Beware of potential threat - Roofing Contractors soliciting claims

[Chatbrat]

Our door bell just rang- a man, with a name tag -saying he was with a roofing company-be it either Apex or Ace--we told him to go away -he was walk-in down our street & I warned our neighbors-when I asked him what was his vehicle--he said he did not drive
OK -the tag # is ELC-T62 =don't let this person or persons in

[rtime]

After reading your post I decided to call community watch. I asked them about the No Solicitation signs on the entry gates. I knew about the people with the religious callings but community watch says that has all changed and anyone is allowed to come to your door now. Ask them to leave and if they don't you can call the sheriff and they will be charged for trespassing. As far as the sign on the gate, that only applies to us. We can't go out into our area and try to sell something we have door to door.

[retiredguy123]

The solution is to put a "No Soliciting" sign on your front door.

[Aw Man]

Our door bell just rang- a man, with a name tag -saying he was with a roofing company-be it either Apex or Ace--we told him to go away -he was walk-in down our street & I warned our neighbors-when I asked him what was his vehicle--he said he did not drive
OK -the tag # is ELC-T62 =don't let this person or persons in

Why would you answer the door for someone you aren’t expecting and that you don’t know?
And having done that, why would you converse with them?

[Stu from NYC]

Roofing guy came here about two weeks ago and told him not interested please leave and he did.

[billlaur]

something is not rite..so soliciting is allowed by outside vendors, is what they told you..

[Chatbrat]

The Admiral called community watch and was told former Gov Scott had rescinded the no soliciting restricting on public roads

[rtime]

Yes, so much for living in a deed restricted communty.

[ColdNoMore]

I've had both an "Apex" and "APC" roofing companies leave cards in the last few months.

One is from Longwood and the other from Winter Garden.

I don't answer the door since I can peek and see if it's someone I know...but have quite a stack of cards. :D

And no, I would never think about whining to Community Watch...since I do understand the law.


...can mention race in these politically sensitive times--but I hope you can figure it out.

1. I assume you meant..."can't mention race?"

2. What in the world would that have to do with anything, anyway, unless...? :ohdear:


.

[Velvet]

It helps to use a Ring doorbell especially during these Covid days to answer your doorbell. You answer on your smart phone and talk remotely. They also know that you have video of them. I screen people who come to the door.

One day a lady came by several times insisting that she have a chance to talk to me. I was always “taking a bath”. Then one day I watched her go away and she golf carted home to a nearby property. Next time she came I opened the door. She was determined to meet me, a new resident, and pass on our community social invitations.

[rustyp]

I am confused. Independent of The Villages local regulations is it legal per the tri counties to door to door solicit ?

[gadaboutgal]

Door to Door sales in Florida are addressed in the Florida Statutes code: Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0501/Sections/0501.022.html)
The jist of this law is that a salesperson must have a county issued permit for door to door sales activity except where they have been requested to come to the home by the homeowner and for a few other exceptions.

[rmd2]

Door to Door sales in Florida are addressed in the Florida Statutes code: Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0501/Sections/0501.022.html)
The jist of this law is that a salesperson must have a county issued permit for door to door sales activity except where they have been requested to come to the home by the homeowner and for a few other exceptions.

I would take this to mean Community Watch could ask any door to door solicitor for this information and if they don't have it ask them to leave our community.

[danglanzsr]

The person was a scam artist @ best--can mention race in these politically sensitive times--but I hope you can figure it out

Roofing companies have had representatives approach almost every residence in our neighborhood. As a result, almost everyone got a new roof, paid for by their insurance companies. Apex is one of the companies performing the work. It is not a scam and I cannot imagine why you think the company representive was a scam artist. Did you just assume anyone of the condition you couldn't mention was a criminal?

BTW, somene else mentioned calling the sheriff and having the person arrested for trespass. It won't happen unless the person has been issued a trespass notice during a prior visit or your property has been "posted". Just tell them to go away.

[bonrich]

I just tell the individual I am not the owner, I am renting the house. That always works.

[2mnydogs]

This is where the problems start. There was a solicitor, period. Race does not enter into the picture. The name of the company was sufficient for identification purposes.

[Neils]

Community watch does just that “ watch”. They will not stop and ask or communicate with potential threats.
When a strange person Came out of the woods and was walking on our street late at night i call the “watch” just to ask them to check it out. Their response was “ we can call the police for you, we do not question anyone”.

I quickly learned the community watch is a huge waste of $$ just like the community security gates.
All are designed by the developer to create a look of security which helps sell homes.
Both the community watch and the security gates are 100% paid for by the residents.

[Girlcopper]

I came to the door, told the person to go away--after he left-I shadowed him down the street and warned everyone whose house he approached

The person was a scam artist @ best--can mention race in these politically sensitive times--but I hope you can figure it out

Person with a card on their lapel doesn't give them any credibility
Opened your door to a stranger? Decided he was suspicious? Shadowed him down the street? Told people beware because YOU felt he was a scammer? Seriously? This has to be the joke of the day! :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[513Jim]

Apex ignores rules on soliciting...says something about their ethics right off the bat.
They also insist on an
A.O.B.
Assignment Of Benefits, while these are not illegal in the state of Florida, they can be troublesome.
Your insurance company, the BBB, and the Attorney General all have warnings about signing one.
Yes there is wind damage from two different storms, but no, you do not need this company's assistance.

[Bikeracer2009]

After reading the post and the comments I went back to the original post to read it again, all references to the person's race were edited out. I guess it was not important after all?

I've mentioned in other post that this is the most racist place I've ever lived in. I'm not saying the commenter's statement was racist because I don't want to offend anyone. Just know that outside the bubble a person's race being mentioned so as to imply a criminal act must in progress is considered a racist comment.

[Krista]

Yes, this happened to me as well and because I was in fact looking to have our roof replaced I asked for some information. Surprisingly he had none. He didn’t have a pamphlet and didn’t even offer me to speak to someone who had any knowledge of the product he was trying to sell! That makes me very suspicious, what are they really up to?

[Windguy]

Why would you answer the door for someone you aren’t expecting and that you don’t know?
And having done that, why would you converse with them?

I have quarterly sprinkler maintenance done and don’t know when they are coming or who it will be. They come to the door so they can have access to the timer in my garage. So, there’s one reason why someone would answer the door when they don’t know the person.

[theruizs]

Community watch does just that “ watch”. They will not stop and ask or communicate with potential threats.
When a strange person Came out of the woods and was walking on our street late at night i call the “watch” just to ask them to check it out. Their response was “ we can call the police for you, we do not question anyone”.

I quickly learned the community watch is a huge waste of $$ just like the community security gates.
All are designed by the developer to create a look of security which helps sell homes.
Both the community watch and the security gates are 100% paid for by the residents.

We had left to visit relatives in Iowa for several days and left our garage door open. Community Watch called the contact number on file for us and let us know. I told him there was a remote in the golf cart so he closed the door for us and returned the remote later.

They patrol the neighborhoods over night also. They may not detain or approach anyone but they are eyes and ears that can call the police if they see anything out of the ordinary. But if you see something, don’t call them to call the police, call the police yourself.

Same with the gates. The person at the attended gates will not stop anyone, but they can call for help if they do see someone they are concerned about come through. And all the gates, both attended and unattended, have cameras to photograph everyone coming through. They are good enough to even get the license numbers of cars.

IMO, there is good value in both the gates and Community Watch.

[McGyver9]

These people walking the streets, in sweltering heat, are just making a living.
There's NO reason to be mean/rude to them.
Just say "no thank you", or if you're interested, ask them for their card so you can check them out...
Then get on here and complain about them if you must....if it makes you feel better.

The lady that came to MY door actually THANKED me, for being "SO nice" to her.

So much for being the village of "friendly folks"...

[kendi]

It helps to use a Ring doorbell especially during these Covid days to answer your doorbell. You answer on your smart phone and talk remotely. They also know that you have video of them. I screen people who come to the door.

One day a lady came by several times insisting that she have a chance to talk to me. I was always “taking a bath”. Then one day I watched her go away and she golf carted home to a nearby property. Next time she came I opened the door. She was determined to meet me, a new resident, and pass on our community social invitations.

She must consider you to be a very clean person, always in the tub.

[kendi]

These people walking the streets, in sweltering heat, are just making a living.
There's NO reason to be mean/rude to them.
Just say "no thank you", or if you're interested, ask them for their card so you can check them out...
Then get on here and complain about them if you must....if it makes you feel better.

The lady that came to MY door actually THANKED me, for being "SO nice" to her.

So much for being the village of "friendly folks"...

No, don’t encourage complaining on social media. If you must complain keep as a private conversation with friends or family. Too much negativity spread around otherwise.

[jimlambert]

Bingo

[davem4616]

Opened your door to a stranger? Decided he was suspicious? Shadowed him down the street? Told people beware because YOU felt he was a scammer? Seriously? This has to be the joke of the day! :rolleyes::rolleyes:



perhaps the OP was pulling our leg...however some folks are prone to putting themselves at risk by overstepping

following a stranger that they suspect is a bad actor around the neighborhood is among the dumbest things I've ever heard....and then they wonder why bad things happen

ya can't fix stupid

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

I came to the door, told the person to go away--after he left-I shadowed him down the street and warned everyone whose house he approached

The person was a scam artist @ best--can mention race in these politically sensitive times--but I hope you can figure it out

Person with a card on their lapel doesn't give them any credibility he told you who he was and handed you a card which you did not have to accept and told him to leave which he did and then you stalked him down the street that he was legally walking on . I know who was wrong here and it wasn’t the sales person

[Linda Taranto]

This same company came by many homes in our Village (Largo) and strummed up a lot of business. If he can get your Insurance Company to agree that you need a new roof, his company gets the business. It's time for them to stop! He came to my door and said he could see my roof from a neighbor's roof and thought it looked damaged. I let him go up, the insurance inspector came a few days later and the roof is fine. It's aged, but not bad.

[024engine]

He is legit. They are inspecting your roof and if they find damage that can be attributed to a storm?, they will meet with the insurance co. And you could get a new roof and only pay the deductible. That is the reason for so many new roofs in the villages.

[thebollaros]

The solution is to put a "No Soliciting" sign on your front door.

I say the solution is get a bigger dog!

[New Englander]

With all these new roofs paid for by the insurance companies no wonder why our rates have gone up.

[Curtisbwp]

Roofers....there at least 12 roofs being replaced in my neighborhood. A roofer came to my home and asked ih he could inspect my roof. I saw no harm so i allowed it. I do not take the word of ANY contracter who is looking to make money off me. I called my insurance company who promptly dispached THEIR ROFFING EXPERT. He went on my roof to inspect, went to his car, a mobile office, and 30 minutes later handed me a check for $8,500.00 with an explanation that they would pay up to $24,000. If necessary....no cost to me...arent you glad you turned him away?


Our door bell just rang- a man, with a name tag -saying he was with a roofing company-be it either Apex or Ace--we told him to go away -he was walk-in down our street & I warned our neighbors-when I asked him what was his vehicle--he said he did not drive
OK -the tag # is ELC-T62 =don't let this person or persons in

[yankygrl]

No matter what his man was doing, legit or not SOLICITING IS NOT ALLOWED IN TV. I usually contact Community Watch, give descriptions of person and vehicle and let them dispatch someone to area and “escort” them away.

[chrissy2231]

Don't answer the door if you don't know someone is coming. No one knocking is worth a possible home invasion, Jehovah Witness or selling something. I haven't opened my door since 1991 after having been robbed. When you go out, always leave the radio on.

[dwhite5773]

So you went to the door (ok, but do you have a sidelight in you door to see who’s out there?). You opened the door and conversed (were they wearing a mask, were you, to protect yourself from a total stranger, now in our time of COVID-19?). Then you followed him down the street, so to warn your neighbors and get a license plate # (oh, that’s real smart and safe)!

The thing that upsets me most is according to TV/VCDD regulations there is to be no solicitation within The Villages UNLESS your are a qualified contractor that has or will perform work associated with the developer. And Community Watch tells the other gentleman posting there are NO solicitation restrictions now? I’d want a review of that by your VCDD board/legal counsel! Hmmmm!

[Velvet]

We have a relative up north who has a roofing company. These days he and his workers do everything remotely. They make appointment by phone, climb up to look at the roof, take photos and videos, share it with the owner. They never come in. Everything is done by phone. They work from outside. The whole process is done with no face to face at any time.

As far as answering the doorbell, I don’t like people touching it during Covid, so unless I am expecting you, please don’t come to my house.

[ColdNoMore]

With all these new roofs paid for by the insurance companies no wonder why our rates have gone up.

The same way that Florida law mandates windshield replacement, at no cost to the insured (and supposedly no premium increase)...by the insurance company.

When I first moved to Florida, I called around to get estimates on replacing my windshield and was blown away at the quotes.

They were all at least 2-3 times more than I had paid in another state...about 1-1/2 years earlier.

It wasn't until the 3rd call, when the vendor told me...I found out about the Florida law.

[Velvet]

Had a stone chip my windshield last year. When I called around to replace it, they quoted a price if I pay and a price almost 3 times as much, if insurance pays.

[Jim1mack]

A lot of roofs are displaying streaks of mold. If your roof is ten years of younger they are under warranty and the streaks can be removed at no cost to you. Check your roof especially the north side and call the warranty dept to have them cleaned.

[FredJacobs]

Roofing companies have been going through the neighborhoods that are about 15 years old. That's about the life of the average roof. Most homeowners don't know what type of roofing they have - asphalt shingle or architectural shingle. Most of the homes in my neighborhood have architectural shingles. The life span of architectural is at least 30 years.

An "inspector" goes on your roof and almost always tells you that you need a new roof (he may break something to prove it to you) and the cost is only the deductible on your homeowner's policy. He's right about that. He gives you his report to send to the insurance company and they approve the repair. So, for the cost of the deductible, $500 or $1,000, you get a new roof.

The downside is that so many homeowners have the same insurance company. The insurance company will suffer a "poor claim experience" and raise its rates for all of its policy holders. Earlier this year, I was forced to change my insurance company because my homeowner's policy rate increased 50% over the last two years. And you know it will never go down. Ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

By the way, I have architectural shingles and the new insurance company inspected the roof before approving my policy. They said that architectural shingles could last a life time.

[JoMar]

No matter what his man was doing, legit or not SOLICITING IS NOT ALLOWED IN TV. I usually contact Community Watch, give descriptions of person and vehicle and let them dispatch someone to area and “escort” them away.

If you read earlier posts you will understand why what you posted is not believable. Community Watch makes it very clear they do not enforce solicitations, don't have a rule against it and if it's an issue you need to call the Sheriff. Give Candy a call at the District and she will explain it to you.

[taruffi57]

Avg. life of roof - 15 yrs.??? WRONG
3-tabs are warranteed 25 yrs. Architecturals - 30 yrs. (both prorated)
Barring weather damage, both will actually last that long. Now they will have lost some granules and have a dull look in the last yrs. of life - and will look better with a non-pressure cleaning, but consider this. Why would a shingle manufacturer put 25 & 30 yrs. IN WRITING in their warranty pamphlets if they don't know they will last that long?
I have been in the business 41+ yrs. in Cen. Fla. and have easily been on 10,000 roofs. Apex - and others are going onto perfectly good roofs and doing things like marking up shingles with a visible-from-the-ground marker, breaking off shingle pieces and even showing the homeowner photos, on a video device of bad roof damage TAKEN ON SOMEONE ELSE'S ROOF. I have seen all of this happen. They are trying to get homeowners to sign a release for THEM to negotiate with your homeowner's insurance company and where THEY get any joint check from same. Last wk. a TV homeowner told me a roofer said she had 54 damaged shingles and $2,000 to repair. (no more than a $400-$500 job) I had previously done a small repair for her so she called me. Not one shingle was damaged. FACT: If not irretrievably weather damaged, almost no roofs in TV are yet worn out, although high winds can separate the self-sealing, shingle-to-shingle. The number of roofing companies working the Villages has skyrocketed because TV is a goldmine. Personally, I would never deal with any but a local roofing company.

[Aw Man]

I have quarterly sprinkler maintenance done and don’t know when they are coming or who it will be. They come to the door so they can have access to the timer in my garage. So, there’s one reason why someone would answer the door when they don’t know the person.

This wouldn't be acceptable to me.
Every service provider I've had in the last 5 years that needs access to my home, or needs to talk to me while here, has provided a firm date and a one or 2 hour time frame for his/her expected arrival.