[Mont]

If you call in a contractor and he quotes you "x" for repairs, please don't ask him to quote a price for a "complete" replacement. Substitute x for anything and repairs for anything else. It's raining tonight at my house. My roof is fine. If a roofer quoted you a reasonable repair price, freaking take him up on it. Take up all the rest with Allstate or whatever. So far, I have been asked to commit fraud 7 times. It ain't happening under my watch. Take the repair and take it up with your adjuster. Same goes for cold air, boat repairs, tree trimming or hauloff. It's all the same. Get done what you absolutely have to have done, and then talk to your adjuster.

Need is one thing.

Greed is another.

The difference is jail time, and should be.

Monty Weeks

 

[Stumpgrinder]

Amen, could not agree more.

There's lots of good people out there that will get less than they need . Nobody needs to take more than they deserve.

 

[capn_billl]

You said it. Unfortunately a disaster like this brings out the best and the worst in humanity. It is situations like this that you really find out someones charactor.

 

[Pubguy]

good post!. I would like a new roof and a new boat, but I don't deserve either cuz the storm spared them both. A few shingles off and a little water in my boat!

 

[Bait Chef]

I would like to think that you're preaching to the choir. A lot of what I've seen on your board is a representation of the best of what Texas has to offer. Good thread though. I hope it reaches someone who needs to hear it.

 

[John Galt]

Good post. Sad that you felt the need to post it.

 

[MattK]

I'm sure I'll get a few people wanting me to do that as I will be down there issuing roofing quotes. It happens every time a natural disaster hits. There's no way I'm going to jeopardize my future for a few extra dollars.

 

[Mont]

We had another phone call from a woman this morning wanting us to change the date on an invoice so that it would look like the work we did for her before Ike hit was done afterwards. She had a routine replacement done on the Tuesday before it hit and wanted to be able to claim in on her insurance. That makes 8 in two days.

 

[memarkers]

Mont,

As an independent adjuster I can tell you we will be on the look out for this very thing. I have been warned that this storm might be especially bad with respect to fraud. We will of course take care of the insureds' as per the policy. I can also tell you that during and especially after Katrina there were record numbers of people and companies charged and prosecuted for fraud. By the way, we get brownie points for turning someone in. I know. My partner got a good one in Miami after Wilma.

 

[sandollr]

"I have been warned that this storm might be especially bad with respect to fraud. "

Why is that?

 

[memarkers]

Two reasons why that might be. One, the state of the economy. Two, we haven't had a major landfall hurricane since 2005. The scum that typically travels from storm to storm have been home watching Americas Most Wanted for the last three years.

 

[LazyJeff]

wrong

Two reasons why that might be. One, the state of the economy. Two, we haven't had a major landfall hurricane since 2005. The scum that typically travels from storm to storm have been home watching Americas Most Wanted for the last three years.

That "scum" is probably just ****** at having to provide for the past disasters and have probably watched family members get screwed by insurance companies or what most should be really called "prepaid legal"

It is what it is. We should all be responsible for our own stuff instead of having to depend on companies that are required to "back us up"

My 2 cents. I have seen some work and others not. I really don't see the value given what has to happen to actually get a pay off, but as I said it is what it is.

I wouldn't commit insurance fraud, but don't think that those that do as the steroptypical criminal. Most likely its your coworker or your deacon.

 

[memarkers]

Jeff,

I have worked for insurance companies long enough to come to this conclusion. I have never had to battle to get a policy holder compensation for wind damage. Ever. But, I will say that most of us do report the funny stuff. And when we do the insurance company has the right to deny all claims reported at to that risk (insured location). That being said, please keep in mind our compensation comes from the amount of the claim. So if we can justify the loss ethically, the claim gets paid.

 

[Mont]

We had another one yesterday, which makes 9. The unit had some damage, but was still running OK. They insisted that they be quoted a complete replacment. They were sitting in a nice cool house in this heat. What more do you need? We have also had a run of people wanting us to honor 10 year parts and labor warranties, for what what clearly storm damage. In particular, fan motors have been falling out pretty regularly in the last few days. In the warranty papers we hand out, it very clearly states things like hurricanes are not covered under a 10 year P&L. One woman told us were were going to hell for not warrantying storm damage under the 10 year P&L. I replied that if we did, it's just one more big job, and to come see us for tickets when she gets there. It's gonna get worse before it gets better. As the power comes back on, they are really coming out of the wood work.