Storms & Insurance · 5 min read
Why 'We'll Cover Your Deductible' Is a Red Flag in Ohio
Published
After every big hail event, out-of-state crews arrive in the Miami Valley with magnetic door signs and a pitch. Some are legitimate. Several common tactics are not.
Deductible waiving is fraud
Your deductible is your contractual share of the loss. A contractor who inflates the estimate to absorb it is committing insurance fraud, and the homeowner who signs the paperwork is a participant. Ohio carriers actively pursue these cases.
Assignment of benefits
Be extremely cautious about any document assigning your claim rights to the contractor. It transfers control of your claim and, in the worst cases, leaves you with a lien on a job you can't direct.
'Free inspection' with a contingency contract
Read what you sign at the kitchen table. A contingency agreement often locks you into that contractor if the claim is approved, at whatever the insurance pays, with no competitive bid.
How to vet a roofer
Local address you can drive to, Ohio contractor liability and workers' comp certificates provided directly by the insurer, references from this county, and a written proposal with itemized materials.
If any of this applies to your own home, our storm damage roof repair crews handle it every week, and you can see how we work in your area on our Troy, Ohio roofing page. Inspections and written estimates are free either way — call 937-749-7767.