Home Damaged By Hurricane Irma? Don't Get Scammed

ATLANTA, GA — As Georgians from the coast to the mountains begin recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, many will find themselves having to handle repairs to homes battered by the storm's winds and flooded by its rains.

As such, government and civilian officials are offering advice on how to proceed if you need to negotiate the sometimes-tricky insurance system in Irma's wake.

Consumer advocate Clark Howard is warning Georgians, and others hit by Irma, to be aware of "storm chasers" who may try to rip them off with phony storm-repair scams. An article on Howard's website warns that unethical contractors are known to canvas areas hit by natural disasters, offering to do roof-repair or other work.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau offered a similar warning after Hurricane Harvey struck Houston and the Gulf Coast.

"Most of these people are reputable, but many are not,"the bureau said of contractors soliciting work after storms. "The dishonest ones may execute schemes to defraud innocent victims."

Read: Frustration For Georgia's Half-Million Still Without Power After Irma

Watch: What Kind Of Scams To Watch Out For After A Natural Disaster

According to the bureau, scammers often will take payments then never show up again, or start a job but never complete it. They also sometimes will use inferior materials and perform shoddy work that is not up to code in order to pocket more money for themselves. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

"Almost all of these scams are unsolicited — they begin with a visit from a contractor who seeks to help victims rebuild. That is why we say, 'If you didn’t request it, reject it,' the bureau said. "If you think you might have damage from a storm, call your insurance company first. Your insurance company will honor its policy so there is no need to rush into an agreement with a contractor who solicits your repair work — especially when you did not request it."

The NICB offers the following tips for hiring a contractor for storm repairs:

• Get more than one estimate.
• Get everything in writing. Cost, work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules and other expectations should be detailed.
• Demand references and check them out.
• Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and write down the license number and their vehicle’s license plate number.
• Never sign a contract with blanks; unacceptable terms can be added later.
• Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished and ensure reconstruction is up to current code.
• Make sure you review and understand all documents sent to your insurance carrier.
• Never let a contractor pressure you into hiring them.
• Never let a contractor interpret the insurance policy language.
• Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your insurance company.

On Wednesday, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens was in coastal south Georgia surveying damage from Irma, which tore through much of the state on Monday as a tropical storm after hitting Florida as a Category 4 hurricane.

Hudgens was scheduled to tour Camden and Glynn counties — two coastal areas hit hard by the storm. He planned with residents, local government leaders and state elected officials.

The commissioner's office said that anyone with questions about an insurance claim may call the Consumer Services Hotline toll-free at 1-800-656-2298. Phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Consumers may also visit the department online to submit questions or complaints.

The office also offered its own tips for Georgians whose homes were damaged by Irma.

If your home is damaged:

• File your claim as soon as possible. Call your insurance company or agent with your policy number and other relevant information. Your policy may require that you make the notification within a certain time frame.
• Cooperate fully with the insurance company. Ask what documents, forms and data you will need to file a claim. Keep a diary of all conversations with insurance companies, creditors or relief agencies.
• Give your insurance company all the information they need. Incorrect or incomplete information will cause a delay in processing your claim.
• If your home is damaged to the extent that you can’t live there, ask your insurance company if you have coverage for additional living expenses.
• Take photographs/video of the damage.
• Make the repairs necessary to prevent further damage to your property (cover broken windows, leaking roofs and damaged walls). Don’t have permanent repairs made until your insurance company has inspected the property and you have reached an agreement on the cost of repairs. Give the claims adjuster records of any improvements you made prior to the damage.
• Maintain any damaged personal property for the adjuster to inspect.
• Save all receipts, including those from the temporary repairs covered by your insurance policy.
• Be wary of contractors who demand upfront payment before work is initiated or payment in full before work is completed. If the contractor needs payment to buy supplies, go with the contractor and pay the supplier directly.
• Get more than one bid. Ask for at least three references. Check with the Better Business Bureau about the contractor. Ask for proof of necessary licenses, building permits, insurance, and bonding. Record the license plate number and driver’s license number of the contractor.
• If you can’t cover all of your expenses, contact your creditors to negotiate a payment plan.
• If there is a disagreement about a claim, ask the company for the specific language in the policy in question and determine why you and the company interpret your policy differently. If the first offer made by an insurance company does not meet your expectations, be prepared to negotiate to get a fair settlement.
• If you believe you have been treated unfairly in getting a claim paid, call toll-free at 1-800-656-2298or go online to www.oci.ga.gov.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department