Neighbor News
“Our Home Insurance Policy In The Wrong Hands” – US Homeowners
[Guide against homeowners granting contractors right to file home insurance claims]
Introduction
On October 10, 2018 Hurricane Michael made landfall at approximately 1:30pm on the Florida Panhandle. Immediately upon landing, it began to wreak tremendous devastation beginning with the vicinity of Mexico Beach, FL. Depending on which report some choose to believe, on impact Hurricane Michael was declared between a Category 4 to 5 hurricane forcing its way through with vicious winds gusting as high as 155mph.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, it was a …… …..
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“Potentially deadly combination of wind, rain and storm surge to the coastal communities in its path.”
In its wake thousands of people were left homeless since a large number of homes were either made uninhabitable or completely destroyed. There was massive flooding with storm surges as high as 9ft. But the hurricane blew through the state of Florida for several hours, later being downgraded to a severe tropical storm before reaching North Carolina, South Carolina, neighboring Virginia with sustained high winds, torrential rains, and more flooding destined towards more states of the North Eastern seaboard.
Find out what's happening in Seattlefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Aftermath of the Hit
Of the homes severely damaged or completely obliterated by Hurricane Michael and the ensuing residual tropical storm system, some private home heads in the affected areas have home insurance policies [This is in the present-tense in that the hurricane hit little over a week from the date of this article].
However, what is disturbing is that many of the victims of Hurricane Michael and of its fallout will be scandalized by dishonest people who are pretend contractors or of the corrupt element of either licensed or unlicensed contractors. As per Insurance Quotes:
“According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), residential contractor fraud is the number one complaint by homeowners — and that’s in general, not specific to natural disasters, when you’ll likely be bombarded with offers from contractors. Construction fraud is a growing crime, and if it’s something occurring often at ANY time, imagine how much it increases during disasters when lots of work needs to be done and when criminals know their targets are in need.”
What is mentioned by Insurance Quotes is an inescapable reality in disaster situations. Although the greater number of residential contractors are properly credentialed, skilled, experienced, and trustworthy, there are some whose life styles entail preying on unsuspecting residents in such emergency situations. If residents require reconstruction, the potential is very high for dishonest people to under-bid legitimate contractors. The lowest bidders in such cases often become most favored (Notwithstanding the fact that they know nothing about rebuilding homes. But they are convincing). On the other hand, residents who were fortunate to have their homes still intact but greatly damaged or otherwise ruined, are likewise subjected to the same ploy by detrimental people.
Case Study
At the end of the first half of this year, the Insurance Journal released a report about a contractor arrested for defrauding in the area of 19 residents, ironically, in the State of Florida. Reportedly, this unscrupulous home improvement contractor would charm residents to sign over to him their rights to file related home insurance claims. [Florida is one of a few states which permits contractors to file insurance claims on behalf of residents]. Since it is perfectly legal, it can be safely surmised that residents expressed no binding qualms about him making it “easier” on them by “saving” them the “trouble” of having to fill out the claims and submit them, personally. However, the following excerpt from this report is that the contractor…….
“ …… is alleged to have stolen nearly $140,000 for home repairs related to damages from tropical weather events that he never provided. As a result of [contractor’s] alleged activity, the victims’ homes sustained additional damage from significant weather events, including Hurricane Irma, the statement said.”
*Note particularly that this report (from June 2018) refers back to pre-Hurricane Irma (August 30-September 13 – the 14-day event] when referring to many of the victims, although it is highly probable that the others were cheated by the contractor after that time into 2018.
A Preventative Measure
Recently, HGRBS released another free homeowner’s guide online among the collection of others on its home study page: “Homeowner’s Guide USA.” It is a new page included among its written home study guides. This particular booklet is aptly titled “Our Home Insurance Policy In The Wrong Hands.”
Through this very special guide for private home heads, residents are enabled to see with greater clarity how some contractors of the corrupt element can easily steal their insurance money or attempt to do so without their knowledge. It is confirmed that residents who are not well informed about the risks entailed can unknowingly make it easy for them to do so. Hence, the most fundamental rule is for private home decision makers with coverage is to ALWAYS deal directly with their insurance agent/carrier.
Additionally, the revealing home guide also provides essential links which enable residents to uncover specific facts relative to the behavior of dishonest people in home improvement contracting. Also provided is very valuable, easy-to-read target information concerning creating and/or managing the nature of home insurance policy which best suits their purposes.
In the end, residents are immensely reassured to be better informed, prepared, and strategized to make the best possible decisions for comparable contractors in order to get the best possible results.
Vital Links
Insurance Quotes
http://www.insurancequotes.org/home/10-ways-to-spot-construction-fraud/
Tampa Bay Times
https://www.tbo.com/article/20181010/ARTICLE/310109436
Insurance Journal
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2018/06/13/491931.htm
CBS News
Homeowner’s Guide: “Our Home Insurance Policy In The Wrong Hands”
https://www.americanprivatehomefront-hgrbs.com/homeowners-guide-usa.php
Comments: inquiries@hgrbs-flagship.com
*Edited with special assistance from E. McLaughlin
In association with HGRBS – a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation of independent volunteers
