False Claim by Roofing Contractor!!

[Anjelica]

Yep...he has a stay planned there THIS December. I have an idea where he could scrounge up that $500.

It was a gift.....

I couldn't resist....

 

[dzorn]

Well... we had to have our roof repaired due to a hail storm last summer. A neighbor recommended a large roofing contractor. When we first met, I made it clear that we would be unable to pay anything out of pocket... including our $500 deductible. He said we'd "move the numbers around to handle the deductible".

The work has since been completed. I called him this evening to tell him we received the final insurance check. He said we still owed our $500 deductible. He actually said he never heard me say we couldn't pay any out of pocket costs. I'm completely amazed by this guy!! I've spoken with a couple of neighbors who used the same company, including the neighbor who referred them. They all say the salesman gave them the same story about dealing with their deductibles.

This is beyond outrageous!! There's got to be some type of consumer protection in place to guard against false claims. I'm going to speak with my insurance company on Monday.

Anyone have a similar situation, or possibly some advice?

You are going to contact the insurance company and tell them you tried to defraud them.

Denise in MI

 

[mnrose]

This has got to be some sort of put on. Looking at that list of trips, and then the claims that (a) he didn't understand the deductible needed to be paid by him, and (b) he can't afford the $500 -- something doesn't add up.

If it's not a put on, OP, you need to suck it up (perhaps switching to a moderate resort would free up some cash) and pay the money your contractor is owed. No way in heck would I report this. I think you are asking for trouble. What you did isn't right either...the agreement you have with your insurance company is that YOU will pay the first $500 in damages, then THEY will pay the rest. Sounds like they did "their" part and now you are complaining about doing yours.

 

[LilyWDW]

Well... we had to have our roof repaired due to a hail storm last summer. A neighbor recommended a large roofing contractor. When we first met, I made it clear that we would be unable to pay anything out of pocket... including our $500 deductible. He said we'd "move the numbers around to handle the deductible".

The work has since been completed. I called him this evening to tell him we received the final insurance check. He said we still owed our $500 deductible. He actually said he never heard me say we couldn't pay any out of pocket costs. I'm completely amazed by this guy!! I've spoken with a couple of neighbors who used the same company, including the neighbor who referred them. They all say the salesman gave them the same story about dealing with their deductibles.

This is beyond outrageous!! There's got to be some type of consumer protection in place to guard against false claims. I'm going to speak with my insurance company on Monday.

Anyone have a similar situation, or possibly some advice?

Please, please, please tell me this is a joke or troll... Please?

I mean seriously... would someone really come on a public message board and post, publicly, that they have attempted to commit insurance fraud? So that there is now written, public proof of this happening?

And then to ask if there is consumer protection out there for people who do this sort of thing? And expect to win a "he said, she said" sort of case against the contractor? Because I highly doubt there was a contract that said they would "move the numbers around" so it would be very hard to prove that this happened.

And then to complain when someone calls you on it?

This has to be a joke.

 

[goofy!]

Well... we had to have our roof repaired due to a hail storm last summer. A neighbor recommended a large roofing contractor. When we first met, I made it clear that we would be unable to pay anything out of pocket... including our $500 deductible. He said we'd "move the numbers around to handle the deductible".

The work has since been completed. I called him this evening to tell him we received the final insurance check. He said we still owed our $500 deductible. He actually said he never heard me say we couldn't pay any out of pocket costs. I'm completely amazed by this guy!! I've spoken with a couple of neighbors who used the same company, including the neighbor who referred them. They all say the salesman gave them the same story about dealing with their deductibles.

This is beyond outrageous!! There's got to be some type of consumer protection in place to guard against false claims. I'm going to speak with my insurance company on Monday.

Anyone have a similar situation, or possibly some advice?

Perhaps if you canceled next month's Vegas trip, you would be able to pay your deductible?

 

[Colleen27]

Advice? Pay the $500 and chalk it up to a lesson learned - when you do business with a contractor, no matter how large or recommended, who is willing to "bend" the rules, don't be surprised if you find he's not entirely above-board in other aspects of how he conducts business.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Pay the 500.00 and go open a savings account for an emergency fund and build it up. That was when things like this happen you wont be stressed about it.

 

[allison443]

Perhaps if you canceled next month's Vegas trip, you would be able to pay your deductible?

Or go to Vegas and win the $500 needed!

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

I do agree though don't contact your insurance it would be bad news bears....for you definetley, for them probably.

Alot of people have commented about your trips, if they aren't paid for in full I suggest taking some of your budget from them going towards the deductible. I know for my last trip I was to be staying at Coronado springs but we needed to save money so we stayed at the Pop Century... is this an option for you downgrading? Like GF to WL would save you lots of money alone Anywhoo food for thought.

But really you are legally suppose to be a deductible for such things.

 

[bicker]

I find this thread ironic. You want consumer protection to protect you from what sounds to be a less than above board agreement in the first place? Wouldn't the fraud come into play by manipulating the bill so you didn't have to pay your deductible?

This is really what must drive the outcome. I suppose if we got the contractor in here he'd tell a completely different story, but it actually doesn't matter, this time, because the story the OP tells is one that makes it clear that the OP can't win: If all the details are correct, it would be difficult to avoid a charge that they were, at best, relying on working with the contractor to defraud the insurance company. While there might be a way of getting the contractor in trouble, I don't see how to do so without the OP getting in just as much trouble. For that reason, I think the OP is best advised finding a way of paying to make this conflict go away.

Best of luck.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Did I really?! If I knew as much as you seem to... I'd be a genius. Please take your unwanted comments elsewhere. Thanks so much.

Wow. My advice is....? Don't post on a discussion board if you don't want opinions.

Oh, and pay the deductible.

 

[Magic Mom]

Well... we had to have our roof repaired due to a hail storm last summer. A neighbor recommended a large roofing contractor. When we first met, I made it clear that we would be unable to pay anything out of pocket... including our $500 deductible. He said we'd "move the numbers around to handle the deductible".

The work has since been completed. I called him this evening to tell him we received the final insurance check. He said we still owed our $500 deductible. He actually said he never heard me say we couldn't pay any out of pocket costs. I'm completely amazed by this guy!! I've spoken with a couple of neighbors who used the same company, including the neighbor who referred them. They all say the salesman gave them the same story about dealing with their deductibles.

This is beyond outrageous!! There's got to be some type of consumer protection in place to guard against false claims. I'm going to speak with my insurance company on Monday.

Anyone have a similar situation, or possibly some advice?

Do you really want to call your insurance company and tell them you colluded with the roofer to defraud them and now you're angry that didn't work out for you? Let us know how that call works out for you.

 

[Jennasis]

Whaaaaaaaaat? The OP hasn't chimed in again to explain how he's 1)still the injured party 2)didn't do anything wrong 3)we don't know what we're all talking about and 4)the trips are all paid for already/can't get the money back/were gifts from relatives/etc etc??

I'm shocked, I tell you. SHOCKED.

 

[Klismania]

Well... we had to have our roof repaired due to a hail storm last summer. A neighbor recommended a large roofing contractor. When we first met, I made it clear that we would be unable to pay anything out of pocket... including our $500 deductible. He said we'd "move the numbers around to handle the deductible".

The work has since been completed. I called him this evening to tell him we received the final insurance check. He said we still owed our $500 deductible. He actually said he never heard me say we couldn't pay any out of pocket costs. I'm completely amazed by this guy!! I've spoken with a couple of neighbors who used the same company, including the neighbor who referred them. They all say the salesman gave them the same story about dealing with their deductibles.

This is beyond outrageous!! There's got to be some type of consumer protection in place to guard against false claims. I'm going to speak with my insurance company on Monday.

Anyone have a similar situation, or possibly some advice?

I won't comment on the trips or anything. I'm just here to say, "Congratulations. Both you and the contractor are now guilty of fraud."

Learn the lesson: if you're going to collude with thieves, you have no moral ground to stand on when they steal from you. You went in hoping to get something for nothing. Now you're angry that you're actually going to have to pay $500 for a new roof (an OUTSTANDING price). If you had gotten the contractor's negotiation about the deductable in writing, you may have some kind of leg to stand on. But you'd never get that kind of a deal in writing for a very good reason: it's illegal, the contractor knows it, and he wasn't foolish enough to put it in writing.

Pay the $500 and don't do anything stupid like calling the insurance company.

 

[Allison]

Do you really want to call your insurance company and tell them you colluded with the roofer to defraud them and now you're angry that didn't work out for you? Let us know how that call works out for you.

Yes, I was thinking what an interesting conversation that would be with the insurance company when the OP tells them they were trying to work it out so the insurance company paid the entire bill and not the cost minus $500 and now they were upset with the contractor for not following through on it.

 

[ma2nojo]

Did I really?! If I knew as much as you seem to... I'd be a genius. Please take your unwanted comments elsewhere. Thanks so much.

Grand FLoridian numerous times plus can't afford $500.00 deductable.

This sounds like an algebraic equation that doesn't compute- is flawed.

Good luck posting illegal situations on any board anywhere on any board and NOT getting comments.

 

[Heidict]

OMG, this is hysterical!! I for one vote that the OP call the insurance. I would love to hear how that one turns out.

You try to rip off the insurance company then have the audacity to complain when your scam didn't work out.

I guess we all know how he can afford his trips. He likes to scam people, lie and rip them off. Nice morals OP.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I might be mistaken but I do believe that the agreement between you and the contractor to move around the numbers so that you do not have to pay the deductible is illegal. I would not be so quick to report this to the arrangement to the insurance company.

I agree! What are you going to report? Yourself for trying to get out of paying the deductible? The thread title should be "False claim by homeowner". What you are proposing is illegal.

 

[Magic Mom]

I agree! What are you going to report? Yourself for trying to get out of paying the deductible? The thread title should be "False claim by homeowner". What you are proposing is illegal.

It's sort of like robbing a bank and then calling to complain that the teller didn't thank you for your business at the end of your "transaction."

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

It's sort of like robbing a bank and then calling to complain that the teller didn't thank you for your business at the end of your "transaction."

What good customer service is very important. Thank you for using Chase bank , as your bank of choice to rob and you have a wonderful day Mr. SkiMaskGuyWiththeGun