KDFreder wrote:

I live in Seabrook, just outside of Houston, close to Galveston. They upped our deductible to 2% due to the hurricanes going on. We got roof and other damage due to hurricane Ike, and my deductible was over $3200. Windstorm only gave us a repair for the roof too, and not a replacement, even though the adjuster they sent out said to replace. So they authorized only 2 squares of shingles to be replaced/repaired, and still want an inspection for it, or I lose my Windstorm coverage. No roofer wants to deal w/ me unless I can get a replace. They don't need my business, of course.

sounds to me like its time to relocate. lol
_________________
-Jason

______


http://www.ARCTulsa.com
http://www.myspace.com/arcroofing

KDFreder wrote:

I live in Seabrook, just outside of Houston, close to Galveston. They upped our deductible to 2% due to the hurricanes going on. We got roof and other damage due to hurricane Ike, and my deductible was over $3200. Windstorm only gave us a repair for the roof too, and not a replacement, even though the adjuster they sent out said to replace. So they authorized only 2 squares of shingles to be replaced/repaired, and still want an inspection for it, or I lose my Windstorm coverage. No roofer wants to deal w/ me unless I can get a replace. They don't need my business, of course.

What you REALLY NEED is a roofer who will argue... er, um... negotiate appropriately on your behalf. Seriously; find a roofer who will go as many rounds as possible.

The problem is, a lot of roofers will go in circles for a customer only to have the customer end up going with someone else who was $ 100.00 cheaper.

That's why I hate to do it, but have in some cases gone to a binding contract that states I am the ONLY person who gets to replace their roof if I am able to get the insurance co. to pony up the full dollars.

It doesn't help that I personally know someone here in Austin who is an attorney & works in the dept. of insurance (he's no longer in prop & cas but has moved to life & health... but knows people & the process would run easy for me if I had to really persue it).

When I worked the hurricane in Beaumont 4 years ago, I found the locals just didn't want to spend ANY money; even with a Texas roofer. It was the oddest thing. When I worked the two hurricanes that hit West Palm / Port Saint Lucie / Fort Pierce, Florida the year or two before, I'd just about get people throwing a rock @ my truck so I'd stop & sign them up. & That was with Texas plates on my truck... (I guess it didn't hurt that I lived in Broward County for 25 years, but still...)
_________________
Do it right the 1st time & there won't have to be a 2nd time.
http://RanchHandRoofing.com

I did pay the roofer I'm working with now $1300 to 'negotiate' on my behalf with the insurance company. I signed an authorization for him to do so. That amount of $ was what they quoted to do the job if it was going to be a repair only, but he insisted on trying to negotiate to get a replacement, and wanted the $1300 as a good faith investment from me for him to work on it. I gave him the $ and he's already cashed the check.

So, I'm not trying to get him to do all the work and then go with someone cheaper once he does it. I'm trying to get an honest job and see what happens. So he's got my investment, now I'm just trying to get as educated as possible to see what would be good materials to use...

Haven't heard yet from him how the insurance thing is going, but he just got back in town today.

Right now, I'm the only one out some $.

KD, I earnestly hope your roofer continues to work for you in this capacity.

Me, I wouldn't even remotely consider giving $$ for something like that based on a 'maybe'.

The way I work, someone might sign a contingency contract but I am not going to ask for any $$ unless I'm actually doing some physical labor / having parts delivered, etc.

The 'heavy lifting' of an insurance negotiation, however, is another story & I'd hate to get some money from someone just to have to kick it back in the event I can't get it done.

I will, however, state that with some insurance companies, so long as you can wear them down & keep @ it, you can often have success.

Best of luck in this endeavor.
_________________
Do it right the 1st time & there won't have to be a 2nd time.
http://RanchHandRoofing.com

KDFreder wrote:

I did pay the roofer I'm working with now $1300 to 'negotiate' on my behalf with the insurance company. I signed an authorization for him to do so. That amount of $ was what they quoted to do the job if it was going to be a repair only, but he insisted on trying to negotiate to get a replacement, and wanted the $1300 as a good faith investment from me for him to work on it. I gave him the $ and he's already cashed the check. So, I'm not trying to get him to do all the work and then go with someone cheaper once he does it. I'm trying to get an honest job and see what happens. So he's got my investment, now I'm just trying to get as educated as possible to see what would be good materials to use... Haven't heard yet from him how the insurance thing is going, but he just got back in town today. Right now, I'm the only one out some $.

WOW. You could have called you insurance company and ask for another adjuster for free. $1300 is way too much for anyone to negotiate on a roof claim. Actually it’s probably illegal also because when you pay for someone to negotiate your insurance claim, that person needs to be a licensed public adjuster. And even then, they are only suppose to charge you 10% of the total claim. O’ well Good Luck.

You misunderstood the post tj. The 1,300 was for approved insurance repairs. Had he NOT been able to get the roof totalled, then he only gets the small repair job.
_________________
-Jason

______


http://www.ARCTulsa.com
http://www.myspace.com/arcroofing

Well, here we are again....nothing still done on my roof, and of course, the person two posts above this one was right, and I should have never paid the $1300.

Over a year past Ike, my roof is neither repaired nor replaced...but ceiling damage getting worse in my kitchen due to leaks every time it rains....

I have been strung along for 6 mos. by this contractor, who said he was not a public adjustor, and knew he couldn't claim to be as such, but still was supposed to be trying to work with TWIA to re-open my claim. Several long and frustrating months later of inaction, BS, and very rude communications with them, and being told, 'Fine I'll just refund your $'. I said, 'Fine let's do that'.

Then I get told there is a 25% cancellation fee. Cancel for what?! After 6 months dealing with them, I have no temporary repairs, no repairs at all, no replacement roof, and someone who misrepresented what he was able to do.

The original 'contract' was to be for a repair only, which I was originally agreeing to, with a 50% down at beginning of that job, which never happened. And in which the original guy came out and wrote at bottom of the proposal, 'contingent upon e-pay'. The Owner did not like that at all, as he did not want a small repair job, and is why in the first place convinced me to go for a replacement job...and is how all this started.

And this is why he asked for full amount of the repair money as 'good faith' money towards the replacement of the roof. He asked me to sign a new contract for that. He wrote it up, but I did not sign it. But I did give him the repair money quote as the 'good faith' money to supposedly work my claim.

Now he says since I just want to cancel after everything, that he will not reimburse me the full 'good faith' money, but that since that was the amount of the original repair contract, and the cancellation clause states a cancellation fee of 25%, that's all I get back: the refund minus the 25%. And by the way, the contract reads: "fifteen (25%)"... so I don't know how that contract is not voidable, anyway....

Also, he has been telling me that he would talk to Reggie Warren, head of TWIA, personally, that they are acquaintances...never did that either, until finally tells me this past week he just talked to some guy 'off the record' in the upper mgmt. office of TWIA that he needs to get a limited power of attorney to open my claim and work on my behalf with TWIA. I researched and legal advice says that giving power of attorney to roofing contractors is a scam, and they have pocketed insurance money and not completed jobs, once they got successful negotiation of claims. So I questioned him about this, and told him that I also asked TWIA about this myself, and that TWIA said that's absurd, and that they would never tell anyone to do that, and if I want to reopen my claim I have to submit sufficient proof for them to reopen it. He got very belligerent with me and said they didn't know what they were talking about, and why was I questioning him. I presume that the laws of Texas will not allow him to be my contractor to do the work, and also to be acting on my behalf on my claim in any way, so I guess the power of attorney would the only legal way he could do this. But should I give him power of attorney, or limited power of attorney, as he says, to do so, then have the ability to have control of my insurance claim, any monies, and decisions involved? Or am I wrong? Was I wrong to question him and try to be an informed consumer?

The original repair contract never stated that I would pay the full amount for repair upfront anyway.... do I have no recourse to get my full $1300 back?

Is this pursuable with an attorney? The difference is really $325 - the full amount I paid him vs. the amount he wants to give back. Is that not worth pursing in court? Should I just take the refund minus the 25% and be done with it?

Insights? Suggestions?

Run away. Fast.


Get what u can and count your blessings. Money lost = lesson learned.


Hire a real roofer and fix that leak!!
_________________
-Jason

______


http://www.ARCTulsa.com
http://www.myspace.com/arcroofing

KD, send me a PM or an Email (contact info can be found via my website which is linked herein).

I will direct you towards a website / bbs I frequent that has more than a few lawyers who will give you some free advice in this matter (let's just hope your allegiances don't fall N of the Red River).
_________________
Do it right the 1st time & there won't have to be a 2nd time.
http://RanchHandRoofing.com

KD

I'm just around the corner from you in Nassau Bay. Give me a call and I'll drop by and look at your roof. If it turns out a repair is in your future I'll make sure you don't get screwed a second time. I work with the Windstorm Inspectors in your area all the time.

Ron Jones
Nassau Bay Roofing & Construction
832-341-9874

My allegiances? I have no allegiances with anyone, and I'm not sure where Red River is....

Is that a good thing?

Ron,

Thank you for your response. Someone near me! I will get in touch.

Thanks.

KDFreder wrote:

Well, here we are again....nothing still done on my roof, and of course, the person two posts above this one was right, and I should have never paid the $1300. Over a year past Ike, my roof is neither repaired nor replaced...but ceiling damage getting worse in my kitchen due to leaks every time it rains.... I have been strung along for 6 mos. by this contractor, who said he was not a public adjustor, and knew he couldn't claim to be as such, but still was supposed to be trying to work with TWIA to re-open my claim. Several long and frustrating months later of inaction, BS, and very rude communications with them, and being told, 'Fine I'll just refund your $'. I said, 'Fine let's do that'. Then I get told there is a 25% cancellation fee. Cancel for what?! After 6 months dealing with them, I have no temporary repairs, no repairs at all, no replacement roof, and someone who misrepresented what he was able to do. The original 'contract' was to be for a repair only, which I was originally agreeing to, with a 50% down at beginning of that job, which never happened. And in which the original guy came out and wrote at bottom of the proposal, 'contingent upon e-pay'. The Owner did not like that at all, as he did not want a small repair job, and is why in the first place convinced me to go for a replacement job...and is how all this started. And this is why he asked for full amount of the repair money as 'good faith' money towards the replacement of the roof. He asked me to sign a new contract for that. He wrote it up, but I did not sign it. But I did give him the repair money quote as the 'good faith' money to supposedly work my claim. Now he says since I just want to cancel after everything, that he will not reimburse me the full 'good faith' money, but that since that was the amount of the original repair contract, and the cancellation clause states a cancellation fee of 25%, that's all I get back: the refund minus the 25%. And by the way, the contract reads: "fifteen (25%)"... so I don't know how that contract is not voidable, anyway.... Also, he has been telling me that he would talk to Reggie Warren, head of TWIA, personally, that they are acquaintances...never did that either, until finally tells me this past week he just talked to some guy 'off the record' in the upper mgmt. office of TWIA that he needs to get a limited power of attorney to open my claim and work on my behalf with TWIA. I researched and legal advice says that giving power of attorney to roofing contractors is a scam, and they have pocketed insurance money and not completed jobs, once they got successful negotiation of claims. So I questioned him about this, and told him that I also asked TWIA about this myself, and that TWIA said that's absurd, and that they would never tell anyone to do that, and if I want to reopen my claim I have to submit sufficient proof for them to reopen it. He got very belligerent with me and said they didn't know what they were talking about, and why was I questioning him. I presume that the laws of Texas will not allow him to be my contractor to do the work, and also to be acting on my behalf on my claim in any way, so I guess the power of attorney would the only legal way he could do this. But should I give him power of attorney, or limited power of attorney, as he says, to do so, then have the ability to have control of my insurance claim, any monies, and decisions involved? Or am I wrong? Was I wrong to question him and try to be an informed consumer? The original repair contract never stated that I would pay the full amount for repair upfront anyway.... do I have no recourse to get my full $1300 back? Is this pursuable with an attorney? The difference is really $325 - the full amount I paid him vs. the amount he wants to give back. Is that not worth pursing in court? Should I just take the refund minus the 25% and be done with it? Insights? Suggestions?

I met Reggie Warren during a TWIA class and he does not seem like the type of person who would re-open a claim and pay just because a roofer was a friend of his. Not ethical in any way....

Get as much $ as you can and go to small claims court if need be, it wont cost you anything and you will most likely win. Judges in TX don't like contractors or roofers screwing people.

Good Luck

Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it.