Question #4: Will You Help Me Pay My Deductible?
This is a question that seems like a win-situation for you if the contractor tells you he will help pay part or all of your deductible. However, in Colorado, since June of 2012, it has been illegal for a roofing contractor to pay, waive, discount, or rebate all or part of your insurance deductible. Doing so constitutes insurance fraud on the part of the insured. If a contractor is willing to break the law in order to get your business, you should ask yourself if you can really trust him.
While it can be very tempting to hire a contractor who offers to give you a “free” roof, you should understand that he will make up that lost money somewhere else, either by cutting corners in the materials used, or by hiring laborers that don’t know what they’re doing, or by not honoring or supporting his warranty.
The media has been doing a good job of informing homeowners of this law and have even asked homeowners to report roofers who are offering to pay the deductible for you. You can get more information about insurance claims and deductible laws at http://coloradoroofing.org/consumer/hailstorms-and-your-roof.