How do you avoid storm chasers and roofing scams?

The warning signs

• They knock on doors right after a storm and say your roof is "definitely" damaged before looking closely.
• They offer to pay, waive or "work with" your deductible.
• They say they will "handle the insurance company" for you.
• They want you to sign today, often a "contingency agreement" or "inspection authorization" that is really a contract.
• They ask for a large cash deposit, or for the insurance check to be signed over before work starts.
• No local address, out-of-state plates, no license number on the paperwork.
• Someone climbs on your roof without being asked. (Some scammers create damage.)

What does North Carolina law say?

North Carolina does not have a roofing-specific contract law like South Carolina's or Tennessee's. A 2023 bill that would have added one (Senate Bill 622) did not pass. That makes the written contract more important: get the scope, materials, price, start date, and what happens if your insurer denies the claim in writing before you sign. A contractor who offers to cover or hide your deductible is asking you to misstate the loss to your insurer, which can expose you to insurance-fraud problems. Only a licensed public adjuster may represent you on the claim for a fee.

North Carolina has no separate state license for roofers on smaller jobs. A general contractor license from the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors is required when the total cost of a project is $40,000 or more (G.S. 87-1), and roofing work at that size falls under the board's building, residential, or specialty roofing classifications. Below that amount, ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and check the local building permit office. Check a license.

Before you sign anything

1. Get the company's full name, local address and license number, and look it up.
2. Ask for a certificate of insurance (liability and workers' compensation) sent directly from the insurance agent.
3. Get at least two written estimates from local companies.
4. Read the contract for the scope, materials, price, start and finish dates, cleanup, warranty, and what happens if the insurer denies the claim.
5. Don't pay in full up front. Don't sign over an insurance check before the work is done.

Assignment of benefits

Some contracts transfer your insurance claim rights to the contractor. Read assignment of benefits before signing one.

Where to report a scam

Report suspected fraud to your insurer, to the North Carolina Department of Insurance (855-408-1212), to the state contractor licensing board, and to local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission also takes reports of scams after disasters.