Have been with the same insurer since the mid ‘80s; homeowners, auto, and umbrella liability policies. One major claim (had new roof on a prior home after hurricane Katrina, as did almost everyone in my geographic area) that was handled promptly and well. No other claims of any type.
Recently, my current home was subjected to some winds at the edge of an oncoming thunderstorm which were of short duration but extremely strong; so unusually so that one began to think “tornado???” and to question taking refuge in an interior closet before they abruptly stopped. The next day, while outside picking up tree debris all over the yard, I noticed numerous shingles and pieces of shingle scattered about. Representatives of roofing companies who inspected and took pictures found multiple areas of damage all over the roof, with multiple missing/cracked/abnormally elevated shingles. They say the damage is too widespread to be patched, and that I need a new roof.
Filed a claim with my insurance company. They sent out an inspector who filed his report, and I now have an online settlement offer from them which apparently is for a patch job, an offer which barely exceeds my deductible, with a request to accept this tiny amount as a settlement within 2 days.
I feel that their offer is unreasonable and completely inadequate, and have no intention of accepting it. On the other hand (fortunately) I am very financially secure and fully capable of paying for a new roof myself, and am really disinclined to secure legal representation and fight them. Is there any other course open to me at this point? If they receive some pushback from me, might they offer something in between this minuscule settlement and the cost of a new roof? What would you advise?
I am fully aware that (a) the roofers I called have a vested interest in selling me a new roof, and (b) that the issue of abuse by unscrupulous roofing company/lawyer combinations running insurance companies completely out of Florida has been big news over the past couple of years.
Recently, my current home was subjected to some winds at the edge of an oncoming thunderstorm which were of short duration but extremely strong; so unusually so that one began to think “tornado???” and to question taking refuge in an interior closet before they abruptly stopped. The next day, while outside picking up tree debris all over the yard, I noticed numerous shingles and pieces of shingle scattered about. Representatives of roofing companies who inspected and took pictures found multiple areas of damage all over the roof, with multiple missing/cracked/abnormally elevated shingles. They say the damage is too widespread to be patched, and that I need a new roof.
Filed a claim with my insurance company. They sent out an inspector who filed his report, and I now have an online settlement offer from them which apparently is for a patch job, an offer which barely exceeds my deductible, with a request to accept this tiny amount as a settlement within 2 days.
I feel that their offer is unreasonable and completely inadequate, and have no intention of accepting it. On the other hand (fortunately) I am very financially secure and fully capable of paying for a new roof myself, and am really disinclined to secure legal representation and fight them. Is there any other course open to me at this point? If they receive some pushback from me, might they offer something in between this minuscule settlement and the cost of a new roof? What would you advise?
I am fully aware that (a) the roofers I called have a vested interest in selling me a new roof, and (b) that the issue of abuse by unscrupulous roofing company/lawyer combinations running insurance companies completely out of Florida has been big news over the past couple of years.
Statistics: Posted by camden — Sun Jan 19, 2025 2:21 pm — Replies 1 — Views 217