Hmm... Can't decide if the kid was a scammer or not.

[Robb]

Kid (OK, probably in his 20s, but there you go) comes to the door, points out I have T-loc roofing which isn't being made any more. Works for a roofing company doing work in the neighborhood (they are, I've seen the signs).

Says since the T-loc isn't being made any more, if it's in bad shape insurance companies will replace it since it can't be repaired. New roof for the price of the deductible, essentially.

How much is my deductible? Not sure, I say, maybe $500. Kid says let us come by tomorrow and look at the roof. If it's got any damage, we'll "all come inside and call the insurance company" and see if they'll pay to fix -- or in this case, replace -- the roof.

THEN he said: "We'll even pay you $250 (half the deductible) to put our sign in your yard while we work."

(scratches head)

...I told him sure, come by tomorrow at 3, I'll be here. Can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something off.

[Parche]

1. was his name jack?

:shrug:

[redqueen]

2. Well if they're working in the neighborhood

then there's little to no chance they'll take the money and then disappear.

And if you can follow up with the insurance company then there's little chance they can misrepresent what your insurance company will cover.

So... I'm not sure where the opportunity for a scam comes into play. Unless maybe they still do make T-loc roofing materials or whatever.

[HEyHEY]

3. You're a reporter, jackass, find out.

[DS1]

4. +1

:spray:

[Robb]

6. Hey douchebag, I'm retired

The only town council meetings I catch now are when they're on the TV. :D

[HEyHEY]

7. Really? Why, man?

what are you doing now?

[InternalDialogue]

5. I say you tell him you'll take the deal. You pay half up front, the rest when they're done.

Take his $250 for the sign, hand it back to him, and let them do the job.

[Dogtown]

8. "Traveler"

Variation of an old scam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Traveller

[RoadRage]

9. Totally Legit...

I live in Omaha, NE and we got hit by a horrible storm in June. Every house in our neighborhood is getting a new roof (actually - most of the city). Most of the deductibles are higher here... my mom's was $2400 - and the company they picked told her the same thing.. they'd pay for 1/2 of her deductible if she put a sign in her yard, and she only had to pay 1/2 upfront ($600) - the other half once the work was done.

Since there were about 40 other houses with the same signs for the same company in her neighborhood she took the deal. Got the new roof about 4 weeks ago.

We're waiting until spring.. we didn't lose any shingles, and everyone is backordered on the 3 tab shingles, so we put the insurance money in our savings account.. figure we'll make a little bit of interest on it and get a new roof in April when it warms up again.

I just hope that your insurance co says your roof is totalled..a lot of times they'll send out their OWN appraiser before they cut you a penny.

Good Luck!

[Lil Missy]

13. I have roof damage from that same storm, and still waiting for the roof repair.

I have the check from the Insurance for the damage. The guy that was going to do it said he would have free time in September, but now after all this time says he'd rather we get someone else. (Roof repair is not his primary business.) Wish he had told me that back in June.

He did say there was a backorder on shingles but I thought he was just lying to postpone the job. Guess I might as well deposit that check and wait till spring now.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

10. Trust your gut

A legitimate business doesn't go knocking on doors for customers like this. Whether they're "working the neighborhood" or not doesn't really prove anything because they could be doing shitty work or planning to leave everyone half done at once. I figure if I need something done, I will do the research and find someone with proper references, license, and bid/quote. Never makes sense to buy something you didn't even know you "needed" on the basis of some stranger knocking at the door. Have you contacted your ins. co. to even ask if this sounds legit? the local BBB? the sheriff's office to see if anyone has complained about them? In FL--and esp. at this time of year--the gypsies make a killing on this kind of crap. Last year, we had someone offering a "great deal" on roof cleaning. They did whole neighborhoods--and skipped town just before everyone realized they had cleaned only what you could see standing in your front yard. Home repairs rank right up there with the missing dog scam (where they wander around a neighborhood with a leash in hand, looking for open garage doors).

[Robb]

11. That's the odd bit, it is a legit biz

...Assuming they are who they say they are, the company's on the up and up. Rated an A- with the BBB, tons of work going on. Found permits they'd pulled as far back as last year in the area (although my own county's permits aren't online, dagnabbit).

Don't know if I should chase them off when they get here, or wait for the whole song and dance.

[Schema Thing]

12. The "sign in your yard for 250 off" deal is sort of a scam

they are just saying that, most likely, they will do the job for 250.00 less than they will quote (or 250 less than whatever will be the insurance allowance). The "sign in your yard" thing is just playing with numbers to make you think you're getting a deal.

They'll probably knock 500.00 off the price even if you refused to put their sign in your yard, if you insist.


But yeah, if you can get a new roof for free, why not? If there are hail storms in your area, I highly recommend you look into the hail resistant shingles... they cost more initially, but your insurance company will give you a discount for having them.

[Midlodemocrat]

14. Want me to run a D&B on them for you?

Anything not on the up and up would come up including any liens.

PM me the info if you want. I'll do it first thing in the AM.