American Integrity saying (non-renewal) for October 2020. When I contacted my agent he sent me an inspection report with pics, that I didn't know existed. It indicated missing shingles and curling. I was shocked! Then the agent told me to send a letter to American Integrity that I would change to ACV versus Replacement cost. I said a big NO.
I put my ladder up and went around the villa with a camera and there are NOT any missing shingles and 99 % of the roof has NO curling.
In late Septemeber I am going to challenge the insurance companies inspection and suggest I may need a lawyer. Anyone have any other ideas.
How old is the roof? If it is more than 15 years old, why wouldn't you want an actual cash value insurance policy for the roof? Do you think the insurance company would owe you a new roof even though the roof is already almost past it's normal life span? I really don't think a lawyer will help because the insurance company has no legal obligation to renew your policy. Often, insurance companies do not want to insure a house with an old roof because, when high winds damage the roof, there is also damage to the interior of the house, which they are required to pay for. You may want to consider replacing the roof yourself, which will give you more insurance options at a lower cost.

[brianherlihy]

The villa is 15 years old, however according to Owens Corning warranty the shingles have a 25 year warranty (within 2 owners) and I am the third.
American Integrity insured me for a year, so I am going to wait it out. I am not looking for them to give me a new roof.
The point is that the inspection was a joke, no curling or missing tiles. I guess they do what they need, to rip me off!
I will probably go with ACV when the first year ends because I am not going to replace a roof that is fine. I have had the company for six years and never made a claim.
Thanks for your input.