Insurance CLAIMS
Insurance Deductibles…
and why it’s illegal for a Roofing Contractor to “cover them”
In an effort to help educate our potential customers, we decided to provide you with the following information- based on the incredible number of times we were asked this question after the 2003 hail storms. “Will you work with my deductible?”
The Roofing (or other) Contractor wants your business so badly they tell you, “don’t worry about your deductible, we’ll take care of it”. Seems harmless right? Seems like just a “discount”, right? WRONG! Here are some things we remind our customers:
Your insurance company is going to send out an adjuster who is going to prepare an estimate and issue you a check. It is possible, and well within their right under your policy to withhold a portion of the payout as “recoverable depreciation”. The only way the homeowner recovers the remaining portion of the claim is if the work is completed and it exceed the amount of the first check issued and the deductible responsibility.
In order for a Roofing or other contractor to “absorb” your deductible cost and still get paid the remainder of the claim, they need to prepare and submit a fraudulent invoice. The invoice will have to charge the total cost of the roof/project to exceed the first check and deductible responsibility for the claim. Once the carrier issues the depreciation check and it is received by the homeowner, the contractor prepares a second invoice that reflects the cost of the job without the deductible cost for the homeowner. That is the fraud. Once you become a party to the fraud you are as responsible as the perpetrator of it.
Under the Insurance Fraud Chapter (35) of the Texas Penal Code “Offenses Against Property”, if you are a party to the fraud listed above then, you have committed an offense under this section. Specifically, under35.02,Section B, number 3 or 4:
A Class A misdemeanor if the value of the claim is $500 or more but less than $1,500.00; or
A state jail felony if the value of the claim is $1,500.00 or more but less than $20,000.00.”
Residential Roof Repair / replacement
If you're in need of a repair or replace your roof, Saw Roofing specializes in all types of compositions. Leaks and damage can be caused by a variety of things and can cause thousands of dollars. Storm damage from wind, hail or tree limbs can cause enough damage to create a leak. Let our team inspect your roof for any problems and determine the proper repair that you might need.
Commercial Roofing
Our commercial roofing team offers a full range of services. We work on a wide variety of styles. Find out why SAW Roofing is the great choice you can make when roofing your home or business.
