I pay my insurance so they should pay me.

Is it fraud to bend a few extra shingles when there is already damage?

Can you break a few more shingles, so my roof is covered by my insurance company?

Homeowners’ insurance claims are filed throughout all seasons of the year. There may be spikes during certain seasons here in Utah where weather plays a significant role. When an insured has something happen to their home, like high winds blowing shingles off a roof, their first call is usually to their insurance company to start the claim process. During the initial call the person answering the phone usually asks if they have someone already working on the damage.

This usually triggers some google searches for roofing companies by the homeowner, if they haven’t had some already knocking on their door. Once a roofer is on top of the roof the investigation begins to determine the extent of the damage. After marking, measuring, and documenting the roofer will climb down to share the findings. Here is where a moral crossroad takes place. All too often the homeowner will ask to make sure there is enough damage to get the whole roof replaced, along with a wink and a nod. The roofer might bend up a few shingles, pull some out, and toss them on the ground to make sure the full roof gets covered. After all the homeowners paid their premium and never filed a claim so this is ok to do this, right?

According to the Utah Department of Insurance brochure on homeowner and contractor insurance fraud, this statistic is on the rise. Homeowners insurance fraud is most often a felony with up to fifteen (15) years in prison, paying fines up to $10,000 and pay restitution to the insurance company. The impact a felony record has is far reaching on many aspects of someone’s life. This also could impact the rates of other homeowners’ premiums as more people commit this crime.

This is where a licensed public adjuster in Utah can help the homeowner and the contractor. With an in-depth knowledge of policy language, laws, building codes, and construction processes, at Optivus Claim Solutions team of public adjusters are well suited to help when there are coverage questions and the settlement offer is too low to complete the work. If you are unsure if you need a public adjuster, or unsure when to call one, we are here to guide you through the process.

Don’t let a homeowner, or contractor, commit insurance fraud in an attempt to get your insurance company to pay for repairs.