A while back a pretty nasty hail storm came through and caused quite a bit of roof damage in my neighborhood. At first glance my roof seemed OK, but with contractors floating around the neighborhood I figured I'd flag one down and have them take a look. The front side was relatively unscathed, but the back was pretty beat up. The contractor and I talked a bit and I ended up filing a claim. Several neighbors did the same, and have since had their roofs replaced.
I on the other hand, have had nothing but trouble. The inspector looked at the roof, and said they wouldn't pay because the shingles were degraded due to age. The house is 9 years old, roughly the same age as the rest of the neighborhood. I know they are low quality shingles, but even I could see some pretty obvious hail hits on otherwise good condition shingles. Even the gutters had dents in them. I called back and asked for a re-inspection with the roofing guy present and a few days ago received a letter that said they were still going to deny the claim.
During the storm, one piece of siding on the house had a pretty nice hole knocked in it, and they did pay for that. I'm not sure if they are thinking this is enough to buy me off or what. My next door neighbor uses a small insurance company, and they redid his entire roof and both skylights with no hassle. Any ideas to get my company to cover the damage? I'm not sure what other details I need to include but let me know and I can get them.
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SiGuyUWP said:A while back a pretty nasty hail storm came through and caused quite a bit of roof damage in my neighborhood. At first glance my roof seemed OK, but with contractors floating around the neighborhood I figured I'd flag one down and have them take a look. The front side was relatively unscathed, but the back was pretty beat up. The contractor and I talked a bit and I ended up filing a claim. Several neighbors did the same, and have since had their roofs replaced.
I on the other hand, have had nothing but trouble. The inspector looked at the roof, and said they wouldn't pay because the shingles were degraded due to age. The house is 9 years old, roughly the same age as the rest of the neighborhood. I know they are low quality shingles, but even I could see some pretty obvious hail hits on otherwise good condition shingles. Even the gutters had dents in them. I called back and asked for a re-inspection with the roofing guy present and a few days ago received a letter that said they were still going to deny the claim.
During the storm, one piece of siding on the house had a pretty nice hole knocked in it, and they did pay for that. I'm not sure if they are thinking this is enough to buy me off or what. My next door neighbor uses a small insurance company, and they redid his entire roof and both skylights with no hassle. Any ideas to get my company to cover the damage? I'm not sure what other details I need to include but let me know and I can get them.
This is total BS. They HAVE to cover your roof, plain and simple. If your company is Nationwide I may be able to help you out. I have many friends that work at their corporate headquarters. Shoot me a PM if it is.
Contact your state insurance commissioner and file a complaint. That might get your company moving on this. Insurance companies hate handling complaints from the insurance commissioner's office.
Document in a letter what has happened so far and threaten to file a bad-faith lawsuit if the claim is not paid immediately. And file the suit if the claim isn't paid.
Talk to your local agent first (if there is one). If no immediate results, then confirm your policy language and then go with your state insurance commission.
Everyone loves to tell you that you should get an attorney, but keep in mind - (1) the cost of that attorney might exceed the cost of your roof repairs and his services won't guarantee you a win; (2) insurance companies have departments staffed with nothing but attorneys - you threatening to sue them will only give one of those salaried attorneys something to do.
bigdaddycincinnati said:Document in a letter what has happened so far and threaten to file a bad-faith lawsuit if the claim is not paid immediately. And file the suit if the claim isn't paid. Document. Then go to the state regulators. They will know U R serious. Consider the courts only as the last resort, not the first.
Insurance companies are very wary about bad-faith claims because they can be hit with punitive damages. The repeated denial of a clear-cut homeowner's claim (which is what the OP alleges that he has) is insurer bad faith. Letting the insurer know that you understand bad-faith claims very well may result in a quick reversal of their decision.
turtlebug said:Contact your state insurance commissioner and file a complaint. That might get your company moving on this. Insurance companies hate handling complaints from the insurance commissioner's office.
The commissioners office has NO power I've been through this before in more than one state and it is a waste of time.
Get another appraiser and get a different roof guy. Start over. Then if that doesn't work get an attorney.
A year ago a major hailstorm caused replacements on 7/10 roofs in a 5 mile radius! The insurances companies bent over backwards for us and everyone around us. The one guy who had trouble was an attorney and said the word 'arbitration' that was all it took to get a new roof
wackyrabbit said:turtlebug said:Contact your state insurance commissioner and file a complaint. That might get your company moving on this. Insurance companies hate handling complaints from the insurance commissioner's office.
The commissioners office has NO power I've been through this before in more than one state and it is a waste of time.
Get another appraiser and get a different roof guy. Start over. Then if that doesn't work get an attorney.
A year ago a major hailstorm caused replacements on 7/10 roofs in a 5 mile radius! The insurances companies bent over backwards for us and everyone around us. The one guy who had trouble was an attorney and said the word 'arbitration' that was all it took to get a new roof
I'm sorry that going this route did not help in your prior situation(s), but speaking from experience, receiving a complaint from the Insurance Commissioner's office does get the company's attention. In addition to contacting his IC, the OP could also secure a couple of damage estimates verifying hail damage and submit them with photographs and a certified letter (RRR) demanding that his carrier pay his claim within "X" period of time [set a deadline, keep copies of everything and document any & all phone conversations]. If the company denies the claim in writing or fails to respond before the deadline, he may potentialy have a bad faith case.
This is just my personal opinion and is not intended as any form of legal advice. You should seek the opinion of an attorney for legal advice.
Hi, I am in the construction industry in Atlanta area SW. Hail storms here caused a great deal of damage, and yes many roofs were and are being replaced. Often times, adjusters are hired by companies when catastrophic evens occur...even though they have no real "hail" experience. Did your adjuster walk the roof? Did your contractor walk the roof with him/her? You have the option also of hiring your own private inspector, preferably a CAT adjuster with hail damage experience. You can directly appeal the decision, with an adjuster’s inspection report. Prior to going to the Insurance Commissioners offices. Most times...a private hire adjuster works just fine. If your contractor was NOT there during the adjusters inspection, certainly request another one...and have EXPERIENCED roofing company there to meet and walk the roof. Many times...every day roofers...are not.....verbally strong with their knowledge Please use a well educated...in business for years....type of contractor...who can represent his/her company and your hail damage well. This is my first reply...hope it helps!
handymanforhire said:Hi, I am in the construction industry in Atlanta area SW. Hail storms here caused a great deal of damage, and yes many roofs were and are being replaced. Often times, adjusters are hired by companies when catastrophic evens occur...even though they have no real "hail" experience. Did your adjuster walk the roof? Did your contractor walk the roof with him/her? You have the option also of hiring your own private inspector, preferably a CAT adjuster with hail damage experience. You can directly appeal the decision, with an adjuster’s inspection report. Prior to going to the Insurance Commissioners offices. Most times...a private hire adjuster works just fine. If your contractor was NOT there during the adjusters inspection, certainly request another one...and have EXPERIENCED roofing company there to meet and walk the roof. Many times...every day roofers...are not.....verbally strong with their knowledge Please use a well educated...in business for years....type of contractor...who can represent his/her company and your hail damage well. This is my first reply...hope it helps!
Get yourself an independent adjuster, the one that works for you. They usually charged based on the % of the $$$ that you can collect from the insurance company. If you get the good one, they usually be able to help you collect enough money to pay the adjuster and to do your complete repair. Good luck
I think about 95% of people from Cincinnati have dealt with the insurance company with regard to storm damage over the past year. I know of some friends that had some absolute horror stories in trying to get roofs repaired. The net takeaway is that it all depends on your company and coverage.
Message edited by: dmlavigne1 on 2009-10-27 11:07:47 CDT
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Please use a well educated...in business
