As we push through some of the worst stretches of severe weather the area has seen in a long time scammers are out and about targeting vulnerable homeowners.
Roofing hail damage scams.
By derek lindsey july 19 2019.
Can hail really damage your roof or is it a scam.
It has been a tumultuous storm season so far in central pennsylvania with dozens of severe weather events that have produced destructive hail wind and rain.
The way the scam works is the storm chasers will blanket an area hit by hail or wind damage and look for unsuspecting homeowners in need of roof repairs.
Hail can also cause a surprising amount of damage to your home including the roof siding windows and gutters.
The biggest roofing scams after a hail storm.
For additional roofing information and tips for hiring a roofing company visit the angie s list guide to installing a new roof.
Worried homeowners can be easy prey for opportunistic scammers after a big storm.
They often appear quickly after a storm and claim that your roof has been seriously damaged by wind and hail.
If your roof is damaged by hail and the repairman hands you a costly estimate there might be some shenanigans going on right over your head.
They ll pass out leaflets and even show up unannounced or offer a free inspection.
Sometimes these damages do not show up quickly or are easily overlooked.
After a vicious hail storm you ll soon need to expect to pay 1 000 2 000 or more.
Unfortunately there can also be fraudulent roofing contractors that emerge after a storm sometimes called storm chasers.
Hail normally has to be the size of a golf ball before it will break through your roof or cause bruising.
Fake roof damage schemes are becoming a serious fraud according to the 2009 questionable claims comparison report issued by the national insurance crime bureau nicb.
The number of questionable insurance claims involving hail damage jumped 202 percent from 256 to 772 from 2008 to 2009 and those are just the ones that are known.
Signs of a storm chasing contractor.
The low starting bid.
Hail can damage your roof without any visible signs from the ground.
The free roof scam that saw roofers pay homeowners insurance deductibles is about to go away.
From unlicensed storm chasers to mysterious door to door salesman there are many ways to fall victim to roofing scams.
Many of these scams begin under the guise of a free roof inspection after storms have passed through your area.
Hailstorms may not seem like the worst type of natural disaster that can damage your home but they are the most common.
The integrity of the shingle may be damaged do not take a chance on it.
According to the national weather service we ve seen 31 tornadoes so far this year making it the sixth highest number on record.
7 signs you re falling for a roofing scam 1.
