Report: Some Illinois Insurance Companies Forcing Roof Replacements

By Debra Pressey, The (Champaign) News-Gazette | September 26, 2016

  • September 26, 2016 at 1:53 pm
    Mark Ambrose says:
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    The alternative to replacing the roof now is the insurance company sending an inspector to every home they insure every time they renew, or even every other time to check these homes with roofs over 15 years old. Which increases costs to the company and you better believe they would just then pass it on to the consumer. No one wants to pay a $25 inspection fee more than once. The company is looking long term viability of the roof to prevent claims. There are a lot of companies that let you exclude the roof but then the rate is higher still and the coverage is less.

  • September 26, 2016 at 1:54 pm
    Ohio Agent says:
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    Allstate send me a letter 4 years ago when I purchased my new home. I had just had an inspection done right before signing the final purchase papers and was told it had 7-10 years wear left on it. I called my agent who had to call Allstate direct to get specifics on why roof failed the inspection. Turns our roof had dark streaks on it caused from when tree moss falls in early spring and rain causes the streaks when the moss becomes wet. I paid a company $250 to clean the roof as Allstate agreed to re-inspect (with a different inspector) in 60 days. 2nd inspector passed roof with no problems.

  • September 26, 2016 at 2:01 pm
    FFA says:
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    Consumers buying into storm chasers line of bs is what has brought this on.

    • September 27, 2016 at 12:01 pm
      Ellie says:
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      I agree with you FFA. I see this every day. Also, when a roofer tells the insured they need a new roof and the insurance inspector looks at the roof and does not find damage, an insured does not believe this and insists they need a new roof.
      Then the company hires an engineer at their cost only to prove, no new roof was needed.
      These roofers brought all this on.

  • September 26, 2016 at 2:20 pm
    Chris H says:
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    The agent should have done a pre bind inspection is there was any hint that the roof might not pass an insurance inspection. “most of the roof is fine” will not cut it with most major insurers. It prevents all of this. It has cost me a few sales but its the right thing to do. I cant look at all new clients homes but we do pre bind inspections on most of them. The major carriers all want homes with good roofs because those that don’t cost them more in claims.

  • September 26, 2016 at 3:05 pm
    James Brown says:
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    People crying wolf when they don’t get their way. How many people actually pay out of pocket for a new roof…very few. Nobody has a problem letting the insurance company pony up thousands to replace their roof but when the insurance company tells someone their roof isn’t in good enough shape to qualify for a policy people cry foul. THEN they want to run back to their “old” insurance company and be welcomed back with open arms??? Too bad. Don’t just ship so quick next time. How about consulting with your CURRENT agent for advice BEFORE you jump ship. As an agency owner I have personally warned many clients….you don’t want to jump ship…what they are offering isn’t as good as you think. Then roughly…6o days later people come back asking for their “old” policy and old rate. Too bad so sad…now you are a new client and have to be underwritten again.

    • September 26, 2016 at 5:33 pm
      shut up says:
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      yeah that isn’t a conflict of interest AT ALL.

  • September 26, 2016 at 3:26 pm
    Bob says:
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    The inspector is not qualified to put his opinion on a roof, he does not inspect the roof at all, so when the Insurance tells you to put a roof on, ask for the professional report on the roof, if they do not provide, file a law suit, you will win

    • September 26, 2016 at 7:57 pm
      okt0ber says:
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      You aren’t entitled to the inspection report unless you were charged a fee for it. And, Allstate inspectors do get on the roof in many areas of the country. But, Allstate doesn’t charge an inspection fee, so you aren’t entitled to the report. However, pictures are available and there is an appeal process.

  • September 27, 2016 at 11:30 am
    CO_yeti says:
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    I have experience with this… I switched auto insurance companies to save money and they told me I couldn’t have replacement cost collision on my totaled truck unless I got the thing fixed. What crooks!

  • October 3, 2016 at 11:29 am
    knowall says:
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    If there is any question as to whether the home will pass inspection I sometimes suggest they don’t cancel with their current company, until after passing muster with the new carrier.

  • October 3, 2016 at 2:24 pm
    TME says:
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    It is time for legislation here – this practice is egregious and unnecessary, especially in cases where the “inspector” is not a licensed roofing contractor/engineer.

    • May 31, 2018 at 5:03 pm
      Andy says:
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      Seriously… Legislation? Roofers created a nightmare with their petty claims for a new roof due to minor hail. Customers can be so hypocritical when it’s their own money. I love hearing… “my roof is fine, it’s not leaking.” Do you fill up your car with gas after you ran out? NO…. .and you don’t replace your roof after it starts leaking!

  • October 3, 2016 at 3:02 pm
    Bob Bichen says:
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    18 years on a standard 3 tab (220/240 lb roof) is coming to the end of its life. The carriers simply do not want to pay a full RPL loss on a worn out roof. If roofs were not RPL coverage (or at least not once they are more than 60% past their life span) this would not be a problem. Without such a process there is an incentive to leave the old roof on as long as possible hoping to get a hail or windstorm which destroys it (covered loss). I had to put a new roof on in central IL in 2015 (50 yr guaranteed Certainteed) and it was $10,500 for about 35 squares (2500 s.f. two story house). My roof was 23 years old with 30 yr shingles and they were clearly still “ok” but coming to the end. Insurers would not renew or write me new without the new roof.

  • June 25, 2017 at 1:07 pm
    Joni says:
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    My father who is nearly 90 years old was given the same 90 day notice to replace his roof in Illinois. His roof although 20 years old does not leak and is not in need of repair. He has been paying insurance to State Farm for home owners for 56 years with only two claims . I contacted the congressman, Rodney Davis, from my hometown with no response. I also went through the steps do you have a roofer come over and give me his perception, contacted the state insurance agency and the attorney general. I have yet to hear anything back from anyone other than the roofer. My father lives on his Social Security and cannot afford a brand-new roof and is too proud to allow me to buy one. If anyone has any other ideas I would be open to listen. I know the subject may be old but it is brand-new to us..thank you.

  • May 31, 2018 at 5:09 pm
    Andy says:
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    Insurance companies consider your roof condition because it will lead to issues down the road and they don’t re-check homes annually. The insurance companies would LOVE to take the opinion of the property inspector into consideration but here’s the dilemma; inspectors aren’t going to pay out of pocket to fix the roof if it started leaking! Inspector opinions, while presumably educated, are as valuable as the paper it was written on. Every home inspector in America will have very, very clear language in their summary that they ARE NOT responsible for getting it wrong!

    Insurance company money = insurance company rules.

  • July 1, 2019 at 6:46 pm
    Jerry K. says:
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    What annoys me about this is that the insurance companies wait until after you commit to switch coverage, and after you have dropped coverage with a previous carrier, before doing the inspection. I do not understand why they cannot do the inspection before the sale is completed. If the new company is requiring a new roof, then you could just stay with the existing company and change your roof at your leisure. However, if they do the inspection after you have changed companies, you are trapped. if the new company cancels you, then you will also have problems with your mortgage company and could potentially lose your house.



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