Below is a reprint from Online Athens. I didn't add anything and as you can see by the dead links and weird ad, I didn't take anything away.
Colmans: Be wary of roof damage scams
There was a knock on my door last week. This guy and his "Girl Friday" were there to tell me that I might have roof damage from recent hailstorms. His company is working "in our neighborhood repairing a roof" and we could get a free roof inspection to see if we have damage, too.
Just this week, I saw a sign in front of a house a few blocks away from my office. It read, "Want a free roof?" Of course, it was a roofing company trolling for business.
This situation is not confined to Central and North Georgia. These "free roof" guys are on the move and now reported to be active in South Carolina and Alabama.
Just a few days ago, there was a story in a Birmingham, Ala., newspaper about Tuscaloosa police warning area residents about this particular scam.
What does "a free roof" really mean? Here's how this approach works. The roofer or contractor tells the homeowner there is hail damage from a recent storm, and says his company will waive the cost of the deductible the homeowner will pay his or her insurance company. That means the individual gets a "free roof."
Remember the old saying "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?" The fact is, just because a roofer or building contractor says there is damage, it will be up to the insurance company adjuster to determine if there is damage at all; if that damage is caused by a severe enough hailstorm; or if there is damage that is "manufactured" through fraudulent means. There's no such thing as a "free roof."
The homeowner should be aware that a storm with large enough hail to cause damage is a matter of record by the National Weather Service and by private weather information gathering businesses that insurers and others count on for detailed information on storm location, movement and severity that includes the size of the hail in a given storm.
Here are other issues to consider.
► If there are no water stains on the ceilings in your home and you have inspected your attic (if that's possible), there might not be any roof damage. Similarly, if there has been no damage to other parts of your property, then there might not have been any roof damage. Any dents in your air conditioner or damaged plants? Hail doesn't just hit roofs.
► Homeowners insurance is not intended to simply provide a new roof. The homeowner obtains a policy to insure against the risk of damage from the weather, fire or other calamities as described in the insurance policy.
► It is up to the homeowner to replace the roof that has worn out over a period of years through natural wear and tear.
► A door-to-door solicitor should be a concern to a homeowner when there is a vague assertion that one's roof might have hail damage.
It always is a good idea to check with the local Better Business Bureau before engaging a soliciting contractor as opposed to one you contact and know about regarding the firm's reputation.
• David Colmans is the executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service. Contact him at (770) 565-3806 or dcolmans@giis.org.
