Industry Updates

Over the past few years, Texas has had many problems with roofing scammers and deductible fraud. Most people are not intentionally trying to commit fraud oaks might have been tricked into doing it without realizing it. It’s important to have an understanding of what is okay or not okay when dealing with insurance claims. Luckily, there are plenty of resources to help any homeowner defend themselves from scammers tricking them and potentially getting them into trouble. Honey Bees Roofing & Solar is an expert on all things roofing and has plenty of tips to help you avoid trouble. What is Deductible Fraud? Deductible fraud is the deliberate act of inflating the amount of a loss or damage to collect more money from an insurance company. For example, someone who files a claim for a stolen television worth $500 might deliberately inflate the value to $1,000 in order to receive a larger payout. While this may seem like a victimless crime, it ultimately drives up the cost of insurance for everyone. In addition, it can be difficult to detect, as insurance companies often rely on the honesty of claimants. Plus, it’s illegal and can give you a steep fine. As a result, deductible fraud is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. How is Deductible Fraud a Prevalent Issue? It may seem simple to avoid deductible fraud, but scammers have put people into situations where they unknowingly break the law. Roofing scammers will come to a home after there has been clear storm damage to the roof. They’ll work on the roof, and then say that they have a way to simply “waive” the deductible so that you don’t have to worry about paying it. Then, when the homeowner submits the bill to their insurance provider, they accidentally commit insurance fraud by misrepresenting the costs associated with the invoice, since the contractors purposely set it up that way. The homeowner will get stuck with deductible fraud, and the scammers will get off free because they aren’t the ones who sent in the bill. Red Flags To Watch Out For There are many red flags that surround these scammers. First of all, if a roofer is going door-to-door after a large storm, or doesn’t have a local office, then they’re a “storm chaser.” These roofers go from town to town, following major storms. After the storm, they’ll do roofing work for entire neighborhoods, but then do a poor job on the roof and leave soon after. Another red flag is anyone who claims they can waive your deductible. It is illegal to not pay your insurance deductible! There are many ways that a scammer may claim that the deductible is able to be waived, but they’re all lies. There is no way around it, the deductible must be paid. Also, make sure to check out a roofing contractor before you hire them by checking their reviews and previous projects. Go with your gut! If it seems like a roofing contractor is being shady, then there’s a good chance that they are. Call a Professional No one wants to fall for a roofing scam or accidentally commit insurance fraud. Luckily, the 2019 deductible law in Texas has been helping homeowners and roofers alike. Waiving roofing deductibles is one shady practice used by scammers, but there are others to watch out for. However, contact us if you’re looking for a reputable roofing contractor! If you’re interested in installing a new roof or want a no-pressure educational conversation about solar energy, contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or call us at817-668-6131! We offer free roofing inspections so we can help you choose the best roofing option for your home. We are one of the leading solar installers for the Burleson, Fort Worth, area and can help you take steps to have one of the most energy-efficient options possible. If you want a lower energy bill, keep your home cooler, or help the environment with energy-efficient roofing options, don’t hesitate to contact us!

There are hundreds of different laws, and lawmakers are constantly working on passing more. While many of them don’t seem major, there are some that end up being incredibly important. In the roofing world, one such law was written in 2019. It made a change that helps consumers and roofers alike. Honey Bees Roofing & Solar goes over this law, to help explain what the 2019 deductible law in Texas did, and also why it was so important. What does the Law Do? The law in question is HB2102. It went into effect on September 19, 2019. While HB2102 is new, it actually just changed the wording of the existing law. This was in an attempt to clarify and more carefully word the previous deductible law. HB2102 made it illegal for a roofing contractor to waive an insurance deductible. While that may seem like an interesting thing to specify, it truly matters. Why is this Law Important? This was an important change for a few reasons. The main reason is, that it cuts down on people falling for roofing scams. Too often roofing contractors that are known as “storm chasers” will appear right after a large weather event. They’ll try to convince homeowners that their roof needs work, and in many cases it does. The storm chasers express that they’ll waive your deductible and start as soon as possible. Then, they do the work with shoddy materials and they don’t put much effort into it. After the work is done, the homeowner submits the bill to their insurance company. Except, the homeowner accidentally commits insurance fraud by misrepresenting the costs associated with the invoice, since the contractors purposely set it up that way. The storm chasers get away with the money, while the homeowner is charged with a misdemeanor or even a felony by unknowingly participating in the storm chaser’s trick. However, by making it explicit that waiving an insurance deductible is illegal, it helps prevent the whole scheme. That way, homeowners aren’t tricked into committing tax fraud. In addition, reputable roofers are getting more business. It helps everyone involved in the roofing process! Call a Professional No one wants to fall for a roofing scam or accidentally commit insurance fraud. Luckily, the 2019 deductible law in Texas has been helping homeowners and roofers alike. One more shady practice used by scammers is illegal, but there are others to watch out for. However, if you’re looking for a reputable roofing contractor then contact us! If you’re interested in installing a new roof or would like a no-pressure educational conversation about solar energy then Contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131! We offer free roofing inspections so we can help you choose the best roofing option for your home. We are one of the leading solar installers for the Burleson, Fort Worth, area and can help you take steps to have one of the most energy-efficient options possible. If you want to have a lower energy bill, keep your home cooler, or help the environment with energy-efficient roofing options then don’t hesitate to contact us!

Extreme weather seems to be more and more common each year. The damage these weather events cause can make things difficult for you and your family. Knowing what type of insurance coverage you have can be incredibly helpful. If something happens and you know exactly how your insurance will react, you can’t be blindsided during a crisis. Honey Bees Roofing & Solar knows that roofing insurance can be confusing, but we have a ton of experience helping customers like you. We’re using that experience to describe the difference between ACV and RCV roof insurance. What is RCV? Replacement cash value, or RCV, is coverage that guarantees the policyholder will get enough money to replace damaged items that are covered by the policy. However, it will only be enough to get items that are similar. For example, if your car is under an RCV insurance policy and is totaled, you’ll be able to buy a car of the same model and year. It wouldn’t be enough for you to buy a brand new corvette. Replacement cash value coverage has a higher deductible than ACV coverage. However,  you usually only have to pay your deductible out of pocket, everything else should be covered. What is ACV? Actual cash value, or ACV, is coverage that gives the policyholder money that the damaged items are worth when you make the claim. ACV unfortunately keeps the depreciation of your property in mind when it pays out its claims. So if an item is old or damaged, you’ll get less money back to replace it. If your roof is past its prime and needs to be replaced you’ll get significantly less money back. The claims adjuster will determine exactly how much your property has depreciated. They inspect your roof to determine how much it’ll take to replace it, its current condition, and how long it could last. Using that information they determine how much to give to you. What’s Better? The main differences between ACV and RCV roof insurance are claims payout and deductible price. Actual cash value and replacement cash value both have their benefits. RCV typically pays out more, since it’ll cover the whole replacement. But, it does have a higher deductible you’ll have to worry about. On the flip side, ACV doesn’t have a deductible that is quite as high. However, ACV might not cover an entire replacement, so you’ll have to pay more out of pocket. Sometimes you can recover some of the depreciation of your property, but it’s not typical. Meet With Your Insurance Adjuster Having to replace your roof is difficult. Whether you have ACV or RCV coverage, the insurance process can be stressful. Luckily, Honey Bees Roofing & Solar is here to help. We’ll meet with you and your insurance adjuster on-site to discuss the restoration plan for your home. We’ll help you navigate the homeowner’s insurance claims process, thus relieving you of stress and helping you get the best reimbursement you’re entitled to under your insurance policy. If you need help with roof repairs or understanding the roofing insurance process, Contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131!

A damaged roof can cause tons of stress because it threatens your family, and your property. This stress often amplifies due to navigating the insurance process. Honey Bees Roofing & Solar pride ourselves in our ability to help our customers with understanding the roofing insurance process, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about. Assess the Damage If you believe you have roofing damage you’ll need to figure out the extent of the damage. Sometimes the damage is severe, perhaps from a recent strong storm passing through your town. In this case, document any damage on and off the roof. This includes any destroyed pieces from your home, as the insurance adjuster may wish to inspect them. Make sure to write down and/or photograph anything that was destroyed, damaged, or lost. However, no matter how much damage your roof has, consider contacting a professional for a free roof inspection. Many roofing contractors offer free roofing inspections so you won’t have to risk your safety climbing onto your own roof. Also, a professional inspection offers insight into the damage that will be helpful to you. You’ll be able to get your roof’s damage documented safely from the ground. Avoid Scammers Obvious roof damage and bad storms can easily attract scammers and storm chasers looking to get your money and provide little to no service. Avoiding roofing scams may seem difficult, but we’ve outlined tips in the link earlier in this sentence to help you. If a roofing contractor is from out of town, they might perform the repairs, but surely won’t be there for any necessary warranty work. They’ll offer repairs or replacements to your damaged roof. They may ask for payment upfront, and then never see you again. It’s also worth noting that you can’t waive a deductible. If you try, you, the person who submits the invoice to the insurance company, have committed fraud! You’ll be the one in trouble since you submitted the invoice and “violators could get up to a $2,000 fine and up to six months in jail.” Begin Your Insurance Claim Talk to your insurance provider as soon as possible. Some insurance claims have a time limit, so starting it quickly will be beneficial. Keep your insurance documents on hand, as well as lists of anything damaged or broken. Even though your home owner’s insurance will absolutely need to be called, you may also have to call your auto insurance agency. If your car is damaged, you’ll have to notify your car insurance, even if it was in your garage. Meet With Your Insurance Adjuster After the claim has started your insurance will send out a claims adjuster to assess the damage. They’ll inspect the damage on behalf of your insurance company. After this inspection, make sure to give them everything you’ve collected pertaining to your home’s damage. They’ll send the information to the insurance company with their assessment of the damage. This process can be quite stressful, but Honey Bees Roofing & Solar is here to help. We’ll meet with you and your insurance adjuster on-site to discuss the restoration plan for your home. We’ll help you navigate the homeowner’s insurance claims process, thus relieving you of stress and helping you get the best reimbursement you’re entitled to under your insurance policy. If you need help with roof repairs or understanding the roofing insurance process, Contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131!