Author: Mike Causey, Insurance Commissioner
September is just a few days away. That means we’re halfway through the 2025 hurricane season.
During the past year, tropical weather systems have wreaked havoc in North Carolina. Just recently, evacuations were ordered along the Outer Banks as Hurricane Erin churned its way up the Atlantic Coast. Back in July, Tropical Storm Chantal flooded many areas in our Piedmont region.
Many residents and businesses in the North Carolina mountains are still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene last September.
There are a couple things we can count on when disaster strikes our state: 1) North Carolinians will come out in droves to help their neighbors, and 2) many scammers will use a disaster as an opportunity to con unsuspecting people in need.
If you’ve been hit hard by a disaster, don’t let a rip-off artist make you a victim a second time.
In the days and weeks following a storm, when homeowners are looking for ways to repair the storm’s damage, roofing scammers will come out of the woodwork to take advantage of consumers. Often, a scammer will take a homeowner’s money, including insurance money, but never deliver on the services they promised.
Here are a few tips I suggest you follow before contracting for roofing services:
- Beware of contractor or roofing representatives going door-to-door after a disaster.
- Call your insurance agent or insurance company before signing a contract or paying for repairs.
- Don’t let the contractor work directly with your insurance company unless your agent gives approval.
- Work with only licensed and insured contractors.
- Get more than one estimate. Don’t be pushed into signing a contract right away.
- Get everything in writing. The cost and the type of work to be done, time schedule, guarantees, payment schedule and other expectations should be detailed.
- Require references and check them out.
- Check out roofing companies through the Better Business Bureau or through online clearinghouses. Don’t be afraid to Google the business.
- Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license. Write down the license number. Also take down his or her license plate number.
- Never sign a contract with blanks. Fraudulent contractors may enter unacceptable terms later.
- Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished.
Here’s a red flag: An unsolicited salesperson offering to go up on your roof to inspect it for storm damage. Some scammers will climb up on the roof alone and create damage where none existed before.
This can seem overwhelming, especially when homeowners are trying to figure out how to recover from a disaster. If you’re not sure what to do, call your insurance agent. Or you can call the Department of Insurance to speak to a specialist at 855-408-1212 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may also visit us online at www.ncdoi.gov.
To report suspected roofing or contractor fraud, contact the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840 or toll-free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.