If a contractor knocked on your door to tell you that you have hail damage to your roof, you might be inclined to believe them, especially with Florida’s storm history. But in many cases this is a scam.
HOW IT WORKS
They may even show you the “hail damage.” However, in many cases the damage is either manufactured or simply normal wear and tear on an aging roof, which is NOT covered by your insurance policy.
ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS: What Does a Contractor Gain From This, and What Could You Lose?
At this point, the contractor may ask you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) contract, putting them in control of a claim your insurance company may not cover.
The roof contractor may or may not do any work, waiting for the money from your insurance company. Similar to your car insurance company not paying to put on new brake pads, as this is normal wear and tear as well, your homeowners insurance company does not replace roofs due to normal wear and tear. If the claim is denied, you will be responsible for payment. If not paid, the contractor could even put a lien on the home because you signed the Assignment of Benefits contract.
FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO AVOID GETTING SCAMMED
- Call in your claim right away. The sooner the claim is reported to us, the better we can help manage the process and protect your benefits. Only your insurance company can tell you what is covered under your policy. A trained engineer can tell the difference between manufactured damage, hail, and normal wear and tear.
- Don’t sign contracts you don’t fully understand. Any contract that includes Assignment of Benefits is something that needs to be read carefully to fully understand the impact on you.
- Beware of anyone who solicits your business or tries to convince you they can get you something for free. For example, if someone knocks on your door and offers to replace your roof for free, most of these people are looking to profit from a false claim.
- To provide the best service, we have partnered with Preferred Repair Network to assist you with finding a contractor to help with repairs of all types.