- 1
- 2
- next
- | single page
FAST FACTS:
(Olive Branch, MS 6/30/2010) The storm clouds have cleared but the Mid-South is now caught under a new kind of flood.
In the business, they're called "storm-chasers," contractors who come into an area, hoping to cash-in on disasters.
But critics say they also bring claims they can't live-up to.
Across the top of one company's ad it says "Storm damage alert."
On the back of the flyer it claims over 350,000 homes may be damaged because of wind and hail in the Memphis area.
Then come the words that really catch your attention.
Insurance will replace your hail damaged roof.
News Channel 3 photojournalist Ricky Briggs never suspected his Olive Branch home would qualify for a new roof.
But when he saw American Shingle's on-line ad offering a free inspection he thought there was nothing to lose.
"I didn't know if there's roof damage or not," explained Briggs. "I don't think there's any damage to be honest with you.
So Briggs was surprised when a salesman told him his roof was a candidate for replacement.
"He said 'oh, you probably do have roof damage," recalled Briggs. "We'll see if you have any granules coming out, because when hail hits the granules knock loose," said Briggs recounting his conversation with the salesman. "Well, I see granules coming out of your downspouts. "Well, duh, they came out all the time," thought Briggs. They've come out since this house was new."
What that salesman didn't know, was Briggs had roofer, and certified hail inspector Josh Phillips check the shingles hours earlier.
"I would definitely not advise Ricky to replace his roof," said Phillips, general manager of J & M Roofing.
It's the kind of thing Jim Crawford is seeing more and more as roofing companies move into the area following this spring's storms.
Crawford is the claims manager for Nationwide Insurance, covering nearly 90 counties in West Tennessee and Mississippi.
- New roofing companies move into Mid South following storms
- Critics say some make claims they can't back-up
- One company admits insurance adjusters find damage in 65% of first visits to its customers
(Olive Branch, MS 6/30/2010) The storm clouds have cleared but the Mid-South is now caught under a new kind of flood.
In the business, they're called "storm-chasers," contractors who come into an area, hoping to cash-in on disasters.
But critics say they also bring claims they can't live-up to.
Across the top of one company's ad it says "Storm damage alert."
On the back of the flyer it claims over 350,000 homes may be damaged because of wind and hail in the Memphis area.
Then come the words that really catch your attention.
Insurance will replace your hail damaged roof.
News Channel 3 photojournalist Ricky Briggs never suspected his Olive Branch home would qualify for a new roof.
But when he saw American Shingle's on-line ad offering a free inspection he thought there was nothing to lose.
"I didn't know if there's roof damage or not," explained Briggs. "I don't think there's any damage to be honest with you.
So Briggs was surprised when a salesman told him his roof was a candidate for replacement.
"He said 'oh, you probably do have roof damage," recalled Briggs. "We'll see if you have any granules coming out, because when hail hits the granules knock loose," said Briggs recounting his conversation with the salesman. "Well, I see granules coming out of your downspouts. "Well, duh, they came out all the time," thought Briggs. They've come out since this house was new."
What that salesman didn't know, was Briggs had roofer, and certified hail inspector Josh Phillips check the shingles hours earlier.
"I would definitely not advise Ricky to replace his roof," said Phillips, general manager of J & M Roofing.
It's the kind of thing Jim Crawford is seeing more and more as roofing companies move into the area following this spring's storms.
Crawford is the claims manager for Nationwide Insurance, covering nearly 90 counties in West Tennessee and Mississippi.
