Talk about adventures in home ownership...

So, the hail storm in late March that totaled my roof, damaged the cab (which I still owe money on thanks to my worthless ex-driver and the fact I was too sick to drive it enough to keep up the payments he created with the A/R's), and damaged several windows, is still creating drama in my life.

What happened is partially my fault. This being my first experience with home-ownership during a severe hail storm, I failed to get multiple quotes. I didn't sign a contract on the initial estimate, but on June 9th, when the insurance had failed to pay enough to come close to the total estimate for the roof, and while I was sick to boot, the roofer asked me to sign a form so he could request that the insurance company ante up more cash.

So he sends me a blank form, and being feverish and sick, I didn't read the fine print. I just signed it and faxed it back. I just didn't feel like screwing with this shit. My bad. He calls me about two weeks ago and tells me the insurance company had approved the claim for $9500. What? The initial estimate on the roof was $6300! The windows couldn't cost more than $1200 or so for the damage involved - which was mostly beading and a couple of frames. Where the hell did this figure come from? But he assures me another $3900 is on the way to cover the difference.

Well, a check arrives for $1557 a few days ago (more than a month after his request for the blank form to be signed). At this point, I've already got an uneasy feeling about this guy. So I email him (sorry, I just can't seem to get the email to line up right):

George,

While I'm still on antibiotics, and not quite over this crap, I wanted
to let you know I did receive another check from the insurance company
for $1557.16. I am attaching images of their estimates and why they
sent this amount.

Now, I have a few questions. How, exactly, did the total repair cost
go up to $9,500? The original estimate you gave me on the roof
was $6,300. I understand the windows would add to that (and I'll admit,
I'm curious why you didn't quote those costs to me at the time), but
by the replacement cost the insurance lists, it still wouldn't amount
to $9,500.

When you sent me the blank form to fax to you granting permission to
contact the insurance company, you didn't mention the total cost
estimate. In fact, the first I heard of it was during our phone
conversation when you said the insurance company was going to send
another $3,900 for the repairs. Before you contact them again, I would
like an explanation for why the numbers changed. If you cannot do the
repairs for the amount you previously claimed you could, then perhaps
I need to look for a company that can, or have the repairs completed
during the off season when material prices decline.

I'm feeling a little in the dark here, and a little concerned about
how this is unfolding. Perhaps you could help with that by explaining
via email. I'll understand better in writing.

Thank you,
Michelle Palmer

I also attached documents the insurance company sent detailing the replacement cost, deductible, and the depreciation I could reclaim when the work was done. His response? An email stating he would call me before lunch tomorrow and "explain everything."

I responded with:

First, it's Ms. Palmer - or simply Michelle, not Mrs. Palmer. I'm gay
- not married. They don't allow that here.

Second, I suggest you bring something by in writing explaining the
situation, because given the way the numbers have changed, a
verbal agreement - or explanation - is not something I'm comfortable with.

I have a book to ship tomorrow, and because of the infection and the
decongestants I'm taking to deal with it, I'm having trouble sleeping.
It will probably be mid to late afternoon before I will be
available.You can call and explain if you like, but understand that I
am agreeing to nothing until you have spelled it out for me in
writing. This is my first experience with a homeowner's claim, and I
feel I was foolish not to get several estimates before allowing you to
contact the insurance company. The change in the numbers has only
created more anxiety for me.

I look forward to speaking to you, but understand that any explanation
needs to be in black and white, not verbal. Had I not been ill, I
would have known better than to sign a blank piece of paper giving you
permission to contact the insurance company in the first place without
a detailed estimate. I'm sure you have an explanation, but understand
that because of the way the numbers suddenly changed, I don't entirely
trust you at this point.

Michelle Palmer

So then, he called. He explained that he could not do this over email - and get this - because he planned to give me two invoices, and of course, he couldn't put that in writing. One with the price he was actually charging me - and one with the price he said I could submit to the insurance company to recover the depreciation. "I don't care what you do with that money", he said. "I do." I said. He kept pressing to come over to go over the numbers, sign the contract, and collect half of the money prior to the roofing.

Well, I agreed to a meeting, at 5pm tomorrow. Mainly to gain time to re-examine the numbers, and try to figure out what he was trying to pull off. I mean, the insurance fraud part of it was fairly obvious. But I was trying to figure out if there was a way to get the roofing done for what I have already been paid for the total damage, and deal with the windows on my own.

When I realized that any way I approached it, he was going to try to screw me if I refused to submit the falsified invoice, I approached my neighbor across the street - he had gotten a quote from Elite, as well. He educated me on the costs and how they're determined by the insurance companies (he has a construction background), then suggested I speak to our neighbors a few houses down, who had planned to go with Elite until this week when they got some disturbing news.

It seems two of their Reps had quit, citing questionable business practices. (No kidding?) The neighbor in question had finally received a call from one of those reps, who had informed her of why he no longer worked there, and why he and the other rep were now employed with a different roofer. They're going with the other roofer. The wife said she would ask the former employee to call me tomorrow before George arrives.

Now, George is not the owner of this company - his father is, I know because I've researched them. And unless I get some sort of astounding change in estimate, I'll be alerting Dad to his activities after I tell him to sod off. If he gives me any shit, I'll be contacting the Attorney General, as well. Frankly, I don't trust him enough to let his people do my roof at this point, anyway.

But what truly amazes me is that this young man has the GALL to think I would defraud the insurance company to pocket a few bucks. Hell, I need the money as much as anyone - and sure, my insurance company is reaming me as hard as it can -it's what insurance companies do, partially because they expect this sort of fraud. But why the HELL would I risk violating the law to do it? Personally, I value my freedom a great deal. A few hundred bucks sure as hell isn't worth getting my roof done if it comes with a side of felony charges.

Stupid people annoy the crap out of me. I'm sure there are some who might think me stupid for not playing the game. But dammit, I have to live with my actions. And I will not let some little dishonest piss-ant dictate those actions for me. Frankly, I can't wait to educate him, and his father on the doings of his son.

Consider it a lesson learned - for both of us.