If you’re a homeowner in the great state of Texas, chances are that you have had at least one insurance claim after a hail storm or hurricane or you are long overdue for your first. In the past, both homeowners and unscrupulous contractors alike focused on “covering”, “working with”, or “eating” the insurance deductible which is the out-of-pocket payment the homeowner is contractually obligated to pay as part of their insurance claim. Plain and simple, this is NOT a legal practice.
On September 1st, 2019, HB2102 or “the deductible law” went into effect in the state of Texas. It is a win for reputable contractors as it will punish contractors who promise a rebate for all or part of a deductible, illegally waive a deductible, or otherwise don’t collect insurance deductibles from their clients.
After a major storm, contractors – including some scam artists – are quick to arrive on the scene. This leads to improper repairs, fake contracts, and other problems. One selling point bad contractors often use is offering to waive or absorb the homeowner’s deductible. The contractor then cuts corners, uses lower quality products, or inflates the bill sent to the insurance company to cover the difference.
Under Texas laws, this is considered a Class B misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine of as much as $2,000, or both.
If you have a contractor start their relationship with you by lying for you it begs the question of how long before they lie to you? Is this the type of person and/or company you want on replacing your roof? We didn’t think so! If a contractor offers to waive a deductible, take their information report it to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-621-0508.
At Affluent Exteriors, we don’t look good in stripes and we don’t eat deductibles. If you’re looking for a reputable roofing contractor for your insurance storm claim project, complete the form below and let Affluent Exteriors do the work. Experience Roofing the Affluent Way!
